Lark Books, 50 College Street, Asheville, NC 28801, hardcover, 160 pages

Fisch opens her introduction on the deck of a Turkish freighter in the harbor of Marseilles pleading with the Captain for something to do with her hands during the four day wait before the ship debarks for Piraeus. She is given a huge coil of small gauge copper wire and spends her time creating without the use of tools. She then tells us a little history of wire and references many metal textile arts that have been created. The first chapter is Historical Precedents, which gives us a background of metal with textiles in pre-Colombian ponchos, Finnish aprons and Ghana beads of the past. There are examples of bobbin-lace ornaments from the 1500s decorated with small metal coils and metal lace from an Indian burial in South Dakota in which strips of copper alternate with copper wires woven on a cotton warp. These are such delicious tidbits most of us never knew about and we are not at the end of the first chapter. There are many other examples included. The second chapter lists basic materials, tools and processes for various techniques. Chapter Three covers Weaving using thin to thick wire in round and flat sheets worked in many different variations from flat to three dimensional forms. Strip weaving, shaped weaving, cardweaving and loom weaving are explained along with photos. Some of the techniques includes using an 8 harness loom and even overshot is discussed. Chapter Four, Knitting, has step-by-step photos for basic stitches using wire. Next you see all kinds of creative knitted pieces that definitely do not use exact patterns including a mask and ruffled collars. Spool knitting is discussed with photos of cylinders used and knitty knobbys to make tubular necklaces and pieces to be incorporated into other artforms. Machine knitting can also accommodate wire and is explained. Chapter Five is Crochet;my favorite. This chapter also includes step-by-step instructions to crochet with wire and also make hairpin lace. You find a variety of fine crocheted artforms including a combination of glass seed beads and bugle beads in a jewelry piece using threaded coated copper wire. Chapter Six shows us how to use Braiding techniques to form many shapes we thought only possible with leather. Chapter Seven, Interlinking and Its Variations, Sprang and Bobbin Lace, shows us wire on bobbins making wire bobbin lace and several techniques that look like netting. Chapter Eight, Basketry, has plaiting, twining, coiling and caning and rushing techniques including some step-by-step photos. What knocked my eyes out of my head was the Sampler Necklace by Susan Wood-Onstad on page 108. It is a variety of beads made of wire using mad weave, woven loop-in-loop chain, interlinked coils, twined cylinders and plaited beads. The mad weave is the center piece and has a bezel around it of metal. It is absolutely awesome! There are several other photos of wire basketry in this chapter. Chapter Nine, Knots and Knotting, is our old friend macramé' dressed in wire. Samples include attaching rings into a piece and making a Josephine knot. Chapter Ten, Contemporary Work, A Pictorial Survey, is an exciting review of contemporary wire artists' work in color. This section is an inspiration to both fiber and bead artists. It will give you many ideas for creations of your own. Every time I look through this chapter I come up with new ideas for future creations with beads, fiber and wire combined. The appendix includes recommended tools and shop equipment, melting points of various metals, abbreviations, comparative sizing of hooks and needles, comparative systems of metal measurements and standard wire gauges. A list of suppliers for tools and metals is included and a bibliography followed by an index. This is an innovative book that invites you to stretch your imagination and use the techniques you already know to experiment with new materials. Beginners are given instructions to learn old techniques and combine them in wire for innovative designs. Even if you never plan to work in wire, this is a book that will excite your imagination and be a welcome addition to your library. It is definitely a part of mine.