The Beader's Guide to Color (Paperback)

~ (Author) "You're embarking on a fascinating journey..." (more)
Key Phrases: centerpiece bead, ink wheel, crystal bicones, Margie Deeb, Frieda Bates, Square Stitch (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Demonstrating how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork designs, this guide will interest beaders at all skill levels. Color is discussed in depth, including the basics of the color wheel, the psychological and symbolic associations of all the colors of the spectrum, plus whites, blacks, grays, metallics, and neutrals. Other essentials covered include blending techniques, how a bead's surface finish affects its color, and how color can be used to create and accentuate pattern, rhythm, and movement within a beadwork design. The more than 20 projects-each of which represents a specific color scheme or palette-include a discussion of the palette, multiple color illustrations, a beadwork pattern, and a listing of the beads required to complete that design.

About the Author

Margie Deeb teaches popular workshops on beading and color throughout the US. She lives in Roswell, GA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill; First Printing edition (July 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823004872
• ISBN-13: 978-0823004874
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #40,300 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

130 of 130 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Instant Classic and Must Have for any beader's library, July 10, 2004

By	K. Varraso "Amazon boxes everywhere" (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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This is a new book, written by Margie Deeb, and is about color theory from a beader's point of view. It really fills a niche out there - I can't say I've ever seen a bead book like this.

I also can't say enough nice things about the book. The project photos are incredible, and I'd be happy with the book even if the content weren't wonderful. But it is wonderful - Margie really explains color, the moods it evokes, and how bead finishes and types are really important when choosing color. She uses both the traditional artist's color wheel (pigments) and the printer's color wheel (inks, four color), and has developed an ingenious way of making sure that you never mix the two.

The first part of the book is all color theory,and gives a great basic background to those of us who never attended art school. Margie gives plenty of tips and suggestions about combining colors, using Delica numbers to be specific. That might be the only weak point of the book, because who knows if Miyuki will change their numbering system some time in the future. Also, I can't say I always like her color combinations, but they're definitely thought provoking and have expanded the way I think about what goes with what.

The second part of the book is more project oriented, and every pattern is shown in both Peyote/Brick and Square/Loom stitches. Nice touch, and greatly appreciated. Again, it's a very thought provoking section, and although I can't see myself making some of these items, they definitely expand my ideas about color, texture and mood expressed in beads. I have a far greater appreciation for neutrals than I ever had before, and I now want to explore orange - a color I thought I'd never liked.

I rarely say that a book is a "must have," but this one is. I can see myself poring over it for years, and using the eye candy as a jumping off point for projects of my own. One thing cracked me up to the point I was laughing aloud: You know you are _way_ too into beading when you can tell a person's projects without reading the captions: I recognized several artist's pieces instantly.

Anyway, this one is definitely a five star book, up there with the Carol Wilcox Wells books and Beadwork with Ruby as the first bead book purchases I'd recommend to anyone. Well worth the price, and a book I plan to buy as gifts for the new beaders I meet.

56 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars five stars for the gallery, August 7, 2004

By	E Rice (western ny state) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

if i had seen this book in the bookstore, i would have passed it by. i have no problem with color, and i know color theory. so i am very glad that someone in my most recent bead class brought this book in and let us all look through it.

the examples of beadwork are astounding, astonishing, inspiring, amazing, wonderful...i think you get the idea. there's a broad range of styles and approaches, and if you can't find inspiration in this book, you aren't breathing.

i haven't bothered reading most of the text, except to note that academic fashions and taste have again changed in the last few years, and that the author makes assumptions about reactions to or attitudes about color that may or may not be valid for the general population.

however, if someone is insecure about color, or hasn't studied color theory at all, this seems like a good resource.

but i bought it for the illustrations. they are superb.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A LONG AWAITED PERSPECTIVE, September 21, 2004

By	Stephanie Jordan (baltimore,md usa) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have been seriously beading for three years,and i love the art. I'd tried using books on color from Designers outlook or quilters outlook,but as I started reading Ms Deeb's prespective on color in the realm of beading I knew I'd found what i'd been searching for. The explainations about the light as with the finishes of the beads and the effects that are achieved in designs ,will help me use the colors much more effective, because now I understand what I'm looking for when I'm choosing the colors in a project.Also, the tempo of the writing holds my attention. I hate to put it down. stephanie jordan,SRJ Designs