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Bead Soup: 32 Projects Show What Happens When 26 Beaders Swap Their Stash
What happens when one energetic, well respected jewelry-making blogger and 26 talented beaders connect through social media and end up swapping their leftovers? You get a mélange of projects bursting with every flavor imaginable! Each designer was given a focal bead, a unique clasp, and coordinating beads, and was charged with creating a dynamic piece of jewelry. These artists push their own boundaries to come up with new combinations and original pieces.
96 pages, Paperback
First published October 9, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 8, 2012
I got my copy today, and I am so thrilled with the good work all my contributors did! I'm quite biased, I can't help it! Thank you to everyone who made it possible!
February 3, 2013
I'm going to start this review off by saying that I was a contributor to Bead Soup, and that I'm super proud to have my project included!
That disclaimer out of the way, I had no idea what the other contributors created or how the book would turn out; other than my own project, everything was a lovely surprise.
The inspiration for the book came from Lori's famous blog hops, where everyone is paired up, swaps beads, and creates something new. The book captures that same fun spirit very well and plays off the "soup" theme, with fun touches like project recipes and ingredients.
I've been a beader for many years now, and I was impressed with the quality and amount of projects in Bead Soup. There is something for every skill level and style, including alternates using different beads to get different results from the same recipe. From start to finish, it's extremely versatile. Beginning beaders should have no problems following along, while more advanced beaders can find some great design inspiration.
I would definitely recommend this book to jewelry designers out there, and not because I had a small part in it. No, Bead Soup stands on its own as a really solid book for jewelry inspiration.
That disclaimer out of the way, I had no idea what the other contributors created or how the book would turn out; other than my own project, everything was a lovely surprise.
The inspiration for the book came from Lori's famous blog hops, where everyone is paired up, swaps beads, and creates something new. The book captures that same fun spirit very well and plays off the "soup" theme, with fun touches like project recipes and ingredients.
I've been a beader for many years now, and I was impressed with the quality and amount of projects in Bead Soup. There is something for every skill level and style, including alternates using different beads to get different results from the same recipe. From start to finish, it's extremely versatile. Beginning beaders should have no problems following along, while more advanced beaders can find some great design inspiration.
I would definitely recommend this book to jewelry designers out there, and not because I had a small part in it. No, Bead Soup stands on its own as a really solid book for jewelry inspiration.
October 1, 2012
It isn't often that I get to combine my love of books and reviewing them with my other love which is jewelry design so I consider this to be my lucky day. It is almost like I hit the jackpot especially since I really loved BEAD SOUP.
Do not get discouraged thinking that this isn't a book for all levels of experience as there are instructions in the back of the book covering the techniques. So take your time and soak up all the inspiration of this wonderful recipes. Lori and her contributors really think out of the box with their bead soups. And it has quite a lot of helpful tips that had me wondering why I had never thought of that.
Some of my favorite pieces in the book were Stone Soup, with its tips on creating a unique chain, the Handmade Soup Bowl and the Blue Onion Soup. I just know that everyone will have their own favorites and I would love to hear about yours.
As you can tell I really enjoyed this book and I rate it a 4.7 based on how inspired I feel after drooling over all this great designs. If you do design jewelry I definitely recommend this book.
***I purchased my copy at Amazon.com.
Do not get discouraged thinking that this isn't a book for all levels of experience as there are instructions in the back of the book covering the techniques. So take your time and soak up all the inspiration of this wonderful recipes. Lori and her contributors really think out of the box with their bead soups. And it has quite a lot of helpful tips that had me wondering why I had never thought of that.
Some of my favorite pieces in the book were Stone Soup, with its tips on creating a unique chain, the Handmade Soup Bowl and the Blue Onion Soup. I just know that everyone will have their own favorites and I would love to hear about yours.
As you can tell I really enjoyed this book and I rate it a 4.7 based on how inspired I feel after drooling over all this great designs. If you do design jewelry I definitely recommend this book.
***I purchased my copy at Amazon.com.
October 4, 2012
Having been fortunate enough to participate in one of the Bead Soup Blog Parties online last year, I was excited to get Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Book and am so pleased with it!
I love how, although the photos are amazing and the designs themselves gorgeous and truly innovative, the main focus is how to create with what you have on hand in your own bead stash and how you can mix/match things and come up with different designs even given the same batch of beads/findings.
The way the tips, hints and instructions are laid out 'recipe' style is so unique and appealing. Just like having someone teach you a new recipe, this book is like having someone in your home helping you along the way, step by step, as you design. It's loaded with so many wonderful ideas and alternatives to what's pictured that it really does spark your imagination and give you the tools you need to see your `stash' in a different and fresh new way!
Some of the most fun pieces in the book demonstrate how to reconstruct chain to make it completely different, how to make a removable drop in a necklace so you can wear it different ways, how to construct an interesting pendant with wire using a lovely focal bead and how to incorporate fibers, clasps and various findings in new ways. It also gives excellent tips on incorporating color into your designs with left over beads and tackles beading obstacles such as large glass art beads that 'wobble' and mentions using seed beads as alternative spacers to tiny silver beads to add color and save you money.
I really think Bead Soup is a wonderful resource that the beginner all the way through to the advanced/seasoned beader will be able to use and refer to for years to come - and then some!! Congrats to Kalmbach publishing and to Lori Anderson for finding a creative and innovative way to showcase the art of creating handcrafted jewelry.
I love how, although the photos are amazing and the designs themselves gorgeous and truly innovative, the main focus is how to create with what you have on hand in your own bead stash and how you can mix/match things and come up with different designs even given the same batch of beads/findings.
The way the tips, hints and instructions are laid out 'recipe' style is so unique and appealing. Just like having someone teach you a new recipe, this book is like having someone in your home helping you along the way, step by step, as you design. It's loaded with so many wonderful ideas and alternatives to what's pictured that it really does spark your imagination and give you the tools you need to see your `stash' in a different and fresh new way!
Some of the most fun pieces in the book demonstrate how to reconstruct chain to make it completely different, how to make a removable drop in a necklace so you can wear it different ways, how to construct an interesting pendant with wire using a lovely focal bead and how to incorporate fibers, clasps and various findings in new ways. It also gives excellent tips on incorporating color into your designs with left over beads and tackles beading obstacles such as large glass art beads that 'wobble' and mentions using seed beads as alternative spacers to tiny silver beads to add color and save you money.
I really think Bead Soup is a wonderful resource that the beginner all the way through to the advanced/seasoned beader will be able to use and refer to for years to come - and then some!! Congrats to Kalmbach publishing and to Lori Anderson for finding a creative and innovative way to showcase the art of creating handcrafted jewelry.
October 20, 2012
This is one of the most beautiful books. Bead Soup speaks on many levels. It is a work of art in itself, as it describes the love and labor of the art. As art is soulful, so also is the descriptions of the process of the creation of the masterpieces that are hosted in this book. It speaks of the love of the media, the selection of the Bead Soups, and the creative process of beads becoming so much more. Each recipe is made with love and shared liberally. It speaks to any skill set and inspires beaders or potential ones to jump in on the fun. If you haven't gotten a copy yet - do so - you won't regret it. this book will be a go to for reference and inspiration.
February 17, 2013
This one just didn't inspire me.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews