The Wire Art Jewelry Books of Arline Fisch

The Wire Art Jewelry Books of Arline Fisch

Textile Techniques In Metal: For Jewelers Textile Artists and Sculptors by Arline M. Fisch as many of you wire jewelry enthusiasts know, is a true classic. Originally published in the 1970’s, popular demand brought the revised edition back to us in the 90's. Lucky us! While not your standard “how-to” book on woven wire jewelry techniques, this book presents an excellent overview of the many woven wire techniques found across the globe. As such, the book is a near bible for wire art jewelry and should be a cornerstone book in any serious enthusiasts library.

Textile Techniques in Metal explains that using textile (cloth) techniques for jewelry is historic and provides a most interesting section to substantiate that. This book then goes on to illustrate the many kinds of woven techniques found around the globe both common and uncommon. Knitting, weaving, crocheting, baskets, interlinking forms, sprang and bobbin lace techniques are all included. Braiding, knots and knotting fill out an already dizzying selection of wire techniques.

Wire art jewelry obviously is a visual art and the extensive photos in Textile Techniques is what really sells this book. There are not only photos of finished pieces but ones in process as well to help the reader actually see the technique in action. Another plus is that underneath many of the illustrations of the jewelry are descriptions of the technique utilized and the type of wire used to accomplish it. The gallery section has 40 full color photos of finished woven jewelry that’s drop dead gorgeous.

Textile Techniques In Metal: For Jewelers, Textile Artists and Sculptors is encyclopedic for wire art jewelers and a book you’ll find yourself referring to time and again. In pioneering this wire art jewelry niche, Arlene Fisch has presented us with a wonderful treasure and endless inspiration.

Crocheted Wire Jewelry: Innovative Designs and Projects by Leading Artists by Arline M. Fisch is Ms. Fisch’s second book and is again, an excellent book. By using leading wire artists to create many of this book’s projects, Fisch has created another pioneering effort in wire art jewelry. She has also taken a very old technique, crocheting, and completely modernized it’s application. Unlike Textile Techniques, Crocheted Wire Jewelry: Innovative Designs and Projects by Leading Artists is very much a “how-to” book presenting many tantalizing crocheted jewelry projects.

The projects in this book are very well laid out and illustrated. They also grow in complexity of crochet skills. There are projects for the beginner crochet artist, bead and wire crochet projects and hair pin lace projects to challenge those unknown to this skill. A real plus to this book is that both Joan Dulla and Michael David Sturlin are contributing artists. Dulla devised her own spin off crochet technique that’s wonderful. Michael David Sturlin, a celebrity in the art jewelry arena, includes his lovely Viking Knit techniques.

What makes this crocheted wire book stand out from the rest is the professional quality jewelry that can be made from the projects. Crocheted jewelry can take on a “homemade” quality that’s completely absent from this book. The designs are upscale, sophisticated, elegant and well, drop dead gorgeous. The ten page Gallery section of this book is full of not only innovative and original jewelry designs but it’s also jam packed with inspiration. Crocheted Wire Jewelry: Innovative Designs and Projects by Leading Artists is another must have book for all you wire jewelry enthusiasts.

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