Customer Reviews

Beads: An Exploration on Bead Traditions Around the World

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

 

 

The photographs in this book are pleasant enough, but the information is frequently incorrect. Coles and Budwig are following up their previous poorly-penned book with more of the same. Bead research is accomplished by people who dedicate years to this pursuit. Merely publishing a few photographs with some garbled and incorrect information may be entertaining (especially for anyone who doesn't know any better), but is a total waste of time for anyone who is seriously interested in the subject. It were infinitely better to refer to Dubin's History of Beads, or almost any other publication.

This book spends comparatively more time discussing types of beads, their history, where they are from, how they are made than it does on jewelry projects. Included are maps showing where many kinds of beads originate.

Whether or not the information is inaccurate, as one reviewer states it is, doesn't matter to me; I'm more interested in the projects, which are mostly necklaces. The jewelry pieces are designed to represent all the parts of the world the beads come from, so there are very authentic looking designs representing Venice, Africa, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia, Morocco, Ethiopia, India, and other cultures. The beautiful, large photos show a great assortment of designs to choose from with different looks, though many of them have a look that is natural and earthy, yet sophisticated and stylish. To me they are attractive and serve for great inspiration.

Already having jewelry skills, I can look at the pictures and make them without reading the instructions, but for those who need them, the instructions and diagrams are generally good. The main problem with the instructions is that they are printed in a small font in gray instead of black, so they are difficult to see.

I am a craftsperson in love with beads and enchanted by stories of where they're from, how they were made and who made them.... and I'm thrilled by nicely-made photos of people of other cultures. This book speaks to and very much satisfied those parts of me, and then iced the cake by offering easy-to-follow instructions for making many pieces of fabulous jewelry. I feel like the authors wrote the book specifically for me... for which I say thanks! :-))).

This book is definately focused on beads and NOT so much on projects. Full of beautiful pictures and brilliantly done. A wonderful coffee table book!

If you love ethnic jewelry and want to recreate its look, this is the book for you. The breathtaking photos by Jonathan Lovekin place this in the coffee table book category. Coles and Budwig take you on a trip around the world, stopping in Europe and the Middle East, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. They scoop up jewelry examples, show the technique, and give you a project to mimic the jewelry using materials that are not too difficult to obtain.

I just recently started crafting with beads.This is the first book I bought ,and I'm so happy that I did.It has inspired me.The book is very informative,and very interesting.The book is just beautiful! I would recommmend it to anyone who is interested in beads.

ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO I BOUGHT A LITTLE MORE THAN $300.00 in beads from a dealer. Later she showed meBEADS BY COLE AND BUDWIG,A GIFT GIVEN TO HER. LATER I BOUGHT A COPY.REALLY IT IS AGREAT BOOKTO ADD TO ANY COLLECTION.I DONTHAVE THE TIME OR MONEY TO GOAROUND THE WORLD SEEKING BEAD INFO. THEY DO A GREAT JOB WITH PICTURES.TEXTAND FOR THOSE SO INCLINED SAMPLE PROJECTS TO RECREATE TREASURES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. IF YOU ARE NORMAL...NOT A PHD IN BEAD ETHNOGRAPHICS...YOU LOVE THIS BOOK

This is an outstanding book on many different types of beads from around the world. I only wish that there could have been a bit more focus on the various beads from Tibet.

This is a very interesting book. Well designed, with a fine content, beautiful and detailed photographs and reasonable explanations on jewellery projects. It shows many types of beads and gives different examples of traditional necklaces from every continent. I highly recommend it.