Customer Reviews

The Art of Beadwork: Historic Inspiration, Contemporary Design

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My first thoughts while reading this book were "Where have you been all this time?" and "Boy, this was well worth the wait!"

Many of the beading books available today are for beginning beadworkers who are just beginning to explore the art form. This is not - it discusses beading in a social, historical and geographic context, and each chapter contains one or more projects that illustrate the topics being discussed. The directions for the projects are good, and the diagrams are clear. However, this book is not for the person who sat down yesterday with a tube of beads and expects to make a masterpiece, or for the person who wants to make identical copies of a craft pattern diagrammed by another.

With the help of other talented bead artists, Ms. Hector teaches some advanced techniques and gives suggestions on making your own masterpieces using those techniques. It is not a "how to" book in the traditional sense, as it does not assume that you will follow the instructions, making bead for bead copies of the illustrated projects. Rather, it is like having an instructor who helps you with the skills you'll need to create your own art.

Beads are truly universal, and are among the oldest items manufactured by humans. Ms. Hector understands that and this book illustrates ancient techniques that are still indispensible, fresh and relevant to today's bead artist. It also provides a bit of humility to anyone who thinks they've discovered a completely new beading technique - it's almost inevitible that a skilled bead artist beat you to your "invention," probably centuries ago!

Definitely a must have for those who want to know their art and elevate it to something more than a "cute hobby."I predict that this book will join a select few titles that have become indispensible to those of us who spend far too much time and money researching and using these addictive little items with holes in them.

I waited months and months and *months* for this book after seeing the author's work in person and nearly fainting on the spot over her inexpressibly luxurious Xhosa double scallop stitch pieces (technique included in this book). Every few months I'd check on the status, and find out the publication date had been set back, and I thought I'd expire from desire before I got it.

AT LAST it was published, and I pounced -- and OH, *what* a marvelous book it is, and how well worth waiting for!! How wonderful to have the rare book for more advanced beadworkers -- packed with superb diagrams and inspirational photographs and unusual, atypical stitches.

Hector's approach is sort of anthropological; she builds the chapters around traditional/cultural styles of beadwork from around the globe and throughout history, presenting a rich and well-researched context of historical and multicultural example in which she roots the contemporary projects. Each chapter features the work of a different contemporary bead artist, who designed his or her project in response to the historical/cultural inspiration featured in that chapter.

The result is the most novel, juicy and satisfying wide-ranging offering of truly unique beadwork inspiration. That said, it should be noted that it would not serve well as a first "how-to" book for a beginning beader; some of the stitches are rather advanced and I believe would prove frustrating to most beginners. On the other hand, that is exactly what makes this one of my FAVORITE bead books of all! It's so gratifying to find a truly unique set of techniques that have not been presented in a dozen other books. In addition, the marvelous range of photographs, showing both historic and contemporary beadwork from around the world, still make this an unquestionably valuable inspiration book for more novice beaders.

I only wish I could give this gem 6 or 7 stars, and hope all those who are truly enamored of beadwork or textiles, traditional or contemporary, as collectors or artists or just fans, will rush to buy this super, unique book by this very learned and talented artist/author!

I received my book 2 days ago. I looked through it and though I'm by no means done going through it, I had to jump in and try the cubic right angle weave. It's so cool!
The great thing about this book is the unusual weaves. Definitely not the same ol' stuff you see all the time. I'm an experienced beader and am always on the lookout for books that are not geared to the beginning beader. This book is really wonderful. As another reviewer said. She presents the possibilites in photos, then gives the general instructions, suggests other design possibilities leaving the rest to your imagination. The instructions given were clear and concise and enough to continue on your own (provided you're not a beginning beader.)
If you're an intermediate to advanced beader looking for new things to try, you've GOT to have this book. Beginning beaders will enjoy seeing the wonderful possibilities that can be viewed in this book but will probably want to get a good handle on weaving techniques before jumping into the projects offered here.
I can't wait to get back to this book and trying some more of the techniques. My upcoming vacation will be filled with hours devoted to this book.
I wasn't familiar with the author before but will definitely be watching for her name from now on.
GREAT BOOK!

I have been doing beadwork, writing about beadwork, researching beads and beadwork, devoting my master's degree work to beadwork ... everything I have ever done these past 10 years seem to relate to beads ... even vacations with my wife center on going to specific bead stores, collections and museums.

This book is PHENOMENAL! There are things in this book that I could never have dreamed about. The photography, illustrations and explanations for the projects are first rate. Linking them to traditional pieces is brilliant.

This is the one book that will change the face of beadwork to come in the future.

With this artist's name on the cover I was expecting really great and creative projects, like the ones this talented bead artist is known for. Her work is both technically and visually beautiful. I do agree with the other reviews, that the book is filled with great historical information on beading but even the beads on both the front and back covers are not even included in the book, I think that is a little misleading.
I was expecting this book to be filled with Ms. Hector's designs not other bead artists projects.
If you want a great history lesson on beading, this is the book for you but if you want Valerie Hector's designs, you will be dissapointed.

Beadworkers have traditionally received less volume and detail in their guidebooks than quilters, but the genre is growing and has been enhanced by the addition of Valerie Hector's The Art Of Beadwork: Historic Inspiration, Contemporary Design. Valerie Hector is a famous jewelry designer who invited several artists to use a piece of beadwork from another time or culture as inspiration for creating a new piece: The Art Of Beadwork celebrates this effort, blending history and an overview of cross-cultural beading traditions with artist profiles and fun projects for creating necklaces, earrings, pins and more. With the world as its inspiration, The Art Of Beadwork features inspirational pieces from around the world, with diagrams and easy project notes assuring relative newcomers will be able to duplicate the polished results.

So far I've only had the time to quickly glance through this book - it is packed with so much wonderful information that one definitely needs a good block of time to read it all.

I am amazed at the wonderful charts - detailed to the bead number and threading. All of the detailed background info, charts that are truly worthwhile, and ideas - are sensibly edited and really gives one "bang for the buck" for this book.

It took a long time for this book to be released but very much worth the wait. I recommend getting it NOW! as the artist's site indicates the first edition has sold out.

This is a truly beautifully organized and presented book. It appeals to a wide audience, not only those who plan to create the beaded jewelry from the detailed instructions given. It is excellent from a historical basis, and those who just want to look at the lavish photos will be richly rewarded!

I was a little disappointed because I thought the book would have gobs of patterns for the beaded beads on the cover. Not so. However, it's a wonderful beadwork history book or reference bead book to see how beading has transpired through the ages.

Tons of great beading techniques & some history lessons to go with. No need for me to repeat in 2008 what others have been writing since 2005! :)

I do want to point out this book is unique in my collection because it's the only one I know of to cover polygon stitch. Not only is it covered, the instructions are easy and there is a FANTASTIC chart to go with it so you can resize it, change your bead counts/rows and weave this hollow tubular rope in any number of ways. I'd like to hug the author for publishing that chart alone! :)