5 comments about Handcrafting Chain and Bead Jewelry: Techniques for Creating Dimensional Necklaces and Bracelets.

1. Now that I own the book, I agree with everyone who gave it a five star rating. I had to laugh at a few of the "not favorable" reviews, because one reviewer had obviously NOT READ the book, how else could she have missed the ring-size charts on page 11. A couple of other reviewers had also obviously not looked at the description of the book. Mr. Plumlee is an expert on ancient chains and in this book he concentrated on showing how to make variations of the Byzantine Weave. THAT is what the book is about, and David does it brilliantly. One reviewer wrote that they were not interested in knowing how to make rings. Excuse me, but no serious chainmaille artist just buys rings, we do make our own in most metals. The book is also not exactly a "Beginning Chainmaille" book, even though it is possible for a complete novice to make the Byzantine Weave from David's superb instructions. You just have to look at the pictures and then READ the text along with the pic.....Duh!!!!! To prove my point, I showed the book to my adult daughter who had never made chainmaille. In 30 minutes she had made about half of a beautiful bracelet.
   Five starts to Mr. Plumlee for an excellent book.



2. Whether you're just starting out or have been creating chainmail jewelry for a while, Plumlee's first book provides solid introductory information-from an overview of included chain styles to the tools, materials, and techniques needed to complete them-along with plenty of inspirational photos of original chain patterns. In addition, the techniques for creating clasps and earwires are easy to follow and produce great results. Some of the photos of gold wire seemed a bit green in my copy, but this is just a cosmetic issue that could have be corrected by the printer. Solid technique and instruction here. [...].



3. I absolutely love this book. It gives you step by step instructions. It also shows you every tool needed. I appreciate the cultural background given at the beginning of the book. The only problem I had was with the time it takes to complete a piece. I stick with it because I love the outcome.



4. All the chains used are variations of the Byzantine style - but he does some really cool stuff within that narrow chain window.



5. Love this book! It was recommended to me and I would recommend it to anyone interested in chainmaille. Lots of ideas and great directions.
   Jeanne, NJ

5 comments about The Complete Book of Glass Beadmaking.

1. I highly recommend this book. It has photographic step by steps showing how to make basic beads through very complex beads. I bought this along with Cindy Jenkins, Making Glass Beads. While there is overlap, I have no regrets buying both. Well worth owning for a beginning beadmaker!



2. As I'm relatively new to flame work I was keen to find a book which covered the basics well and also showed more advanced stuff.
   
   This book is great and has most of what I need to get started.



3. Far from being an expert or even proficient glassworker, I really liked this book. It's comprehensive. It has techniques that the Cindy Jenkins book does not contain and hers was one of the best books on beadmaking I've found. If you can only buy one book (who can?) I would purchase this as a starting manual. If you can buy more, get this and Cindy Jenkins' "Making Glass Beads." The two both have the same amount of info on setting up a glassblowing area in your home and advice on torches, etc, but together they make a fine starting point for any aspiring soft glass artisan.



4. Everything in this book has been covered in Cindy Jenkin's book 'Making Glass Beads'. No need to buy it. I am sorry I did, it was a waste of money.



5. This book is not only a guide how to make beads but it is allso a source of inspiration. When I don't know which bead to make I get this book and all kind of ideas pop up. It's clear and one can easily find the things one is looking for.

5 comments about Little Bead Boxes: 12 Miniature Containers Built with Beads.

1. While I have yet to make any of the boxes from this book, I have read it thoroughly and am anxious to begin a box. I have seen boxes others have made from the instructions in this book so I feel confident in recommending it to others. The instructions are clear, don't leave you with questions, and help you to produce a piece worthy of the effort it takes. Again, glad I added it to my personal beading library.



2. This book was great. I looked it over and was not sure I could follow the instructions but once I started I found it to be pretty easy. Her helpful tips were great as if she anticipated the problems I would have. Also the projects didnt take as long as I had thought they would. I am a medium level beader so have only limited knowledge when I started these projects.



3. Great little book. Directions are a little hard to understand, but with taking it slow and easy, the designs are easy to make.



4. Well, I just finished my first little bead box. It is so lovely. I enjoyed a bead project that was a non-wearable. The complete project does not take as long as I thought it would. I'm not sure you should tackle this if you are not comfortable with peyote patterns or if you have not beaded any project with a geometric shape. Definitely read the beginning of the book with the general instructions before you start beading otherwise you will never be able to follow the word pattern. If you choose to make any of these boxes - you will not be disappointed.



