Making Wow Jewelry: Techniques and Projects for Making a Statement

Gay Isber Candice Ghai (Photographer)

Fox Chapel Publishing (JAN 7) Softcover $19.99 (176pp), 978-1-4971-0002-2

Gay Isber’s love for large, colorful, and eye-catching pieces is apparent in Making Wow Jewelry,a crafting text that empowers experienced jewelry makers to branch out into unusual constructions and to craft pieces that make big statements.

Trends in jewelry come and go, but large, dramatic, statement-making pieces always seem to be in style. They can be quite expensive to buy, but making them yourself ensures a oneof-a-kind piece at a lesser price point. Joyful and exuberant, this book is full of inspiration, its projects rated for intermediate to advanced crafters who are ready to try something completely different.

While there are some straightforward designs among the twenty-five projects in the book, including beading on cuff frames and making crystal drops, many of the projects use atypical materials and techniques. From galvanized tin to make a jeweled crown to the incorporation of beetle wings in a variety of projects, these designs are unlikely to be found in a typical jewelry design book. Other unconventional materials include shark’s teeth, nail polish, eye shadow, feathers, and thermoplastic sheets, used to make crowns, bangles, rings, and layered necklaces.

For those unfamiliar with the materials, numerous large, clear, step-by-step photographs are included. After working through this book, designers will be comfortable making molds, using epoxy clay, choosing crystals, and more. Isber’s tone is encouraging; she includes lots of tips that make her wild projects feel more achievable. Beautiful photography makes the finished projects look like works of art, and the result is a book that’s sure to prompt crafters to make their own statement pieces.

Making Wow Jewelry is the perfect entry point into the world of making dramatic, bold jewelry for all occasions.