Customer Reviews

Beaded Adornment (Beadwork Books)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
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2 star:		(2)
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Jeanette Shanigan has carefully laid out over 20 projects designed to expose those interested in beadwork to a myriad of styles and levels of beadwork craft. The photography is wonderful both for the artfully designed layout of the completed project as well as the close-up detail. Jeanette's experience clearly shows through in the beadwork displayed throughout the book.

Author Jeanette Shanigan is a member of the Anchorage Chapter of the Alaska Bead Society. In her book, she shows six beadwork techniques to create 23 necklace and earring sets. Techniques include: backstitch, netting, brick stitch and edge beading, peyote stitch, and split-loom weaving.

Even if you are familiar with these techniques, Jeanette's book is worth a look because of her last chapter, a "Gallery of Beadwork by Alaskan Artists." Readily apparent is the influence of Alaska's wilderness on the work of these artists.

Donna Affinito submitted an earth-toned amulet bag and a butterfly barrette she fashioned from "bits and pieces from my bead box." "Fire and Icicles" and "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" are Ruby Brooks's seed bead contributions. Jana Chisum Coffey does lampwork using Morreti glass. She fashions beads that look like shells.

Lillian Ann Dewilde uses unusual, natural materials for her jewelry. She embellishes smoked moosehide with Swarovsky crystals. Most unusual is her use of dyed caribou and reindeer hair, arranged in tufts like on a chenille bedspread. Porcupine quills decorate a heart-shaped box and necklace.

Jacqueline Poston uses one of lampwork artist Andrea Guarino's beads in a complicated "Tidal Pool" necklace. The author Jeanette shows her sense of humor with her "Moose Nugget Factory" amulet bag necklace.

Rebecca Starry lives up to her name with a spectacular "In Full Bloom." She employs brick stitch and horizontal square stitch in colorful three-dimensional flowers, using Michelle Waldron's delicate lampwork beads for stamens.

Yes, this book may echo others in beadwork techniques, but you can certainly get new ideas from the Alaskan artists represented in Beaded Adornment.

I'm on my third copy of this book. I've worn one out, loaned one to my daughter and, in order to keep one in hand, am ordering a back-up copy. Basic techniques, simple projects, excellent illustrations and step-by-step instructions in netting, peyote, loom and split loom, and techniques for beading around and incorporating cabouchons into the work are all here. Best of all, every project leads into innovation and creativity for the reader. For me, he simple peyote project has evolved into true life colored butterflies in beads. I heartily recommend this book to beginners and those who know the basics but want to jump ahead into creating their own designs.

This book is one I've had a few years and anytime I forget a how to of beadwork I look for this book. The diagrams make reviewing a method easy and the designs are inspirational!

This is not a starter book even though bead stitch techniques are shown much-enlarged in photographs. Jeanette's book provides an excellent springboard for the intermediate to advanced beader. The projects use seed beads and you will be required to be as competent with thread tension as you are with netting, brick stitch and peyote stitch. Are you bored with too-simple projects? Try some of Jeanette's ideas.

This is a jewelry making book for those who love to work with seed beads. Each chapter teaches a beading method and then follows with several projects utilizing that method.

The first method is the Back Stitch Technique in which beads are sewn onto a surface into a design, or sewn around the edge of a cabochon (a stone that is rounded and polished on one side, and flat on the other). These designs are then made into necklaces, earrings and pins. Using the Netting Technique, Brick Stitch, and Peyote Stitch, beads are sewn together with needle and thread into lacy designs, or to encase a cabochon, or fringed pouch amulets, or fringed tube-style necklaces. Last is a chapter on using a loom to weave beads into amulets and earrings.

Everything in this book is beautiful and classy, but will appeal to a certain taste. To me they suggest a Native American look. I envision seeing such pieces sold in boutiques at fairly high prices, being that they require closely detailed work and a lot of time.

The instructions are clearly explained and illustrated, and are necessarily very detailed. One needs to be prepared to take the time to follow them closely. However, there is an assumption that you already are familiar with regular jewelry finishing techniques, such as how to end with crimps and clasps. The typical instructions for finishing only say something like: "String a crimping bead....close the crimping bead with crimping pliers and trim off the excess tiger tail" or "use round-nose pliers to make a loop in the head pin. Attach ear wires."

I think this is an excellent book for those with patience and a taste for this kind of look.

As a former student of Mrs. Shanigan's (she teaches a jewelry class at the high school), I found this book very well demonstrated, and easy to follow. A must have!

I was extremely disappointed with this book. I was expecting patterns that were more up to date with the times and jewelry that I could wear to work and out to dinner. These patterns weren't difficult to understand but like I said, who would want to wear it out of the house. Possibly little children would wear while playing house or something. Extremely disappointed. Don't waste your money.