Jewelry Making

DIY Jewelry, Beads And Patterns

Beyond The Bead Mixed Media Jewelry Project & Book Giveaway

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Margot Potter’s new book all about mixed media jewelry making “Beyond the Bead” has hit the bookstands!!! Expect a book review here soon, but for now you can do one of the projects in the book.

Margot has put up a tutorial for the mixed media necklace “I’ll Fly Away” (the necklace on the book cover) her blog. You’ll love it so go check it out.   And thats not all,  she is giving away a copy of the book to one lucky winner as well!!!  You’ll need to visit her blog and leave a comment there.  Margot will randomly select a winner on Tuesday the 17th so go comment NOW!!

Comments

  1. Oh yes! I immediately *run* in to Amazon to look at this book more closely and to read more about it. This is definitive a book both for me and for others who love to make jewelry!

  2. OOOHHH I love the necklace and earrings on the cover – they are beautiful! I would love to win a copy of this book, enter me please.

Have you read?

Book Review Wednesday: Bead Jewelry Making For Beginners

There is something very satisfying about bead jewelry making. It is one of those crafts that feels easy to start, but still gives you that lovely “I actually made this” moment when you finish a bracelet, necklace, or pair of earrings.

This week’s Book Review Wednesday pick is Bead Jewelry Making for Beginners, and unlike the trinket dish book where I was torn between our polymer clay and jewelry sections, this one sits very neatly here on Jewelry Making. Beads, findings, clasps, wire, earrings — no category confusion this time.

This looks like a useful beginner-friendly book for anyone wanting to move beyond simply stringing beads and start understanding how handmade jewelry actually comes together. Things like choosing beads, adding clasps, using findings properly, and making pieces that sit nicely are the little details that can make a beginner project feel much more polished.

I always think bead jewelry is a lovely craft for quick handmade gifts too. A simple bracelet, pair of earrings, or beaded necklace can be made fairly quickly, and it is easy to personalise with favourite colours, birthstones, charms, or leftover beads from the stash. And yes, if you have ever tipped a packet of seed beads across the table, you already know this craft comes with its own tiny chaos.

This book would suit new jewelry makers, teens, handmade gift makers, or anyone who has a bead stash tucked away and wants a little guidance getting started. Pair it with a basic set of jewelry pliers, beading wire or stretch cord, clasps, jump rings, and a bead mat, and you are ready to go.

My Shellie-style take? Bead Jewelry Making for Beginners looks like a practical, approachable starting point for anyone wanting to learn simple beaded jewelry techniques without feeling overwhelmed.