Beaded Jewelry

by Maya Brenner

Author Maya Brenner has designed jewelry for Cameron Diaz, Anne Hathaway, and Reese Witherspoon. Now crafters can create her exclusive designs with simple step-by-step projects that can be done inexpensively at home. With clear explanations of beading techniques, inspirational color charts, and tips on what equipment (and what not) to buy, Beaded Jewelry gives crafters the know-how to design and make their own unbelievably beautiful jewelry. A craft book with both style and substance, Beaded Jewelry contains 18 stunning projects, including necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, as well as specially commissioned photographs that clearly show each inspiring step-by-step sequence.

Genres: Jewellery, Beading, Crafts, Nonfiction, Reference

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 29, 2006

Reviews

[Starbubbles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! I'm really impressed by the breakdown of materials and difficulty level. There was a different aesthetic in here that is not normally done in beading books. Plus, it's on trend. I need to purchase this for my own continuous use. haha

[Granny · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book came so close to being a really good book. The written instructions were good, the photos of the jewelry are gorgeous and inspirational.

But the big flaw is that the "how-to" photos are half the size (or smaller) of the the photos of the finished jewelry. When you are talking about detailed work like how to work with beads and wires, this was a flaw I just couldn't get past. I need to be able to see what to do, not just admire the work you've already completed.

I have been making and selling my own jewelry for about 6 years now, and if I can't figure out what you are trying to teach me in a "how-to" book, then I think the book is mis-catagorized as "how-to".

Check it out for the inspiration of the pretty pictures from your local library, but don't bother buying it.

[Ligaya · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book will be good for the true novice who basically is just buying beads and stringing them together. If you are interested in learning how to make your own findings or your own beads, that isn't covered here - which is flabbergasting to me! I was very annoyed with the layout. In the beginning of the book, different stones and beads are shown on the right with text on the left so one has to look back and forth between to two - and some photos/explainers are switched even. Then, one realizes that the text is really just filler with such useful things as "It's also very pretty." Argh. The step-by-step photos are so small that they are almost useless. I spied many pieces with sloppy wire wrapping and lumpy loops. What I wanted was information, and this book provides little.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some nice ideas.