Bead It: Pure Silver Metal Clay Beads

The turn of a new year is an ideal time for a creative endeavor or for learning a new skill. For jewelry lovers, Pure Silver Metal Clay Beads, a new book by award-winning jewelry artist Linda Kaye-Moses, of Dalton, Massachusetts, is a detailed guide to creating fifteen types of silver beads, from simple discs to more elaborately molded, stamped, and enameled designs.
 

All of these beads are crafted from metal clay, a relatively new material that makes the creation of fine silver jewelry accessible as never before. Fine particles of precious metal are mixed with a binding agent to create a material that can be molded and formed just like clay. Finished objects are fired in a kiln, burning away the clay binder to leave only the silver, which is then ready to polish and string on a chain or a cord.
 

An experienced teacher, Kaye-Moses details clear instructions for each project, accompanied by step-by-step photographs. The book is designed for beginners as well as experienced jewelry makers, and includes an excellent list of tools, resources, and an extensive glossary. Illustrated throughout with full-color photographs of metal clay beads by various artists, plus a sixteen-page gallery of beaded jewelry, the volume is sure to inspire. [JAN/FEB 2010]

THE GOODS

Pure Silver Metal
Clay Beads
By Linda Kaye-Moses
Creative Publishing International