5. This book is excellent, very detailed. It gives patterns, bead counts, color choices, and the instructions are very good. I have the second book too and it's just as good.

5 comments about Beading on Fabric: Encyclopedia of Bead Stitch Techniques.

1. I just received this book and each page is better than the one before. I can barely wait to begin a project that was inspired by this book. Good diagrams and excellent examples. Would suggest this book to any one that enjoys beading or wants to begin. Is helpfull to all levels of beaders.



2. This book is right up my alley. I just love the ideas and colored pictures showing so many examples. It just causes the creative juices to flow. I am so thankful that I purchased this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves creating art quilts with embroidery stitches and bead work.



3. I have been TRYING to bead on fabric for several months now. When I received this book I sat and read it from cover to cover. I can say that I will now be able to bead on fabric without any problems. This is the best book I have ever come across on beading on fabric. It gives you instructions for beading on all types of fabric. The pictures are great and the instructions are easy to understand. If you have money for only one book and you want to make your beading on fabric more professional looking, this is the book to buy!



4. Lately a few people have been asking me which book I would recommend for learning bead embroidery. This is it folks.
   Interweave Press has a history of fantastic books, and this one lives up to that history.
   
   It's spiral bound in a hard cover so it will lie flat while you're working,and it's laid out logically for the absolute beginner in bead embroidery. The first chapter covers tools, the second is about beads, the third chapter explains the different types of bead embroidery, it goes on to stitches and projects. There are gorgeous and inspiring examples throughout the book, and the illustrations of technique are easily understandable.
   
   Bead embroidery doesn't have to be scary, it's a fun technique that's able to do things woven beads won't do. This book will take a lot of the mystery out of it for you.
   
   And yes, when my friends ask "Can you recommend a good book for learning bead embroidery?" I tell them about this one. It's really that good.



5. Beautifully illustrated, Wonderful pictures, Great ideas, and detailed instructions. A must for any beader who wants to expand their hobby.

5 comments about Beadweaving Brilliance: Make Beautiful Jewelry as You Learn Off-loom Techniques.

1. The book has clear instructions and figures that are easily followed. I made a few things as quick and easy Christmas presents and they were a hit....but, I was mislead by the cover photo. Every photo you see has instructions in the book except the one I bought the book for. It is the one on the front cover, third photo from the left. I was VERY disappointed the instructions for that project were not actually in the book!
   
   Monique~Albuquerque, NM



2. Pedestrian is a lot better word for this book than brilliant. These are very easy projects that can be found in many other books. Most of the appealing pieces were for reference only, meaning there were no instructions. Also seed bead sizes and thread lengths are given in metric measurements, not six, eleven, fifteen, etc. for seed beads and inches or feet for other measurements. The one bracelet I did make had a mistake in the directions, but the diagrams were accurate and I was able to finish the bracelet. It was a disappointing piece, that I would only be pleased with if it was the first thing I ever made. So once again, I have added to the large collection of bead books I own that got great reviews and turned out to be a major disappoinment. I am cancelling the second brilliance book.



3. Excellent book for a beginning "beader" like me! Great instructions are enhanced by clear illustrations!



4. I ordered both this book and another jewelry book and I waited for it to arrive and after it was a week late I called and talked to a customer service person who was extremely helpful. She immediately sent out a replacement order which arrived within 2-3 days. I was very happy with the service I got in fixing the problem. I just received the 3rd book that was not available when I ordered the other 2 books and it just arrived ahead of schedule. I had only ordered from Amazon once before and again had great service and received the book very quickly. I will use amazon to order other books that I cannot get localy as long as the service continues.



5. I am a new beader, so this is new for my growing library of beading books. The projects look to be well explained and seem to go from beginner to advanced beader. I would recommend it to beginners especially.

5 comments about Metal Clay Beyond the Basics.

1. Wow! This book has something for everyone. Each project section is laid out starting with a beginning project, moving through intermediate and on to advanced. No mater what your skill level is currently, this book will take you to the next level and beyond. It's well written and organized beautifully with a wide variety of projects and techniques. All the projects are unique and different. It definitely inspired me. I can't wait to try out these projects! I recommend this book highly. It's a great addition to any metal clay library, whether it's your first book or you have a whole shelf full.



