Celebrated designer Kaari Meng—owner of the Hollywood-based store, French General—invites beaders along to learn all about her distinctive French flea market style. Meng’s projects charm with their vintage flair and feminine beauty, yet all require very little experience to make. Follow Kaari as she digs through her vast personal archives of classic beads and creates unique pieces; along the way she teaches all the basic techniques, from simple wirework to bezel setting, and explains how to build a bead collection, develop a palette, and get exquisite results from easy-to-find reproduction beads. All the chapters are organized by places of inspiration throughout the French countryside, each with its own color scheme and special necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and hair ornaments to craft.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
82 of 83 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Hot diggity ... It's books like these that will keep me (occasionally) gambling and making risky purchases based on a title and its cover. And what a bargain, even if you were to pay the full US price.
I tend not to follow instructions, using books as inspiration and stepping stones to final projects. But if you prefer great detailed how-tos, I think you will be pleased here, without being overwhelmed. The materials lists are exhaustive, and the design tips with each project are quite useful and readable.
And the photos - ooohh la la, what a treat. Each project gets at least three different visuals, and if you drool over vintage bits and pieces, you will certainly need a napkin as you peruse this feast.
In the into, Meng defines "vintage", but I am still not sure just what makes these tidbits "French", except that the author runs a shop called "French General". But this book is not a hard sell for the shop, or even for things a la France. Instead, think turn-of-the-century vintage, or maybe a bit Victorian, if you want to understand the flavor of this book.
And if you like scrapbooking or other forms of memory-making, you will be inspired by the page layouts. Very creative, beautiful, and sublime. I love using buttons in my jewelry gifts, and the subtitle really sold me on this book: "Creating with vintage beads, buttons, & baubles". The word "Celery Sticks" could have been included, and I still would have snapped this one up.
Trust me on this one, or trust the other reviewers!! You will be googling and eBaying all over the world to collect items to use in your own creations.
Superb. If you liked "Beautiful Button Jewelry" or "Charmed", or even if you never heard of those titles, you will find this a tasty and economical treat.
I tend not to follow instructions, using books as inspiration and stepping stones to final projects. But if you prefer great detailed how-tos, I think you will be pleased here, without being overwhelmed. The materials lists are exhaustive, and the design tips with each project are quite useful and readable.
And the photos - ooohh la la, what a treat. Each project gets at least three different visuals, and if you drool over vintage bits and pieces, you will certainly need a napkin as you peruse this feast.
In the into, Meng defines "vintage", but I am still not sure just what makes these tidbits "French", except that the author runs a shop called "French General". But this book is not a hard sell for the shop, or even for things a la France. Instead, think turn-of-the-century vintage, or maybe a bit Victorian, if you want to understand the flavor of this book.
And if you like scrapbooking or other forms of memory-making, you will be inspired by the page layouts. Very creative, beautiful, and sublime. I love using buttons in my jewelry gifts, and the subtitle really sold me on this book: "Creating with vintage beads, buttons, & baubles". The word "Celery Sticks" could have been included, and I still would have snapped this one up.
Trust me on this one, or trust the other reviewers!! You will be googling and eBaying all over the world to collect items to use in your own creations.
Superb. If you liked "Beautiful Button Jewelry" or "Charmed", or even if you never heard of those titles, you will find this a tasty and economical treat.
41 of 41 people found the following review helpful
By Jean Leslie
Format:Hardcover
This has to be one of the most visually stunning books on beaded jewelry I've seen. There are no step by step photos but the graphics and layout gives this book a coffee-table look. The jewelry is practical and easy to do.
French vintage jewelry is more colorful than American and British style which was influenced by the somber colors of Victorian and Edwardian England. The book start with the usual discussion of tools, supplies and techniques but the layout and photos makes this a treat. Even the wire wrapping tuturial has vintage type artwork.
The book is divided into chapters based on themes such as sea (La Mer),
which uses soft blues and corals, marketplace (La Marche) which uses fruit beads, garden (Le Jardin)using vintage flower beads, the churchyard, (La cimetiere) using buttons and subdued colors.
Many of the projects use antique-type chain and buttons, stampings and perforated disks. The many side-bars thoughout the book give hints on using vintage type findings and materials, making substitutions and design hints. The back of the book gives sources for finding vintage-type beads and findings.
All in all, French Inspired jewelry is a good read and user friendly book at the same time.
