Monday, July 27, 2009

Silver Threads: Making Wire Filigree Jewelry


I guess I've been on a bit of a book buying kick lately. I just got "Silver Threads: Making Wire Filigree Jewelry" by Jeanne Rhodes Moen. I've been doing some soldered wirework lately, but I have been pretty much making it up as I go along, so I wanted to get a book to learn some good techniques for making designs with wire scrolls. This book includes examples of filigree work (and some things that look like filigree) from around the world, as well as numerous examples of the author's own work. It includes a sections on basic metalworking techniques, and all the basic tools and materials needed for filigree work. It then goes on to explain how to form each of the classic wire units that make up filigree pieces. The book contains a sequence of step-by-step filigree projects from simple to advanced, with ideas for variations. Personally, I hardly ever work through the step by step projects in books. I prefer to learn the techniques and then experiment with my own project ideas, but the projects do give some wonderful examples of how different units can be combined to form a wide variety of designs. The projects in this book are primary done in filigree wire (round wire twisted together and then flattened) but I think the same techniques could be applied to any kind of wire that can be soldered. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody who is interested in in making soldered wirework.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Can't wait to see some filigre in your work :-)

Swati said...

Oh I recently joined her facebook fan page and have been seeing her new jewelry. Pretty cool stuff. What I found really interesting was she cuts her own cabs and is soon going to start selling those. I liked her stones...will be buying some from her. And I'll be waiting to see your filigree work! I still have to work with my book...I have the book too...love the look of filigree.

Copperheart said...

Oh I know I've been super busy lately getting ready for the new school year, and I haven't had any studio time lately.

Swati said...

Was going through Rio yesterday and saw they had filigree wire for this book! So I ordered some. Now I just might do some filigree work...I didn't want to make my own filigree wire.