Any
UK beadwork enthusiast (and quite a few from other countries)
will be familiar with the Spellbound Bead Co., who is certainly
my go-to stockist for a wealth of jewellery making supplies
and their stunning kits. Grab your small beads, needle and
thread and get ready to make twenty-five different garden
inspired items of jewelry.
Delving into this lovely book is rather like gazing at the
company’s stand at a craft fair. I learned how to make
pieces using small beads and off-loom stitches from their
kits and now sell designs to magazines; this shows the clarity
of their instructions and diagrams. If you are a beginner,
there are several pages at the start of the book showing the
basics, from using a stop bead to finishing off, plus a pretty
foolproof guide to brick stitch, herringbone rope, square
stitch and working with flower and leaf beads. The rest of
the book contains the projects, each one having a skill rating
and more than one large photograph of the finished piece plus
details. The instructions are aided by color versions of the
diagrams in their kits and go through every stage in detail.
Don’t be put off by their length; the author is just
being thorough, and although sharp eyes are required to read
the print which is not large, they are also needed to see
the seed beads. This is a large format book and another helpful
feature is the spacing out of the instructions and diagrams,
making them easier to read and not confusing. The pieces themselves
comprise of necklaces, bracelets, earrings, pins and a small
box. Leaves, cherry blossoms, daffodils, sunflowers, butterflies,
bees and a colorful bouquet comprise some of the inspirations.
My own favorite has to be the final one. which is also on
the cover depicting a stunning wisteria. Some pieces are simple
and complement everyday items while others are more for special
occasions, but all are highly wearable and not “arty”
or bizarre. No piece uses anything that is hard to obtain
and many beaders will already own enough to make at least
one item without going shopping first – always a plus.
One of the best beadwork books out there this year and highly
recommended.
If you cannot find a good range of beadwork materials locally,
try www.searchpress.com
for a list of suppliers.
Everything in this book is available from www.spellboundbead.co.uk/
and can be shipped worldwide. Packs of beads for each project
can also be obtained here.
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