Craft Gossip

Independent craft blog since 2007

Book Review: Ancient Modern: Polymer Clay and Wire Jewelry

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ancientmodern
Ancient Modern: Polymer Clay + Wire Jewelry  by Ronna Sarvas Weltman

  • Paperback: 136 pages
  • Publisher: Interweave Press (June 1, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1596680970
  • ISBN-13: 978-1596680975

I was blown away when I saw the cover of this book and HAD to have it.   This distinctive jewelry book artistically combines polymer clay and wire into  organic, sophisticated, and contemporary jewelry.  Bead crafters and jewelry makers will learn a number of innovative techniques in designing beads and components from polymer clay, making wire work elements, clasps and ear wires, wire bead caps, polymer clay tipped head pins, and more.  The author has a very distinct  modernist primitive style that I personally LOVE, and if this is your style  as well,  you will be making some amazing  jewelry.

Ancient Modern discusses the fundamentals of jewelry design as well as what makes a piece “primitive” and how to achieve an organic effect through color mixing and textures.  There are 15 one-of-a-kind detailed projects and a gallery of more stunning jewelry to be inspired by..

The book starts with an introduction to deigning jewelry, color inspiration, the tools used with wire, wire techniques, creating clasps, and all about polymer clay. In that section she goes over how to cure clay, tools, various techniques like canes and marbleing and how to make a simple bead.  Then its on to the projects.

The projects range from Lush Sonata Necklace, Three Ring Circus Brooch, to Dancing Bells Earrings and Embrace Me ring. All have very detailed photos and instructions.

This book is truly one of a kind polymer clay book. I”m inspired to pull out my old polymerclay (hope its still soft!) and try out these techniques.

Read These Next

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Small Halloween Knitting Patterns

If you’re looking for cute and quick Halloween knitting patterns, you’ve come to the right place. This collection of small patterns is perfect for last minute decor or when you want to make a bunch of the same thing, or you’re just looking for some quick gratification. 

These little treat bags from Dolly Time are so cute, and the little appliques of a pumpkin, cat, witch and owl could also be used on other projects. They call for DK weight yarn to make 5 by 4.5 inch/13 by 11 cm bags; use thicker yarn to make bags that are a little bigger if you want. All the knitting is done flat. 

This Halloween collection from Milla Mia (available as a free download on Ravelry) includes a cute knit bat (shown here) and spider, as well as candle wrappers featuring bats, cats and spiders. They all use DK weight yarn. To make the bat you’ll need a tennis ball or a foam ball to make the body. 

Another creepy cute free download from Ravelry is this knit eyeball pattern from Mary Jane Mucklestone. These would be fun to make into backpack charms or earrings, or to hide around the house as a funny Halloween prank. I’m sure you can come up with lots of other ways to use them, too. The ones shown were worked with fingering weight yarn, but again you can change up the yarn to make them bigger. How about a blanket yarn eye shaped pillow?

The Halloween hangers from Lorraine Pistorio are just cute. These designs are worked in DK weight yarn and include a ghost, candy corn, pumpkin, Frankenstein’s monster and witch, all with cute little faces. They are worked in the round and considered intermediate patterns. You can find them on Ravelry.

Speaking of backpack charms, Gathered has a set of four little Halloween charms that are perfect for backpacks, keyrings, or to make into a garland. The free pattern includes a bat, cat, Frankenstein’s monster and witch’s hat. They use DK weight yarn. 

Ruby and the Foxes has a few Halloween themed bunting patterns that would also be cute to stitch on washcloths or other projects. The graveyard set is shown here, but there are also black cats and other images to choose from. The patterns use DK weight yarn and include tips on how to make the project into a bunting. 

If you want to knit actual washcloths for Halloween, I like this pumpkin shaped one that’s a free pattern from Colour it Green. The original uses DK yarn but worsted weight cotton is easier to find and will just make it a little bigger.