Skull and cupcake necklace using "Chaos" Wire wrapping from the cool new book: Chain and Bead Jewelry Creative Connections

I had posted a while back that I had some cool skull and cupcake buttons from Cathi Milligan's BeadsBrains and I was saving them for a "special project". Well, here it is. When I saw the "chaos" wire wrapping technique in Chain and Bead Jewelry Creative Connections I knew just what my first project was going to be. This technique really worked well to feature the pretty little shank style buttons.

The book is packed full of more formal link style projects that I will most certainly be trying in the new year! And if learning how to make all sorts of chain jewelry is on your "to-do" list you will love this book.

Chain and Bead Jewelry Creative Connections: New Techniques for Wire-Wrapping and Bead-Setting

By
Scott David Plumlee

Far from its original utilitarian use—to create armor—the chain-mail technique has been adapted over time to create beautiful, unique jewelry. In Chain and Bead Jewelry Creative Connections, chain-mail expert Scott David Plumlee shows jewelry makers, beaders, and crafters at all skill levels how to incorporate beads into a variety of chain-mail weaves to create showstopping pieces.

First, Plumlee walks readers through basic skills and provides detailed information on traditional chain designs. He then presents more than 20 wire-wrapping and bead-setting techniques that incorporate beads seamlessly into a variety of designs, from the creative “Chaos” wire-wrapped bead to the sinuous Snake.

With step-by-step instructions for assembling age-old chain patterns—from simple to complex—and gorgeous designs that can be executed using only simple hand tools, Chain and Bead Jewelry Creative Connections is sure to inspire jewelry artisans at all levels to expand the creative possibilities of their work.

Scott David Plumlee has led more than 140 workshops on chain jewelry at crafts venues nationwide since 2001. His work has been featured in Bead&Button and Art Jewelry magazines. He is 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.

www.davidchain.com