This is far from a comprehensive list, and I'll be adding to it over time.
Sources: Tools and Supplies
These are some of the vendors I use and have found reliable, for both common things and more esoteric ones.
- Rio Grande: they have everything: tools, metals, stones, findings, display and packaging- even enamels, now. Their prices are list, with some quantity discounts. One thing I like about ordering metal from them is that they discount the milling fees based on the total order of a particular kind of metal- like silver- meaning that ordering some sterling wire and sheet, some fine silver casting grain, and some argentium half-round will get you a better price on all of them. Most metals vendors these days seem to be giving discounts only on quantities of the same thing exactly.
- Gesswein: Tools, with some findings. They're close enough to me that if I order one day, I'll often get my order the next- very convenient! Their web-based catalog is excellent.
- Contenti: Tools. Another near-by vendor, this one with some discounting. They are also very fast in filling orders, and have a great on-line catalog.
- Otto Frei: Boutique tools. They have things no one else carries, and also have an excellent online catalog and ordering system. Their fluoride-free paste flux is excellent- a bit stinkier than the usual, but it bubbles up less and seems to prevent firescale better.
- Fire Mountain Gems: Beads, stones and findings- but mostly beads. Excellent online catalog, and a print one that's way too much fun to look through. They have all kinds of beads and bead-like things, and I do mean ALL.
- Stachura: stones. From inexpensive jasper cabs to fine diamonds, they have it. I'll make a special mention of their pearls, which are gorgeous (from freshwater to the finest Tahitians). The people are wonderful to work with, and a great help in making choices. Wholesale only.
- Enamelworks Supply Company: Japanese (leaded) enamels. Coral is a wonderful help and great resource in making choices, and she ships fast. There are several color charts for the enamels she carries, and they are drool-worthy. She also carries various supplies, some of them impossible to find elsewhere. No Web presence, but call 206-525-9271.
- Reactive Metals, Inc.: Mostly metals, from niobium and titanium through exotic Japaese alloys and various mokume game patterns and blanks. They also have small screws, bolts, etc., small taps and dies, and miniature drill bits, plus equipment and materials for anodizing titanium etc. and different patination techniques.
- Metalliferous: Mostly metals, from aluminum and copper alloys through silver. They also carry books and some tools. They have an extensive number of copper shapes for enameling, and an astonishing assortment and quantity of silver tubing, including some with very heavy- 1mm- walls, ideal for tube-setting. No discount on silver for quantity, unfortunately, but they have things no one else carries.
- Hoover & Strong: Silver, gold, and platinum, plus findings and settings in these metals. Their quality is excellent, as is their service. They have more colors of gold than most people know exist, and carry many interesting alloys of these basic metals. Their round bezel settings for faceted stones are superb: they're milled, not cast, and very precise and easy to use (at least, when one has calibrated stones!).
Information
Some useful websites
- Ganoskin: the home of the Orchid mailing list, an invaluable resource for jewelers and metalsmiths, it also has articles and much other information of interest. Highly recommended! Orchid is a high-traffic list, though, so be prepared.
- Argentium Blog: a very informative weblog about working with Argentium sterling silver, a newish tarnish-resistant alloy with interesting and attractive working properties.
- Cynthia Eid's website: She has two articles on working with Argentium sterling posted, plus pictures of her lovely and innovative work. Warning: this site can be very slow to load!
Books
- My Amazon shop: I have some books I recommend listed here and will be listing more over time.
- Complete Metalsmith, ProPlus Edition
, by Tim McCreight: This version has both the book and the CD. The CD includes a handy program that can be installed on a PDA, with all sorts of useful calculations and conversions built in. If you don't think the CD is something you need, you can get this edition without it: Complete Metalsmith, Professional Edition
. I do recommend this new edition over the previous one; while the previous edition is fantastic, this one has even more vital information.
Magazines
- Lapidary Journal
: The name is a bit misleading, because they are as much about the metalwork as about the stones! It's a fabulous magazine, with lots of inspiring pictures, informative articles, and several interesting and fun step-by-step projects each issue. Visit Lap. Journal's website here, but be prepared for blinking ads.
- Art Jewelry: This is a relatively new magazine, but a fabulous one. Excellent production values, and much timely and useful information. They cover both traditional fabrication techniques and PMC.
- Glass on Metal
: This is about the only magazine around for enamelists, and I recommend it on that basis. The Amazon price is a bit high; you can subscribe directly at their website for $10 less a year. The production values are adequate, and they do have some colored photographs each issue (besides the cover). There is a range of technical information and discussing, and in general a range of writing skills. A serious enamelist will probably want a subscription, but it's not likely to be as valuable for a novice.
- Metalsmith
: Glossy, with high production values and superb work of a very modern sort (for the most part). The text is more focused on the nature of the art and overall aesthetics, and is generally scant on technical information. Again, a subscription via Amazon is probably not the way to go for this one; if you join SNAG (The Society for North American Goldsmiths- who do not all work primarily with gold!), a subscription comes with membership.
Artists: Various Media
- The Art Jewelry Collective: An Etsy-based group of skilled jewelllers making a wide variety of lovely and intriguing jewelry. This is the blog, with Gift Guides, general info, and links to all the members' sites.
- Diane Echnoz Almeyda: A brilliant plique-a-jour enamel artist. Plique is like miniature stained glass, and Diane does both jewelry and miniatures- like dollhouse Tiffany lamps and stained-glass windows- in it, plus other things. I was very lucky to have taken two workshops she taught.
- GrayWolf Crafts: Artist Ingrid "GrayWolf" Houwers' spectacular work, mostly featuring Celtic styles and animal motifs.
- Morningstar Hall: She paints some of the most intricate and gorgeous boxes I've ever seen! The colors and detailing are stunning.
- The Maskwood: Gorgeous, evocative masks.
- ...and Here be Dragons. Or "Hic draconis" for the medieval-minded.
