One look at my jewelry supplies and you'd know that I'm a huge fan of chain. I have an entire drawer devoted to it. So obviously I was intrigued when Lark sent me a review copy of Chains Chains Chains by Joanna Gollberg and Nathalie Mornu.
First Impressions
This book is an unusual size—and I know that's unusual to mention in a review! I think it's my librarian background coming into play. Whenever you see books that are not the standard size, you worry about how it's going to fit on the shelf. From a designer perspective, I actually like the longer size. One the problems with long necklaces is that it's hard to fit them onto a small, square page. I felt like I had a much better idea of the scale of the finished chains with the larger page size.
My other first impression—just based on the title—was that there was already a book on chain (Chain Style). I wondered how it was different.
What About Chain Style?
This book is very different than Chain Style by Jane Dickerson, which shows you how to make designs using commercial chain. It's geared towards beginners. Chains Chains Chains, in contrast, teaches you how to make chain. While very ambitious beginner could use this book, you'll get more out of it if you already know how to handle a jeweler's saw and how to solder.
It could be interesting to use both books together. The projects in Chain Style use more beads and unusual findings, while Chains Chains Chains definitely has unique chains that aren't like anything that is commercially available. Just looking at the photos in Chains Chains Chains, I already have several ideas on how I could customize commercial chain and links to give my jewelry a more unique look.
You'll Like This Book If
- You like soldering. Twenty-two of the 25 projects require soldering. The technique section includes 3 different soldering techniques with step-by-step photos, so you can brush up on the basics.
- You're looking for unusual chain designs. Two of my favorites included: "Great Lakes" which used maps inside oval shapes and "Cityscapes" which had various rectangles and squares welded together to give the look of buildings.
- You curious about other ways to make chain without using wire or using wire in an unusual way. Some of the chain is constructed with cut-out metal shapes or metal clay links. There's also a chain with jointed links, which is not something I'd thought about before.
- You're most interested in making chain for necklaces. There are only 3 projects for bracelets and 3 for earrings, although it would be easy to modify any of the projects to make them into the form you wished.
- You want to know the science behind the techniques. I don't remember the last time I've ever seen topics like molecular structure discussed in a jewelry book!
- You want nice basic section of metalworking techniques. This section is just under 30 pages long and covers tools, materials, and techniques. I really liked that the techniques included very basic tasks such as filing, as well as more unusual ones such as coloring metal with colored pencils and keum boo (bonding thin gold foil to another metal). This section makes the book worth keeping as a reference for any metalwork, not just chain.
- You want a list of songs with the words "chain" or "link" in them because you're planning a themed jewelry-making (or jewelry-selling) party. Okay, I'm being a little silly here, but for me, this is just another example of why this isn't your typical jewelry book.
This book will inspire you to think about chain in new ways.
Standard Disclaimer: I received this book free of charge from Lark Books. My review is my honest opinion. I have received no compensation for my review.
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