Book Review: Designing Jewelry with Semi Precious Beads

Designing Jewelry with Semiprecious Beads

: Stringing Instructions and Techniques for Necklaces, Bracelets, and Much More by Kim Gover

ISBN: 978-1-59668-104-0

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.

This week’s Book Review Wednesday pick is 3D Beaded Animal Crafts for Kids, and I’ll admit this one is another of those books that makes me pause for a moment and ask, “Does this belong in Jewelry Making, Kids Crafts, or somewhere in between?”

Technically, it is not jewelry in the traditional necklace-and-earrings sense, but it is very much a beading book, and beading skills are such a useful doorway into jewelry making. For kids especially, learning how to thread beads, follow patterns, work with wire, and build little 3D shapes is a brilliant way to develop patience, fine motor skills, and confidence with craft materials.

The cover promises 3D beaded animal crafts for kids, with a focus on cute seed bead animals made with wire. The little fox on the cover is exactly the sort of project that catches attention — bright, cheerful, and very giftable. I can see this being a fun book for crafty kids, tweens, grandparents crafting with children, or even adults who secretly enjoy tiny beaded animals but pretend they are “helping the kids.”

What I like about this type of project is that it gives children a finished piece they can actually be proud of. These are not throwaway crafts. A beaded animal can become a bag charm, keychain, desk buddy, zipper pull, ornament, or little handmade gift. And if you have a child who loves collecting small things, well, prepare yourself — you may soon have an entire zoo made from seed beads.

There is also a nice connection here for beginner jewelry makers. Working with beads and wire in a simple 3D form helps build the same kind of careful hand skills used in beaded jewelry, wire wrapping, charms, and small accessories. So while I would be tempted to cross-post this over on our Kids Crafts section, I still think it earns its place here for anyone wanting beginner-friendly beading projects.

This book would suit kids who already enjoy detailed crafts, families looking for screen-free creative projects, or makers who want small bead projects that are playful rather than overly serious. I would suggest adult help for younger children, especially because seed beads and wire can be fiddly, and nobody needs a craft session ending with beads in the carpet forever. Although, let’s be honest, that may happen anyway.

My Shellie-style take? 3D Beaded Animal Crafts for Kids looks like a fun, colourful and practical beading book for young makers who like cute projects with a real finished result. It is crafty, giftable, a little bit nostalgic, and a lovely stepping stone into more detailed beadwork and jewelry making later on.

You can find the book here: 3D Beaded Animal Crafts for Kids.

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