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Book Review and Giveaway | Jeweler's Enameling Workshop

Enameling - the fusing of powdered glass onto metal by firing - is an ancient technique.  It has been used mainly in the decorative arts and jewelry. And no wonder! The vivid colors are simply wonderful. It is arguably the best way to add color to metal.  One well known type of enamel work is cloisonné where thin wires form barriers to the colored enamel.


I recently received Jeweler's Enameling Workshop: Techniques and Projects for Making Enameled Jewelry from Interweave/F+W Media for review.   The book is by Pauline Warg, a metal smith with 38 years of experience.

This artist started on her enameling journey when she was just 7 years old. She had received a Trinket Enameling Kit which included a small kiln (similar to this Ultralite Kiln) and was allowed to set up a small studio!!  She said, " I read and experimented with all the techniques described in the pamphlet that came with the kit. I was quite productive, making gifts of bowls, pins, pendants and earrings for family members.  That kiln gave me hours of enjoyment for many years, and I taught myself the basics of sifted enamels using it."

That early experience cemented her interest. Her book thus distills decades of practical know how. The Enameling Basics section of the book is particularly text heavy but essential reading for enameling newbies. What is different about this enameling resource is the coverage for both torch fired and kiln fired projects.  The author covers all the different kiln options.


The projects include ways of dry sifting enamel powder using stencils, glass threads and foil.  She also covers wet packing where the enamels are kept wet. 


The projects start with the easiest and progressively gets more challenging.  Although the Jewelry Making Tips and Tricks at the end covers some basic wire and metal work, this book does not have a specific section on how to use a jewelry saw, file, drill, solder and form metal.  The author does however demonstrate some techniques like fold forming ( the green earrings below) in individual projects. 






The author has a beautiful project for a cloisonné ring (see below).  


She also includes a project using the Champlevé (French for "raised field") method where holes are cut out of a metal layer which is then silver soldered onto a backing metal layer. The enamel is added to the holes or pits.  Pauline says this is her favorite method although she cautions that it's for those with some experience of enameling.  I can see why. Her Champlevé bead pendant was also my favorite design from the book. 

What she doesn't cover is the Plique-à-jour (French for "letting in daylight") technique. It is an advanced and challenging one and beyond the scope of the book.  It is a bit similar to cloisonne but there is no backing metal. The stained glass effect is stunning!  (Rene Lalique was one Art Nouveau artist who excelled at this - see example)



Enameling is definitely the next skill to consider once one has embarked on a metal smithing journey. This book is an invaluable resource to have on hand to learn this art. Best suited for those with some metal work experience.

Giveaway
If you'd like to win a copy of Jeweler's Enameling Workshop, 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 international. 
If the winner has a non-post box US address, the prize will be a physical book.  Otherwise it will be an eBook.

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,  June 20 , 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.

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40 comments:

  1. This book looks really interesting and fun!

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  2. Sounds like this book offers comprehensive coverage!

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  3. Oohh learning how to enamel properly-I love this idea! A book would be a lot better way to do it than trial and error(my most frequent method of learning), would love to win this. Am a subscriber and blog follower, can be reached at retro-grrl@hotmail.com.

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  4. Would love to win this, thank you for the opportunity!

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  5. I absolutely love the look of enamel and would love to learn how to do it! I think it would go beautifully with my glass work!

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  6. I love her story and of course her designs. I'm particularly the copper washer bracelet. So add me to the list please.
    I'm FB, blog, twitter follower.
    Carol

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  7. Oh My! How awesome it would be to learn how to do this! I love learning new jewelry techniques!
    Shuga217@gmail.com

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  8. This book provides some very interesting ideas

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  9. Awsome technique! Didn't try it yet, but I'd love to start.

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  10. I've always wanted to learn enameling....maybe this book would get me off the fence and actually give it a go.

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  11. I would love to win this book since I am starting to begin learning this technique to advance to the next step of my skills with metal work. Thank you for the giveaway, Pearl.

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  12. This is a technique I've been wanting to add to my own line. She has some great and inspiring ideas!

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  13. I have Pauline Warg's vids on enameling thru Interweave. I hadn't bought this book because I had thought it might cover the same info. Your review makes me realize that this book covers MUCH more than the Interweave vids. Pauline's explanations are clear and thorough. Her teaching techniques are superb. This book will be worth its weight in gold for learning or improving enameling techniques.

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  14. Here is my link I shared on Pinterest.

    http://pin.it/E4bM0m4

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  15. I have been interested in learning the art of enamel. This sounds like a good resource to have. Thanks!

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  16. I am a blog subscribe and follower.

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  17. I did a blog entry for the giveaway on my blog. Here is the link.

    https://enchantingaccents.wordpress.com/2016/06/13/beading-gem-book-review-and-giveaway/

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  18. I would just love to win this book. I've got it on my wishlist, but it'd sure be nice to get it for free:) I've just started with enameling and have one of those Bee Hive kilns. I've made a ring and some pendants and just love the process of it. Thanks for the chance to win the book.

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  19. this book looks like it has all the information i need to learn properly!

    kat newkirk
    kat 111153 @ hotmail dot com

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  20. My bad. I have corrected the end date to June 20!!

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  21. I love enameling. What an interesting looking book. Thanks for reviewing it!

    Jackie
    beadsmith@sbcglobal.net

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  22. Such an interesting looking book. I like the flow used to present and explain methods and needed skills.
    Mona

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  23. Another technique that I have been waiting to try, thank you Pearl. Blog follower: zoowatcher10@yahoo.com.

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  24. I have been learning different enameling techniques in the last year and would love to learn some new techniques and projects from Pauline.

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  25. This looks like a great area to explore!

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  26. I love the look of enameled jewelry! I've always admired my friend Breezy's enameled jewelry....

    Always have felt like I needed to know more 'how to' to even go out and buy all the powders and equipment needed to do this so. This looks like an excellent book to help build my knowledge!

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  27. A technique that I'd really like to learn...I'm a blog subscriber karlynr@gmail.com

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  28. Learning to enamel is on my bucket list and I would love to win this book to help me along the way!

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  29. I have been wanting to do enameling, but only have a torch and huge old kiln. I would love to have a reference/resource to help me start.

    Follower & subscriber

    lorimahan71@gmail.com

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  30. Have always wanted to try enameling! Beautiful book! (Blog subscriber, too.) mcstellen1 @ yahoo dot com

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  31. I love the idea of enamelling - thank you for the chance to win:)

    victoria_farrell at hotmail.com

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  32. All the designs look great. I would love to learn more.. thanks for the opportunity.

    I am a blog follower via bloglovin

    srisen2001@yahoo.co.in

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  33. I love love love the look of champleve enamel work but as a beginner jewellery maker it sounds like I have a way to go before I can try this technique myself!. Hopefully this book will start me off in the right direction...

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  34. Would be a great book to win - thanks for the opportunity. I'm a follower on FB and subscribe to the blog via Bloglovin.

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  35. I would love to learn this technique, thanks for always showing us new things and great resources to learn from.
    I do subscribe to your newsletter but I'll leave my email just in case.
    Pao_andreas@hotmail.com

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  36. Pearl - thanks for all your hard work at providing us so much info over the years - I've learned a great deal from you!

    I would love to win this book - I've done some torch enameling and recently got an Ultralite kiln. There's always more to learn and this book looks loaded!

    Thanks for the opportunity to win it!

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  37. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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