2. Absolutely loved this new book. I found it to be full of unique projects using multiple techniques and innovative ways of doing things. I liked Carol's style of writing as well as her content and hope to hear from her again and again .
   A good measure of how much I liked a book is where I want to spend my next vacation....Carol's studio would be great!
   Debby Kirkwood



3. Metal clay can produce fantastic jewelry results, and METAL CLAY BEYOND THE BASICS shows how to get these results with 24 projects in five jewelry categories covered in step-by-step written instructions and photos. There are even directions on how to blend metal clay with other materials, from ceramics to gemstones. An outstanding survey evolves.



4. Carol has hit the jackpot with this book. It is definitely not the a repetition of projects found in other books. All are new and fresh ideas and designs. The layout focuses on a type of jewelry then moves through difficulty levels from beginner to advanced. Each step is accompanied by clear, detailed instructions with photos. Her designs are appealing and interesting and I don't get the sense that they were just created to fill out the book. Even if you don't make the projects there is a wealth of ideas and techniques to explore and try out. Tip boxes are placed to explain points of construction and alternatives to her instructions. Basic materials and tools review is in the back which means that 90% of the book is given to learning these new and exciting ways to work with metal clay. This is a definite must have for your metal clay/jewelry making library even if you're not a beginner.



5. The book is a nice book with interesting designs but not my style of work

5 comments about Simply Beautiful Beading.

1. This is a great book! Easy-to-follow instructions for great jewelry. Every design is great for beginners and experience alike. Highly recommend!



2. I found the projects very easy to understand and even embellish if I want to change it somewhat. Also, there are both jewelry and decorative things to make that aren't too "much" that you just wouldn't use them or give them as presents. Some reviewers said this is a beginners book, which it is, but even an experienced beader can use these projects if they're good beaders. There were many more things I will make then I won't which doesn't happen all the time. I also liked the resources in the back that a lot a authors don't put in and I have had a hard time finding some materials.



3. These projects are beautiful and a snap for people with a little experience. The pictures and instructions are clear and easy to understand.



4. This really has something for everyone. Beautiful photos and good instruction. I use it constantly for ideas as well as doing some of the projects inside



5. I have not been beading for very long, but the projects in this book seem more for kids than adults. On the plus side, there is good information on tools and materials and instuctions are easy to follow with good photos. On the down side, of the 53 projects there are only 3 or 4 that I would actually make and a whole lot (30%+) that would appeal only to pre-teens. Factor in another 25-30% for "home accents" and "accessories" (candle decorations, napkin holders, etc.) and there isn't much left if you are interested, as I am, in jewelry.

5 comments about Simply Beautiful Beaded Jewelry.

1. This book follows Heidi's Simply Beautiful Beading but it stands on its own by showing techniques to make the projects shown. There are well-defined photographs of necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and fashion accessories. None of the projects are particularly difficult to make once you know the basic techniques, briefly shown at the front of the book.



2. This book has many beautiful projects. It is one of the top two books in my large collection.



3. I'm still sort of a beginner when it comes to beading so I'm still in the market for good "how to" books. I love this one, have read it cover to cover more than once and it's always on my project table. The projects are gorgeous, the author is interesting and easy to follow and the pictures and step-by-step guidelines are clear and concise. My ONLY complaint is that in the instructions she does not include how many beads of each kind are required for each project, so you have to guesstimate when purchasing them. The only reason I mention this is that other books have this information and it's helpful in planning and costing out projects. Other than that I highly recommend it and prefer it over her first book in the same series.



4. Alot of interesting patterns and good instructions to complete them. Bought this book and the other one that she wrote on beading as well, on the reccomendation of the other reviewers.



5. Simply Beautiful Beaded Jewelry
   
   Whether you're a novice beader or more experienced, you'll find Heidi Boyd's beautiful book chock full of projects with capital E eye appeal. Got 30 minutes? Try her pearl earrings on page 77. What could be simpler or more elegant than triple peacock pearls dangling from a sterling silver spring leverback wire.
   
   Boyd's book lists fifty necklace, bracelet, earring and accessory projects with full color photos, a parts list and instructions. The parts list does not give exact bead quantities, but it's easy to count the beads from the photo, plus this gives the artist license to make her own changes.
   
   Different techniques are used for many of the projects. For example, the bracelet section covers strung beads, linked or wired beads and stretchy band construction.
   
   A foreward to the projects covers Getting Started with pages devoted to types of beads, stringing materials, findings, tools and materials and techniques. A brief Resource List and back index complete the book.
   
   Recommended.

5 comments about Chinese Knots for Beaded Jewellery.

