Making your own jewelry has become very popular recently, and thus there is a need for some new books on the subject now that so many more materials are available. To realize your ideas, you must first know how to do all the different stitches and making up techniques, which is why a book like this is so useful.

The subtitle is "300 tips, techniques and trade secrets," and this is a good description of what to expect. I wish there had been something like this when I first learned to make jewelry—I learned mainly from kits—and looking through, I still see that I have quite a ways to go before I have exhausted all the lessons.

In true Search Press style, the book starts with a one-page guide on how to use it, and how to get the most out of it. Then you start off learning all about the different types of beads, including useful tables of how many beads of certain sizes you get per 1, 10 or 100 grams and per several lengths as well. This is so useful when buying beads for projects. The same is done for stringing materials, tools and storage—all handy buying guides when deciding what you need, what you might need and what is just for the advanced work.

Then there are useful sections on designing, color and working comfortably, before getting on with learning all the various techniques for stringing, off-loom weaving, wirework and more. Every page is packed with captioned photos to illustrate what is going on, and there are lots of tips of the type you get when you go to classes, but not usually in books. I particularly like the combination of diagrams and photos when illustrating off-loom stitches, allowing the beader to see what is going on and what it should look like in fact, not just in theory.

This is not a book of projects, but of methods, enabling you to learn enough to tackle projects in books and magazines and to design your own. If you want to take up this hobby (or know somebody who does) or even if, like this reviewer, you have been doing it for years, this is an excellent book to buy. Very highly recommended.