Customer Reviews

Exquisite Beaded Jewelry: Use Basic Techniques to Create Distinctive Designs

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I am new to beading so in the past months I've bought maybe 35 books on beading and wire. If I'd seen this one first I think I would have only needed this one. It is packed with great information, tips, techniques and ideas related to design. I love this book and wish this author had more.

I've always wanted to make jewelry like this, but could never figure out just how to begin. This book is perfect for that, giving basic as well as advanced instruction, and a number of really gorgeous and easily adapted-to-your-own-style projects. The projects go from relatively simple (peyote stitch bracelet with wire accent) to complicated and totally AMAZING (Metoric Shards Necklace). I think this book is extremely well written, and is an excellent addition to any beader's library!

This is a lovely book with wonderful intricate designs, step outside the square and look and amazingly different ideas. This gave me lots of ideas that I had not previously thought of. Some advanced work for those who want a challenge but also more simpler work for beginners. Lots of blends of shapes and also colours. I love this book..

I have a lot of books but learned so much from this one that was completely new to me. Lots of great foundational truth for jewelry making; lots of inspiration to go off in your own direction; lots of information on how to get there. Some but not a lot of step-by-step projects to copy, more like a "user's manual" for tools and materials, with an eye on good design principles. Lots of info on wire-work which I'm shocked to discover is almost as addicting as the beads themselves!

I wish I would have wrote this review much sooner than now as I have had it for two years. I pulled it out the other day as I needed a review on a particular bead 'fabric' that I wanted to create and knew that this was the book to use. Then I checked it out on Amazon again to find out when I actually purchased this book...this was followed by reading the nine reviews posted. I can see how one can be VERY undecided as to whether or not this is a book for them. First off, I feel the first 78 pages have great guidelines and information plus simple to intermediate projects for all. I gained more out of the first four chapters that would have been derived from at least three other books in comparison. Images are great, too. You can actually see what the author means when she describes the finishes of particular beads, plus learn some unique wire work designs that can only motivate one to try their "hand" at one of their own favorite designs by using wire. Very nice.

Now here is where those that HATE the book should have explained better...the pages 79-124 show numerous images of what I call "Creative Beading" - very random, wild, bizarre, and yet interesting to look at in order to actually see various types of beadwork patterns. Yet, if you would READ the text and follow some of the simple diagrams, you will gain the knowledge of standard beadwork - like how to do peyote & other stitches; to replace a broken bead or thread; adding a new thread; and one of my favorites in the Embellish Your Beadwork - fringe variations (plus lots more). The schematics for these and other patterns to follow when practicing are excellent. I think many beaders/jewelry designers may get turned off by the sculptural beading...maybe if it wasn't so frequently "dark" color-wise, this may not be the case. Yet these images show how one can move outside the typical beader 'box' and attempt something new and can lead to increased creativity and design production that no one else does. It may even make your own work more marketable. No these designs are not for everyone, I definitely couldn't get away with wearing one of these - both job-wise and my personal taste - but some folks really like this stuff. So beginning on page 99 the information on how to produce specific elements within these sculptural pieces are given. These CAN be useful in rather "tame" designs, not so much with the sculptural aspect, but in other beadwork or jewely design. I have found the information garnered by doing "open spaces and texture" very useful with my more natural and various gemstone designs.

So consider this book a way to get important basic information and to see what other beaders are doing creatively. We can't all be making tubular peyote stitched necklaces!

This is a very good resource for a beginning beader! Good pics, excellent directions, nice explanations. However, for an experienced beader, it has nothing to offer and there is nothing "new" in it that isn't already in many other bead books. It does not inspire.

Wow - I love bold unusual designs using stitched beading & this book delivers this & more. The first half concerns stringing & wire work - good designs for all levels of experience. But it is the beautiful sculptural beading in the second part that has me drooling! Experienced or advanced stitchers looking for freeform peyote designs will LOVE this book.

Superb cuffs, necklaces etc using a foundation of peyote stitch are then embellished with focal beads, texture, wire work etc. A lot of metallic/matt/opaque beads are pleated, woven & embellished with larger beads, charms, and wirework to create highly individual statement pieces that are sure to get attention.

The instructions for the freeform peyote are, by nature, detailed for the basic structure then a little more sketchy regarding the additional embellishments. Beginners will struggle with this section - but what a fabulous inspiration to work towards.

This book is GREAT! There are detailed instructions and diagrams. Also,
great ideas for projects.

great for those who just run out of ideas for that special piece that need to be made..enjoyed

This book was a HUGE disappointment!!! I only bought it because it had such amazing reviews and was so cheap! I posted it back up for sale the same day I recieve it! The jewelry in here is hideous! (and I'm not just being mean) This stuff looks like it came from Las Vegas in the early 90's. I'm mean, if you like the look of the piece on the cover, then maybe you will like the book. There is tons of weaving projects and sqiggley wire work. It's just totally not my style!!! Maybe it has good techniques described and good instruction, I don't know, because I couldn't get over how ugly the projects were!!!