Review and giveaway: Creating Glass Beads (US only)

As with Jeri Warhaftig’s earlier book, Glass Bead Workshop, Creating Glass Beads is filled with visual inspiration, tips, and most importantly instruction packed with detailed photos for making 10 bead projects. Creating Glass Beads describes not only the basics of tools, materials, and safety for those beginning their bead making journey but goes beyond to help intermediate bead makers use materials in new ways.

Jeri says, “the projects aren’t ends in themselves, but steps along the way in the personal artistic journey of each bead artist.” Creating Glass Beads includes work from Jeri’s 14 project test artists. Comments and a gallery of photos for each project highlight the range of interpretations from the project testers that are vibrantly colorful to whimsically cute. Seeing the variety of adaptations for these projects opens the mind to possibilities and further experimentation on the theme.

One of the things that I most appreciate about Jeri’s teaching style is including her process. Her first book includes a chapter of the beads that weren’t quite up to par but valuable lessons about what didn’t work. Sharing this process helps her students learn from her mistakes and appreciate the value in their own, too. Take a look at some of Jeri’s tutorials at her site.

To enter for your chance to win one of two copies of Creating Glass Beads from our friends at Lark Books, please leave a comment describing what excites you about working with glass. The giveaway ends August 4, 2011. Sorry, the giveaway is open to US residents only.

47 Comments so far

1. Elizabeth on July 20, 2011 9:05 pm

   I would love to win this book, I got into flameworking and making beads about 3 years ago. I love to take a glass rod and turn it into a beautiful bead that is made by me. I also love the feel of working with hot glass and watching the transformation take shape before my eyes.

2. Jimmie Brannon on July 20, 2011 9:23 pm

   Working with glass gives me the chance to create something truly unique!! Something that I can say I created from my imagination with my own two hands!!

3. Emily C on July 20, 2011 10:10 pm

   Glass is just such a great medium for beads.

4. Sandy on July 21, 2011 1:24 am

   Glass is the most beautiful material for creating beautiful beads. It is strong and versatile. easy to work with and chic. pefect for every piece of jewelery (keyrings etc. as well!)

5. Sandy on July 21, 2011 1:24 am

   thank you so much for the chance

6. Isabelle on July 21, 2011 1:26 am

   what excites me about glass is its beauty and it can be used for anything. It has a sort of mysterious look which i like and encourages me to use it because of its uniqueness and easy working. it is the perfect medium for all beads

7. Isabelle on July 21, 2011 1:26 am

   -oh and thanks soooooooo soooo much for the chance in winning!!!

   B)

8. Mary Camp on July 21, 2011 4:11 am

   glass beads are so beautiful and i would be super excited to win this book and learn the art of making them !!!

9. Leisa on July 21, 2011 4:58 am

   I love working with glass! I have only fused so far, but will be getting my first lesson in lamp working tomorrow! So excited!

10. Mary on July 21, 2011 5:21 am

    I hope you will pick me. I am a glass artist and want to branch out to making beads and also slumping glass.

11. jen on July 21, 2011 5:46 am

    So beautiful and each one is one of a kind!

12. Natasha C on July 21, 2011 7:21 am

    ive never worked with glass but i think glass beads are so beautiful, i would totally be excited to learn how ot make them.

13. Mary Kimnach on July 21, 2011 7:46 am

    I do not make my own glass beads YET! I am getting closer and closer and would love the opportunity for the kind of inspiration that would put me over the edge!

14. Cindy Perkins on July 21, 2011 8:49 am

    what excites me about working with glass is creating one of kind works of art and when someone asks where I got it I love to tell them that I made it!

15. patty on July 21, 2011 10:49 am

    working with glass is like if u make a mistake u can transform it in to something wonderful.
    u are really never wrong thanks

16. Laura/Readerwoman on July 21, 2011 11:16 am

    Glass beads provide such a tactile experience – they warm in your hands and create a link between your emotions and your senses. I would love to win this book and expand my skills and knowledge!

17. Karey on July 21, 2011 11:38 am

    The most exciting thing about working with glass is the ability to design your own beads.

18. Charlotte on July 21, 2011 2:19 pm

    Learning to control the flow to make anything you want.

19. Xander on July 21, 2011 5:01 pm

    Working with glass is exciting. The design possibilities are endless as are the color combinations.

20. amanda morales on July 21, 2011 5:31 pm

    i love being able to make one of a kind beads and jewelry. knowing that no one else has one like it! thanks for the great giveaway!

21. Deanna on July 22, 2011 9:34 pm

    It would be so great to create my own beads – whatever color(s), shapes and designs I could think of.

22. S.Celeste Blackwell on July 27, 2011 1:22 pm

    Glass is an amazing substance, with it’s beginnings as sand. The potential of glass can be seen in a magnified grain of sand, and when you can form that sand into the materials to create such unique and beautiful mini-wonders it is nothing short of miraculous. We tend to take this miracle for granted.

23. Barb Backman on July 30, 2011 5:39 am

    Just started looking into working with glass. Love to make jewelry and am thinking about setting up a glass studio! Still getting all kinds of info about glass work!

24. Creating Glass Beads giveaway ends Thursday · Jewelry Making | CraftGossip.com on August 1, 2011 5:18 am

    [...] Creating Glass Beads! Two lucky readers will be randomly selected. Leave a comment at the original post to enter. (Sorry, open to US residents only.) You may also [...]

25. Belinda Spiwak on August 1, 2011 5:38 am

    I tried it in a workshop once and loved working with the flame. Have not done it much but would love to get back to it. Love the variety of beads that I can make with it. Will post on FB.
    Belinda

26. Autumn Lingerfelt on August 1, 2011 5:41 am

    I would LOVE to have this book!! I have been wanting to get into glass beads for a LONG time!! This would be a FANTASTIC win for me!!

27. Dawn Sangree on August 1, 2011 5:51 am

    I’d love to win this book. I’ve dabbled with flameworking small beads so far to accompany my jewelry making and glass fusing crafts. I love how I can pull stringers to enhance my work or create my own spacer beads to brighten up a bracelet. Working with hot glass feels empowering and I love the endless color possibilities.

28. Fernanda on August 1, 2011 6:01 am

    I love working with glass – it feels wonderful – and I am also just learning about creating beads with glass – that is very exciting!

29. Cynthia on August 1, 2011 8:36 am

    Glass beads are so addicting! I make them, love them, read about them….

30. Susan on August 1, 2011 5:36 pm

    I love working with glass beads and I try to add them to my recycled and up-cycled items as much as I can.

31. Tiffany Iverson on August 1, 2011 7:42 pm

    As I said on the wire and bead book giveaway- I work with jewelry that uses crystals and wire. Learning to make and utilize personally made glass beads would make a great addition to my new projects.

32. Liz on August 1, 2011 8:13 pm

    Oh wow! What a great opportunity! You guys always find the most wonderful artists to inspire & teach. Thank you!
    Liz

33. Lynn Higginbotham on August 2, 2011 5:41 am

    Inspiring!
    And yes, I DO need another hobby!!

34. sparkleize on August 2, 2011 5:58 am

    I have never created glass beads and am very interested in learning though. I hope to win this book as even more of an push in that direction to get on with creating beautiful things. I love to create and express myself by making things from scratch.

35. red carousel lion on August 2, 2011 6:36 am

    working with glass gives a uniqueness that isn’t easily found with other bead mediums – plus love the richness & sparkle

36. Lynn zinder on August 2, 2011 7:04 am

    i am so excited, I get to take my first glass bead class in two weeks. I would love this book as a resource

37. Mary Mac on August 2, 2011 7:33 am

    How each design/color is your own.

38. sherrie on August 2, 2011 7:47 am

    I am weaving “fu-fu”(small throw rugs pretty to look at but not functional it’s a girls thing) very girlie like and I add all types of elements including beading, lace,yarns, feathering and I love the idea of glass had not thought of that…the rugs turns out so beautiful and this is the element that I have been missing ! Just the thought of creating my own glass beads is a wonderful idea it would add the “light” that I have been missing…

39. elena on August 2, 2011 7:57 am

    Jeri’s books are great!

40. Kim R. on August 2, 2011 8:53 am

    Love working with glass to creating very unique and one of a kind beads
    Thanks!

41. MosaicMagpie on August 2, 2011 10:47 am

    I would love to win this book. I have a torch and all the necessary equipment, but I have never made a bead! I could use the inspiration. Thanks for a chance to win.

42. Teri Baskett on August 2, 2011 2:59 pm

    This would be a great addition to my library. I am very interested in learning to work with glass, and hope to explore glass work in my kiln this winter!

43. Lynn on August 2, 2011 4:34 pm

    Ooo, GLASS. I hadn’t even thought of that. Now my fingers are itching to try it!

44. cynthia ehlers on August 3, 2011 3:05 am

    I would really like to add this to my items to try and make…I love doing jewelry and makeing new things..

45. Tonya Simonton on August 5, 2011 9:10 am

    I haven’t gotten a chance to work with glass yet! I would love to win this book and give it a try! Thanks!

46. jessica p on August 8, 2011 6:33 am

    I love the fluidity and possibilities glass art provides!

47. Liza Day on August 27, 2011 4:42 am

    Glass beads are what I love to create with. I would LOVE to learn more about making little gorgeous pieces of art!