The Bead Spot

I got a pleasant surprise while I was looking for books to inspire me recently on Amazon. I found a free e-book that contains 11 patterns. I immediately downloaded it to my Kindle Fire. It's called "Making Beaded Jewelry: 11 Free Seed Bead Patterns and Projects." I haven't had a chance to try to make any of them yet, but in scrolling through it, I can say with certainty that I'll give each a try. As a bonus, at the front page of the e-book are links to free downloads to other craft e-books, including ones with patterns for jewelry making, crocheting, knitting, quilt making and children's crafts, just to name a few. I had no idea there were totally free craft e-books. This little find has made my week. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

"Pendant Necklaces" by Jerilynn Clements, Nancy Javier and Barbara Finwell While I mostly work in seed beads, I'm looking forward to giving the projects inside "Pendant Necklaces" a try. The book, a Leisure Arts Publication by Jerilyn Clements, Nancy Javier and Barbara Finwall, was another birthday gift from my in-laws. I love the look of every necklace it features and the fact that the book includes some instructions on using polymer clay. I've never tried polymer clay, but it's a medium I've long considered adding to my craft stash. Maybe the Dragonfly project will be what will give me the courage to finally give polymer a try. For now, I'm going to put the book aside while I try out a project from " Elegant Beaded Bags ," but this one is next on my list. Some of the projects look so simple, but they still have a lot of "wow." I'm hoping the book will help jump-start my own creativity, which I feel has been a ...

My in-laws sent me a few new beading books for my birthday last month, and I cannot wait to try them out. The first one I want to try out is "Elegant Beaded Bags" by Sonja Hood because features crochet beading, which I've toyed with a time or two, and bags, which I love. (Seriously, I've signed up for magazines I didn't really want just to get a free bag with it.) "Elegant Beaded Bags" by Sonja Hood Each project in the book falls into the "easy" category, which makes it perfect for a bead-crochet novice like myself. I can crochet, but the only crochet projects I've ever completed were blankets. From the first time I saw a bead-crochet bracelet, I've wanted to make one, but for some reason, I find it intimidating. Hopefully, this will be the book that gets me past the skittish stage. I'll update with a craft book review once I have a chance to try it out.

Rather than profile a bead book, I thought I'd review another favorite craft book of mine. It's called, "A Basketmaker's Odyssey: Over, Under, Around & Through" by Lyn Syler. I've owned this book for quite a few years. I love the variety of baskets it features. Syler shows the basics of weaving for novices and offers complex patterns that combine techniques for more skilled basket makers. Another bonus: The projects the book contains also use a variety of materials, including flat reeds and round reeds. Some projects even combine the two. One of my favorites baskets is made out of dried pine cone needles. Side note: As of this post, it looks like this book may be out of print. The link to Amazon.com above shows only two copies available, both from external sellers and both rather pricey (the used copy is $68; the new is $723.) For any readers who are interested in the book, I recommend checking with your local library to see whether you can g...

"Beaded Cords, Chains, Straps & Fringe " A Beadwork Magazine Project Book Another book from my beading bookshelf, "Beaded Cords" features two beading techniques I haven't seen in any of my other books: embroidering and spool-knitting. With spool knitting, the yarn does more than just provide structure to the project, it's also front and center in the design. When embroidering chains, beaders can either hide the stringing material or create breaks in the beadwork to let it it show through. Other techniques in the book -- spiral chains, daisy chains, loom straps, etc. -- but some projects, such as the Caduceus chain, put a new spin on them.

"Easy Bead Woven Bracelets (Easy-Does-It) Bead & Button Books Here's another bead book I like to thumb through when I'm running short of ideas, and it's about what one would expect from the editors of Bead & Button, one of my favorite beading magazines. I'd wear any of the bracelets featured inside. The book gives a great (though simple) tutorial on beading basics and features tons of illustrations and photographs detailed enough to help beaders follow along.

For any beaders, myself included, who love to look at bead books but can't afford to buy them, here is a little tip. Many public libraries participate in interlibrary loan, a program through which patrons have access to books that their local library might not carry. I'm not sure how many people are aware of that service; until I worked in libraries myself in my 20s, I had no idea the program existed. My husband didn't know it existed until he met me and I told him about it, and it's really come in handy for both of us because our local library is small, has a rather dated selection of craft books and doesn't get new books in very often. If there's a bead book (or a book on any other topic in which you have an interest) that your local library doesn't have, it's worth the time to ask the staff if you can get it through interlibrary loan. I've worked in three different libraries, all of which offered the service and none of them charged for it...

