The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Stitching Beaded Jewelry!

I am a highly visual learner, so being able to "see" my way or understand visually what I'm supposed to do is critical to how I process information.  This was never more apparent to me than when I began my journey and love of beadweaving.  Can I get an Amen!  Before I discovered youTube and all that that has to offer, when I asked about reference guides and tools to help me learn this craft, inevitably I was referred to one of two books:  Mastering Beadwork and The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Stitching Beaded Jewelry by Lesley Weiss.

As an "absolute beginner" and even now, I keep this book handy and readily available.  As a matter of fact, I think I have two of them.

The Basics:

Organized into five (5) sections: 1) the Introduction; 2) Basics; 3) Projects; 4) Stitching Terms and lastly 5) About the Author.  Table of Contents

Introduction: 

I love how she warns you in the beginning that "Beading is Addictive" and as we all know...she ain't lying.  I'm a self-described beadaholic and not trying to find a cure anytime soon.  She also tells you how the book is organized.  "Each subsequent project builds on the one before..."

Basics:

Many of the beading references you'll find will have this section, so it can be quite repetitive.  Ms. Weiss also tells about the seed bead types, shapes and even a pictorial of what 1gram of each type looks like...Findings, Beading wires and thread, tools and work space, stitching techniques (in this section, I appreciate the Measuring project length (how to measure your wrist), and the question of how much thread, knotting and crimping and finally wire basics

The Projects:

The book features 27 projects "designed to teach 11 of the most common beading stitches":  Peyote, Brick Stitch (cirular); Right Angle Weave (commonly referred to as RAW); Herringbone (aka Ndebele); St. Petersburg; Daisy Chain.  What I truly appreciate about each of the projects is she provides you with "Another Idea" section as well as Techniques you should review that may have impact on the piece you are working on.

One of my  favorite "go-to" stitches is the RAW.  My first project I took on from this book was Project 1...the Crossweave necklace with Pendant.  While not a hard project (...now) at that point what the heck did I know about Cross weave and working with two needles.  Once I got over that shock...:) this project was a breeze.  I've also done...well, I think I've just about done all of them in one way, shape or fashion.

The Graphics:

Most of the graphics in this guide are pictoral although there are some graphical depictions.  For a visual learner such as myself, I found that I could complete most all of the projects from the pictures alone.

Rating: 

Definitely a 4+ bead from this user.

Getting Started Stringing Beads

2 1/2 years ago when I first started beading and making jewelry, this book would have been a Godsend... Thank you Jean Campbell

Let me give you the basics...7 sections not including the introduction. 1. The Bead shopping experience, 2. The basics from start to finish, 3. A Bunch of Beads, 4. Your Focal Bead, 5 Earrings, 6. Some Design Ideas, and lastly, 7. Tips.


Graphic representation: lots of them--pictorial (from a camera) and graphical (drawn) and they were big enough to show the details. I especially liked this one...




Ok now on to content...just by the organization of the chapters, this book answers a beginner's (and some not so beginner) questions. I can't tell you how many times since I've become a "beader" that I've seen folks walk into a shop and not have a clue....chapter 1 talks to you of how bead stores are generally laid out, and how you should shop...the baggies for the individual pieces, the pen and tally sheet and so on. Did you know that a hank was a gathering of 12 strands...I didn't until I read this book. And this little cheat sheet wasn't so bad either...







One of the questions I often asked when I started was about design...as a matter of fact, I still ask those questions...and the answer usually is it's all about your artistic inner vision. While that is true, it's not the 100%. Chapter 3 gives some additional tips and hints to think about...all helpful.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the last chapter. It provides tips on...shopping, setting up your work area, while working on your piece, on wire work and on maintenance. Check it out!

Happy Beading!!

Making Designer Bead & Wire Jewelry

This week's book review is on the book, "Making Designer Bead & Wire Jewelry", by Tammy Powley. 

The author, Tammy Powley, worked for 10 years as a technical writer, and jewelry was her hobby. During this time, she studied jewelry design for two years at the Winter Park Adult Vocational Center, learning a variety of techniques including fabrication, soldering, wire work, beading, casting, engraving, and enameling. Tammy still continues to take classes and has also added the following techniques to her list: fused glass, lampworking, lost wax casting, wire wrapping, metal clay, and cabbing. Along with working as a freelance writer, Tammy is an Assistant Professor of English and teaches composition, literature, and technical communications.

In addition to her work at About.com, Tammy is the author of a number of jewelry making books including The Complete Photo Guide to Jewelry Making, Picture Yourself Creating Metal Clay Jewelry, Jewelry and Beading Designs for Dummies, Making Mixed Media and Memory Jewelry, Making Designer Bead and Wire Jewelry, and Making Designer Seed Bead, Stone, and Crystal Jewelry

My strength as an artisan is in beadweaving.  I love all the stitching and the details.  However, there are times when I would like to personalize my work by making unique clasps and other findings.  Wire work is definitely not my strong suit.  As you know, we are only as strong as our weakest link...Wire will not defeat me.  So what's a girl to do? I like to research and practice.  Sometimes research for me starts with reading a book, then taking a class or two (or 3 or 4...you get it), all the while "playing" and trying to implement what I've learned.

"Making Designer Bead & Wire Jewelry" is a key find for me toward improving my wire work.  It provides techniques for creating unique designs and handmade findings.  The book is divided into 13 sections:

About Beads (Types of beads and tips for buying beads); About wire (sizes and types of wire; hardness and shapes of wire); Basic tool kit (what this should look like); Using a Jig (Tips, patterns and types); Earring findings; Jump rings, hooks and clasps; Bead and Wire Techniques; Bead and Wire Projects; Gallery; and Suppliers.

Each of the sections provided graphical depictions as well as text, plus a "Jeweler's Tip" section; in the Projects section, she also provides "Design Advice" and Variation Ideas.

I found the graphics relatively easy to follow and understand.  I give this book 4 thumbs up!!!!

Beading with Cabochons

I look through all the beading publications and I'm totally in awe of the wonderfully created pieces using beaded cabochons.  Most of the pieces look so very intricate and of course now, this is something I want to include in my arsenal of work.  This led me to this book..."Beading with Cabochons" by Jamie Cloud Eakin

Beading with Cabochons shows you step-by-step how to combine an amazing variety of cabochons and beads on sophisticated jewelry.  Jamie Cloud Eakin shows you the basic techniques and the unique stitches she developed over more than a decade. Her projects range from a pair of double-cabochon earrings to and elaborately fringed dichroic glass necklace. With so many cabochons and beads to chose from, each piece you make will be one of a kind.


The step-by-step projects include: Fringed Dichroic Glass Necklace, Oval Solitaire Rhodonite Bracelet, Noondrite Jasper Necklace, Sea Moss Ladder Bracelet, Double Cabochon Dangle Earrings, Leopardskin Jasper Necklace, Black Onyx Pin, Victorian Triple Cabochon Bracelet, Southwest Spirit Necklace, Fringed Tiger-Eye Cabochon Earrings and Crazy Lace Agate Pin.

Chapters include: 1 Materials and Tools, 2 Basic Cabochon Beading, 3 Edge Stitches, 4 Attachment Methods, 5 Other Bezel Stitches, 6 The Projects, and 7 Creating Your Own Designs. Also included is a photo gallery of beaded cabochon jewelry by talented artists, an appendix on attaching findings, an index to stitches and a note about suppliers.
Though I haven't tried any of the projects as yet, I have read through the instructions and they seem fairly easy to follow.  Let's hope that when I actually sit down to do them, I feel the same way...

Happy Beading