The Earring Style Book: Making Designer Earrings, Capturing Celebrity Style, and Getting the Look for Less

I love this book for inspiration. I refer to it often. I think the book is well organized, giving a concise overview of tools and supplies in the front, and also instructions on how to make all of the frames that every earring style in the book is based on. I love that. The pictures of the earrings are great too and there is often multiple pictures of a particular style using different stones or materials. There are even stars wearing the earrings - which adds a 'cool' factor to some of the items.Where the book fails is in the actual instruction. I tried making 3 of the projects so far. When there are detailed pictures and instructions, sometimes the instructions describe that you should wrap the frame holding the front (good side) facing you, but the pictures show the back. It's pretty confusing! (they mean what the words say though - I'm not sure why the pictures show the back). As another reviewer mentioned, the wire and project size measurements are not always correct. For example, when I made the Rachael earrings, it called for 1.5 inches of wire to wrap the spiral to the frame. It just isn't enough to wrap as many times as the instructions called for. It was a minor problem, but still frustrating. I also made the 'Marlene' earrings which called for '50 links of gold-filled common chain'. She does have a guide that describes 'common chain' as 4.5 mm, but I think it probably would have been easier if she just described the size chain she used and how to adjust the project for a different size chain. These are minor issues though - and as long as you have some experience you should be able to work around these issues reasonably well.The book gives an estimated time to make projects. Don't count on them. That is the amount of time it might take after you've made them a couple of times. I didn't like feeling like something should take 15-20 mins when it took me an hour.And another, but this time positive thing. I goofed up making the frame for the spirals on the Rachael earrings and they didn't fit. It was FABULOUS that I just turned to the section that gave the frame instructions and there was a reference of all the other earrings that used that same frame. From there, I was able to use the frames that didn't fit into a different pair of earrings and make new frames slightly larger for the spirals. That made me sooo happy to be able to easily re-use those frames.I added pictures of some of the earrings I made. They are lovely and I get compliments on them all the time. Also, the projects are easy to adapt to use different stones than the ones she recommends.

I want to give this book a 5 star, no, like a 100 star review, because it is by far one of the most inspiring beading books I own or have seen. I want to create almost everything in the book. The earrings I've made have gotten wonderful complements & offers to buy them. However, as I've attempted to do the designs, following the directions step by step, I have been driven to complete frustration & anger at the obviously inaccurate directions. Often is given the wrong amount of wire, the wrong size mandrels, missing instructions (like forgetting to tell you to hammer it, for example, which is easy to catch, still, why omit it?) I don't even know if the measurements of the final product are accurate (and from where are we measuring?) And as the book progresses, the step-by-step images go down to almost none. Why?! And, there are no images with a person actually making the earrings, I find that a big blunder, too as you lose out on technique. All they have are pictures of the step completed.The book has become a great tease: "look at me! you paid for directions to make these wonderful earrings! But well, I'm not gonna tell you exactly how to do it. ha ha!" I want to think the best & say it must have been a mistake or typo or someone other than the supposed author wrote the instructions. But I've found other jewelry making books, while not as flagrant as this book, have similar issues. Is it some grand plan for designers to keep their designs from everyone? Like the chef not telling you the secret ingredient in the dish that makes it truly great? I don't know. I feel abused by this & angry that there has not been a reprint or even a webpage where I could go to get the correct instructions. Ultimately, if you are experienced, you could probably do these designs with less frustration than I, despite the incorrect instructions...I'm not a complete newbie to wirework, so I have eventually figured out on my own how to work out most of what I've tried. However, I buy a book or take a class to get educated & instructed on how to do a certain technique or style in a clear, accurate way...NOT to fumble around on my own, wasting time & wire & getting frustrated..When I design my own jewelry styles, I'm happy to fumble about..but I don't expect to do that when I'm supposedly being taught something & paid money for said instruction.

This is a beautiful book full of marvelously attractive designs for earrings made in various metals. Some earrings are embellished with gemstones or silk, and there's a lot of variety. The artist bases many of her designs on "frames" made from shaped and hammered wire, and then shows lots of ways to embellish these frames. She also uses premade chain as an element in several of her designs. The techniques she uses are adaptable to a wide range of metals and can be adapted to make other jewelry items, such as pendants and charms. I really enjoyed looking through the book and my fingers are itching to start making earrings based on these designs.I do have some quibbles. First, I've been making jewelry for many years, and while I'm sure I can make everything in the book, this shouldn't be your first or second jewelry-making book. I think you should be thoroughly acquainted with wireworking before attempting some of these designs. Some of the basic instructions may not be sufficient for beginners. There are almost no step-by-step illustrations and some topics aren't explained or illustrated sufficiently if you don't already understand them. For example, the topic of opening and closing jump rings is not illustrated at all; there's a "Note" in small type on p. 39 and that's it. Second, some of these designs are really elementary. The "Marilyn" earrings are just a drop with a wrapped loop on an earwire. And those cool leaf earrings on the title page enticed me, but the instructions don't show you how to make the leaf bead -- they just call for "brass leaf or other pendant beads." Grrr.Still, some of these designs are exquisite! I recommend this book for the somewhat-experienced wireworker.

Very informative

As new. great value

Fabulous, beautiful and elegant earring, mixed with fun styles, love this book. This book has given me the confidence to make wire work earrings.

Fantastic design ideas, very clear instructions with alternative suggestions for other materials to be used

great book arrived really quickly