Be Bold Jewelry REVIEWS

Instruction Quality: 1/4

Photo/Illustrations: 1/3

Projects: 3/3

Techniques Covered: Beadweaving, stringing, use of findings

Recommended For: Intermediate and Advanced beadweavers who like ultra-feminine jewelry.

Comments: I’ll start with the good.  The projects in the book are great. They are lovely, elegant, and very feminine. I love that all 17 projects are unique. Too often jewelry books have 4 real ideas, but 5 variations of each of them. There is a great variety of technique used. Many of the stitches that have been gaining greater popularity in recent years are there: RAW, ndeble/herringbone, beading cabochons. 

Also good: the photography of the jewelry. You will have no problems getting inspired here. The jewelry looks great. You can see all of it; no creative blurring of half a necklace in the background. There is also a resource guide in the back that provides a list of suppliers. However, some of these suppliers are wholesale only. Now that over a year has passed since this book came out, there is the ever increasing possibility that they will no longer carry all the supplies. 

I really, really wish I could love this book. Because it is beautiful. At first glance I thought, “Wow, this looks fantastic.” Then I started getting into the nitty-gritty of the instructions and suddenly things weren’t looking quite so rosy.

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Instruction Quality: 4/4

Photo/Illustrations: 3/3

Projects: 2/3

Techniques Covered: Knotting and some basic wire work

Recommended For:  Beginners, possibly Intermediates looking for ideas they can adapt and take to the next level

Comments: This book is pretty much equal parts jewelry and other accessories (pouches, belts, headbands, etc). This review deals primarily with the jewelry making portion of the site. Some of the other projects have potential for inspiring an adaption to a jewelry piece, especially the belts and straps which could be reworked as necklaces or bracelets.

Often the “basic skills” section in jewelry making books are half-hearted attempts to quickly expose the reader to the different skills needed to finish the projects in a book. I’m very happy to report that this is not the case in this book!  This is a solid primer. The directions for each knot type are clearly written and clearly shown in multiple photographs.  The tips included are helpful. Included knots/patterns: overhand, lark’s head, half, square, repeating half knot sennit, square knot sennit, square knot with alternating fillers, alternating square knots, half hitch, double half hitch, Josephine, square knot pattern with alternating fillers and knots.  (more…)

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Instructions Quality: 3.75/4

Photo/Illustrations: 3/3

Projects: 2.75/3

Techniques Covered: Machine sewing, hand sewing, finger knitting, wrapping

Recommended For: Beginners and intermediates looking for inspiration

Comments:  This book has a lot to offer. It starts off with a solid introductory section that covers materials, equipment and some techniques. I always appreciate a materials section that includes tips on where to find/buy the materials.  The techniques could have been fleshed out a bit more.

There are 25 projects in the book and templates are included at the back of the book. There are a few that repeat a similar look or technique, but for the most part the projects are unique.  Not every project in this book will be right for everyone, but I think there are enough different styles and techniques that you should find a few different pieces that strike your fancy. The book did lose a quarter of a point because a few of the pieces looked more like craft projects turned into jewelry rather than pieces of jewelry. Having said that though, there are some really gorgeous pieces of jewelry in this book. The Vintage Rose Cuff and Choker is sumptuous, the Flower Garland is fun and beautiful, etc. (more…)

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Instruction Quality: 3.5/4

Photo/Illustrations: 3/3

Projects: 2/3

Techniques Covered: Chain mail

Recommended For: Beginners and intermediates; people who like costume jewelry.

Comments: The book contains a rather perfunctory introduction; touching briefly on what chain mail is, tools, materials, and finishing touches. The 29 projects range from Beginner to Advanced, but a beginner who has patience and is comfortable opening and closing the rings would be able to complete the advanced projects with no problems.  One notable flaw is that all but one project, a byzantine necklace and earring set, is for flat mail. This gives a rather limited view of chain mail techniques.

