Editor Reviews:

Product Description:
Create unique, imaginative jewelry that tells a story!

With simple step-by-step instructions and a creative can-do attitude, beautiful inspired jewelry is easy to make. Links will show you how your family and friends, nature, striking colors and, of course, the ingredients of your bead box can influence deeply meaningful creations. Once you know where to look, inspiration can be found in every corner of your life and translated into beautiful bracelets, necklaces, earrings and pins.

Find your own personal links with:

• More than 50 beautiful step-by-step projects and variations using simple jewelry-making methods, including beading, wire work, chain maille and metal clay.
• A user-friendly techniques and materials section, giving you all the skills you need to get started making jewelry today.
• Creative Connections featuring insight from other artists and Creative Challenges from the author for bonus inspiration.

Rating : - Links has something that will tickle every jewelry makers fancy
Not because Jean Yates and I are in the same Bead Bloggers group, not because we share a publisher and not because I'm a sucker for almost all jewelry books with lovely pictures - I love Links: Inspired Bead and Wire Jewelry Creations. I think one of the main reasons I love Links is that even as a full time jewelry designer I still learned tons of techniques and skills flipping through the pages. Starting right at the beginning with the materials and techniques I was learning new things like what wire straightners are and how to make a flower unit with jump rings - and that is all within the first 15 pages!

Another selling point for me was that the very first project involved polka dotted beads. When it comes to polka dots I'm easy to please and the adorable Charming Tea Cup Bracelet was a perfect way to kick off the book and set the tone. The fun charm bracelet is not only pretty to look at it, the instructions make this bracelet easy to make as well. Jean's wire wrapping is stellar and the clear pictures and 3 pages of easy to follow wire wrapping instructions at the front of the book make sure even a newbie could conquer these skills.

Supposing you are not a chartreuse and red polka dots kind of girl, don't you worry your pretty little head Links has something for every kind of jewelry maker. The diversity in the projects is one of the things that makes this book such a necessity in your collection. Key rings, charm bracelets, dangly earrings, lariats - you name it this book will show you how to make it. There is not just a diversity in the types of jewelry, but also in the styles from the delicate to chunky, intricate to simple, classic to kitschy - no matter what your jewelry style Links will have something that will tickle your jewelry making fancy.

Some of my other favorite projects in the book include the Sleek Square Bracelet for the wonderfully clear instructions on working with Maille and making chain. This is a jewelry making skill that has always boggled me and Links makes it seem so clear and easy. The Diamond Choker with it's fun cellular like structure and use of blue rubber rings (who knew blue rubber rings even existed, thanks for opening my eyes Jean) has me wanting to play with jump rings in a whole new way. Nancy's Dancing Pearls Bracelets illustrates effortlessly how to make a double stranded twisted pearl bracelet. My twists always looked tangled, well not anymore.

As I mentioned making jewelry is my full time job and I still read this book and learned tons of new things and found myself inspired to try new designs and techniques in my own work. Whether you are just dabbling in jewelry making or have made your fair share of baubles you are going to take something away with you after reading Links. I know I did.