The Bead Book

I like this book. Bought it last year and this year actually started reading through it and made two necklaces. This is a great book for beginners and a nice book for those of us that have beading experience and just want to learn new techniques.

This book has lots of information for the bead addict, which might be a little complicated for the total beginner, though the photos of step by step procedures along with the instructions are very clear and well written. It also pictures and lists all the necessary equipment, from the different types of pliers, to all the available threads and wires, to the "bead loom", which I have never used, but after reading this book, may give it a try. The design sections include "Classic", "Ethnic", "Glitzy", "Fun", and "Accessories and Gifts". Within those categories one gets 7 to 8 designs in various levels of difficulty, with the process and the final product well photographed, either on a simple background or worn on a model, as well as a list of what "You will need:", and "Tools, etc:". For those fairly new to beading or at the intermediate level, one is bound to learn new techniques and get new ideas; for myself, I like to learn tips from books like this one, and then make my own designs based on the principles described. Not all the designs are winners (the frame is a little lame !) but some are quite lovely, and my favorite is also one of the simplest to make, the "Amber necklace and earrings" on page 54. Buyer Beware: In the copy I own, pages 66 through 91 are either missing, mixed up, or repeated; I am missing 5 of the "Ethnic Designs", have 3 of the "Glitzy Designs" repeated, and several pages are numbered out of order, so there are editions of this book that are severely flawed.

I like this jewelry book a lot! The title and cover suggest the idea that it's a book about beads, but this is a book of jewelry projects made with beads. I find it to be a great collection of eye-catching designs, from pretty and delicate, to subdued, and bold. There are a variety of necklace and choker shapes, both single and multi-stranded, using all different kinds of beads: pastel flowers, ethnic-look clay and pipe beads, pearls, glass, seed beads and more. I find most of the designs inspiring, or easy to adapt to my taste. None are extremely difficult or time-consuming. Other projects include a bead curtain and items decorated with beads: a hat, a shirt collar, frame, curtain tiebacks. Also appealing about this book is the clean, well organized layout of the pages. Each project has several photos showing the steps, and the finished pieces are displayed in large, beautiful photographs. This book is a mainstay in my bead jewelry book collection.