Zulu Inspired Beadwork [Paperback]

Diane Fitzgerald (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2007

Celebrating the culture of South Africa’s indigenous Zulu population, this craft book showcases 25 stunning projects using dozens of previously unpublished beadwork techniques. The projects include netted diamond earrings, a zigzag chain, a netted triangle and swag bracelet, and a Zulu wedding necklace and are illustrated with easy-to-follow diagrams and helpful hints. Along with novel techniques for netting, wrapping, fringing, and braiding, the history of the Zulu people is also presented, accompanied by gorgeous full-color photography of the region.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is an excellent book on a little-known topic; suitable for public and academic libraries."  —Library Journal

"This is a fabulous book."  —South Jersey Bead Society

"It's a stunner: her best yet. This book is a marvelous illustration of the inventiveness of beaders and what can be done with those beautiful little seed beads."  —Bead magazine

"When Diane Fitzgerald writes a book about beadwork, you expect it to be informative, inspirational and beautiful. This book meets all three criteria."  —About.com Guide to Beadwork

"An interesting insight into Zulu beadwork. The patterns, as ever with Diane, have clear instructions, diagrams and useful hints and tips."  —Bead Society of Great Britain Newsletter

About the Author

Diane Fitzgerald is a bead collector, jewelry designer, and the owner of Beautiful Beads in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She traveled to South Africa to study Zulu and Xhosa beadwork and is the author of eight beading books, including The Beaded Garden, Beading with Brick Stitch, and Netted Beadwork. She is also a frequent contributor to Bead & Button Magazine, Beadwork magazine, and Lapidary Journal. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Interweave Press (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596680342
• ISBN-13: 978-1596680340
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #256,208 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

As someone once said, "Everyone needs their spot." My spot to bead is on the couch, with good light and a good TV program. Old movies and Law and Order are among my favorites. I usually bead in the morning and evening and spend the middle part of the day writing, editing and illustrating the instructions for what I've created. I love to do all three of these tasks, but editing is the hardest for me, so often I depend on "guinea pig" classes to check things and make suggestions.

One weekend a month I usually am "on the road" teaching somewhere in the U.S. Seeing the pleasure a student gets when they make something appealing (no matter how small)makes me feel great.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic new beadwork book!, September 26, 2007

By 

Jessica Teel (Hawaii) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zulu Inspired Beadwork (Paperback)

Diane Fitzgerald has written the first how-to beading guide detailing Zulu beading techniques, making these beautiful, intricate bead patterns available to artists and crafts people around the world. The book layout and its colorful photography are as beautiful as the beadwork itself. Fitzgerald includes photographs and writing from her travels in South Africa, where she was introduced to Zulu beading techniques. She includes historical information on the beading tradition, and its evolution through precolonialism to present day - answering questions such as what were traditional beads made out of, and what types of beads do South African women use today? Giving a cultural background to the artwork makes the book informative on many levels.

The "how-to" portion of the book includes 25 stunning projects. Each project includes a list of needed materials, drawings of the patterns in various stages, and examples of finished works using the technique. There is a wide range of projects - from the relatively small and simple "Zulu Love Letter Pins" to the more intricate and complicated "Switchback" and "Spearhead" chains. I believe even novices can follow the well written and diagramed instructions for many of the projects. Experienced and professional beaders will likewise be challenged, charmed and intrigued by the more difficult patterns. Projects include patterns for netted diamond earrings, a zigzag chain, netted triangle and swag bracelet, and a Zulu wedding necklace. Some of the patterns described by Fitzgerald are detailed for the first time ever in print. Beading enthusiasts will be thrilled with this delightful, informative collection of Zulu beading projects.
-Jessica Teel

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At Least a Year's Worth of Projects!, October 19, 2007

By 

Jeanne E. Evans "Bead Designer" (Paterson, New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zulu Inspired Beadwork (Paperback)

My ZULU INSPIRED BEADWORK copy arrived yesterday and I don't know where to start...the book is packed with inspiring projects, and all appear to be suitable for even a beginning beader. Ms. Fitzgerald includes a history of Zulu beadwork along with wonderful photos of people of the Zulu nation that is most interesting and informative - even if you're not a history buff. The photography of the projects is a great aid to following the clearly-written and illustrated directions. Beaders can use the traditional colors or step off on their own and use the techniques with new colors, different size beads, or change a bracelet into a necklace...there is room to experiment after learning the basics of each design. Now when I sit at my worktable beading, I'm thinking of the Zulu women who sit on the floor, legs straight out, with a bowl of beads in their laps and still managing to create smashing pieces. Every beader will gain much from this book - I highly recommend it to all. A great present to a beader as well.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars higher quality presentation of her past booklets, October 21, 2007

By 

E Rice (western ny state) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zulu Inspired Beadwork (Paperback)

i have fitzgerald's self-published book, _zulu beaded chain techniques_ (1997). all the chains from that book are in this, plus others. even some of the text is the same.

which is not a bad thing. her current publisher has funded the full color photos and better production values. there are several wonderful shots, historic and contemporary, of zulu women and men wearing their beadwork. and the photos of the beadwork are clearer and much more attractive. i've already made one chain from this book that i barely noticed in the other.

some of the chains have appeared in a few other recent bead books, but most have not. there is plenty to learn and experiment with. the instructions that may seem confusing when just read are clear when one has beads and thread in hand. the diagrams are well done. there are photos of zulu-made items that inspired fitzgerald's work, which is also photographed and shows the difference non-traditional color and bead choice make.

recommended to any beader.