I have a page on Bead Arts that I add to from time to time. It list the books that I consider to be the best of the best in many different beading and jewelry making categories. It’s called simply The Library!
Make Art Monday!
I first mentioned this necklace back in February, when I made it and wrote up the instructions for an upcoming Lark publication on wooden jewelry.
Now the book is ready for pre-orders!
handmade-beaded-jewelry, wearable-art, beads, beading, jewelry, mixed-media
I like the projects in this book, but I have to warn you that they are, for the most part, very basic. If you’ve already had a lot of experience making beaded beads, this is probably not the book for you unless you’re just looking for refresher. Additionally, the gallery work is very beautiful, and quite inspiring, perhaps moreso than some of the featured projects.
However, I have not made a lot of beaded beads, so I had some fun with it! Wanna see my first baby attempts? Warning: they’re pretty sad!
Have you seen the book? Do you like it?
handmade-beaded-jewelry, wearable-art, beads, beading, jewelry, mixed-media
There are literally hundreds of books that you could buy on the art of working with seed beads, and most of them are good books, with something good to offer. And since I’m a book and magazine junkie, I own most of them. The ones that I don’t own, I’ve read, courtesy of the local library. It was hard, but I’ve whittled the list down to the very few books that I think are really the best of the best. The first two are excellent books that cover many techniques. The rest are specific to a particular stitch and go into an amazing amount of detail.
The Art of Seed Beading
By Elizabeth Gourley
The author emphasizes the how-to in this book. Every one of the more than 25 projects focuses on a specific tool or technique, complete with color graphs, a list of materials, size and measurements, a color photo, and diagrams.
Making Designer Seed Bead, Stone, and Crystal Jewelry
By Tammy Powley
Beginners will find enough detailed instructions to get started while more advanced jewelry makers will find it provides new ideas for using stitches in different ways.
Beading With Brick Stitch
By Diane Fitzgerald
Focusing solely on brick stitch, this unique guide presents 10 exciting beading projects-from tassels to necklaces-along with detailed, illustrated instructions.
Beading With Peyote Stitch
By Jeannette Cook, Vicki Star
Here is everything the beader needs to know about using peyote stitch to create both flat and three-dimensional pieces. Thread, beads, graphing techniques, and five projects are thoroughly explained, and a brief history, with photographs.
Beading With Herringbone Stitch
By Vicki Star
The herringbone stitch is a versatile and unique off-loom bead technique. This guide offers a thorough historical and cultural background of the stitch, along with complete instructions for creating beautiful beaded projects.
Beading with Right Angle Weave
By Christine M. Prussing
The right angle weave stitch is demystified in this beading handbook. All projects include easy-to-follow instructions and illustrations for both single- and two-needle techniques.
Bead Embroidery
By Valerie Campbell-Harding, Pamela Watts
Emphasizing how beads add color, texture and beauty to a piece of work, they guide the reader through a variety of traditional and contemporary techniques, including bead weaving; sewing “trapped” beads; stitching beads onto mesh and canvas; and adding them to fringes, edges, cords, chains, and tassels.
Beaded Embellishment
By Amy C Clarke, Robin Atkins
Beaders, quilters, and fiber artists will find this book invaluable for its solid technical information about how to apply beads to cloth, resulting in unique creations that will stand the test of time.
handmade-beaded-jewelry, wearable-art, beads, beading, jewelry, mixed-media
Robin Atkins is an extraordinary bead artist, and she also writes an entertaining blog! Here, you can keep up with Robin’s new projects and her musings on life.
She is also the co-author of one of my favorite bead embroidery books:
Tammy Powley’s newest book is now available! I got my copy late last week from the publisher, since I’ve got a project in it. I think it’s a wonderful guide to getting started in mixed media jewelry. The subtitle says this: “Fun and experimental techniques and materials for the home studio”
That’s just what it delivers! There are also beautiful pieces included in the gallery section that will inspire even the experienced mixed media artist to try new things. I am really proud to have my name and my work associated with this book.
handmade-beaded-jewelry, wearable-art, beads, beading, jewelry, mixed-media
Often times, the jewelry pieces that I admire most are the ones that use the artist’s own handmade beads. Nothing else will ever be exactly like that piece.
