THE BEADING GEM'S JOURNAL



Book Review and Giveaway | Hinged Clay Bracelets  More Recent Articles  Search The Beading Gem's Journal Book Review and Giveaway | Hinged Clay Bracelets Gloria Uhler is one very creative woman.  She shares a lot of inspirations - home decor, papercrafts, sewing, jewelry making - on her  Domestic Diva Online.  I've shared some of her jewelry tutorials before. One recent post was about how she used hardware hinges for polymer clay bracelets. Of all the jewelry techniques she uses, polymer clay is her favorite. Gloria sent me her self-published book,  Hinged Clay Bracelets: New Ways To Link Polymer Clay Bracelet Parts for review. It is not a beginner book but one which concentrates on creative and technical polymer clay innovations to connect bracelet parts.  How much more fluid the design if it could be hinged.   Gloria has an incredible ability to come up with so many different ways to connect bracelet parts. The 25 projects are divided into 8 sections, each of which deals with a specific approach.  The book focuses on the step by step pictures.  The final project images are on the small side which is a pity because Gloria's designs are wonderful. The wire section was one of my favorites as the designer used her imagination to use wire in totally different ways. Wire coil hinges is just one of them! Coiled Wire Cane Some of her design ideas were simple - the sort you see and then slap your forehead and wonder why you didn't think of it before!  One example is the chained chiclet bracelet where she use decorative chain to add interest to regular jump ring connections. Chained Chiclet  Another excellent section is the one which involves hardware hinges. The carefully chose hinge designs resulted in outstanding pieces where the metal work became not just the functional parts but the focals too. Copper Front Mount Hinge It doesn't have to be metal either!  The clay connections section had a number of great ideas including this tab hinge bracelet : The designer also demonstrates how to use cord so the whole bracelet is flexible.  Celtic Multi-Cord The last two sections of the book deals with integrated magnets and clever ways to add hooks, loops and snaps. It's not just about the fastening angle but how to work with bracelet forms.  Gloria shows how you can make your own at the beginning of the book.  This book assumes you know how to bake/cure clay, sand, buff and are familiar with glazes etc. So there are no specific instructions on those steps. It is however filled with lots of tips and ideas to take your own clay creations much further. Gloria also covers how she uses a stencil cutting machine not only to cut her own stencils but to cut clay as well!  That opens up new directions! Highly recommended for clay artists who love to make bracelets!  Having said that, I think many of the techniques could also be applied to some necklace designs. Giveaway If you'd like to win a copy of Hinged Clay Bracelets: New Ways To Link Polymer Clay Bracelet Parts please make a comment below. Make sure you leave contact info below if you do not have an online shop or blog. Email subscribers need to scroll down the post they receive, click on Share Comment and enter your comment. Pick Name/URL. If you don't have a store or blog, leave the URL blank. This giveaway is for US and Canada only. Extra entries if you become or are a blog subscriber or follower etc. If you also do shout outs about this giveaway, those will count as additional entries too! Please say so in the comments. (The exception is Facebook - just like/comment on the giveaway status there!!) It ends in a week's time at 6 pm EST Monday,  May 16 , 2016. I will pick the winner randomly and announce the results as soon as possible after. So be sure to leave a contact email if you don't have an online link or make sure you come back and check! Otherwise I will redraw in a week. Good luck! Disclosure I receive books and products for review.  I do receive a small fee for any products purchased through affiliate links.   The opinions expressed are solely my own.  They would be the same whether or not I receive any compensation. Before You Go: How to Make Coiled Wire Hinges to Connect 2 Hole Beads Awesome Polymer Clay Trilobite Pendant Tutorial More Polymer Clay Jewelry Tutorials ______________________________ Original Post by THE BEADING GEM Jewelry Making Tips - Wire JewelryTips  -Jewelry Business Tips           Share Your Comment! Share Your Comment! Related Posts Faux Beach Stone Pendant Tutorial Using Polymer Clay and Dryer Lint! Winner of the Origami Jewelry Motifs Book Giveway Elements of Antiquity $50 Pewter Finidngs Giveaway   • Email to a friend • View comments • Track comments • More Recent Articles Music Notes and Treble Clef Wire Jewelry Tutorials Faux Beach Stone Pendant Tutorial Using Polymer Clay and Dryer Lint! Speed Up Wire Work Frames by Stacking 4 Together! How to Make a Faux Cloisonne Pendant Tutorial Triple Wire Flower Necklace Tutorial Nature Inspired Eco Jewelry by Luana Coonen Winner of the Origami Jewelry Motifs Book Giveway   Contact Me • Past Issues • Join This List • Unsubscribe     Click here to safely unsubscribe from "The Beading Gem's Journal." Click here to view mailing archives, here to change your preferences, or here to subscribe • Privacy Email subscriptions powered by FeedBlitz, LLC, 365 Boston Post Rd, Suite 123, Sudbury, MA 01776, USA.