Mastering Beadwork [Spiral-bound]

Carol Cypher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2007

Based on years of teaching experience, this informative handbook presents easy-to-understand instructions with sidebars to help students master beading techniques. Each of the 13 beading techniques are first explained in detail, then further explored with projects to enhance the beader's skills and confidence. The 63 projects included—ranging from bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings to findings, closures, beaded beads, and other beaded objects—teach a single project or technique arranged to build skill. Appealing to beaders of every level, this classroom-in-a-book will supplement the information acquired in beading classes, expand confidence in beading techniques, and infuse work with inspiration.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This guide provides beginners with a solid foundation while showing the advanced how to modify and refine technique."  —Monsters and Critics.com

"A wonderful resource for beginners to experienced beaders."  —Upper Midwest Bead Society Newsletter

"One of the most comprehensive books this reviewer has ever read. . . . The projects are fun, trendy, and fresh."  —Craftrends magazine

"Gorgeous, well explained, and in bright popping colors. It's an absolutely inspiring book."  —BellaOnline Guide to Beadwork

"There is much to like in Carol Cypher’s new book."  —Shuttle, Spindle & Dyepot

"Thorough and beautifully constructed . . . a fine reference."  —Simply Beads

"This is a must have, must do, don't miss . . . for those who want the basics covered, then want to take it up a notch or two or three."  —South Jersey Bead Society

"This book is a great volume for every dedicated beader and should be included in your library"  —About.com Guide to Beadwork

About the Author

Carol Huber Cypher is a bead and fiber artist who has taught hundreds of students. She is an adjunct faculty member in the fashion program at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. She has appeared on PBS's Beads, Baubles, and Jewels and is the author of Hand Felted Jewelry and Beads (Interweave). Carol lives in Esopus, New York.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 240 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press (August 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159668013X
• ISBN-13: 978-1596680135
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #125,794 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Carol Huber Cypher has lived in the Hudson Valley of New York State for her entire life. Fascinated with fiber arts since childhood (making her first friendship bracelet, feeling her first skein of angora yarn and weaving her first potholder) she has always had at least one project going at a time! Eager to share her joy and enthusiasm for crochet, beading, feltmaking and spinning, she taught workshops as her career and schedule permitted. In 2001 she concluded her career as a chef to pursue this career in creating and teaching beadwork and feltmaking.
Combining her two loves, she wrote HAND FELTED JEWELRY AND BEADS featuring 25 recipes for refined and beaded jewelry hand crafted of wool.
MASTERING BEADWORK: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO OFF-LOOM TECHNIQUES is a compilation of 63 projects that Carol has taught extensively over the years to give the reader a solid understanding of 16 bead stitching techniques. It serves as a text to beaders eager to learn more and as a cookbook for beaders wanting to whip up a new stitch.
Next, she selected one hand felted item from each of 19 feltmakers she admires, and wrote HOW WE FELT to share with the reader the tricks, methods and practices that those artists employ to achieve their particular results.
Last year she wrote a book on feltmaking for the Japanese craft market, published by Patchwork Tsushin, Ltd. and translated by Motoko Natsubori.
She enjoys traveling the world teaching workshops.
She is at work on another beading book. This one will feature innovative beadwork based on her adventures with existing stitches that have taken her and the beadwork off the beaded path.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

90 of 93 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, August 30, 2007

By 

Sharon I. Smith "A View From the Field" (Upper Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mastering Beadwork (Spiral-bound)

I had high hopes for this book. As another review said, it would be great to have all the off-loom techniques in one place. They are, I guess.

I found the book sorely lacking in diagrams (an absolute necessity for off-loom beading), and what few diagrams there are, are small and hard to see. To make matters worse, the written instructions are brief and often confusing (and in one case, I think, wrong). Frequently the projects introduce new methods which are not diagrammed or explained in the introductory material, and in fact, sometimes are hardly diagrammed or explained at all.

This could have been the definitive book on off-loom beading techniques, but it lacks so much that it is just another pretty book.

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No disappointments here! Well done, Carol!!!!, September 5, 2007

By 

Kathy (Kalamazoo, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastering Beadwork (Spiral-bound)

While I am not a new beader, this book still offers great techniques and projects. The format is great with a spiral binding for easy access. I am especially impressed with the fact that Ms. Cypher has put in print lessons that she has taught at major bead shows namely "Bead Happy Bracelet" and "Supple, Shiny and Shapely Bracelet." There might even be more, but these are two bracelets which I am aware of.

Good information covering supplies--especially explaining the different threads and what they're for, along with basic information to get you going.

She covers all the necessary stiches: Peyote, Dutch Spiral (some more inspiration and new or updated examples as in as she calls it "Bam! Kick That Dutch Spiral Up a Notch! Bead"), Netting, Spiral Rope (especially well done with some bi-cones worked in for bling instead of just regular glass beads! ), Right Angle Weave (a super pattern for a bracelet using larger beads and pearls--a nice change), Triangle Weave, Square Stich, Daisy Chain, Ladder Stich, Herringbone Stich, Brick Stitch, African Polygon, African Helix (again, well done), South African Scallop and Bead Crochet. She does a super job giving you directions to make a beaded bead for a clasp or focal point--something I've wanted to know how to make. For that time when you want that "special" closure on your piece. Also beaded beads from beads--which any addicted beader will appreciate. The cover piece is not specifically identified as far as directions go--although with so much information supplied, I could have missed it.

Great color photos. Nice bead selection--nothing weird or hard to find. Well written with a sprinkle of humor here and there. Super examples.

If you're a very experienced beader and you're looking for a Melanie Potter, Cynthia Rutledge or Marcia DeCoster type project that is time consuming and real involved, this might not be what this book offers. What it does offer is a great format for all the major stiches, super examples which are well written and some adorable colorways which you might find interesting and inspiring, a variety of beads and bead sizes used in a very user-friendly format.

I would call this a welcome addition to any library for beaders. I am very happy with the book and look forward to making some of the projects shown here. As I said in the title for my review, "Well done Carol!"

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, March 21, 2008

By 

Lakeside Beader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastering Beadwork (Spiral-bound)

This is not a book for beginners. For example, the first project uses basket-weave crimp end findings and a ball and socket closure and requires the beader to teach herself how to solder the jump rings closed. Yikes, that is a lot to ask. Most projects have incomplete directions, enough to get started, but not the step-by-step details needed for the entire project. Illustrations are not clearly marked with color or arrows to indicate the direction in which to progress. Difficult to follow.