Powered By Blogger

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

For Beginner's


When I first started beading, I didn't have anyone that could show me how to do the various bead techniques, layouts or how to plan a project. So, what I did was spend a bit of money on books and magazines with wonderful and exquisite designs and ideas, but still I was just beginning and I spent more time than not upset at the outcome of the jewelry or sadly, I'd wear it and it would come apart some how. Looking back, it's all funny and enlightening, but my goal here with this blog is to teach what I've learned and give to those that are interested, an opportunity to share the joys of beading and jewelry making as I still do.

The first area I'd like to address for those that want hands on visual adds for travel or just for laying up in bed to sort through and plan are a few books and magazines that have inspired me through the years.


The New Beader's Companion: Expanded and Updated by Judith Durant and Jean Campbell- it is truly a remarkable book that details on bead types, loom and off-loom techniques, the type of materials a beader needs on hand most of the time, glues, needle sizes, embroidery techniques, knitting and crocheting with beads, knotting, macramé, etc.

The Beader's Bible by Claire Crouchley- a masterfully detailed companion that offers several hundred bead weaving diagrams to make pictures with beads for making barrettes, chokers, bracelets, brooches, key rings, bags, greeting cards, curtain tiebacks, napkin rings, etc.

Bead Loom Bracelets by Klutz- an excellent way to start simple with loom design and still turn out remarkably stunning bracelets.

Bead Rings by Klutz-uses tiny beads and thin wire to make rings. The illustrations are easy to follow, thus making the pieces that much more exciting to make.

BeadStyle Magazine- a perfect choice for beader's of all levels for inspiration, the latest trends and jewelry making techniques classic and new. 

Bead and Button Magazine- provides jewelry making techniques for intricate beaded jewelry as well as, jewelry made with buttons. 

Lastly, in any bead section of a craft store or bead store there are thin paperback booklets, such as, Bead Basics by Design Originals, Born to Bead and The Need to Bead by Hot off the Press and others with 10-20 project instructions by many of the industries leading bead-smith's.