Amazing Leather

Next to handbags and shoes, there are probably no other more important fashion accessories than belts. In recent years, beautiful, stylish belts have become a staple of every womanÆs wardrobe, whether itÆs the studded belt you wear with your jeans, the ribbon belt you wear with your khakis, or the beaded belt that you wrap around your cardigan. Belts are everywhere, and surprisingly, you can make them as easily as you can make a handbag. FINALLY there is one fantastic book available to show you how! This one!

The belt projects range from quick and easy no- or low-sew to those that require simple sewing on a home machine. The book shows how to rivet and use various styles of buckles, from classic styles to D-rings to those that have clever ties and wraps. Making Stylish Belts features a range of colorful base materials and embellishments, from leather and vinyl to gorgeous fabrics, including ribbons, cords, and fibers, plus beads, sequins, and rhinestones. The materials are also easy to find. They are available at traditional fabric and craft stores, you can also purchase suitable materials for these projects at places like Wall-Mart, Target, Staples, and home box stores. An extensive resource listing is provided, as always.

Metal stamping is one of the hottest trends in metal jewelry. Using purchased metal stamps and sterling silver blanks, you can personalize your metal jewelry designs with words, textures, and creative designs. Lisa Niven Kelly, creator of the online Beaducation workshops and website, specializes in the technique and has been teaching stamping for more than six years to enthusiastic students. Although stamping is a simple technique, the right tools and skills will help you create professional and exciting results.

Stamped Metal Jewelryteaches multiple metal stamping and texturing techniques, and the projects incorporate wirework and metalsmithing to create fabulous necklaces, beads, charms, bracelets, cuffs, and earrings. The book opens with an extensive section on stamping, wirework, and metalsmithing tools and techniques. With these skills, you can begin the inspiring jewelry designs with confidence. Nineteen projects cover a variety of techniques and designs such as creating charms, incorporating stamped links into beaded projects, making stamped links from flat wire and wire-wrapping them together, stamping on blanks and layering them, riveting, texturing metal, oxidizing, and more. In addition to Lisa’s projects, the book features contributions by nationally known guest artists Tracy Stanley, Kriss Silva, Lisa Claxton, Kate Richbourg, Janice Berkebile, and Connie Fox.