Handcrafting Chain and Bead Jewelry

"This book is dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of the Sequential Byzantine chain."

From the Publisher, Watson-Guptill Publications
* Beaders and wireworkers will be en-chain-ted by the chance to make their own chains
* Classical chain designs in silver, copper, and brass
* Entire chain-making process is explained and illustrated step-by-step
* One of a kind!

Handcrafting Chain and Bead Jewelry shows how to create beautiful, dimensional silver, copper, and brass chains using simple tools. The main style is based on the elegant, classical Byzantine pattern, and uses the Golden Ratio to determine the circumference of a chain’s interlocking rings based on the thickness of the wire. Illustrated step-by-step directions show how to calculate the circumference of the rings, how to wrap wire into coils, how to cut, and finally, how to assemble the chain. Starting from the basic Byzantine, new chain makers can then progress to increasingly Byzantine variations, including linear, knot, crown, and combination chains. Incorporating beads and charms offers endless possibilities for crafters who will soon, surely, be locked up in chains!

Scott David Plumlee, an authority on ancient chain designs, has created more than sixty unique chain designs based on mathematical formulas. His chain-making workshops have been presented throughout Washington State. He now lives in Manhattan, Kansas.

Pssst....you can order the book from the author and get it autographed!

Chain Mail Jewelry: Contemporary Designs from Classic Techniques

"Chain Mail. Do these words conjure up images of King Arthur's knights clad in Hauberks?"


From the publisher, Lark Books:

Thanks to its exquisite, easily mastered techniques and elegant lines, chain mail--the classic art of linking metal rings--is enjoying a creative resurgence among jewelry makers. This attractive resource is the first full-color book on the market to help beginners and intermediates get in on the craze. With computer-generated illustrations that show every step, it thoroughly introduces all the key construction procedures, including the proper methods of winding, opening, and closing the metal rings. The 30 projects include a simple pendant encasing a large semiprecious stone and a flat chain-mail neckpiece that colorfully combines copper and blue titanium rings. Plus, there’s advice on polishing the pieces, tips on adding pearls or beads, and a gallery of works by professional jewelers. A Selection of the Crafters Choice Book Club.