Book excerpt: Innovative jewelry artist Kate McKinnon takes you on a creative journey of techniques and projects in The Jewelry Architect as she uses a variety of materials and tools to create gallery-quality bracelets, necklaces, and rings. Beautiful color photographs and clearly written instructions will give you the building blocks to combine wirework, metal clay, beadwork, and traditional metalsmithing to create one-of-a-kind, wearable art pieces. Learn how to combine techniques and how to manufacture a variety of components such as clasps, hooks, earring findings, and ring bases to customize your work. Revel in Kate's signature style, an earthy melange of metal, beads, and fibers, as you make 16 gorgeous fashion-forward projects. In addition, The Jewelry Architect shares tips on the best ways to reinforce beadwork, bind edges, string components, form metal clay ring bands, fuse rings, create head pins, and so much more. With The Jewelry Architect, you will learn how mixing techniques and media can create art-to-wear jewelry.