No comments about The Crafter's Design Library Fairies (Crafter's Design Library).

No comments about Navajo Beadwork: Architectures of Light.

1 comments about Gifts of Pride and Love: Kiowa and Comanohe Cradles (Studies in Anthropology and Material Culture, V. 7).

1. If you are interested or want more information on Cradleboards this book is very helpful. Many wonderful pictures of cradleboards and personal stories.

1 comments about One bead at a time: Exploring creativity with bead embroidery.

1. This book is very informative. But, do you know that the price on the back cover is $19.95 and this book is still in print. Get it at a discount from 2bead.com.

1 comments about The Flowers of Venice (Beadwork Books).

1. According to legend, the mortally wounded Crusader troubadour Tancredi fell across a white rose bush. As he lay dying, he begged his comrade Orlando, to take one of the blood-stained roses to his love Vulcana in the city of Venice. When she saw the rose, Vulcana became very pale and could not speak. The next morning she was found dead holding the blood-stained rose in her hand. On April 25, St. Mark's Day, traditional Venetian men give their belles a red rose in commemoration of the lover's tragedy. The best roses are made with Venetian glass beads.

   In THE FLOWERS OF VENICE, Giovanna Poggi Marchesi shows the reader how to make Vulcana's rose as well as many other beautiful flowers from glass beads. These flowers can be used in bouquets and floral arrangements, as decorative elements on Easter Eggs, lampshades, trinket boxes, candle holders, mirror frames, and in numerous other ways. The only constraint seems to be one's imagination.

   Marchesi provides the reader with step by step written instructions for making the flowers, as well as photographs of completed phases of the process. Although she uses beads manufactured in and around Venice, her book lists both Venetian and other bead suppliers, as well as resources such as magazines dedicated to the craft of glass bead flower making.

   The glass blowers of Venice create superior beads from the same materials used to make Murano glass. First, the moltan glass is prepared. Then it is blown and stretched into long thin canes of hollow tubing to be cut and sized for various purposes.

   Traditionally, Venetian glass beads were strung on iron rods of various weights and then the pliable rods were twisted into the requisite shapes. Although Marchesi uses the traditional iron rods, her book includes suggestions for other kinds of rods including various types of craft wire that can be found in hobby shops.

   Marchesi suggests that a good deal of work goes into flower making, so one should use or buy the best materials, and care for the flowers. Glass flowers need to be cleaned periodically, a risky business as the flower stems are covered with silk and/or other fragile materials and the iron rods can rust. Marchesi shows the reader how to submerge the flowers in soapy water and rinse and dry them in the sun. She also includes photographs showing how to "dry" clean them with alcohol.
   
   Whether or not you intend to make glass-bead flowers or buy them ready-made in Venice, this wonderful book is an invaluable resource.

No comments about Bracelet Bonanza: Designs for Loom Beading (Can Do Crafts).

1 comments about Bead: Handmade Style (Handmade Style (Thunder Bay Press)).

1. Beautifully illustrated throughout with photographic images of exquisite beaded jewelry, Elizabeth Bower's "Beads: Handmade Style" offers an impressive compendium of projects, each with their own materials list and step-by-step instructions. "Beads" offers a series of truly 'user friendly' beading projects that include jeweled gift-wrapping, chain necklaces, clip-on earrings, beaded flowers, evening bags, drop cluster earrings, beaded tablecloths, brooches, holiday decorations, belts, shoe jewelry, cuffs, a lantern candle holder, tassels, and a beaded curtain. A marvelous compendium of beading projects, "Bead: Handmade Style" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to any personal or community library Crafts reference collection.

1 comments about Holiday Moods in Wire: An Extended Guide to the Fine Art of Wire Wrapping.

1. This book focuses only on Christmas, with projects such as candy canes, Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands, icicles and ornaments. It does put a nice spin on wire wrapping, extending it away from personal decoration and toward home decorations. I would have given it 3½ stars if I could because of the very different approach it takes.
   
   The book offers the same convenience found in Sinclair's Moods in Wire : An Extended Guide to the Fine Art of Wirewrapping (2nd Ed) but with less variety and mostly simpler projects.
   
   This book is not for everyone. It offers little eye candy. Color photos are limited to the front cover and section headings. Projects use line art to illustrate (helpful but not lovely). Don't get this as a primary wire wrapping resource.

No comments about The Complete Guide to Bead Jewelery and Decoration; A Creative Guide to Beautiful Bead Projects.

5 comments about Bead Power: A Magical Journey into the World of Beads.

1. I was very disappointed in this book, and am returning it. It is very strange. From the description, I had expected a book relating the legends and folklore about different beads. (By way of example, the first time I spoke publicly to a large group, a colleague insisted that I carry her special bead with me for good luck, and would not accept my refusals. So, I carried it, and I did great.) And, regardless of whether or not most of us believe them, many beads are believed to have certain powers/attributes, and it can be nice to attach cards with this information along with gifts we've made from beads, etc. But this book was all about the author's personal feelings about beads, rather than legends/folklore. She includes directions for a spirit doll, but says only why she, herself, likes it -- i.e., no information about the history of such a doll, how it became popular in other countries, or whatever. I would have loved that had it been like a Guatemalan worry doll, but this offered nothing to make a gift more special -- or a bead, for that matter.

   The author seems very sincere, and I was very sorry that I didn't like her book, but I really didn't. I just couldn't find anything in it that held any interest for me. The whole book seemed weird.




