From Booklist
Some of the most elegant contemporary jewelry includes no precious gemstones, or even gold or silver. What artist-author Wells (Creative Beadweaving, 1996) conjures up in more than 30 bracelets, earrings, and necklaces is nothing short of breathtaking--all with a variety of colored seed beads, occasional larger beads, strong thread, and a flexible needle. The projects are built around five stitches--chevron chain, crocheted ropes, herringbone and peyote stitches, and spiral rope--all of which, the author assures us, can be readily mastered by beginners. Although 100 percent of the fundamentals, from graphic illustrations and charts to accompanying text and great color photographs, are all present and accounted for, it's still a better bet for novices to start with a kinder, gentler, and easier text. Galleries inserted liberally throughout the narrative capture the real meaning of aesthetic bead weaving. Barbara Jacobs
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Book Description
“Elegant contemporary jewelry....What artist-author Wells and her 30 colleagues conjure up in more than 30 bracelets, earrings, and necklaces is nothing short of breathtaking. All the projects can be readily mastered by beginners....One hundred percent of the fundamentals, from graphic illustrations and charts to accompanying text and great color photographs.” —Booklist.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A leader in the field shares her infectious enthusiasm for the art of off-loom beadweaving, leading you through all the basics and then on to more challenging techniques and projects. Admire the beautiful color photos and detailed diagrams and use them to learn every stitch needed to make beaded jewelry, clothing, lampshades, belts, and pillows. Begin with the beads themselves, perhaps decorating purchased varieties to personalize them. Weave with chevron chain; crochet; herringbone and peyote stitches; and spiral rope. The dramatic and unique projects include a Graduated Triangle Drop Necklace, Putting Together Earrings, Three-Bead Spiral Bracelet, Twisted ribbon Ndebele necklace, Gemstone Rope, Napkin Rings, and many more. Plus: the secret to developing your own creative variations on each theme.

SYNOPSIS

On chokers, chains, ribbons, ropes, jazzing up a basket, adding texture everywhere: you can't have too many beads!

The selection is ever-expanding, with beaded clothing, lampshades, belts, and pillows.

And off-loom bead weaving is both simple and beautiful.

A leader in the field shares her enthusiasm, going through the basics and on to more challenging projects. Decorate purchased beads to personalize them, if you'd like, and then weave a three-bead spiral bracelet, twisted ribbon Ndebele necklace, napkin rings, and more.