Hot off the press: Wire Style 2 {and a give away!}

I am so thrilled to introduce Wire Style 2,  a brand new book full of inspiration from NINE top jewelry designers, complete with an instructional DVD.  Wire Style 2  by Denise Peck  is packed with 45 new and phenomenal wire designs!   You may know Denise as the remarkable editor of Step by Step Wire magazine, and author of 101 Wire Earrings and Wire Style.  And in even more news, Denise is the coauthor of Handcrafted Wire Findings due out this June!

Being asked to contribute to Wire Style 2 was certainly a personal dream come true for me.  I am humbled to be in the company of 8 exceptional jewelry artists.  Among the contributors are Kerry Bogert, Jodi Bombardier, Jane Dickerson, Lorelei Eurto, Connie Fox, Lisa Niven Kelly and Donna Spadafore – most are authors of their own jewelry design books.  One of my favorite features about Wire Style 2 is the wide array of styles that can be found inside.  From fine coiling and detail work, to textured metal and oxidized wire, you’ll find something sure to catch your eye (and have you grabbing your spool of wire and trusty pliers). Beginners and seasoned wire workers alike can draw fresh inspiration from this collection of designs. 

I am proud to have 11 designs in Wire Style 2.  Are you ready for a preview?  In “Change of Heart”, I created a design that I would consider my signature style.  If you’ve ever wanted to create a bangle using heavy-gauge wire as a base (and add a couple layers of coiled wire), this is a fantastic project for you!  Oxidizing the finished piece and tumble polishing are my secrets to a knock-out piece.   You can use anything for the focal bead, from your favorite Thai silver bead  to that lampwork focal you’ve been hoarding.

I made another just for this book preview, available in my Etsy shop just in time for Valentine’s Day…. or any day you feel like wearing your heart on your sleeve:

While you’re working with heavier-gauge wire, how about learning a brand new link?  “Encircled” is a lesson in simplicity and repitition; a project allowing you the opportunity to perfect the spiraling technique.  Again, all you need is wire and a single focal bead!  The lampwork focal in this piece is by Jena Fulcher.

I had fun making another for my shop, this one features a lampwork focal by Deronda Designs:

If you love vintage-inspired jewelry and have a collection of bits and bobs, you just might want to try “Dreaming in Sepia”.  With a simple spiral design, learn to create a charm holder for all of your special treasures.

One of the highlights for me in designing jewelry for Wire Style 2 was the opportunity to collaborate with fellow jewelry designers, personal friends whose work I greatly admire.  Look inside the book to see how you can highlight special art beads with three gauges of wire.  I worked with Christine Damm’s exceptional polymer clay beads in “Fallen to Earth”.  I was also so excited at the opportunity to design a long, classic necklace featuring the lampwork beads of my long-time friend,Kerry Bogert. In “Collector’s Club”, you can combine your favorite collection of wirework links with a cherished collection of beads!  This just might be my favorite piece in the book as it represents years of friendship and support from someone who has been with me since I did my very first craft show and was brand new to wire working.  Who would have guessed that we would collaborate like this one day back when we met on the Bead and Button forum online? 🙂

Speaking of Kerry, you’ll want to stop on over to KABS Creative Concepts now and see her FABULOUS pieces as a second-time contributor to  Wire Style 2!  You’ll learn so many new techniques when you give her cutting-edge projects a try.

…..Now on to the GIVEAWAY!!!    Would you like to win your own copy of Wire Style 2??  Simply leave me a comment to be entered in a drawing to win a copy of this must-have book!  *The deadline to enter is February 7th, 10:00  a.m. EST.  The winner will be announced later that day!

Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the drawing!

*Update* The drawing is now closed.  Thank you for your interest!