The European 4-1 linking pattern is covered very nicely in the introductory material.  I was a little surprised that some of the other common linking patterns were not singled out for this special attention, but instead they are only identified by a small header near the directions for the projects where they are used. The book is definitely geared towards completing the projects, not familiarizing the reader with chain mail techniques in general. ”Tip Boxes” are sprinkled throughout the book and they contain some very helpful tips.   (more…)

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Instruction Quality: 3.5/4

Photo/Illustration: 3/3

Projects: 2/3

Techniques Covered: Cuff bracelet forming using fusing and some lampworking

Recommended for: Glass fusers with at least some experience looking to create fused glass cuff bracelets.

NOTE: Bracelet forming requires a small, top-opening kiln.  A removable kiln lid is recommended. Safety needs are increased since you will work in an open kiln.

Comments: The basics are covered well and  project instructions are fine for the most part, although there are some spelling mistakes that I found distracting. Where the book shines is its wonderful use photographs to illustrate the instructions. This book has photos of pretty much every step, no matter how small, which is great for visual learners. (more…)

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Instruction Quality:  3.5/4

Photo/Illustration: 2/3

Project Quality: 1/3

Techniques Covered: Beadweaving for creating bezels for cabochons and clasps.

Recommended for: Intermediate beadweavers, lovers of Swarovski.

Comments: I wanted to love this book more than I did. At first glance it appears to be a superb book. There is a great deal of wonderful photos, a section on materials to be used, some instructions on the stitches…but pretty quickly it became apparent that the book is a bit shallow. The 65 designs promised really comprise of variations on four different concepts: basic beaded bezel, the star burst beaded bezel, the beaded beads, and beading to connect crystal squares. (more…)

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Instruction Quality: 4/4

Photo/Illustration Quality: 2.5/3

Project Quality: 3/3

Techniques Covered: Bead embroidery

Recommended for: First time bead embroiders, anyone wanting to know how to bead around a cabochon.

Comments: This is a book I discovered in the library while working on a class assignment. Boy am I glad for that assignment! This is a great book for learning how to bead with cabochons. The book is very specific in its scope – it deals only with beading around cabochons, so do not look for general bead embroidery instruction here. Its specificity allows for a very complete exploration of its subject. The basic cabochon beading instructions are thorough and in a nice touch include both drawings and photos. (more…)

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Instruction Quality: 4/4

Photo/Illustration Quality: 3/3

Project Quality: 1.5/3

Techniques Covered: Twisting, knotting, interloping, weaving, braiding, ply-split darning, working with beads, beginnings and ends, and using narrow wares

Recommended for: Everyone. Beginners will benefit the most, but even experienced users will find the visual dictionary of the different techniques helpful.

Comments: I love this little gem. I checked it out from the library initially, but after spending some time with it, decided it was a must-own. There are enough techniques here that I will want to use it again and again for years to come. The Materials section offers a quick and pretty overview of the types of materials you can use to create the braids and trims in the book. The Techniques section has about 80 pages covering 9 techniques and their variations. Big thumbs up for not skimping here – tons of photos and illustrations covering each step, easy-to-see colors, and helpful tips. You may have to learn a little bit of language, such as warp or bodkin, but the book explains what these are. The spiral bound nature of the book works great here too because the book always stays open and flat. I’ve even used the spiral as a place to tie up the end of a braid I was working on! (more…)

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Instruction Quality: 3/4

Photo/Illustration Quality: 1.5/4

Project Quality: 3/3

Techniques Covered: Bead Embroidery

Recommended For: Beaders who already know how to create a beaded bezel but who are looking to tackle some larger projects.

Comments: This is a nice book with some very attractive projects by two amazing artists. If you know how to create a beaded bezel around a cabochon,  you are ready to tackle anything in this book. If you do not know how to do this, I’d recommend you check out Jamie Cloud Eakin’s book “Beading with Cabochons” before starting this one. (more…)

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