Sparkletastic: 50 Dazzling Jewelry and Fashion Projects for the Discriminating Diva (Impatient Beader) [Paperback]

Margot Potter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 22, 2007 | Series: Impatient Beader

Join the Impatient Beader and embark on a glamorous adventure to a sparkly wonderland. Sparkletastic features a dizzying array of fun, quick and easy designs that pay tribute to fabulous ladies from all walks of life. You can be a sparkletastic Rhinestone Cowgirl in a crystal-studded jean jacket, or a sophisticated Screen Queen in a "Holly Would" tiara and matching choker. Or perhaps you're more of a discriminating Fashionista, Girlie Girl, Rock Star, Disco Dancer or just a Diva in Training. Whatever you are, be sparkly!

Throughout the pages of Sparkletastic, you'll find easy techniques for adding a dash of glitz and a pinch of glitter to all kinds of jewelry and accessories. Inside you'll find:

• a huge selection of gorgeous, one-of-a-kind jewelry and accessory projects including necklaces, bracelets, embellished tops, handbags and, or course, even a tiara
• an easy-to-follow skill level guide that tells you whether a project calls for the skills of a "Crafty Virgin," a "Crafty Vixen" or a "Crafty Goddess"
• a clear techniques section to give you the skills you need to become a sparkle goddess

Want to join in the fun? Look inside and learn to bedeck, bejewel and bedazzle your world into sparkletastic goodness!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Margot Potter is a designer for Beadalon and TV Spokesperson at QVC for the Suspicion™ Marcasite jewelry line. She is currently the interim editor of Simply Beads magazine. Margot is also the sassy author of The Impatient Beader (2006) and The Impatient Beader Gets Inspired (2006).

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books (June 22, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581809735
• ISBN-13: 978-1581809732
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #662,697 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have had an amazing journey thus far, with various professional and personal incarnations along the way. I have been an actress, a cowpunk, jazz, swing, country, blues and folk vocalist, a poet and performance artist, an author, a thrift store afficionado, a backyard chicken farmer, a Mom, a TV personality, a waitress/psychologist...the list goes on.

I currently reside in an old Amish school house with my family near Lancaster, PA. We searched high and low until will found this peaceful valley to call our home. Our Amish neighbors are wonderful and I think my antics of chasing stray chickens in high heels keep them in stitches.

My new career as a writer and craft expert started after my professional world collapsed five years ago. I decided then that it was time to reinvent myself and find a career that capitalized on my creativity, intellect, passion and unique vision. (Besides, I can't work in an office, as my snarky know it all attitude would be my undoing.) I queried and published a book and two sequels, wrote articles and created projects for magazines, became an on air jewelry expert at QVC, create projects for manufacturers, teach annually at the Tucson Gem Show for Swarovski and appear as the host of the Memory Makers Magazine videos filmed at the CHA shows twice yearly.

I realize now that it is entirely possible to do anything you can imagine if you are willing to be flexible about how it all transpires. Once you begin to move in the right direction, everything unfolds with amazing serendipity. After years of struggle, this has been a sweet success!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sparkletastic is Fantastic!!!, June 14, 2007

By 

Jean Yates "jean, jewelry designer, book and... (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sparkletastic: 50 Dazzling Jewelry and Fashion Projects for the Discriminating Diva (Impatient Beader) (Paperback)

I could hardly wait to receive my copy of The Impatient Beader presents Sparkletastic, because I adore my first two Impatient Beader books which are in this series! I am so glad I was patient--what a reward! Sparkletastic is so much FUN! Margot Potter has such fabulous creativity! Her designs are unique and edgy, yet never silly. They always make sense and are always pretty! The author is extremely knowledgeable about the history of fashion. She also knows about important women in history, and celebrates each and every one of us, explaining the benefits of why we should be ourselves.
In Sparkletastic, she expresses her ingenuity, creating fascinatingly beautiful jewelry and craft designs, all of which have an additional fillip of sass: each project has some sort of shine or glitter in some form or another!

I was so charged when I read this book! It was great to see that the author has used Swarovskis, glitter, disco ball beads, flat backs and hot fix crystals..oh--you name it--if it sparkles, she used it, and she used it WELL, and for a good reason!

I loved the fact that Margot still has her "virgin, vixen, and goddess" (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) categories for her projects...only this time they are "Sparkly Virgin," and so on. These categories, as well as the explanations of beading basics, which are well photographed and are located at the beginning of the book, are very helpful. For example, I am a beader, not a crafter, but because I can see simply portrayed photos of how to create some of my favorite projects from the book, with even more good hints right at the beginning, I can plan to make some cool things for my wardrobe, such as The Rodeo Girl Jacket, which is a complete knockout of a studded jean jacket with a picture of a vintage rodeo girl on the back. You have to love it!

Other projects I found appealing were the colorful and charming Marilyn necklace, named for Marilyn Monroe, and the Disco Monkey T-shirt, which had a mistake the author "fixed" (you never would have realized)! Then she discusses the mistake in a sidebar, one of a few sprinkled throughout the book which she has called "true confessions." These "true confessions" are very humanizing and also plain fun to read. Hey, we all mess up! It's life! It is a good way of teaching the reader what NOT to do! It also shows you how to fix mistakes you have made.

As for projects, I also adored two of what I think exemplify the author's specialties, which is her amazingly inventive way she redoes something classic and makes it new and hip, like a charm bracelet. For example, "The Sweetie Pie Charm Bracelet," which is enchanting, or "The Pirate Jenny Charm Bracelet" with its skulls and crossbones and wonderfully appealing color combinations.

I don't have a baby on the way at the moment, but the "Oh Bebe Onesie" is a fabulous gift to bring to a shower! It is totally charming.
Finally, another project I LOVED is the necklace "Hearts in Chains" : a true work of art! I loved, loved, LOVED this hip necklace, and totally plan to make and wear this!

Margot Potter is an amazing source of energy and inspiration. She quotes famous, successful women who have overcome difficulties, and gone on to savor life; she shows her own vulnerabilities and her delightful sense of humor, both of which add a reality to her wonderful collection of projects, and it is impossible not to love her and her new book, Sparkletastic. We will all shine on, if we own this book! Thank you, Margot! As it says on the back of the book, "Viva La Sparkle!"

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sparkletastic inspires me, February 20, 2008

By 

Alexa Westerfield "Swelldesigner" (Lexington, KY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sparkletastic: 50 Dazzling Jewelry and Fashion Projects for the Discriminating Diva (Impatient Beader) (Paperback)

The Impatient Beader series is my favorite line of beading books. I like that the projects are geared to a variety of ages and styles...there's really something for everyone. The step by steps are easy to follow and the helpful hints provided me with important information. I like that this is written in 1st person, and it makes it more casual and less technical that way.

The photography and layout are also interesting and fun to look at and are spiked with kitschy flair. Each page really pops out at you, unlike most beading books that bore me with their bland backgrounds and same-o, same-o projects.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another sparkling score for Margot Potter!, February 20, 2008

By 

Kathy Cano-Murillo "The Crafty Chica" (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sparkletastic: 50 Dazzling Jewelry and Fashion Projects for the Discriminating Diva (Impatient Beader) (Paperback)

I love all of Margot's books because they have so many innovative ideas, secret tips, and so much of her shiny personality. It fells like she is right there with you making each and every item. This is a book for people who want to have fun and make cool stuff. The project designs are timeless as they are on trend...It takes a true artist to pull that off, and Margot is just that! Girlie girl power at its best!