Customer Reviews

Beading with Cabochons: Simple Techniques for Beautiful Jewelry (Lark Jewelry Books)

5 star:		(66)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first came aware of this book at our beading group and immediatley ordered it. She gives you so many options of doing simple to very decorative cabachon work. Her instructions are simple, easily understandable & uses great example pictures. In other books you maylook at a picture and wonder what technique was used. In this book, right under the picture she tells how she tells you what technique to use. You don't have to go hunting in the book looking for these techniques; they are organized in chapters. You start out very basic and they she build up from there. I have several books on cabachon beading and this is by far the best one I own and the one that I refer to all the time.

this is a fabulous book.

the instructions, from beginning and ending threads to embellishing the basic beaded bezel to incorporating it into jewelry--and everything in-between--are well-written, clear and thorough--nothing is overlooked (well, she doesn't illustrate how to thread a needle, as one of my other craft books does, but that's hardly a fault!). the instructions are accompanied by excellent photos and line drawings. i usually have a hard time learning from print rather than demonstration, but this book makes learning incredibly easy.

the designs are wonderful and the variety is amazing. i have subscribed to major beading magazines for years and have not seen anything like many of eakin's designs. they are all beautiful, many are elegant. the methods for attaching the finished cabochons to necklaces or into bracelets are creative, simple and beautiful. the color combinations are fantastic.

this is one of the finest craft books i have seen in decades of doing a large number of techniques. a beginner could produce a wonderful first project and an experienced beader will be inspired.

I have waited years for a book on beading with cabochons. Leave it to Lark books to provide the beautiful color pictures and quality paper book that we prefer. Lark always seems to have better-than-average technique-type books, and this one is no exception. The pictures are plentiful, clear and Jamie Cloud Eakin's work is inspiring and impressive. Just the kind of pictures I like to see when looking for examples of technique. Lovely, lovely, lovely!

I am another "Woman of 100 Hobbies" and have an extensive library of books, including beading. What does this book provide that others do not? The only other book I own that provides much in the way of step-by-step directions for working with cabs is Sadie Starr's 1993 publication _Beading with Seed Beads, Gem Stones and Cabochons_. While Ms. Starr's book provided us with her basic cabochon technique (amongst her other seed-bead and gemstone experience), it was in black and white with color plate pages elsewhere, depicted mostly southwest style, and really just whetted your appetite and curiosity for working with cabs. Beading with Cabochons reaches beyond the basics and offers such attractive variations! I love Eakin's style and find myself "champing at the bit" to try my own variations, and isn't that what a good book should do?

While we go from basic to more advanced styles, these are not your average-looking cab projects. I think they have more class/chic/dash than the traditional southwest style I am accustomed to seeing so often. (No disparagement or offense meant to the southwest/Native American style, of course; each has its place! It is simply not MY style most of the time. Know what I mean?)

Table of Contents includes: 1) Materials and Tools, 2) Basic Cabochon Beading, 3) Edge Stitches [Raw edge, Turned-bead edge, Lifted turned-bead edge, Pointed edge, Twisted edge, Star edge (using brick stitch), Ruffled edge (using brick stitch), Scalloped edge, and Fringes], 4) Attachment Methods (and variations thereof) [Direct, Turn-bead method, Backside bead method, Top-bail ladder stitch method, and Top loop method], 5) Other Bezel Stitches [Bead-raised bezel, Window bezel, Picot bezel, and variations], 6) The Projects, and 7) Creating Your Own Designs [color considerations, design steps (from concept to completion), jewelry-specific tips, other design considerations, using multiple cabs/ other objects]; a Gallery of cabochon jewelry by other artists; an Appendix on attaching findings; an Index to stitches; and supplier notes.

The 11 projects include: Fringed Dichroic Glass Necklace, Oval Solitaire Rhodonite Bracelet, Noondrite Jasper Necklace, Sea Moss Ladder Bracelet, Double Cabochon Dangle Earrings, Leopardskin Jasper Necklace, Black Onyx Pin, Victorian Triple Cabochon Bracelet, Southwest Spirit Necklace, Fringed Tiger-Eye Cabochon Earrings and Crazy Lace Agate Pin.

I came away feeling that Eakin knew what she was talking about, even providing us with helpful information about minutiae such as Glue: If/when using glue, instead of just selecting a glue suitable for glass, stones or fabric, "The key to selecting one glue brand over another is knowing what the glue's texture will be after it dries."; Scissors: Good, sharp blades are obvious, but curved manicure scissors are especially good for trimming and (surprise) curves; and Knots: Did you know there's a secure, one-thread knot when you cannot tie a square knot?

My only "complaint": The very fine-line ellipse thingy used on the title of each beginning chapter page. I have 2 dogs and 2 cats and I keep thinking that it's a hair! Ha!

This is a wonderful book! If you have ever wanted to make a cab or odd-shaped stone look great...this is the book for you. Even experienced beaders can learn a trick or two here. The newbie can make a necklace to turn heads with these directions.

Jewelry makers will relish this lovely gathering of photographs and how-to beading directions, which is the only current guide to the rock. From working with the mineral and finding the best piece to using tools and beads to maximum effect, chapters direct the user to mastering various basic beading techniques to add effects to the cabochon. From bracelets to necklaces in a range of styles, BEADING WITH CABOCHONS: SIMPLE TECHNIQUES FOR BEAUTIFUL JEWELRY is not to be missed.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I Tried and Tried To Learn How To Bead A Cabachon By Following Other Book's Instructions. My Cabachons Came Out SO Bad I Had To Take Them Apart. This Very Well Done Book Did It For Me. Beautiful Color Pictures and Detailed Black And White Drawings, Can Make A First Time Beader Pleased With The Results. The Second Chapter On Beading Basics Is Simple To Follow WIth Great Results. Her Chapters Start Out Simple And Advance You Into Creating Works Of True Art. All The Finished Cabachons She Shows You Are Detailed Enough To Actually See The Beadwork Unlike Some Books I call "Teasers" Which Show Off Their Work SO You Can See It But Not Well Enough To Imitate The Beadwork. This Is A How-To Book I am Pleased To Own!

If you've ever wanted to know what to do with cabochons or beads that called out for something different, this is the book that demonstrates and shows you, step-by-step, how to explore those possibilities. Not only do I own an autographed copy, I know the artist. As a teacher of this method, not only is she thorough, she is excellent. As in her classes, she leaves nothing out when instructing you from the book. Her diagrams are clear, her instructions precise, and there are plenty of examples to look at should you need that nudge toward inspiration. If you want to explore more than netting around see-through slabs, this is the book for you. Thanks to Jamie, I've learned to look at beads, rocks and minerals in a whole new light. I'm hooked!!

This book has beautiful and clear photographs and instructions. The work of Ms. Eakin and her contributors is stunning. It is very inspiring. She covers instructions and tips on more than I could imagine would happen or need to be considered. Stitching for a cabochon without backing is not included, but don't let that stop you from getting this book. It's fabulous.

Here is a superb book, really outstanding. The choice of projects, colors, styles is stupendous. The techniques are very clearly described.
Just one thing: Whereas the title says "Simple Techniques", I would classify them more as "advanced techniques". But the hands-on descriptions are easy to follow if you have already some solid beading experience.

What a beautiful book. The instructions are very clear with a lot of ideas. I find this book very inspiring and would highly recommend.