2. In a fantasmagorical interpretation of the language of beads, Carolyn Manzi portrays her experiences with a medium that has inspired her to collect, create, and communicate her art, ideas, and spirituality with a style all her own. She tells her tale of discovery and inspiration of these small objects of wonder along with her whimsical, signature illustrations in a 'coloring book' format.

   Carolyn takes you on her personal journey into the world of beads, introducing real characters who influenced as she studies the origins, names, facts, lore and legend behind the beads that have enticed her with their magic. "Bead Power" is fun filled book with wonderful information that evokes bead awareness. It not only describes beads of colored gemstones and the healing qualities attributed to them, but it presents the bead as a universal amulet for protection, prayer, and cultural symbolism and introduces the concept of "intentional beading" being the manifestation of an artistic vision. Sharing her extraordinary insight and encouraging the reader to discover their own personal power, Carolyn succeeds in inspiring a bead lover, healer, novice or neophyte to take a closer look into exploring their own creativity and expressing it by using beads.

   As in Carolyn Manzi's first book "Coloring Your Prayers", "Bead Power: A Magical Journey into the World of Beads" follows her original 'workbook' theme by guiding the reader through using beads in rituals involving meditation and visualization exercises, prayer, drawing, and music.

   Carolyn suggests numerous projects for creating art and power objects,including simple instructions on techniques and assembly for making jewelry designs such as the "Manifestation Bracelet" and "Prayer Flag" and other wonderful things you can make to help your own dreams come true. A unique expression of the fun in learning to appreciate and create with beads for anyone from ages 4 to 94, I highly recommend "Bead Power" as a gift to heal, inspire and manifest with!




3. I had the great pleasure of attending a book signing by Carolyn Manzi at the Capitola Bookstore & Cafe, Capitola, CA. What a treat! Carolyn provided a sumptuous smorgasbord of beads for our beading pleasure. She shared information that is in her book on the meaning and origins of some wonderful beads that she brought with her- buddhist malas, venetian beads, islamic prayer beads, African trade beads, a shamanic necklace and more. She showed us some of the projects that are in the book- a spirit doll, dream catcher and rattle all embellished with beautiful beads!
   Carolyn spoke to us in the same detail that she has written her book about the magic of beads and the meaning of various materials they are made from (glass, bone, clay, stones etc.), and the shapes and motifs of various cultures. She took us through a step by step hands on bead exercise, showing us how to use beads as power objects to manifest our creative visions in the world. The projects in the book are as easy to follow as it was having her right there with us. Best of all, we left with our own prayer bracelet that was created and shared with the group. In her book she talks about group beading and how empowering that can be. I know from my experience I was very inspired and connected by the experience. I think we all were touched with our own inner magic that Carolyn helped us find through her wonderful book.
   As a life long bead lover, I feel so blessed to have found this book. The text and illustrations came straight from Carolyn's heart and really takes the concept of beads and beading "out of the box." Through this book Carolyn leads us on a journey of accessing our inner artist and making our own authentic connection with beads.
   I shared this book with my daughter, and at home we took Carolyn's suggestion to make a prayer bracelet to celebrate one another's spirit. We created beautiful mother/daughter bracelets the next evening. Each bead represents a quality that we love and admire about each other. Carolyn even suggested that we include a broken bead (which we did) to symbolize what qualities are challenging for us to accept in one another.
   This book inspired me (through the beads) to think about how these interpersonal challenges encourage us to look at ourselves and grow into more compassionate and loving beings. What a beautiful experience!
   Even if you already own all the bead books in print, this book will open your heart, mind and soul to new dimesions of creating with beads. Trust me- it's a gem!



4. This new book by Carolyn Manzi transformed the way I look at beads!
   I have always had a draw to, and love of beads, but I never fully understood their power until I read this book. The history that Carolyn writes about is amazing! I had no idea how far back beading went, and how important it was (and still is) to so many cultures. The way that Carolyn writes
   is very engaging and she makes wonderful insights with a charming imagination. She also gives many projects to do with beads and has very easy to follow written and illustrated instructions.
   I loved her art. Her drawings are very primitive and creative.
   One point that touched me personally was the healing power that beads have. I followed her detailed instructions and made a beautiful bracelet for someone very close to me who is having health problems. It was a wonderful experience to choose the beads and put all my love and prayers into them as I beaded. The real joy however, was when I gave it to my friend. I have to say, it was one of the most spiritual experiences of my life, and hers too. I never would have even thought of doing this if I hadn't read this inspiring book, and what I would have missed is indescribable!
   I must say this book brought out a creative side of me that I never knew was there, but much more than that I got a vision and connection that will last a lifetime.



5. This new book by Carolyn Manzi transformed the way I look at beads!
   I have always had a draw to, and love of beads, but I never fully understood their power until I read this book. The history that Carolyn writes about is amazing! I had no idea how far back beading went, and how important it was (and still is) to so many cultures. The way that Carolyn writes
   is very engaging and she makes wonderful insights with a charming imagination. She also gives many bead projects with very easy to follow written and illustrated instructions.
   I loved her art. Her drawings are very primitive and creative.
   One point that touched me personally was the healing power that beads have. I followed her detailed instructions and made a beautiful bracelet for someone very close to me who is having health problems. It was a wonderful experience to choose the beads and put all my love and prayers into them as I beaded. The real joy however, was when I gave it to my friend. I have to say, it was one of the most spiritual experiences of my life, and hers too. I never would have even thought of doing this if I hadn't read this inspiring book, and what I would have missed is indescribable!
   I must say this book brought out a creative side of me that I never knew was there, but much more than that I got a vision and connection that will last a lifetime.
   Carolyn, thank you for writing this book!