Simply Gemstones: Designs for Creating Beaded Gemstone Jewelry [Paperback]

Nancy Alden (Author)

Book Description

Release date: July 14, 2009

Celebrities and fashion runways are glittering with gemstones more than ever these days, and chances are that if you’re a lover of jewelry and accessories you’ve lusted after a gem at some point in your life — be it turquoise, emerald, ruby, sapphire, tourmaline, or, of course, a diamond.

Now Nancy Alden returns with her popular Beadworks series, this time introducing readers to what can seem like a daunting project, creating jewelry from gemstones. But in her typical fashion, she takes the anxiety out of the process, showing anyone how to create stunning gemstone earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. Today, precious and semi-precious stones are available in many bead stores and online at a range of price points, making what had once been exclusive, expensive projects completely doable.

You’ll also be introduced to stones such as the Peruvian Opal, Pink Sapphire, Rutilated Quartz and Peridot, among a slew of others that you may not be immediately familiar with, but with which it's easy to fall in love.From humble hematite chips to sparkling sapphires and uncut diamonds, in Simply Gemstones there’s a gem and a corresponding project that is sure to complement your look or make a special gift.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Nancy Alden's gorgeous book offers over 50 simple designs that you can create using magnificent, colorful gemstones--and at a fraction of the cost of those department store beauties! The best part: No fancy techniques needed! If you know how to string and crimp, make a wire-wrapped loop, open and close jump rings, and knot thread, then you can make every piece in this book." --Bead Design Studio Magazine

About the Author

NANCY ALDEN is the author of Simply Pearls, Simply Silver, Simply Gold, and A Touch of Glass. She is a jewelry designer and the cofounder of the Beadworks Group. Visit them online at www.beadworks.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Potter Craft; Original edition (July 14, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307451356
• ISBN-13: 978-0307451354
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.6 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #814,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Only basic stringing for beginners November 7, 2009

By Aviva Levine

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book has nice pictures and pretty necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. However it is only a basic stringing book. The stones used for some of the projects are just very expensive, like the lorimar necklace that I evaluate around $600 to make, the tourmaline briolettes necklace, the blue green tourmaline necklace, and so on. Blue topaz chips of the size and quality she shows for one necklace are almost impossible to find even when you live in NYC and go to bead shows or on line. Nancy Alden could have suggested equivalent stones such as crazy blue agate for lorimar. She also provides no references for web search. Her explanations about gemstones and basic techniques can be found for free anywhere else and she could have used some of the pages to offer more challenging pieces, such as wire/chain gemstone necklace as can be seen on etsy. In summary this book is just OK.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Simply Great September 10, 2009

By Linda Lee

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Already owning "Simply Pearls" by Nancy Alden, I was very interested to see that she had published "Simply Gemstones". I was pleasantly surprised with my purchase of this new book. It has some very inspiring ideas just like the earlier publication and again it attempts to "stretch' the reader/beader by encouraging him or her to try new combinations and seek out new discoveries such as Larimar.

I must admit that I have never really followed her designs to the letter, but instead have been inspired by them to develop my own approach. The author encourages her readers to do just that. I have already made a lovely necklace with lapis lazul using the cover design as my inspiration. I am very pleased with the result.

The earlier book had a gallery page showing all the designs covered. This section has not been included in the current publication and I think it suffers as a result because you cannot see all the designs at a glance.

I would recommend this book as a source and inspiration to people like myself who enjoy stringing and want to be challenged rather than to stay in their comfort zone!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars $imple, $ophisticated $tringing December 1, 2010

By Jean Leslie

Format:Paperback

If your tastes in jewelry is along the lines of Ross-Simmons and money is no object, then you'll love this book.
Nancy Alden uses the most basic of jewelry-making skills to highlight the gemstone designs in this book. There are selections in the usual semi-precious stones such as Peruvian Opal, Labradorite, Turquoise, Jasper and lots of Tourmaline. Then there are stringing projects using Ruby (not Ruby Quartz), Larimar, Sapphire and even rough Diamonds. The earrings have a matching necklace or bracelet counterpart.
As usual with most Potter-Craft books, there are excellent photos of the finished product with clear, well-written instructions on the following page. Visual learner will not find step-by-step photos. The techniques, which are in Nancy Alden's other books, are found in the back using line illustrations.
The rating gets 4 stars instead of 5 because if you want to splurge and make these designs, you need to know where to get them. Here are a few (besides Firemountain); Softflexcompany.com, and BeadsofCambay.com (probably the best source for precious gemstone beads).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous Book November 21, 2009

By ChihuahuaMom

Format:Paperback

No question about it this book is simply gorgeous. I agree that some of the projects may be cost prohibitive, but if this book inspires you it's really done its job. I can't wait to put my own twist on some of these designs.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine craft guide September 18, 2009

By Midwest Book Review

Format:Paperback

SIMPLY GEMSTONES: DESIGNS FOR CREATING BEADED GEMSTONE JEWELRY tells how to achieve a high-end look in creating gemstone jewelry, offering a guide to creating over 50 earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. Color photos of finished products accompany construction methods, materials, and tools tips on each facing page, making for a fine craft guide for any collection strong in jewelry making.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The Title Speaks for Itself March 31, 2011

By MermaidMagoo

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I agree with just about everything that the reviewers before me have stated. This book has beautiful photos. The projects are very simplistic stringings, but the results are sophisticated, and in some cases stunning. I've purchased many craft books and often find that I only like one or two items in the book - I would consider making and wearing the majority of the pieces in this book. I've also purchased several gem and semi-precious stone books, and I think this book is great for discovering some new stones that you may not have thought of using before.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "Precious" Hints May 22, 2010

By Raffaella M. Conti

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is a real handbook, either for beginners, either for skillful beaders. Many beautiful photos, great ideas and detailed explanations. I love it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Projects/Ideas February 26, 2013

By Sue Wojakowski

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is another book that I checked out through my local library system. I chose to purchase it because there are many ideas that I liked. I would shop through this vendor again.