Customer Reviews

Diane Fitzgerald's Shaped Beadwork: Dimensional Jewelry with Peyote Stitch (Beadweaving Master Class Series)

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The chapters cover 2-D shapes, open shapes, 3-D shapes, art deco inspirations, ethnic inspirations, and contemporary inspirations.

The directions are fabulous! A lot like the teaching format of Step-by-Step beads magazine, clearly illustrated with super close up photo's and easy to understand diagrams! Like the title says, it's all peyote stitch with "glue a cabochon or sew on a nailhead/rose montee" for the little stone embellishments.

Unlike a lot of books that fill in pretty pictures, but they aren't covered or mentioned, you can make EVERYTHING you see in this book, no question about it. The really great thing is they're all taught component by component, how you mix/match and ultimately create something is totally up to you so you know your design will be a piece out of your own imagination when you're done!

My personal favorites will mostly be the "open shapes". So much potential to link necklaces, frame beads, and make custom toggles! If you're a celtic nut, she covers a trefoil in her ethnic chapter that's AWESOME!!

I'm so tired of the basic 101 bead books that recycle the same knowledge with different pictures. I hope this isn't the only "Beadweaving Master Class" that Lark Books chooses to publish. Bring on the challenges!! ;-)

I was thrilled to receive this book by Diane Fitzgerald, absolutely one of the world's most creative beaders and best beading authors. Unlike all too many books, Diane Fitzgerald's Shaped Beadwork gives beadwork the respect it deserves: Beautiful beadwork is showcased with wonderful photography; the text is well-written and interesting; and Diane's instructions are clear, precise, and supported by good-sized, readable illustrations. Peyote stitch is used to terrific effect in more than twenty breathtaking projects for two-dimensional open- and closed-shaped and three-dimensional jewelry. Beaders will be inspired by the projects and the creative possibilities. This essential book is simply outstanding, the work incredible: It's a "must have right now!" book for all beaders' libraries. For more inspiration, you might also want to buy Masters: Beadweaving: Major Works by Leading Artists (Masters (Lark Books)), a great gallery book featuring Diane and more than three dozen leading beadweavers, and the next book in Lark's Beadweaving Master Class series, Marcia DeCoster's Beaded Opulence: Elegant Jewelry Projects with Right Angle Weave.

This is the hottest new topic for beadweaving and the author has done an amazing job. Her instructions are very clear and the patterns are based on the basic shapes she has you work through first. There are some gorgeous pieces of jewelry such as pendants, earrings and larger items too. By working through the first section, the beader has the potential to go on and explore this area beyond what is in the book which is the mark of a really great teaching book. In addition to the peyote stitch which is the main stitch, she also covers several other stitches too. The projects do not require a large outlay although I can actually use some of my Bali beads here too. My only complaint is the pale print job. The pictures and working diagrams are fine but the text like all the Lark books I've bought lately uses a print type which is too light and therefore hard to read. Recommended to all beaders whatever your level.

I can fully agree with the opinion that it is the "must have" item for devoted beaders. Full of projects, from easy to advanced, full of inspirations. Clear instructions and beatiful pictures. This is the tool you can use to start your own journey. Thanks a lot Diane, we are waiting for more!

1. It's a hardcover for a bargain price.
2. The illustrations are really well done. The text seems almost beside the point, since the diagrams are so clear, with the increases done in a different color, both in the jewelry itself and in the diagrams. These are the best diagrams I have seen in a while. Because I'm left handed, clear diagrams are essential.
3. The text is legible.
4. The photography is excellent.
5. The jewelry is really well done. I can't wait to get started.

i was so looking forward to getting this book and plunging right into making beautiful items for Christmas presents. Not! i can't find the nailhead beads listed to make most of the projects! the few i did find weren't in a color i'd use even as a substitute. that, or they were way out of my price range.

to try to tell you how disappointed i am in this book is nearly impossible. it's not the individual projects, or the few mistakes, or even having to go from back to front and to the back again. it's simply and soley because of the designer using materials that aren't readily available to me. to make matters worse, she gives no clue as to where to start looking for them!

i've gotten pretty good at substituting items in a piece if i don't have what's listed, but i can't think of anything that would substitute for the nailheads used in the majority of projects in this book. for me, that makes it nearly useless. i'm not sure whether i'll buy another of her books or not. i'd have to have my friend who has a craft store look at it and see what materials are listed first. once burned and all that.

MrsMo

This is a great book by Diane Fitzgeral and one to have for your library. It is full of information on how to make all different shapes in of peyote beadwork. You are not limited to just flat or circular peyote. Her charts and instructions are outstanding making it easy to duplicate and understand the designs. Using her basic instructions for the many shapes, you are not limited in your creativity to enhance these designs, take then one step further and make them your own. I have taken classes with Diane, she is a wonderful teacher, and this is a wonderful book and you'll want to make everything in this book!

An ambitious beginner might be able to handle this book. The patterns are not as difficult as they first seem. Once you understand the increases, the step-ups etc. that create the basic shapes, it gets much easier. I say that as an experienced beader who has NOT specialized in peyote stitch. And the patterns are a feast. Beautiful and original designs - the kind of work that moves the craft forward by leaps and bounds, in my humble opinion. I know this will be one of my favorite beading references for years. A winner. Absolutely!

Diane Fitzgerald is an author I've been buying books from almost as long as I've been beading. I have her original Zulu beadwork books along with everything she's written since then.
This book is a fantastic resource for seed beaders. In it, she explains with good diagrams how to bead a lot of geometric shapes to use as components and building blocks for shaped beadwork. She starts with instructions for beading the basic two dimensional shapes, then explains how to turn them into three dimensional shapes. It has projects, instructions and pictures of completed pieces using the techniques to inspire your own creations.
The projects and diagrams are designed for easy to find Japanese size 11 cylinder beads, and the projects are intricately beaded with other easy to find components to create pieces reminiscent of fine metal work or brightly colored pieces that are a lot of fun.
The first projects in the book are very simple, making drop earrings using the two dimensional shaping techniques, and then they get more complex as you get comfortable with the technique.
My favorite projects in the book are her Pouff Bead pendant in elegantly dramatic silver and black, embellished with nail heads and fancy silver bead caps and North Star necklace.
Highly recommended for intermediate to advanced seed beaders to learn new techniques to add to their skills for their own creations, and to beginners looking for projects a bit more challenging.

hi,
shaped beadwork is another great title in the beadwork master class series from lark books. the projects are incredible with something for everyone. unique designs that look like miniture lamps from an exotic land and pieces with extra sparkle from swarovski rose montees are a beautiful addition to any beaders tool kit. from beginner to expert there is something for everyone.
melanie silver
the northwest suburban beadwork guild
the northwest indiana beadwork guild