Leather Jewelry

Look what I received in the mail the other day, complete with a big chunk of leather to play with!

Leather Jewelry is a great book put together by my lovely colleague, Nathalie Mornu. It features 16 different designers who've contributed 30 different projects. The photography is chic, showing beautiful models wearing the projects...You know, I realize that I really appreciate seeing some skin in jewelry books. It's nice to be able to see what pieces look like ON, and for the projects in this book, which are more on the avant garde side, it's especially important.

Leather, like metal, has enjoyed a resurgence these days....at least it has in my studio. Steampunk has been the impetus for me to get to working with leather again, but the projects in this book are beyond such thematic genres. These projects are most definitely contemporary, pushing the notions of modern jewelry design to new levels, mixing leather with other media like chain, feathers, gems, wire, and inks. It's quite exciting, actually!

The book is rounded out by a great Basics section where we learn how to set all kinds of different snaps, eyelets, and rivets, as well as a good how-to on punching and pounding leather. The project instructions are clear throughout, and the delicious gallery will inspire you to cut up your old purses and get to work. Highly recommended!