Great jewelry book for all levels of experience
I recently received a used copy of this book to replace the one I lost years ago. It was like finding an old, long-lost friend. Anyone who wants to get an idea of how to craft jewelry as a real, hands on, detailed craft should find this book. True, it was published in the 70's and there are no newer editions that I'm aware of at this time. But aside from some references that ask for supplies that are no longer easily available, and likely not safe enough to try and get anyways, this has a plethora of info that anyone who wants to cast their own pieces, or just do the more detailed wireworking that is still seen in modern jewelry, should like to have as a reference in their library. He presents many ideas that anyone who does any jewelry-making would like to have in one book, and he also has sections that contain information that is hard to find even today.
He mentions how agate is "dyed" or stained to make it certain colors, which I see in so-called "natural" pieces in stores today (which are usually too garish-looking to be a natural color, but knowing how it is done may be of interest to readers). He has a section that nicely describes the types of metal enamelling. He also has a section on resin-casting and working with acrylic, though the modern resins/acrylics may differ in some part from the material he had available then.
However, the instructions on casting and other areas are still as valid today as they were then. While I enjoy the jewelry designs in this book, even though they may seem dated to others, use your own updated materials, designs and tools, and this book can still be a valuable addition to your bookshelf.
