The book this time was The Art of Beaded Beads
Before we go any further, the disclaimers. I was sent the book for free to review but I was not told what to say and all opinions are 100% my own. I didn't receive any monetary compensation. Links in this post, as with all my book posts, are affiliated. If you click over and buy something, I get a few pence towards an Amazon voucher. 
This is a lovely book. I'd wanted to try beaded beads for a while and thought they'd be hard, but they're not. The book opens with an introduction to beaded beads, a section on materials and then several pages on beadweaving basics before moving on to the 40 patterns.
Some, like the beads above, are beaded around a core bead, others are made from scratch. Each project has a clear list of what's required, the finished size and the beadweaving stitches used. There are also plenty of Gallery shots, like the one above, showing what can be done with beaded beads.
Each project has step by step instructions and clear diagrams. I found them really easy to follow. And, as I said, there are 40 projects in this book!
The one above is my favourite, it uses 3 different sized beads. I'm going to have a crack at this one.
There are also a few projects woven around a mini spool! I've got some upstairs, I just need to check they're the right size as I love these beads.
This is the project I had a go at - the Puffy Mandala Bead. The instructions were clear and easy to follow. I have done some bead weaving, but I'd consider myself a beginner so this book is very accessible. However, I wouldn't recommend it for someone who'd never done any beadweaving. I'd learn to do a few stitches before trying projects from this book.
I could NOT get a photo of my finished bead. The light was wrong, the camera didn't want to zoom in that far...
See? Crap photos... The beads are delicas. Mine isn't puffy as I ignored the bit about stuffing the bead. Why do I always think I know best?!?
Book Information
- Paperback: 144 pages
- Publisher: Lark (7 Jun 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 160059588X
- ISBN-13: 978-1600595882
- Product Dimensions: 25.4 x 21.6 x 0.9 cm
Disclaimer:
I was given a review copy of the book by GMC however this review and all opinions are 100% my own, I was not told what to say. Amazon links are affiliate links.
7 comments:
You did a great job!!! I made beaded beads once but I used terrifickly tacky tape and just wound strung beads around it to make them stick. That's about the extent of my skill level!
I had to laugh when you said you ignored the bit about stuffing. I can only follow directions for so long before I decide "i am not going to do it their way" and it comes out different, of course, but sometimes that is good. I like your unpuffed mandala! Good book review for who it would be best suited for. I may have to check it out!
Great job! Looks like an interesting book... :D
Hi Wendy.. thank you for this fab Book review.. make me wanna shop for more beads.. especially at The Bead Shop.. ;)
this looks quite good for beaders, I only use the odd bead on my crazy work, find with such big hands beading is too fiddly for me
Oh dear, another book I didn't know about. The projects look great but it's the bead weaving I'm most interested in. Your piece turned out beautifully. I think you do know best, I prefer it without the stuffing.
Your mandala bead turned out pretty - what are you going to use it on? You need to try the anenome (ok, now I have to scroll back up to see if I've spelled it properly, LOL ... and no, I didn't - it's anemone :D) and the pompom beads!
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