New York City–based jewelry designer Emilie Shapiro is releasing her second how-to jewelry book. It’s the follow-up to her first, How to Create Your Own Jewelry Line, which is currently ranked the best-selling book in the jewelry design category on Amazon.
Her new tome, Creative Wax Carving, is billed as a thorough class in wax carving that teaches an effective and easy way to create pieces.
“I’ve been wax carving and teaching wax carving for years,” says Shapiro, “and I just felt, when students asked me about a wax carving book, that there wasn’t a modern one I could really get behind. There are a lot of great books on the subject, but so many of the projects in them are outdated…I felt I wanted to present it in a modern way.”
Chapters explain how to make molds and multiple models with variations, featuring projects ranging from a simple, carved ring and tribal-inspired earrings to intermediate-level pieces: an elephant pendant, snake bangle, and cuff bracelet with a bezel-set gemstone.
Brass-and-gem Dragonfly collar necklace, $355; Emilie Shapiro
The book will drop Oct. 3 with an event in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, that’s part wax seminar, part soirée. The evening will include an interactive workshop and Q&A with Shapiro and other jewelry industry professionals; there will be a hands-on demo of wax carving tools, materials, and basic techniques (guests can opt to carve a simple ring).
Tickets are $35 on her website. Entry includes the mini lesson, a seat at the Q&A, a gift bag, and some tasty libations—beer, wine, and swanky cupcakes. You’ll find a signed copy of Creative Wax Carving and your own carving wax from Freeman Wax, among other goodies, in the gift bag.
“You can just come and hang,” Shapiro notes. “It’s going to be very casual, and I think very fun!”
(Top: Emilie Shapiro’s forthcoming book, Creative Wax Carving)
Follow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine