Create Jewelry Glass: Brilliant Designs to Make and Wear by Marlene Blessing and Jamie Hogsett (
Interweave $22.95 US) explores the large design possibilities of glass beads, from tiny seed beads to chunky ethnic beads and everything in between. The 120 page text, part of the publishers "Create Jewelry" series, is packed with full-color pictures (110 total) so it is a definite feast for the eyes. Along with how-to projects, historical information is also provided about the process of glass bead making, so it's a combination history and jewelry making lesson.
Techniques
The techniques are a mix of bead weaving, bead stringing, and a little wire work as well. Though there are some challenging bead weaving projects, such as a beautiful necklace called "My Nest" which incorporates herringbone stitch with pewter beads, beginning bead weavers or those wanting to try it should not be put off because there are plenty of other projects that include seed beads and are very accessible such as "Bolly in Blue," an earring project where you string seed beads onto a jump ring and "Bright Amulet," a bracelet design that has you string up strands of seed beads which then run parallel to lampwork beads in the bracelet.
So while there are some project that will appeal to the seasoned bead weaver, those who just dabble or even use seed beads more as accent beads when doing bead stringing will find plenty of interesting and do-able techniques to attempt.
Projects
There are 21 projects divided up into three sections: Classic, Special Occasion, and Fashion Forward. Before getting into the projects, there is a discussion on the various types of glass bead available. Then you'll notice that the projects use this mixture so that you may have a piece of jewelry in a project that incorporate a variety of glass beads. For example, a bracelet design called "Rhumba" combines seed beads, which you weave into little flat flower beads, and then brightly colored lampwork beads that are strung up on beading wire and sandwiched between the different colored flower beads. The result is lots of color but also some unusual texture due to the woven flower components.Concluding Thoughts
What appeals to me when I look through this book, other than all the wonderful glass beads, is the idea that the authors have come up with designs that combine bead stringing with bead weaving. You don't see a lot of that; it's usually one or the other. There is also a little wire work, but none of it is overly difficult. There are projects that I believe total beginners could make, but I think someone in the intermediate or even slightly advanced level (when it comes to beading) will be more comfortable with most of the designs in the project section of the book. The other big plus that I found interesting was the historical details included throughout. You can really see a connection to the past and feel a part of this rich glass bead history.
