Book Review
It’s All About the Beads! contains instructions for necklaces,
bracelets, an anklet, chokers, brooches, a watch, pierced and non-pierced
earrings, hair slides (clips), matching sets (i.e. mother of the
bride necklace & earrings) and a hatpin ranging in difficulty
from 1 – 8. The jewellery/accessories projects come in a wide
variety of color schemes, styles and patterns with antique and modern
flavours with influence from many cultures and countries. This book
is a perfect resource for you if you are looking to make unique
and special gifts, pieces for sale and even fundraising. There is
also a money earners section at the back that has ideas on how and
what to sell for jewellery and for what markets.
I like how the author of It’s All About the Beads! writes
in the Introduction with a positive voice. This attitude gives confidence
to the beader, not only with her words but the content she includes
(a description of the different types of beads used in the book),
materials (a description of the basic components of the necklace
– clasp and wire), a description of tools required to make
jewellery (the author refers to when they are needed, how useful
they are and when they are used in the book) as well as a section
on basic beading techniques. I also like that the author gives you
options (i.e. bead choice to suit your needs/tastes, the availability
of beads as well as possible methods of storing beads and accessories).
The author also includes a safety for children advisory about supervising
them during the use of tools and materials as well as safe storage
of tools and materials when children are present.
In the Basic Techniques section the author gets you started stringing
beads with simple necklace and earring instructions. Step-by-step
instructions are accompanied by illustrations demonstrating the
techniques involved in each step. While the basics of jewellery
making are explained the projects do get more detailed and complex
so it is better to begin with a simple project (i.e. Junk Box Gems
– necklace & earrings). Also in this section is a small
article called About the Projects, which is important to read before
you begin beading because it describes the nature of the projects
included in this book. There is a grading system for the beading
projects as well as a time period it will take the beginner beader
to complete a project. There are also some hints and tips about
following the instructions.
In the description of a project the author talks about the beads
used in the creation of the jewellery piece, their features, how
they fit into the makeup of the piece as well as their availability/suppliers.
There is a complete and very detailed list of ingredients for each
project that make up the jewellery piece. The instructions for the
projects are outlined like a recipe because there are amounts for
the beads and the method is in a step-by-step format. Like a recipe,
if you follow the steps and directions clearly you shouldn’t
go wrong. The author also refers you back to Basic Technique pages
when required for a specific jewellery project.
As well as the instructions for projects in this book there are
6 variations without complete instructions for the All Alone single
bead pendant necklace based on the Making a Thong necklace instructions.
Additional earring designs without instructions are also included
at the back of the book. In the description of each piece the author
refers back to the Basic Earring making instructions or earrings
of similar style with any slight differences in their composition
to help you complete the piece. |
