Best-seller! Addresses the most common and popular questions of those who would like to begin designing and producing their own jewelry. Step-by-step lessons are given with wire techniques, how to use leather or satin cords and the different types of beads available.

A comprehensive beginners guide to making beautiful bead jewelry featuring professional tips and techniques plus more than one hundred easy and stylish projects! Bead Basics 101 is an all-purpose sourcebook that covers every aspect of beading. A terrific beginner's resource, it explains the materials, tools, and techniques you'll need for making dangles, earrings, bracelets, watches, necklaces, and more. Plus step-by-step photos and clear instructions take the mystery out of the process. Bead artists Donna Goss and Andrea Gibson welcome readers to this endlessly creative craft as they explain the intricacies of earrings, the wonders of wire, and the dazzle of crystals. Explore the joys of mixing colors, using focal beads to your greatest advantage, creating unique accents, stringing multiple strands with confidence, and more.

Absolute Beginners Guide: Stringing Beaded Jewelry, the first book in the Absolute Beginners Guide series, is a comprehensive introduction to stringing. Presented in a warm, reassuring tone, this book provides easy-to-follow instructions designed for someone who is just learning the craft. Readers feel informed, but not overwhelmed, by the explanation of the basic tools and supplies for beading, how to choose them in a bead store, and by suggestions for setting up a simple working area. The first projects are very easy, teaching stringing a repeating pattern and using graduated beads. Then it moves into more complex projects including using connectors and knotting techniques. This true introductory manual is written with friendliness and approachability.

Dazzled by the beautiful beadwork of native peoples near and far? This new book by Mel makes learning to create beautiful necklaces, chokers, bracelets, belts, pouches and headbands a snap. The rich mix of culturally diverse seed bead patterns found in this book will satisfy the young beginner, the advanced worker and the holiday gift maker. The double bonus? The projects result in elegant, beautiful and surprisingly fashionable pieces of jewelry anybody would be proud to wear on any occasion. From Zulus to Guaymis, from Guatemala to Egypt, here are large, graphic illustrations of the threading patterns for a wide range of beautiful seed bead jewelry, from simple Y necklaces to elaborate Romanian collars; several original designs are provided as well. This book is a must for crafters working with seed beads as it provides many useful design concepts in its patterns for necklaces, chokers, bracelets, earrings, belts, pouches and headbands. The Methods and Materials section is comprehensive and full of useful hints for working with seed beads in general, from how to set up a workspace and lay out a design, to what to do when a flaw is found in a finished piece. Clear concise instructions alongside the diagrams ensure a good understanding of each project. The book starts out with two simple necklaces, then zooms into space with starry holiday patterns for 10 minute earrings, a necklace and bracelet. Then it's on to snowflake patterns that show how to incorporate medallions into earrings, bracelets and necklaces. Next are simple chain link patterns that turn into beautiful flower chokers. Native American patterns for flower and leaf necklaces, as well as friendship bracelets and a flowingtipple necklace, follow. After a braided headband, simple daisy chain patterns are presented, along with directions on turning them into wide flowery band bracelets and a daisy purse. Elaborate patterns for a very regal necklace and colorful Romanian collars follow. The last patterns of the book show how to make a wide colorful Guaymi collar, a Zulu belt, a Princess necklace that will enchant little and big girls alike, netted triangle necklaces, and a Moorish necklace of netted diamonds. Six pages of color photographs add to the beauty of this 42 page book. A cultural cornucopia of jewelry to be truly enjoyed. A great new release no-one will want to miss!

The art of crafting beautiful string and bead creations is explained in this step-by-step guide for novice beaders. Everything the beginner needs to know, including information on selecting the appropriate beads at the store and a complete guide to basic stringing materials are provided, along with pointers on securing beading wires with crimps, tying knots, and working with findings. Twenty-five quick and simple projects will help build foundational technical skills and result in exciting bead creations such as charm bracelets and chandelier earrings. This resource guide gives readers the skills to create their own pieces.