Library Book Reviews

Book Reviews by Christine B. Saalbach

The Irresistible Bead: Designing and Creating Beadwork Jewelry, by Linda Fry Kenzle, Krause Publications, Iola WI, 1996

I must agree with Linda -- beads are definitely irresistible. And, like potato chips, you can't have just one. Unlike most bead books, this one does not start with tools needed or techniques. Linda starts with the elements of design, important to all art. You need to know about line, shape, texture, color, and creating a focal point before learning how to make a piece of art. Linda does not neglect techniques, leading you through wire work, bead stringing, beading on a ground, woven beadwork, and the use of polymer clay. To inspire, she includes a 12-page gallery and designer notes. What makes this book a handy reference is the appendix which includes bead sizes, standard jewelry lengths, findings, gemstones, birthstones, design charts, and a metric conversion chart. So helpful!

Beading with Brick Stitch, by Diane Fitzgerald, Interweave Press, Loveland CO, 2001

Oh, I adore a book that takes you on an educational world tour before settling down for the "how-to's." Diane begins with a history of brick stitch as it is used in Zulu, Xhosa, Kuba, and San Bushman jewelry. The Kuba hat is stunning, with its red and black geometric shapes and yellow and white accents. Suck in your breath for the Victorian beaded tassels, purse, and velvet tray. Worthy of a museum case is the Native American dance fan with its beaded handle. Now that you are finished with the oh's and ah's, you are ready to learn brick stitch. There are a good mix of projects, some simple and some tough. To further inspire, the gallery at the end is gorgeous.

Quick and Easy Beaded Jewelry, by Elizabeth Gourley and Eleen Talbott, Krause Publications, Iola WI, 2002

The title says it. The projects are fairly simple and the authors have some pretty clever ideas. Tools, thread, wire, findings needed are a standard beginning for a how-to book like this. Usually relegated to an appendix are jewelry standards, such as beads per inch, but here they precede bead stringing, knotting and weaving. How to make and use jump rings rates a special mention. Most jewelry-making books neglect the handy jump ring. Pressed for time to make a quick jewelry gift? Yes, check out this book.

Beads: An Exploration of Bead Traditions Around the World, by Janet Coles and Robert Budwig, Simon and Schuster Editions, NYC NY, 1997

If you love ethnic jewelry and want to recreate its look, this is the book for you. The breathtaking photos by Jonathan Lovekin place this in the coffee table book category. Coles and Budwig take you on a trip around the world, stopping in Europe and the Middle East, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. They scoop up jewelry examples, show the technique, and give you a project to mimic the jewelry using materials that are not too difficult to obtain.

Antique Style Bead Accessories, by Matsuko Sawanobori, Bunca Publishing Bureau, Tokyo, 2002

When I travel abroad, I keep my eyes open for book shops and, when I find one, I look for craft books. If the instructional pictures are good enough, it doesn't really matter in what language the script is. Beadwork that I've found overseas reflects the local culture, being very different in style than beadwork in the US. Japanese style is evident in Matsuko's book. Like Ikebana, the Japanese art of arranging flowers, beadwork in Japan reflects simplicity in its use of line, size, shape, and space. Starting with the book's cover, you will see the influence of these sparse design elements in Matsuko's beadwork jewelry. Owner of Hiroo Bead Bazaar in Tokyo, Matsuko gives us almost fifty projects, including rings, lariats, chokers, brooches, earrings and hair ornaments. The beautiful finished projects are in the front of the book and the easy-to-follow instructions are in the back.