Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping

Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping is a step-by-step guide for the intermediate artist seeking new design possibilities combined with solid technique instruction with

• Make 18 projects using hard wire and traditional wireworking techniques.
• Dale "Cougar" Armstrong showcases her classic jewelry style and shows how to create beautiful custom bracelets, necklaces, pendants, earrings, and rings, incorporating detailed designs, faceted stones, cabochons, and beads.
• Detailed instructions on how to work with half-hard wire; when to use other tempers and why.
• Dale's favorite tools; proper tool usage for producing specialized styles.
• Comprehensive instructions about using geometry in wire jewelry formulations; making the "right" right angles; shaping with and without mandrels; using "found" items for shaping; when and how to use "snap-set" components; choosing the right cabochons and gemstones; and much more.
• All the projects are shown with detailed step-by-step photography.
• Also included is a gallery of work from the author and her students to inspire, using techniques featured throughout the book.

Readers will enjoy learning how to wire-wrap using faceted stones, how to create pendants with any size or shape of faceted stone, how to use several methods for working with and setting faceted stones, plus mixing wire gauges and tempers to create stable yet creative pieces.

Wirework will challenge artists to be creative, think outside the box, and transform jewelry into their own style.

Dale “Cougar” Armstrong is a self-described “rockhound” with a background in metalwork prior to making wire jewelry. Beginning at an early age, Dale made a hobby of prospecting for natural minerals and rocks and then turning them into jewelry. Nearly forty years later, she became a professional crafter and a nationally recognized jewelry artist who creates beautiful one-of-a-kind pieces of art. She has participated in many juried shows across the country and teaches workshops. In her teaching workshops she’s known for her personal wire-jewelry tips and techniques called “Cougarisms.” She also does a lot of custom orders, creating jewelry in 14k and 18k solid gold for a variety of fine jewelry stores, museums, and galleries. Her work has been published in a variety of publications and websites, including Jewelry Artist, Step by Step Wire Jewelry, Art Jewelry, Bead Unique, Wire Artist Jeweler, The Crafts Report, and Fire Mountain Gems. She is also the host of several wire jewelry instructional DVDs produced by Jewelry Television. She lives in Tennessee. Visit her website at: www.cougarscreations.com