Creating Crystal Jewelry with Swarovski: 65 Sparkling Designs with Crystal Beads and Stones [Paperback]

Laura McCabe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2008

Elegant, old-world jewelry with modern style.

Working with world-famous Swarovski crystal beads, author Laura McCabe creates luminous necklaces, earrings, pendants, and rings for beaders of every skill level. The author provides complete step-by-step instruction for 20 projects (10 for beginners) -- and presents 45 more in a photo gallery of design variations, teaching readers how to vary colors and shapes to create custom effects. All 65 designs are made with only three simple beadwork techniques: flat peyote stitch, tubular peyote stitch, and spiral rope. Laura McCabe also provides a chapter on making decorative embellishments, such as bezels, picots, berry clusters, and branch fringe. The concise instructions are illustrated with easy-to-follow illustrations.

• Beaders of any skill level can create their own high-end, boutique-style jewelry
• Goes beyond stringing to teach readers three basic beadweaving techniques and principles of design
• Only book on market endorsed by the worldÆs leading manufacturer of cut-crystal beads

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Beadwork artist Laura McCabe, of Stonington, Connecticut, exhibits and sells her jewelry throughout the world -- and to more than 2,000 international clients through her own website www.lauramccabejewelry.com. She regularly teaches workshops in the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom. She also participates in the Bead & Button Show, Beadwork International, and other large conferences and competitions.

Her work has appeared in Ornament magazine, Beadwork magazine, Lapidary Journal, and Bead & Button magazine. She is also one of the invited designers featured in QuarryÆs Creative Cloth Doll Beading book by Patti Medaris Culea.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Creative Publishing international (February 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158923345X
• ISBN-13: 978-1589233454
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #81,814 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a lot of variety in the designs...., January 28, 2008

By 

Linda C. (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creating Crystal Jewelry with Swarovski: 65 Sparkling Designs with Crystal Beads and Stones (Paperback)

If you really like the design on the cover (the sort of sunburst motif), you'll probably like this book--almost all the projects are done with that same design idea. I'm looking for more variety, esp. in projects like these, which are not cheap to make. (I know Swarovski-centered projects will usually cost me more, so I also want more "bang" in the finished item.)

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous projects with detailed instructions!, December 31, 2007

By 

Leanne (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Creating Crystal Jewelry with Swarovski: 65 Sparkling Designs with Crystal Beads and Stones (Paperback)

I just received this book today so haven't made any of the projects yet, but I have throughly read through the book and instructions, and each project is gorgeous and unique! I pre-ordered this book back in June, so was eagerly looking forward to it since I love Laura McCabe's designs. If you love sparkly, yet elegant jewelry, then you will love this book!

The book starts out with a chapter devoted to covering all of the beading stitches you'll need to make the projects, such as peyote stitch, ndebele, etc. (If you're a beginner, however, you may need more instruction in these stitches than this book provides.) It then moves into sections that demonstrate how to bezel, make closures, and embellish, before moving into the 20 projects.

Each project and technique has clear, detailed instructions (including an estimate of how long the project will take), along with excellent diagrams to guide you in your beading. The projects also use more traditional Swarovski shapes such as bicones and rivolis, along with non-traditional shapes like squares.

The only drawback seems to be that some of the projects call for vintage crystals, which can be hard to find. There are some resources given for finding vintage crystals, however, along with information about modern-day equivalents.

All in all, it's a lovely book, and I can't wait to get started on some of the projects!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Like the book but disappointed, February 6, 2008

By 

Vampi (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Creating Crystal Jewelry with Swarovski: 65 Sparkling Designs with Crystal Beads and Stones (Paperback)

This book is great IF you haven't already spent money on the patterns that are available online. IF you haven't already paid $35 for one of the patterns, or $20 for others, then the book is great.

The diagrams and instructions in the book are far more descriptive than the patterns online, so I do appreciate that, I just wish that there had been something new, in the book, that I could have looked forward to.