Bead Simple: Essential Techniques for Making Jewelry Just the Way You Want It
by Susan Beal
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Book Summary Information
Author: Susan BealEdition: Paperback
Format: Illustrated
Published: 2008-03-25
ISBN: 1561589535
Number of pages: 224
Publisher: Taunton
Book Reviews of Bead Simple: Essential Techniques for Making Jewelry Just the Way You Want It
Book Review: I love this book, though I am biased
Summary: 5 Stars
Hooray, hooray, hooray my copy of Bead Simple: Essential Techniques for Making Jewelry Just the Way You Want It by Susan Beal finally came in the mail! My first impression was man this is a heavy and thick book. Most craft books seem a little thin, but this baby is chocked full of beading goodness and stays true to the tag line Bead Simple: 150 designs for earrings, necklaces, bracelets, embellishments and more. Plus there are 200 color pictures. Craft books without photos or a little picture section in the middle are not for me. I want tons and tons of pretty pictures to look at and this book has it in buckets. Whoa, this should keep me busy for quite some time!
I'll just go ahead and get my own horn tooting out of the way. On page 170 is my Bric-a-Brac Charming Bracelet. I love the caption for the bracelet because it actually fits a lot of my jewelry and me in general: Designed by Jennifer Perkins author of The Naughty Secretary Club: The Working Girl's Guide to Handmade Jewelry, this colorful bracelet is one of those baubles that is all about the organized chaos. When absolutely nothing "matches", suddenly that's the very element that ties everything together.
One of the best things about this book is the fact that there are so many different contributors which not only makes the book more diverse it also makes it a marketing dream come true. Why you ask because everyone who is featured in the book is going to blog about it just like I am right this minute. Actually even if I wasn't in the book I would write about it, but the fact that a ton of my crafty friends grace the pages sure does not hurt. Let me run down the list of a few favorites.
Alrighty Sparkle Cocktail Brooch by Cathy Callahan of Cathy of California caught my eye. When I read that it was her ode to Enid Collins purses which I collect I knew why. I love jewelry that encompasses more than just beads and string. Cathy busts out the fabric, paint and gem stones!
Suerte Love Charm by Kathy Cano Murillo author of Crafty Chica's Art de la Soul: Glittery Ideas to Liven Up Your Life stands out with all the dangly charms and colors. Kathy knows a thing or two about organized chaos herself. I also really like the Tassel Talisman right next door on page 201.
I love the adorable owl shaped beads on the yummy Candy Shoppe One-Strand Bracelets by the fantabulous Jenny Ryan of CRAFT: Transforming Traditional Crafts.
Laura Stokes of Charcoal Designs and her Crown Jewels Button Brooch made my toes curl in delight.
Jesse Malone from Art School Dropout is one of my favorite Indie jewelry designers so it only makes sense that I would be extra smitten on her Circles and Circles Necklace.
Other contributors who's name you might know as crafty mavens include Natalie Zee Drieu of Coquette and CRAFT: Transforming Traditional Crafts fame, Diane Gilleland who does Crafty Pod, Leah Kramer author of The Craftster Guide to Nifty, Thrifty, and Kitschy Crafts: Fifty Fabulous Projects from the Fifties and Sixties, Faythe Levine one of the masterminds behind the upcoming Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design, Torie Nguyen co-author of Super Crafty: Over 75 Amazing How-to Projects!, Nicole Vasbinder of Queen Puff Puff and more.
There are 38 guest projects so according to my math that leaves 112 projects by the amazing Susan Beal.
Susan Beal is a woman of many talents: author, craftavist, designer and more. I'm a little partial to her because she was one of my favorite guests on Craft Lab. Susan even wore the Splashy Flower Charming Pendant Necklace from Bead Simple on her episode! Besides all of the fabulous projects in the book there is also over 20 pages about color theory, the right supplies and techniques. For instance wrapping a briolette is something that always boggles my mind, but there on page 22 are clear easy to follow instructions so there might be hope for me yet. Score yourself a copy of Bead Simple and get to beading!
Summary of Bead Simple: Essential Techniques for Making Jewelry Just the Way You Want It
Most beading books include a mix of patterns but call for very specific beads and materials. So if crafters don't like the beads used in the projects, or don't have them in hand, they won't enjoy the projects, no matter how beautiful they are. But Susan Beal has untangled this knotty problem. Bead Simple is the first work of its kind that offers stunning jewelry patterns that can be completely customized with a variety of beads and stringing materials. Based on simple, yet effective beading techniques, this strikingly illustrated pattern guide includes 50 glittering designs, each featuring two bold variations for a total of 150 projects that can easily be achieved with different materials or tweaks. With hot guest designers, including DIY Network's Jennifer Perkins and Megan Nicolay, author of the bestselling Generation T, here is the one book that finally offers jewelers the versatility to let their unique personalities shine through.General Books
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