Customer Reviews

Jewelry and Beading Designs For Dummies

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

 

 

Once reserved for experienced and seasoned professionals, the making of colorful and creative jewelry is now accessible for everyone thanks to "Jewelry & Beading Designs For Dummies" by Heather H. Dismore and Tammy Powley. Aspiring jewelry makers are provided with profusely illustrated, step-by-step instructions for more than seventy-five original projects and taught how to work with silver, leather, glass beads and crystals. There are design projects for making rings, bracelets, phone covers, wine charms and so many more crafts projects that will enable the aspiring craftsmen to stretch their skills through acquiring proficiency in new techniques including working with polymer clay and nontraditional materials. "Jewelry & Beading Designs For Dummies" is an ideal addition to personal and community library reference collections.

I got this book from the library, and am almost disapointed I wasted a queue spot for it! There are no projects in this book I am interested in. Nearly everything in the book is tired, uninspired, and easily made by the average 10-year-old. I would have outgrown the designs by age 12.

There is only a small section of color pictures, four double-sided pages of poorly photographed projects. There are only 25 color photos, and the few photos on the covor show the same projects seen in this color section.

The necklace on the cover of the book is very much the kind of thing you can expect to learn to make from this book.

Though the book is nearly 300 pages long, it is filled by such things as half a page used to illustrate and describe how to make an overhand knot, and another half page on how to make a square knot. Every step is seemingly over-explained. There is a lot of filler in the book, and it could have easily been edited down to a much smaller book, for all the information it contains. But then it wouldn't fit the For Dummies format.

There are many other much better beginning bead books out there, and they all look better, have more photographs, and more intelligent instructions than this one.

Ms. Powley and Ms. Dismore have created a thorough and thoroughly delightful tome on the basics of jewelry making that is a must have for any novice. They cover absolutely everything you need to know to get started and to ensure continued success. This book is designed for the beginner and the projects are totally appropriate for someone ready to dip their toes into the jewelry and beading pool, but there is plenty of information for the more advanced beaded jewelry maker as well.

The illustrations are clear and the directions meticulous and concise. My only wish is that there were more color pictures because the designs are so lovely, but there's a several page glossy color gallery of designs that helps immensely. It begins with the basics and progresses to intermediate and even advanced techniques. You get a taste of mixed media, bead weaving, poly clay, wire work and even learn how to make your own findings. They give good, solid information and show you how to do things properly which will ensure good results. That's the key component to a good how to book.

As a professional designer and a jewelry book author, I have a discerning eye and a high level of expectation. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for every bead lover's library. Ms. Dismore and Ms. Powley are both competent and respected experts and together they've created an indispensable guide to the many facets of jewelry making and beading.

Margot Potter
Author and Freelance Designer
The Impatient Beader Series
Bead and Wire Jewelry Exposed
Beyond the Bead

Didn't know there was a book for Dummies to buy before this one. I guess that's why they call it Dummies.
Too much info on beads and not enough general for me. But of course, I didn't buy the first grade one.

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This book is good to have. It covers all the basics of beading and a little more. It has decently illustrations and ideas.

This is a great book for anyone just getting started making jewelry. It covers a variety of techniques and gives you step-by-step instructions.

Book is great and simple to understand. Also arrived promptly. Just love and have used it extensively.

The book is for people who have done some beading before. It does offer a review of basic tech. It is a good referance for terms and tech. It has alerts and hints that are design to make the process easier and cause less problems with your project. It has a number of good referances. I would have liked to have seen every picture in color, I realize this raises the cost of the book, but when doing a craft that is dependant on pictures color is always better. I rated it 3 stars because I didn't like part of the title, it can be a "turn off". This book isn't a basic book because it does tell you if you have never done any beading you would be better off with the other book for "beginners". I just don't believe that a learning opportunity, regardless of what the opportunity is, should we call the student a "dummy". Take it from someone who has done adult education with students who generally were 35-60 yrs. old.

This item was delivered rapidly. It is a very good 2nd book for the technically challenged hobbyist.