Book Review: Designing Jewelry with Semi Precious Beads

Whatever your skill or interest level, you’ll find lots to inspire you in Designing Jewelry with Semiprecious Beads.  By adding a few gemstones to your jewelry designs, you can create a stunning piece that is affordable as well!

This book starts with info about the book, materials and tools and then a section on buying stones.

Chapter one:  The Stones.  This has a bead directory of semi precious stones by color. Each section describes characteristics like typical color and shapes of the stones, relative price point as well as some interesting facts on each.   This is a wonderful resource for beaders who aren’t familiar with gemology.   It also makes it easy to compare  each stones facts, colors, cost, suitable stringing companions, etc… to each other.  Its a great way for a new jewelry maker to learn about gemstones.

Chapter two:   The Directory.  There are over 75 earring, brooches, and bracelets projects from international designers for you to choose from.   This sections starts with a photo gallery called the “Project Selector” that is broken down into catageories – Necklaces, Earrings, etc…   I REALLY like this. I like being able to look over everything at once and then decide which I want to make first.   After the photo gallery are the projects that  are broken down by type.   Each project has great photography, well written step-by-step instructions, shopping list, and easy-to-follow stringing diagrams.

Chapter three: Core Techniques.  In this section are all the techniques you need to know to make the jewelry. There are step-by-step instructions such as stringing beads, wire wrappung, using headpins and crimping multiple strands. All with photos to help you master them.  Following this section is a resource guide.

The abundance of projects, as well as the gemstone directory makes it a great book for any jewelrymakers library.