Twenty to Make: Celtic Jewellery: (Twenty to Make)

Sumptuous Celtic jewellery at your fingertips. Amanda Walker showcases her beautiful work with these Celtic-themed pieces of jewellery, ranging from necklaces to bracelets, and earrings to bag charms. Twenty projects are covered in the popular 'recipe' style of the series, which gives clear, simple and comprehensive step-by-step instructions to creating the piece of jewellery pictured. Each project is accompanied by a sumptuous variation, taking in all corners of the Celtic world, ancient and modern.

About the Author :
Amanda Walker was born in Cambridge in 1958, and moved to Suffolk after her sixth birthday. She led an idyllic country life and attained a Diploma in Fashion. She has had numerous fashion and design jobs, designing everything from men's and women's wear, to handbags, shoes and belts. For the past twenty five years Amanda's design work has encompassed one-off wedding dresses, special occasion outfits, toys (Sindy, Action Man, Simpsons, Tweenys) and millinery. During this period she had also taught at a number of colleges, teaching a variety of different subjects from textiles to soft furnishings. Amanda also regularly contributes to magazines, and was voted 'Designer of the Year' for 2006 and runner up in 2007. This magazine work has led to other opportunities including creating craft and jewellery kits and craft demonstration work for various companies at hobby and craft exhibitions. Amanda says 'I work from my Colchester home that I share with my two gorgeous teenage sons, where I can indulge my passions for cooking, gardening and interior design.'

Review :
Experienced author Amanda Walker showcases her beautiful work with these Celtic-themed pieces of jewellery, ranging from necklaces to bracelets and earrings to bag charms. The 20 projects are covered in the popular 'recipe' style of the series, which gives clear simple and comprehensive step-by-step instructions to creating the piece of jewellery pictured. Each project is accompanied by a sumptuous variation, taking in all corners of the Celtic world, ancient and modern.-Machine Knitting Monthly Celtic Jewellery by Amanda Walker, is the latest in the brilliantly priced (GBP4.99) Twenty-to-make series. It has a huge range of techniques and ideas there are lots of interesting knotted pieces, bag dangles and some really different paper ear rings. I had a go at knotting a bracelet and really liked the design. I wouldn't say it felt a massively Celtic book, I think if you used more oriental beads for example you could completely change the feel of a design. As I say though there are massive of techniques here, and none of the designs list huge quantities of expensive beads. This would be a perfect book for anyone wanting to dip their toe into jewellery making, wanting to extend their skills or wanting a gift for a younger crafter. At GBP4.99 this book is the same price as some beading magazines and you get a lot more ideas, no adverts, and a really neat little tome to come back to time and again if you are stuck for ideas- perfect!-Anke.blogs.com Some things are timeless, and the art of the Celts appeals just as much to us as it did to them, over a thousand years ago. All that complex knotwork, fantastic beasts and swirling patterns are not just good for adorning manuscripts and metalwork however; it also looks great turned into eye-catching contemporary jewellery. This book makes the most of the vast array of craft media available these days and interprets Celtic style using such diverse materials as PMC, scrapbooking paper, novelty brads, fabric flowers, felt and a variety of yarns. Tie knots, work with some lovely Celtic beads, braid, use buttons and twirl silk-covered wire to great effect, making twenty different pieces and having another twenty variations to get the creative juices flowing for your own designs. Some prior knowledge of the chosen media is useful, and in many cases essential although instructions are given for each piece. These books are small, and if you are hoping for photographic step-by-steps you had better look elsewhere. For those like this reviewer with plenty of craft experience and lots of bits and pieces this is a great addition to your library as it gets you to find new uses for all sorts of things you would not think of making into jewellery. A useful and often surprising book.-Myshelf.com This is a most attractively presented little book. Most of the designs are formed of cords or ribbons with attractive metallic beads of various sizes decorated with Celtic style motifs. The Celtic theme is continued in some of the designs by the use of intricate-looking Celtic knots for which there are clear diagrams. Other projects use fabric, chains and even paper, none of which appear too difficult, and provided you can equip yourself with the right sorts of cords, beads and findings etc, it should be possible to make any of these in an evening. I liked the designs using the stain cords in glowing colours best - now I only need to look for the cord in my nearest craft shop. There is plenty of scope for 'twitching' the patterns by changing the componnets to add your own original touch.(Anita Seamons)-Bead Society of Great Britain