Customer Reviews

Instant Gratification: Jewelry

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

The very first impression I get when opening this book is "what pretty, artistic photos!" I think the beautiful photography steals the show in this book, which is meant to be an instructional book. The jewelry is also very nice, and probably looks even better because of the photographer's eye for arrangement, angle, lighting, soft focus, etc.

I definitely find inspiration in this book for creating the jewelry shown, and I like the variety of styles which look quite contemporary; not outdated. But I, even as an experienced beader, was a little thwarted by the very photos that I also praise! The fact that they are soft-focus, faded at the edges, and do not show the details of all parts of the jewelry, left me with questions regarding the finished look of the piece, or construction details. I can certainly figure it out, but I can't imagine a beginner would.

All the instructions are written, and there are no diagrams, which are so important for beginners. Some of the terminology for jewelry components or methods are not explained, so a beginner would need to refer to other sources. It's because of this lack of clarity I give the book a 4. For experienced beaders, I do recommend this book for additional inspiration in a beader's library.

The first thing you notice about this book is the beautiful photographs. Unfortunately, I found the layout of the jewelry was more artistic than informative. Yes, they are creative jewelry, but you don't always get to see the whole piece. This is good for a beginner who wants to find inspiration. The directions are easy to understand. I came away with some great ideas that are not hard to make.

A creative jeweler's must...this book includes gorgeous photos and impactually creative projects. PERFECT for those of us who can extract inspiration from a project and make it one's own. A beginner could ABSOLUTELY attempt any one of the gorgeous projects and have fantastic results. However, contrary to Ms. Guthrie, your local craft store will not carry all of the items used in most of the projects so you will spend some time finding the right items to fit your needs- but for most of us this is not a problem. The resources could improve; needs more online available resources and Ms. Guthrie's website could provide further instruction/inspiration in addition to selling her wares. I wish more beading books are of the quality as Instant Gratification Jewelry; if I am ever in a rut I just grab this book and page through...inspiration smacks me in the face and I end up creating an amazing piece! Good luck!

I have always aspired to create my own jewelry so when I saw this book, I was more than a little intrigued. Annie Guthrie's book does not dissappoint!! I am definitely a beginnner and found great inspiration on every page. The photography is beautiful, inspiring and unlike many of the "cheesy" how-to books out there. It is wonderful when you can sit down with a book and really find ideas that make sense and are attainable. I am thankful that Ms. Guthrie shares her ideas and talent in this treasure of a book.

If you are looking for a beautiful coffee table book, then this is the craft book for you. I enjoyed looking at the pictures. However, the instructions left a lot to be desired. There is one big picture of the end product on one page, and a lot of empty space on the opposite page. There are no step-by-step instructions. Therefore, I think this book was probably intended for someone that has experience making jewelry and can just look at the picture and make a project. I find that the whole "instant gratification" series is like this. I wouldn't recommend this book for new crafters, but it might appeal to others who can fill in the blanks with their own knowledge.

A book with lovely examples of custom jewelry and equally lovely presentation. If you're looking for a design reference, Instant Gratification: Jewelry offers many imaginative ideas and projects. The pieces illustrated prove the level of style possible in handcrafted jewelry. And I've found it's this quality of design, as well as helpful sources that make this book stand out amoung others as a valuable reference.

A great book for those of us who occasionally need a nudge in the creativity department. Also great if you need a last minute gift and want to make something quick. Great for beginner and advanced jewelry makers alike.

There seems to be this funny sort of 'demarcation line' between 'real jewelers' , i.e. gold and silversmiths, and makers of beaded jewelry..... folks sometimes incorrectly don't think of beaders as the real jewelers....This book completely proves that notion wrong!.....I am a traditionally trained jewler who went ot the local crafts store for some inspiration on a 'blah' day.....lo and behold, I found this book on the shelves....Annie Guthrie's fresh approach to making jewelry was truly inspiring......I ran to the back of the store, bought some supplies, and spent the afternoon 'making stuff'!......the types of projects I often see in similar books are just not nearly as fashion forward or interesting ( not somthing you would really wear for a long time or give as a keepsake)......I LOVE the fact that she incorporates better materials, such as freshwater pearls......you can try the projects first with less...materals then make another with priceier findings if you are happy with the results......beautiful, exciting photography, good resources, and a 'you can do it attiude' make this book a great addition to any collection!

A creative jeweler's must...this book includes gorgeous photos and impactually creative projects. PERFECT for those of us who can extract inspiration from a project and make it one's own. A beginner could ABSOLUTELY attempt any one of the gorgeous projects and have fantastic results. However, contrary to Ms. Guthrie, your local craft store will not carry all of the items used in most of the projects so you will spend some time finding the right items to fit your needs- but for most of us this is not a problem. The resources could improve; needs more online available resources and Ms. Guthrie's website could provide further instruction/inspiration in addition to selling her wares. I wish more beading books are of the quality as Instant Gratification Jewelry; if I am ever in a rut I just grab this book and page through...inspiration smacks me in the face and I end up creating an amazing piece! Good luck!

Full of beautiful pictures and very inspirational. Though the directions to the projects are lacking in technical clarity, they do give new thoughts and techniques to creating jewelry. Not a book for a beginer since the directions are much to brief and quite vague. I was disappointed that the resources were limited, only half were web based, and many did not have a comprehensive catalog on their website. In other words, the resources were not very 'user friendly'. I checked the book out at the library. All said, I find it necessary to buy the book for reference and ideas, partially due to the fantastic photos.