Book Review

I am a lover of books.  I love all kinds of books.  I just love to read.  My Kindle is packed with books that will take me years to get through but so be it.   My husband often says that I am too busy reading about doing things or fantasy lives than to do much else.

That is not true, of course.  He said that recently because in our packing getting ready to move he thought I was going to get rid of all of my books.  I looked at him as if he was a crazy person and said "are you insane?".  So, they are all packed up.  I did get rid of some of them to give to the local community store for others to enjoy but I don't like getting rid of them.

Anyway, I say that to say that I was reading one of my fav bloggers who make's jewelry the other day and she did a book review about a book that was recently published.  When I went to Amazon to purchase the book (yes, I bought it) I found another one.  It's by a woman who's jewelry creations I love.  So I'm going to do my own review of this book.




It's called The Jewelry Maker's Design Book: an alchemy of objects by Deryn Mentock.






Front cover.

Back cover.

I have admired her work for some time and I always wondered how she developed her style.  Well, in this wonderful book she explains how she developed her style and where her love for found objects came from.  Her style is Bohemian but it's also romantic and feminine.

And what I really love is that she explains how she developed her own style of jewelry making and how you too can develop your own style.  I think it's a magical book in that I have been wanting to figure out what I really like and how to put it together into my own personal style that looks like no one else's.  I believe this book can show me how.

For me, when I purchase  a new jewelry book I usually skip the introduction to get right to the projects.  And if I find a project I like I make it as a gift for a friend or family member and then I try to figure out ways to use the techniques and use them in my own way.  I don't want to just copy someone else's designs.  Well I couldn't skip the introduction to this book because it is packed with information that I haven't found in other books.

Now, I will say that Ms Mentock's style of jewelry might not be for everyone but the techniques she shows you can be used whatever your style of jewelry making.  I have been making jewelry for about 5 years and so I have developed some good techniques simply by doing them over and over again.  I'd consider myself intermediate.

 If you are new to jewelry making you might want to start out knowing some of the basic techniques first before plunging into this book.  But for those of you who already know how to make loops, wrapped loops, how to string beads and use crimps to secure your creations etc.  I believe you can learn something that is new to you.

As you can tell I love this book. I find the instructions are clear and easily followed.  So if you want a new jewelry making book where you can learn some new techniques and gain some insight on using found objects this book may be for you.

You can check it out on Amazon and read other reviews.

Ms Mentock also has a blog that I stalk.  Her blog link is: somethingsublime.typepad.com.  She also teaches classes and one day when i'm settled again I fully intend to take some of them.  There are some class reviews from students on her blog.

Check out the book and as always comments are welcome.  Let me know what you think of this fantastic book when you get time.