Beaders Color Mixing Directory: 200 Failsafe Color Schemes for Beautiful Beadwork

I've been beading for a few years, but always feel like I struggle with color choices. Recently I purchased Margie Deeb's book, but felt like I still wanted more information, so I also just bought Sandra Wallace's book. While they do cover some of the same information, they are a wonderful complement to each other, and I'm so glad that I now have both of them. As other reviewers have mentioned, this book is divided into three sections. The first section talks about color theory and how to use a color wheel to create interesting color combinations. While Deeb's book uses the CYM color wheel, Wallace's book uses the standard color wheel. In the second section of the book, Wallace provides over 150 examples of various projects from other bead artists that are grouped according to various color schemes (with titles like Volcano, Floral Fantasy, Faded Roses, etc.). It is in this second section of the book where Wallace provides the details about the percentage of beads used in each project. This section alone is worth the cost of the book! The samples are just wonderful, and Wallace explains how each one uses the color theory (analogous, complementary, etc.) she had discussed in Part 1. This section has such wonderful eye candy, and I know I will be going back to it many times in the future for inspiration. The third section of the book has 10 sample projects, complete with instructions. Each of those 10 projects also has diagrams for how to make that project using other color combinations so you can really see how changing the color scheme affects the overall look of your piece. All in all, this is a wonderful book, and I'm definitely glad I purchased it!

Glass beads are chameleons. They change color depending on their finish, the color of the bead next to them, and the percentage of that color bead in the work. They do not hold the color note. This book helps you use color effectively with beads by showing all the color samples as beads and showing percentages of colors in the finished examples so you can approximate it yourself without using identical beads and designs. The painted wooden beads for the color wheel and examples are hoaky. They are paint, not glass. They hold their color and are a different medium than glass. But the ideas are good, color mixing and the color wheel explanations are excellent. Overall this is an inspirational book. There are few ugly pages, but on the whole, it is a great book. Highly recommended.

I have been looking for something which would help me in designing with beads, and now I have it. It was the easiest book I have found to have the use of colors, to be pleasing to the eye. When I get into theory, I don't under stand it, or at least I guess I don't want to take the time to understand. Now I get it. Easier then ever. Great Book.

When I received the book, the cover is different than pictured. If I had seen only the new cover and nothing else, I might have hesitated about buying the book. I already have the 'Beader's Guide to Color' by Margie Deeb which focuses more on seed beads (including citing the Delica bead number). I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It is organized differently. It has a good basic introduction (Chapter 1) to color theory, explaining the different color wheels, tonal values, tints, intensity, shades, finishes, etc. I expected this and Sandra Wallace did a good job of it, with lots of color photos of beads (not just flat color swatch) to illustrate. There are over 150 absolutely GORGEOUS beaded items in various color schemes/groupings in Chapter 2. Most of these items are done with seed beads. There are a handful of stringed designs with larger glass beads. I really like how it gives the proportion of colors using 20 color bars with each representing 5%. I can't wait to try some of these out. I was surprised to find that it has 10 projects at the end of the book with 6 different color schemes for each. Awesome. These are not for beginners expect for maybe 4 projects. You are expected to know how to do herringbone stitch, brick stitch, right angle weave, etc. There is NO general how to sections on the various beading technique but the instructions for the projects are well written and have good diagrams for those experienced with the stitch technique. I consider this book to be a MUST HAVE in all beaders' library. Although the book leaned heavier towards seedbead weavers, the color schemes in the book can definitely be used for larger glass beads as well as beads from organic material.