1. This is THE best basic Chinese knots book I've ever used. The diagrams are very very clear and easy to follow. The author also provides a lot very useful knots tips and how to put together beads and combinations. My 10 year-old girl learned how to make button knot from this book when I tried and failed from other books. This 80 pages simple book has done amazing jobs to show you the very complicated Chinese knots the easy way.



2. This is another book about the subject that have captivated my imagination in the same way of Celtic Knots. The same graphic explanation and the differents examples make this book another best selection of this type on the market. Satisfaction guaranteed.



3. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn to make jewelry using Chinese knots. It is an excellent reference. The reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is that the instructions for some of the more complicated knots did not provide enough step-by-step guidance. For example, the knotting process might be shown in 2 or 3 pictures where 5 or 6 pictures would have been much better. Some of the knots took me a lot of effort to puzzle out from the pictures provided.



4. This book is awesome. It is very clear. I've been looking for something like this for integrating into my jewelry designs. I'm excited to get started. Photos and instructions are excellent. This is a great addition to any library for one who is interested in making jewelry that is "different" and will attract comments.



5. First, my qualifications as a "reviewer": I've been making glass and metal beads, along with precious metal jewelry, for a living for over 20 years. In my early beadmaking years I also made fiber and beaded jewelry, and I amassed a collection of over 1000 kinds of beads in all materials, shapes, sizes and hole sizes. So I came to this book with a lot of experience with all kinds of beads, a fair amount of experience with fiber; and none with knotting, knitting, braiding or any of that. I'm doing good to remember how to tie a slip knot! And finishing the ends of a fiber piece in a professional manner has always been a challenge for me. My goal was to learn how to work with larger cords in a way that was *simple*, colorful, elegant, and showcased my own beads.
   
   I think this is a very good beginner's book and I'm happy I bought it. The knots are beautiful, the jewelry - although rather simple in design and color choices - is attractive and shows intelligent color sense, the illustrations and photos are clear. There were times I could not see how she got from Point A to Point B, and an intermediate photo would have been helpful. But by and large, the book will be very helpful in my desire to experiment with elegant fiber jewelry with knots as a design element.
   
   I have not given it 5 stars, however, because I think there are important areas where it falls short:
   
   1.) First, what she says about supplies and how to choose them only fills a total of one page, and is completely inadequate. The author spends 4 times more pages on her personal introduction and the history of knotting than she does on choosing the supplies. One requires very large-holed beads to use most of these techniques, and although she mentions hole sizes in passing, she gives no information about useful or minimum hole diameters, *relative to the sizes of the cords*. She also gives virtually no *specific* information on cord sizes or types, what might be suitable or not. Someone with experience would eventually calculate ratios of hole sizes to cord sizes, at least mentally, and would buy materials with minimum or maximum sizes in mind. But an inexperienced bead or fiber buyer could buy a lot of stuff, learn it was unsuitable, and end up very frustrated.
   
   2.) Second, I wanted to see more of a variety of professional finishing options. A button knot makes a great button, but one loop of smaller cord might be completely undersized or too weak to be used over and over in a closure. There are many fiber finishing techniques for closures, ways of wrapping threads and loops and so forth, and it would have been very useful to have seen them incorporated with the knots. Clasps and closures are the mark of a professional piece; the pieces shown in the book were finished with commercial findings in a "hobbyist" manner. Because this is not my strong suit, I'd hoped to get a few more ideas. I was disappointed.
   
   3.) Finally, any good how-to book should have a few good sources of supply. With this book, listing some of the larger mail order sources for silk and cotton cords would have been useful, as well as sources for larger-holed beads.
   
   Having said all that, this is certainly is a good elementary book, and it will prove useful as a starting place. I recommend it to anyone who wants an introduction to using beads with Chinese knotting.

5 comments about Beaded Crazy Quilting.

1. I purchased this book to get some ideas for embellishing my crazy quilts and have not been dissapointed. This book explains the stitches well and also shows how you can place beads with the hand embroidery to enhance your design. There are quite a few ideas and the pictures are very enticing. I have used several ideas from this book and gotten rave reviews on the quilt blocks I have done. Well worth the money!



2. Love this book! The instructions are very clear, lots of ideas and very inspiring!
   
   Very nice.



3. The book is gorgeous. The instructions are very concise and usable. It's thrown me into a beading and crazy quilt frenzy!



4. I highly recommend this book for anyone, beginner to expert, as a way of embellishing quilt work. The instructions were clearly written and the illustrations complemented the written instructions in addition to being quite attractive. Wonderful book!



5. I really enjoyed this book. I just sarted a crazy quilt and it was the type of beading I was looking for after a long drab winter