There are many jewelry making publications which typically focus on just one type of jewelry making like bead work or wire work. But many people - myself included - are keen on using different mediums and techniques. So if you are multi-disciplinary, you might well be interested in this quarterly publication.


Belle Armoire Jewelry is published by Stampington and Company.  It is one of their many, many 
art and crafts publications.  They call it a magazine but at 144 pages, the issues are more like books.

I recently received a copy of the Belle Armoire Jewelry Spring 2018 for review. My first impressions was an issue packed with projects, tips and loads of inspiration.

There were 26 main projects in all which involves several different techniques - beadwork, mixed media, resin, resin clay, polymer clay, wire work, enamelling and metal work. Some designs combined techniques.  Like many jewelry making magazines, submissions are welcomed - clear guidelines are at the back. So every issue is in reality a beautifully curated and balanced selection of designs.

There was something for everyone, except perhaps glass artists!  I chose examples to illustrate the incredibly broad range this publication covers. A truly difficult task because there were so many outstanding designs.

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Some, but not all of the projects, included step by step images. This was obviously a compromise in order to have so many projects and articles in the book. Others had detailed written instructions with some assumptions. If you are familiar with the technique, the instructions will be easy to understand. But beginners will need to do more research.

Indeed, tips at the end of the projects sometimes included information on how to get started.  For example, one of the metal work designers, Susie Crouse,  mentioned the online videos of Mark Nelson of Rio Grande and Nancy Hamilton for those just getting started. Sherry Betschel, a macrame jewelry designer, recommended redheart.com for basic macrame knotting.  (Note : I spotted a rare typo - it reads reheart.com in the magazine which is incorrect).

Polymer Clay : Scrap Magic by Barbara Jarman
The magazine also has a featured designer - in this case, Anna Money Jewelry. There is also a Boutique Gallery at the end of the book which featured a further 8 gorgeous designs.  The instructions for each of these were much briefer -  just in paragraph format.  But these describes how each design was constructed.

Resin, Resin Clay and Metalwork : Bold and Batik by Lynne Suprock

Beadwork : Midnight on the Avenue by Dini Alves

Crochet and Wire Work : Something Old, Something New by Kim Vagnone

Wire and Metal Work : Stamped, Wired and Inspired by Rochelle Nation

Macrame and Metal Work : Strings and Things by Cooky Schock

Rock Salt Casting by Erica Stice

Feature Designer : Anna Danilova of Anna Monet Jewelry

Boutique Gallery : Moon Phase Crystal Mountain  Necklace by Jane Baecher
The photographs in this book were truly inspirational!

If anything, this publication encourages and inspires jewelry makers to explore other techniques.  If you are a jewelry making "polyglot" who wants to continue to grow and learn to "speak" different styles, Belle Armoire Jewelry might just be the magazine for you.

Giveaway
If you'd like to win this giveaway for a copy of Belle Armoire Jewelry Spring 2018,  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.

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, April 2, 2018. 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!

Before You Go:
Disclosure
I receive books and products for review. This blog contains affiliate links. I do receive a small fee for any products purchased through affiliate links. This goes towards the support of this blog and to provide resource information to readers. The opinions expressed are solely my own. They would be the same whether or not I receive any compensation.
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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
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