So you love jewelry and have always wanted to try your hand at making some yourself. Designing and making beaded jewelry is very appealing and relaxing. But where do you start? If you go to a local bead or craft store, you will find an endless array of parts and beads, so many that it is often difficult to decide what to look at and what tools, beads, and jewelry parts, called findings, you will need. This book will help you understand basic parts and how to use them, and provide you with ideas and instructions to make your own jewelry projects.
First, a photographic glossary shows different findings, tools, beads, and bead accessories with brief descriptions of each item. This visual glossary is followed by a closer look at how to use the basic tools to perform different jewelry-making tasks. Following the initial overview, project chapters are organized by type of finding. There are three projects designed with each finding to teach you, step by step, how to use the featured part in multiple ways to make beautiful pieces of jewelry. At the end of each chapter is a section on variations, presenting you with examples of how simple changes in bead size, shape, color, or pattern can make a big difference in the way the final piece of jewelry looks. Although the projects suggest specific bead choices, feel free to try alternatives—you will find that the variations are unlimited.
Each project is designed to teach you a new technique or basic skill using the finding featured in that chapter. This concept is outlined under What You’ll Learn
Top: Quick reference text. Bottom: Quick referece.
A photograph accompanies the What You’ll Need list so that it will be easy to determine what is necessary to make each design. Tips appear throughout the book to give more detailed suggestions that will help you improve your technique. The Quick References are there to clarify words or phrases printed like this. Use this book as a resource for the explanation of different techniques and findings and as a jumping off point for inspiration.
As you build your skills, you will be able to expand into making jewelry using multiple findings and techniques in combination. Experiment with the many available options to express yourself creatively. Beaded jewelry has been made and enjoyed for centuries, so have fun learning to make these projects!
