Bead Directory: The Complete Guide to Choosing And Using More Than 600 Beautiful Beads [Spiral-bound]

Elise Mann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2006

Beaders and other artisans have knowledge and ideas at their fingertips with this comprehensive reference to more than 600 individual beads that are readily available and appropriate for contemporary projects. Chapters are separated by bead material—including glass, wood, semi-precious stone, and ceramic beads. Each bead is pictured from several angles, alongside descriptions of dimensions, color range, usage, special care, size of hole, weight, suitable stringing materials, relative cost, and suggested complementary beads. An extensive index lists suppliers in stores and online, making this reference an invaluable companion for designers looking to add to their bead-bag of tricks.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An impressive book as a resource and for dreaming...A wish book, just for the eye candy." — BellaOnline

"Spiral bound with a sturdy cover, which is a good thing because this book will get a workout!" — Bead-PatternsMag.com

"A remarkable compilation...a wonderful resource." — Needlepoint Now

"Beading fans will like the extensive reference section of bead-making artists and stores both Web-based and brick and mortar." — Express: A Publication of the Washington Post

"Think of it as a 'field guide' for beads. It will help you make better purchasing decisions." — Bella Online Guide to Jewelry Making

"Gorgeous, clever book." — Get Creative

About the Author

Elise Mann specializes in beadwork and bead making and is the newsletter editor for the Bead Society of Great Britain.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 256 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596680024
• ISBN-13: 978-1596680029
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #954,934 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Elise Mann, known as The Crafty Owl, has been a crafts writer, designer and teacher for over twenty five years. Seriously asthmatic as a child, she was taught to knit (to give her something to do which did not require getting out of bed) at the age of five, taught herself to crochet from a book the following year and has never stopped learning new crafts and working in older ones since. Unable to get into art college due to an inability to draw (in those days in the UK being able to design and create craftwork was not sufficient) she has a degree in Physics and worked as a computer systems designer but always crafted, designed and wrote projects for magazines and books in evenings and weekends. Now happily practicing her crafts full time, she specializes in beadwork and beadmaking, and is Newsletter Editor for the Bead Society of Great Britain. Elise's favourite part of crafting is sharing tips, techniques and designs, so she particularly enjoys the teaching and writing parts of her work.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Nice "Guide" Book, April 5, 2006

By 

Tamila J. Darling "Polymer Clay Artist" (Sandusky, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bead Directory: The Complete Guide to Choosing And Using More Than 600 Beautiful Beads (Spiral-bound)

This book is a wonderful little comprehensive "guide" to the different shapes, sizes and composition properties of the beads included. I feel this book will be particularly helpful and a wonderful resource to those just starting out in beading. To learn about types, the correct names for shapes and to be able to see the names of the bead/stones that you may hear about frequently, this is PERFECT! Not only does it tell you what the beads are, it explains why or how the name was arrived at. There is also a nice section on findings along with a very well thought out guide for every bead listed. The guide found along the side edge of each bead listed provides the shape of the bead when strung from both front and side views, the weight, the size, type of stringing recommended, the costs to your wallet and a ruler guide as to how many of each particular bead can be strung on a thread 10 inches long. This feature will be particularly helpful in preventing over purchasing of beads by not buying more than you will need for a particular project you may have in mind. Additionally it shows each bead with several different views and an "actual size" photograph, which I find extremely helpful. If you are looking for a book on "HOW TO" bead, this is not it. However, before you really can learn how to bead, you ARE going to need to know all the things in this book. Very nice resource guide and index with this one too, for quick location of a particular bead. The book itself is in a beautiful hard cover with a nice spiral spine that is housed inside the cover. This book has a retail price of $24.95 US, but on Amazon only $15.72!!! A real bargain for the price and one of the best bead books I own (and I have PLENTY!)

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great for Beginners, March 17, 2006

By 

Christine Dietsche "Avid Beader" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bead Directory: The Complete Guide to Choosing And Using More Than 600 Beautiful Beads (Spiral-bound)

This book is great for the Beginner Beader to learn the names and shapes of beads. As an Advanced Beader I was disappointed, assuming this directory would include more information, including history of particular beads, qualities of the stones and where they come from, where certain beads originate from. Perhaps a "must-have" for Beginners, but somewhat redundant for the Advanced Beader.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for beginners, August 8, 2007

By 

Carol M "Carol" (NC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bead Directory: The Complete Guide to Choosing And Using More Than 600 Beautiful Beads (Spiral-bound)

I've been beading for about a year and after glancing through it a couple of times, didn't feel it was much help to me. But, if you are NEW to beading and buying beads, this is a great book for you. It categorizes the different type beads, sizes, shapes and makes suggestions on coordinating beads. It's still good for identifying different beads and stones.