Cool Jewels [Paperback]

Naomi Fujimoto (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2007

Designing and making jewelry is so much fun, teenagers can’t get enough of it. Cool Jewels: Beading Projects for Teens not only gives the lowdown on tools, techniques, beads, and findings, it also presents 35 irresistible step-by-step projects sure to get teens hooked on the hobby.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Naomi Fujimoto began designing jewelry while earning her master’s degree in sociology. In 1999, she left academic life to pursue a career in making pretty things. A senior editor at BeadStyle magazine, she lives in Milwaukee.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Kalmbach Books (June 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871162474
• ISBN-13: 978-0871162472
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #819,101 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #63 in Books > Teens > Sports & Hobbies > Arts & Crafts

More About the Author

Naomi Fujimoto is senior editor at BeadStyle magazine. She has taught jewelry making at a variety of venues, including the Bead and Button Show, Girl Scout meetings, and a women's shelter. She has over 10 years of jewelry-making and teaching experience. For more information, visit BeadStyleMag.com or cooljewelsnaomi.blogspot.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Jewelry Design Book for Teens: Terrific for Everyone, as Well!, July 11, 2007

By 

Jean Yates "jean, jewelry designer, book and... (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Cool Jewels (Paperback)

Cool Jewels, by Naomi Fujimoto, is a jewel itself! It is a book of such clarity that a beginning beader in her teenage years can enjoy it. Yet it is more than this: beaders of all ages, whether new to beading, or more experienced, will enjoy wonderful inspiration from this jewelry design book as well! I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.

It begins with the first [color coded] section called "Getting Started". This consists of colorful, concise and detailed photos and descriptions which will enlighten the reader as she makes her way through the early stages of understanding what it "takes to bead". All the supplies, tools, materials and techniques are shown in a well laid-out manner. This sort of section is very helpful to a beginner. Having it up front, nice and clear, is a great way to get the reader going!

Then Cool Jewels is divided into more color coded sections. These consist of "necklaces", "bracelets", "earrings", and a section called "a few more ideas".

I would say that this is an excellent way to clarify to a teenager how to choose a project. For example, does she want to make a bracelet? Go to the bracelet section and check it out! The offerings are beautifully designed and mindbogglingly different, but because of the way the book is laid out, easy to understand and always, always fun!

The author knows her stuff: she is Senior Editor at BeadStyle magazine, one of the most highly respected magazines in the beading world. She has an incredible grasp of what is hip and up to date. She knows what will appeal to teens, and yet her designs appeal to me, a jewelry designer myself, as well. Why? Because she is a flat-out top designer, and good designs know no age limit.

I love some of her designs in particular: one which I fell for instantly was called "Seeing Stars". What a gorgeous, gorgeous earring project!

She also adds variations to her projects (for example, "Seeing Stars" has a variation with funky charms on the ends which changes the look completely!--it is great!). I love getting variations on projects. It gives the reader a whole new perspective!

She guides the reader through creations such as the most delicate of bangle bracelets, always using the proper techniques, and yet being innovative enough so that the reader doesn't have to go out an buy a lot of extra equipment(that particular project, "Celestial circles", uses a drinking glass instead of a bracelet mandrel--what a relief not to have to buy a bracelet mandrel, if that project appeals to you, as it did to me!).

Additionally, she has a great eye for color. One example of this is her "Lucite brights" necklace. She employs simple lucite rings on chain to great effect. She adds lucite and chain earrings to that project as an extra. Her "It's a Wrap" bracelet, made of hot pink suede lace and stones, is stunning and perfect for high fashion as well as high school! I love that one!

As for what is hip and in for teens, her "Tokens of Affection" necklaces are trendy and cool, and look like a lot of fun to make. That is just one example--there are tons more! This book is packed with great projects!

In her "A few more ideas section", she really goes to town with some fab rings, a cool belt you can wear with your jeans, which also converts to a great necklace, and she also suggests how to host a jewelry party!

She lets the reader know exactly what to do to have a fun jewlery party at home with her whole group of pals, now that she is a beading expert!

Which is what she will be, if she is the teen getting this book.

As a parent, I beleve it is a super gift for the teen or young woman in your life who is looking for something to "be good at". It is great for self esteem to be good at something.

Cool Jewels carefully instructs and enthusiastically inspires. I would say YOU will be begging for that teen of yours to make YOU something from Cool Jewels very shortly after you present this book to her. Either that, or BOTH of you will be learning to create, taught the proper way, enjoying the experiences you are having together as you learn all the fun skills it takes to make fabulous, beautiful and COOL JEWELRY! This is a super book!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Huge selection of beautiful projects with thorough explanations!, October 30, 2007

By 

Amanda Lawrence "Amanda" (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cool Jewels (Paperback)

This book is chock full of all different beading projects for teens! Since I'm 20 years old myself, I'm practically still a teen myself, so I know what teenagers like to wear, and I'd wear everything in here!

I love that the author not only provides very thorough step-by-step instructions for each project, but also alternative design ideas to her projects to spark your own imagination. The instructions are also very easily understandable to a beader of any age or skill level.

Whether you or your teen are into funky, girly, or earthy styles full of charms, crystals, and pearls there are projects in here to accommodate you.

Another one of my favorite aspects of this book is that throughout the book it lists where you can find that particular crystal, pearl, bead, finding, etc. and also that it has a page full of websites in the back in which you can buy the supplies shown in the book, which I feel that other beading books lack this.

I would highly recommend this book for a beader of any level because there are opportunities to learn new skills as well and a look at all the colorful projects just makes me want to whip out my beads and get started!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cool Jewels - Not JUST for teens!, October 26, 2007

By 

Amy Cluck "amy is the party" (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cool Jewels (Paperback)

I was excited to see that this was not just so ho-hum beading book. Had I seen this book on the shelves, I would have purchased it for the inspiration factor alone. As you can see, the charm bracelet on the cover is colorful and fun - and just a small example of the goodness you will find inside.

I love the jewelry in this book because it is simple and fun with a hip flair. The directions are clear and concise and the layout is definitely reminiscent of BeadStyle magazine so if you are a fan of the magazine than you will be a fan of this book. As an advanced beader, I know most of the techniques in this book, but there are a few tips, tricks, and techniques that even I didn't know. That makes it a great book for beginning and advanced beaders, alike.

One of my favorite projects are the beaded snowflakes. They are easy to make and look beautiful on your tree - plus they make great Christmas gifts.

My second favorite project is how to make your own hoop earrings. I love this tutorial because it shows you how to make your own earring findings as well, which is cool because I find it's difficult to find unique findings in bead and craft stores.

There's plenty more cool projects in this book, and as I mentioned before, it's worth the money for the inspiration alone!