Bead On A Wire: Making Handcrafted Wire and Beaded Jewelry

Bead On A Wire

Making Handcrafted Wire and Beaded Jewelry

by Sharilyn Miller
(based on 95 customer reviews)

Bead On A Wire: Making Handcrafted Wire and Beaded Jewelry (Paperback)
Edition: 3
Author: Sharilyn Miller
Publisher: North Light Books


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Most useful review as voted by customers:
128 out of 130 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 8/10/05


Outstanding - Every Step of the way!

Many other books leave important steps up to the imagination, or show shoddy craftsmanship on the completed pieces. Sharilyn's step by step imagery is near flawless and the completed pieces breathtaking. I am a huge fan of Sharilyn's ethnic inspired jewelry and it warms my heart when someone with so much talent is willing to share their passion for art with others. I was especially taken by the pins and several of the silver link variations.

I noticed that some of Sharilyn's techniques (basic wire wrapping techniques) are a bit different than those of other metal artists, and I find it refreshing to see alternative (and better) ways to achieve the same goal. (For those of us who couldn't make heads or tails out of other artist's tutorials.)

I personally am not a fan of the white handled Lindstrom pliers that Sharilyn favors. I find them too small and hard on my hands. (I use the Swanstrom ergonomic line) When looking to buy tools - pick up one of Rio Grande's Tool Catalogs and take notice of the many different options available. Buy the best that you can afford, and make sure that the tools are the right size for your hands.

For goodness sake, stop reading my ramblings and buy this book! You will not regret adding this wonderful book to your library.

PS - Sharilyn! When will you write us a book showing how to make those wonderful rings?


80 out of 81 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 1/4/06


Read it, then go make something gorgeous!

I found this book to be a super adjunct to my library of jewelry making books. I think that you need a small amount of experience or it might be ovewhelming to view the first section on tools, which is very comprehensive and could be daunting. However, if you really love learning, Sharilyn is just the person to teach you. With great photographs (and lots of them!), she properly demonstrates how to accomplish something as simple as making a jumpring (and how to open it correctly so you don't mess it up!). She then progresses to creations as fancy as making a festive and festooned charm watch you will want to wear right away, and some lovely bracelets, earrings and necklaces which are worth the time and effort. After all that, she throws in a description of how to oxidize (using a mindblowingly beautiful spiral bracelet she shows how to make, first) better than anyone I have ever read or listened to. She gives good advice about design and sturdiness (I hate thinking stuff I wear is going to break--that is why I like wiring to begn with) and she is generous in sharing her style. Take what you like fom this book, and go make something spectacular of your very own!

27 out of 29 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 10/1/06


I have made four items from this book-beautiful!

I was new to wire and bead jewelry making when I got this. It quickly inspired me to make several items of jewelry as shown and they are gorgeous. I am now hooked on this hobby and have, in two months, spent over $1500 on tools and supplies. I have four sets of pliers, a crimping plier, two hammers, a small anvil, numerous beads and findings which I get on eBay, several types of gold and silver wire, and let me tell you, it all adds up. It is an addiction to types like me who need to make pretty things.

And I have no idea what to do with the finished works.
I could try to sell them on eBay along with thousands of others like me. But they are in a drawer and will mostly never get worn, as I only wear jeans and T-shirs here in Florida, so it is completely unpractical.
But this book is wonderful.

The only fault with it is this. The author makes no mention at all of what size beads to get for the items described, so I have one necklace with beautifully silver wrapped 12mm beads which are dwarfed by the twelve feet of heavy gauge silver wire. Also, although the author mentions using almost exclusively 16 gauge wire, which is more than one millimeter in diameter, this size is fairly thick and will not go through any beads, which always have holes that are less than one millimeter. How she is making things with 16 guage wire with beads on them is never explained. I now have a quantity of 16 gauge sterling silver wire which I can't use. I have found the thinner 18 gauge wire does work.

This is the perfect book to get you started on this relaxing, creative hobby. There are several really beautiful and easy to make items with step by step instructions.
But be prepared to spend some serious money on it.

23 out of 23 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 12/6/05


An excellent place to start

I agree with the other reviewers who praise this book. This is an excellent introduction to wire and bead craft. The instructions are all accompanied by step by step photographs and the necessary tools are listed and how to use them explained.

I looked through several books in the store and was extremely disappointed by what I call the "look at me" syndrome - that is too many pictures of the author's work and far too little instruction on how they did it.

In contrast, this book starts right out with the how to of the craft. The various techniques are nicely broken down into reasonable and clearly explained and demonstrated instructions. Then you get a plethora of lovely projects to practice on. Add to that, the photographer who shot the jewelry pieces is another scary talent in her own right. The pieces look gorgeous.

Now I must say, this is not the end all and know all of bead and wire but it will get you started making high quality jewelry. That is why Bead on a Wire made its way home with me while so many other similarly named books are still sitting pretty on the store shelf.

And as an aside, for as impressed as I was with just the book, I also checked out Sharilyn's web site. There are even more seriously cool looking pieces there. I would love to attend more than one of her classes!

18 out of 19 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 3/26/06


A 'Must Have' Book for Jewelry Novices and Artists

There is a new benchmark for step-by-step books. Sharilyn Miller's book, Bead on a Wire, Making Handcrafted Wire and Beaded Jewelry, contains techniques and instructions in an easy to follow format that makes her book a must-have for the wire jewelry artist's library. This book is suitable for all skill levels. It will allow even a novice to learn the basics of wire work and progress to more complex designs. Bead on a Wire would be a bargain at twice its price.

Sharilyn not only makes beautiful, original jewelry but also produces a truly reader friendly book. She allows ample page space for photos and instructions. The layout for each project is the same: photo, project description, tools and materials needed, techniques that will be used in the project and step-by-step instructions and photos. She matches each photo with the accompanying step, and clearly numbers them. Elegant details are present that are found in much higher priced books. The jewelry designs Sharilyn shares with us are classy, fresh and original. There are no designed that might be considered `out dated' or `odd'.

I recently had the opportunity to take a 4-day workshop with Sharilyn sponsored by St. Louis lampwork artist Cindy Jenkins. Classes consisted of some of the workshops described at http://www.sharilynmiller.com: Twining Vines, Ethnic Coin Necklace, Rings and Ten Trippy Tricks, although we probably learned twice that number. She is warm, friendly, easy going and so is her style of teaching. She has unending patience. Her finished work is absolutely perfect, as seen in the photos in Bead on a Wire. The last day, there was a unanimous demand for Sharilyn to return to teach. We learned a lot and had fun doing it. Come back soon Sharilyn!


14 out of 14 people found the following review helpful.
Review Date: 7/11/06


The Best Bead and Wire Book Ever

This is the book that got me started on beading. I checked it out from the library and then I was hooked and I had to have my own copy! If you don't want to do heavy metal work - you can still make fantastic jewelry with this guide. A must have for a beginner and a great reference for the rest. I've looked at MANY books (at least 50-60 so far) and this is my Very Favorite!

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