Customer Reviews

Two-Hour Beaded Projects: More Than 200 Designs

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Ann Benson, a popular bead artist and author (she has several other books) wrote "Two-Hour Beaded Projects" in 1993. So the book should certainly not be held to 2001 standards in beading. An author chooses what to include, but I was surprised to find so few popular stitches shown or used. Benson does not use or include peyote, square, herringbone, or netting stitches, although they were popular in '93. She does include dual-needle brick stitch and needleweaving, an interesting technique that has lost a lot of attention with the rise of more popular stitches.

The book shows projects that the average person could do in two hours. There are, according to the subtitle, 200 designs. The 126-page book is filled with large color pictures of finished projects, beautifully photographed. Many items are interestingly displayed,but some are on backgrounds so busy that it detracts from the object itself.

For beginners,completing projects using only the instructions might be a struggle. The technique section is, at best, bare bones. The few line drawings aren't enough to be clear or complete. There is no discussion of beading needles or thread (it's mentioned, but no brand name comparison is given, nor is there a caution against using sewing thread), no warning against using pre-strung beads (used in several projects, still on the weak and poor-quality thread that is likely to break), no description of how each kind of pliers is used, what crimping pliers are or how to use them, or the technique needed to bend headpins into connectors, a technique used often in the book.

The project instructions are often vague. In a necklace called "cow skull" the first purchased item is "one ceramic cow skull." There are no source guides in the book. The size is not given. If you can't find a ceramic cow skull? ". . .make one from polymer clay," says Benson, "following the directions for working with polymer clay in the General Instructions. .." Those directions say "Form the softened clay into desired shapes." Not much help here. Too many of the insufficient instructions end with the sentence, "if necessary, refer to the photograph," which shows a completed piece.

I tried the votive cups, around which you wrap beads strung on wire. I purchased votives identical to the ones Benson used, with the widest part on top, tapering down to a narrower bottom. The wire slides off easily on that shape. Benson suggests gluing the wire or beads, but even superglue wouldn't hold the wire securely enough to be handled more than once. Used on the beads, glue alters the finish, damages the bead, and leaves a white chemical stain on the glass.

The book certainly has a wide variety of projects and can inspire a beader's own ideas, but before you buy this book, check it out of the library and see if the instructions are complete enough for you. Otherwise, pass on this book and see Diane Fitzgerald's book on brick stich or Vicky Starr's book on peyote stitch, both very satisfying books with good instructions.

This book is a must-have. It has so many great projects! Amazing ideas for necklaces, earrings, bracelets, pins, hair combs and clips, napkin rings and even a gorgeous watch band. It has such simple instructions and great pictures to go along with them. There are seed bead projects, fimo projects and even picture frames and stationary projects. I strongly reccomed this book to beginner jewelry makers. It was well worth the price for all the things you get out of it. I absoutely love this book!

Interesting projects covering an array of ideas, and with a little modern color and twist, I think I mght get a lot from this book!

The book does have quick projects. But they are boring for people who are accustomed to making complicated beaded jewelry.