Author(s): Natalia Colman

Crafts & Hobbies

This gorgeous guide to metal clay jewellery, written by jewellery designer Natalia Colman, is innovative, inspiring and easy-to-use. It guides the reader through the process of making 20 animal-themed pieces of jewellery from silver, copper and bronze clay. The book contains a mix of rings, pendants, earrings and bracelets and is divided into five animal-themed sections: Perfect Pets, In the Jungle, Feathered Friends, Beneath the Ocean Waves and Other Beautiful Creatures . It features stunning designs incorporating household favourites such as cats, dogs and rabbits, as well as featuring fashion-forward pieces such as a swallow ring, a bull pendant and a swan brooch. To ensure that the reader is equipped with all the help and advice they need, the book contains a thorough basic techniques section at the beginning, detailing how to store, handle, dry and fire each of the metal clays. The more advanced techniques required are slotted helpfully within each relevant section of the book.As well as covering several timeless methods for setting stones, creating ring bands and mixing metals, Natalia also uses the clays in often new and inventive ways, including setting stones in crystal clay, adding colour to pieces using coloured pencils and UV gel, and making perfectly easy, perfectly round silver beads. The book also contains a comprehensive reference section at the back that contains firing guides for a large range of gemstones, ensuring that the reader is equipped to go on to design and make exactly the kind of jewellery they want in the future. In summary, the book is a thorough reference guide that will lead a beginner through the process from start to finish, and is also innovative enough to inspire even experienced jewellery-makers.