Wonderful, Wearable Wire, Designs by Betty Bacon and Karen Ray, Contributions from Marjorie and Gary Helwig
ISBN 0-9650784-2-6, Softbound, 172 pages, $37.00, Helwig Industries, PO Box 5306, Arlington, VA 22205, 800-579-WIRE, fax 703-536-3690, http://www.wigjig.com

This book is a combination of Marjorie’s tools, designer patterns and much hard work and testing. The book is dedicated to Marjorie Helwig, a lovely lady I dearly miss.

The Table of Contents is so extensive it is on four pages and every listing is how to make a different item in wire. There is a complete chapter on how to use the book and work with the WigJig Olympus tool. Then each chapter is broken in down into specific component pieces. The first chapters include Chains, Links and Clasps; Pendants and Earrings; Yokes and Pins; and Sun Catchers and Holiday Ornaments. Each chapter has a full color covered page that is thick and glossy so it is easy to see where each chapter begins. Each project in each chapter has a WigJig Olympus template illustrating placement of the pegs to make the design. Two or more illustrations are included showing the design that is made and the path the wire follows to make the design.

There are hundreds of designs jampacked in this book. I got so excited when I looked through these designs that I am including some of the wire creations in my upcoming loom weaving book. From small 1 ½" shapes for earrings to very large shapes for purse frames, Wonderful, Wearable Wire has it.

Some shapes can be made into angels and other figures. Many shapes can be covered with beads and fiber and combined into other projects. Beads can be incorporated right into the wirework as you are making it. Many traditional as well as contemporary motifs are included. There are even fish, trees, leaves and eggs. There are 135 pages of designs in wire! You will never run out of designs to make.

The last chapters includes tools and supplies; descriptions of tools you will be using; types of wire to use; hardening wire; how-to techniques and illustrations of wireworking with and without the Olympus tool;, wrapping and coiling beads and piles of other information.

Everything you ever wanted to know about working with a classy jig and all the extras without one are in Wonderful, Wearable Wire. This is Marjorie’s labor of love. We are very fortunate she was able to compile all this information for us. Whether you are a wirework enthusiast or just like to include wire in other bead and fiber work, you will find this an excellent how-to and reference book.