If you want to make true one-of-a-kinds, you should probably think about learning to make your own beads and findings. We’ll just cover the beads today. Here’s a list of links to sites that cover lampworking, clay, paper, wire, and much more!
Lampworking ~ the allure of the flame
Schermobeads
An excellently photographed introduction to the steps involved in making lampworked beads.
Frequently Asked Questions
All kinds of information about hot glass.
Making Glass Beads by Cindy Jenkins
Beads that are multicolored, grooved, feathered or foiled, and decorated with spots, dots, eyes, and stripes: no matter which of these designs in glass you choose, the results will be beautiful. Detailed instructions and magnificent photos, along with scores of valuable tips and tricks, guide you through an awesome array of techniques, making this the best guide to glass beading ever.
Polymer ~ let’s play with clay
Polymer Clay Central
Lessons, projects, and instructions from some of the finest polymer artists, all gathered in one place.
Beads By Hand
Clay beads and more!
The Polymer Clayspot
Frequently asked questions about what it is and how to use it.
Making Polymer Clay Beads by Carol Blackburn
A comprehensive introduction to making beads from polymer clay that also provides inspiration, demonstrates the range of effects that can be achieved, and teaches how to incorporate these beads into jewelry designs.
The New Clay by Nan Roche
This book has been around a while, and for a good reason. It’s one of the best books for learning polymer clay techniques like millefiori and bead making.
Paper or Cloth Beads ~ rollin’, rollin’, rollin’…
Partz Paper Beads
How to make them, and what to do with them once you have!
Cloth Roll-Up Beads
Louise Duhamel shares her technique.
Creating Extraordinary Beads from Ordinary Material by Tina Casey
It is possible to make colorful beads of one’s own from craft materials. Casey’s beads are often humorous items made from glued strips of cloth, yarn, or paper and finished off with clear nail polish.
All wired up and no place to go
Wig Jig Wire Beads
A few lessons and many supplies for making twisted wire beads.
Make Wire Beads by Lisa Van Herik
Concise and detailed how-to instructions for making a wide variety of different wire beads. All 44 beads in this book are fully illustrated both in color and black and white and along with the individual instructions.
PMC ~ squishing silver and gold?
PMC and Art Clay Silver
An online manual for success with the new precious metal clays.
Making metal beads
Register with the ArtJewelry site and receive a free download of Nanz Aalund’s tutorial.
The Art of Metal Clay by Sherri Haab
Artist and instructor Sherri Haab demonstrates metal clay’s remarkable versatility, showing how it can be textured, molded, carved, and sculpted to create gorgeous beads.
Metal Clay Magic by Nana Mizushima
Packed with color photos showing each step of working with metal clay. Covers more than just beads, but has lots of techniques that can be used in making beads.
handmade-beaded-jewelry, wearable-art, beads, beading, jewelry, mixed-media
I just received my copy of this wonderful new book by Sandra Wallace because…two of my pieces are in it!! Besides explaining how to actually use color theory in beading, this book provides 200 color schemes that are illustrated by actual jewelry and beadwork pieces. One of mine falls into the “vivid and bright” category, and one into the “subtle and moody” group. Yup, that’s me…a split personality! Anyway, here they are:
handmade-beaded-jewelry, wearable-art, beads, beading, jewelry, mixed-media, creativity, designing
Tammy Powley’s newest book is ready for pre-orders at Amazon. I can’t wait to see this one…just look at that gorgeous necklace on the cover!
One of my projects made it into the book as well, my recycled jewelry pins. Not that you can really see it, but the second small photo from the bottom on the left side of the cover is one of them Here’s a close-up of that one…
…and the others two that were included
handmade-beaded-jewelry, wearable-art, beads, beading, jewelry, mixed-media
Come on a journey through a bead and jewelry wonderland, where no item is considered too strange to use in making something...especially if that item has a hole in it! All types of beads are welcomed and cherished here, and no techniques are off-limits. You'll be amazed and inspired by the beadwork that is being done today!
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