Bead Journey: Jewelry from around the World

Everyone needs a bit of a vacation to distract them from day-to-day life, and visiting a new location, whether it's across the street, or across the globe, invites us to experience and appreciate cultures that are fresh and exciting to us.

The crafter-beader can depend on BeadStyle Books to publish books full of interesting projects. Reasonably priced with step by step directions supported with clear photos, it is a wise investment for one's bookshelf.

Cool Custom Jewelry by Melinda Barta

For me, making jewelry is not just about the beads, it is about the process it takes to get to a finished design

Melinda Barta's written a clever book for a quick jewelry fix. Techniques aren't too complicated and you'll find a large variety to choose from. If you've never jumped into the jewelrymaking pond, this is a good book to start with. If you'd like to try your hand at altered art style jewelry, this is a good book. If you'd like to expand your jewelrymaking repetoire, this is a good book. In fact, this is just a good book for anyone interested in the hottest trend in jewelry - altered art.

Zulu Inspired Beadwork

Zulu beadwork is multifaceted and has been studied, written about, and exhibited for cultural, aesthetic, and historic reasons.

Another jewelry design idea: Use Zulu style beadwork as the foundation of your designs. Continue to expand your repetoire of techniques and learn the easy Popcorn Stitch included in Fitzgerald's book.







Photo Credit Interweave Press

Designing Jewelry with Glass Beads

"I can't remember a day without beads."

So begins "Designing Jewelry with Glass Beads by Stephanie Sersich and published by Interweave Press.

I've had the pleasure of taking the Spiny Knotted Bracelet class with Stephanie and it was worth every penny! She's an excellent teacher and is highly entertaining to boot. If you can't get to one of her classes, this book is the next best thing. Full of her signature style and colorful work, in this economy, it is money well spent.