French vintage jewelry is more colorful than American and British style which was influenced by the somber colors of Victorian and Edwardian England. The book start with the usual discussion of tools, supplies and techniques but the layout and photos makes this a treat. Even the wire wrapping tuturial has vintage type artwork.
The book is divided into chapters based on themes such as sea (La Mer),
which uses soft blues and corals, marketplace (La Marche) which uses fruit beads, garden (Le Jardin)using vintage flower beads, the churchyard, (La cimetiere) using buttons and subdued colors.
Many of the projects use antique-type chain and buttons, stampings and perforated disks. The many side-bars thoughout the book give hints on using vintage type findings and materials, making substitutions and design hints. The back of the book gives sources for finding vintage-type beads and findings.
All in all, French Inspired jewelry is a good read and user friendly book at the same time.
53 of 55 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I had no idea a jewelry book could be so perfect in so many ways until I opened this gorgeous creation by Kaari Meng. French-Inspired Jewelery is exquisite. In its photographs, layout, inspiration, and concept, it is so stunning I feel when looking at it as if I am being handed over some form of beauty I have never experienced before.
The photos are almost 3-D and the arrangements are extravagant and luxurious. All are appropriate to French rural life in the old days, and are split up into sections, such as The Sea, The Circus, Vines, and so on. The projects are not terribly difficult. Actually I found the author's website in her book. You can go there and replicate certain ones if you choose. I make my own jewelry, but I certainly respect good design and Kaari Meng really knows her way around vintage beads and lovely bracelets and necklaces!
It is a total pleasure to own and read this book. I recommend it thoroughly to any sybarite who loves beauty of any sort, and in particular to anyone who loves to make jewelry!
The photos are almost 3-D and the arrangements are extravagant and luxurious. All are appropriate to French rural life in the old days, and are split up into sections, such as The Sea, The Circus, Vines, and so on. The projects are not terribly difficult. Actually I found the author's website in her book. You can go there and replicate certain ones if you choose. I make my own jewelry, but I certainly respect good design and Kaari Meng really knows her way around vintage beads and lovely bracelets and necklaces!
It is a total pleasure to own and read this book. I recommend it thoroughly to any sybarite who loves beauty of any sort, and in particular to anyone who loves to make jewelry!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it.
I love Kaari Meng's books. I have several of her books & enjoy them. She is so creative. Many beautiful pictures to admire & great ideas for vintage items.
Published 26 days ago by Bett Warren
5.0 out of 5 stars
French Inspired Jewelry
Arrive with my other book ~ great service and the S&H was FREE!!! Lots of wonderful ideas for making French style Jewelry. Cannot wait to get started.
Published 26 days ago by Gayle Scrambling
5.0 out of 5 stars
Before and After
French-Inspired Jewelry: Creating with Vintage Beads, Buttons & Baubles is most helpful as a companion to Kaari Meng's French General ([...]). Read more
Published 3 months ago by T. W.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved this book :)
The author does a great job of sharing specific techniques for projects which can be made as is or used for similar projects of your own creation; outstanding pictures - a... Read more
Published on April 5, 2011 by Kimberly A. Wiswell
5.0 out of 5 stars
jewelry book
Really have enjoyed this book. The author has a store in CA that is fabulous. I just love this book. Very good directions on how to make everything in the book.
Published on March 3, 2011 by happydales
1.0 out of 5 stars
Pass on buying
Did not find any useable ideas - was looking for inventive ways to incorporate buttons into jewerly, specifically looking for how to attach so they would be visiable instead of... Read more
Published on December 17, 2010 by Mary
5.0 out of 5 stars
Both inspiring and practical
This is a beautiful book, and a pleasure to leaf through even if you don't plan to make things.
However, I made things from it. Read more
However, I made things from it. Read more
Published on June 11, 2010 by Rebecca Haden
5.0 out of 5 stars
Vintage Jewelry
I love this book. The only problem I have is that I can not find vintage beads around here (utah). I may have to go online. Read more
Published on May 20, 2010 by No name plz
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful photos...etc.
I really liked the layout of this book. The author divided each chapter by themes, for example: fruits, travels, etc. Read more
Published on October 29, 2009 by Lina
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Visual Delight and a Treasure Trove of Inspiration !
Kaari's designs are inspired and so unusual.
I love how she transforms unique elements into unexpected and beautiful creations. Read more
I love how she transforms unique elements into unexpected and beautiful creations. Read more
Published on October 15, 2009 by Ellen Digiovanni
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