Beads have been around for thousands of years and have always been a popular way of making jewelry. Learn how to make your own timeless and contemporary pieces with this beginner's primer.
This is a well laid out book that will have total beginners beading away in no time. From the page at the front showing you how to use the book to the handy index it shows how enjoyable and rewarding working with beads can be. The projects are all showcased at the beginning to whet the appetite, organized into unusual themes - ocean, beach, meadow, woodland, forest, mountain and volcano. The first chapter explains very visually all about the different types of beads and other materials and has some excellent advice for beginners about buying. This is also where you can find out how to do the basics such as opening and closing jump rings, using pliers, knots and more. Start with earrings - a glorious double spread of them - and progress through the various themes. The pieces in here are all of the eye-catching type that are deceptively simple to make but pack a lot of punch without being too dressy or showy. Instead of tidy staged boxes in the step-by-step instructions, the layout is freer and more suited to the shapes of jewelry with pieces in various stages of being made up spread across the pages, but easy to understand. I found myself eager to buy some of the beautiful beads and findings shown in the book but despite this being a UK title everything has been provided by a US website. Fortunately the majority of the items used are pretty universal and this is a book focusing on making statement pieces out of lots of fairly basic beads. Even if you are not a beginner you will find much in here you want to make, and if you are you won't be by the end of the book. One of the best and most accessible beginner beading books I have seen.
* Rachel Hyde - Myshelf.com *
This is a comprehensive guide to designing and creating beautiful beaded jewellery using simple stringing techniques. It features 35 colourful projects, starting with pair of simple earrings and working up to a dramatic beaded collar. You'll learn the skills you need to make perfect jewellery for any occassion.
* Machine Knitting Monthly *