"Designer Beadwork: Beaded Crochet Designs" by Ann Benson The baby sitter my siblings and I had when I was about 8 years old spent a lot of time watching prime time soap operas such as "Dallas" (the original) while she crocheted blanket after blanket. Sometimes, she'd switch it up and work on a doily instead, but for the most part, she made blankets. I don't know where she put them all. To keep my older sister and I occupied, they gave each of us about half a skein of yarn and showed us how to crochet, too. We'd make mini-blankets and unravel them only to start all over again. I never learned to do anything more than a basic stitch, but that's all I need to know how to do to make the beautiful necklaces, bracelets, etc., in this book. I like that author Benson explains how to incorporate patterns into what you're creating, too. This book is well worth the money for anyone who has an interest in both crocheting and beading.

My mother-in-law got me an Amazon gift card for my birthday, and I had decided to use it to get a subscription to Bead & Button for my Kindle. My Kindle has a black-and-white screen, so I wasn't too sure how the images would reproduce. Then I noticed that Amazon lets customers try out magazine subscription for two weeks, so I figured I had nothing to lose. However, I won't even be able to try it because this particular magazine subscription won't work with my Kindle. Bummer. It will work only with a Kindle Fire. I got the Kindle as a gift from my husband last Christmas, and one of the first things I did was buy a digital bead book. It's called, "Simple Seed Bead Rings You Can Make" by Janis Websdale. The book itself was fine. The pictures were pretty sharp considering they weren't in color, which is probably how they were intended to be viewed. But, it was pretty basic stuff. I have been making seed bead rings like the ones featured for about a decad...

"Beadwork Creates Bracelets" edited by Jean Campbell I have a lot of reasons for liking this book. I bought this book fairly early in my beading hobby, and it showed me that a clasp doesn't have to be a premade finding. Of course, I've seen tons of examples since then of people using beads and string to create their own clasps, but at the time, it was news to me. On the subject of clasps, this book also showed me snap-lock clasps, something I'd love to try but I haven't found at any of the online bead stores I frequent. Perhaps I need to expand my search. Every project in this book is something I would personally wear, so they all are my style. I don't think I can say that about any other book or magazine I've ever picked up. (Not that other projects aren't cool or stylish; they just don't match my own.) This book has a mix of projects made with string and with wire, another bonus. I'd considered trying wire projects myself...

While I've never made any of the 30 projects in "Beadwork Creates Beaded Rings," edited by Jean Campbell, I like it because it shows me what's possible. For me, it serves more as a springboard for getting me to think outside the box. Some projects call for beadweaving, others use wire, a few combine the two. One even uses netted fabric to hold the stones. The instructions are easy to follow, and many illustrations feature the project in various colors. I always enjoy seeing the same project in several incarnations.

"The Beader's Bible: Over 300 Great Charts for Beadweavers," by Claire Crouchley  is another item in my cache of beading references. I think it's a great book for beginners because it gives simple explanations of how to do basic stitches as well as features some simple projects for flat works such as wall hangings. I don't think the book is still in print, though, so if you can find a copy, it might be kind of pricey.

"The Beader's Guide to Color," by Margie Deeb is another book that I've found helpful. Deeb gives and overview of color theory, then shows some of her projects. While all of the projects she shows are far more elaborate than what I would attempt, seeing how she applies color theory can give beaders a good visual on how to incorporate it into your own designs. Worth the money, in my opinion.

“Little Bead Boxes: 12 Miniature Containers Built with Beads,” by Julia S.  Pretl is another bead book I like. The little trinket boxes are just gorgeous, and the instructions are very easy to follow, which is very handy for people who’ve never done dimensional beadwork before.

"Beading in the Native American Tradition," by David Dean contains not only designs for inspiration but also a mini history lesson. In fact, many of its photographs are of beaded artifacts. It's not much of a project resource that gives you step-by-step instructions for making jewelry, belts or other items, but it does contain a lot of information that can be incorporated into your own projects and designs.

"Art of Seed Beading," by Elizabeth Gourley, Jane Davis and Ellen Talbott, is one the first beading books I bought. I like any book that shows me projects I hadn't considered before, such as beading a photo frame or knitting with beads. (I learned how to knit so that I could make the coin purse in this book. I have yet to make it, though.) It's also easy to thumb through to find the information you're looking for. When I was working on the door hanger for my daughter's room, I used this book to determine that I not only had the wrong stitch but it also helped me figure out which stitch was best for what I was trying to do.

My mother-in-law gave my husband and me a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble a while back, and we just got around to spending it last week. With my share, I purchased a beading book that had been on my Amazon wish list for quite a while, " Contemporary Loom Beading: A New Look at a Traditional Stitch ," by Sharon Bateman. Because I've been in the middle of a freelance project I work on twice a year, I haven't been able to do much more than thumb through the book, but I have to say, the  projects within have really piqued my interest. All of the loom work I have done has been basic, flat pieces that I learned to make years ago from my great-aunt . This book, however, features projects that have a little more dimension. For the most part, the loom work is done the same, but the book puts a new spin on what to do with what you create. It also features types of looms I didn't know existed, including one the author created herself . I look forward to putting so...