YAY!! The Cover!

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

Our book cover is now up on Amazon! It’s no longer a MYSTERY! And it IS available for pre-order!

Book Reviews and Giveaways

Caroline Cox has written a fantastic book that chronicles Vintage jewelry design from the 1830s to the current trends. If you are interested in the history of design, and want some inspiration for your own designs- this is a great book to have on hand. I especially loved the 1920s Streamlined and Chic section of the book. Interesting photos and images showcase lovely vintage style necklaces, bracelets and earrings. It is chock full of colorful photos and made me feel like running to my local antique mall to see what I could find.

Vintage Jewelry Design was published by Lark Jewelry and Beading books.

One thing that I don’t have in my jewelry repoitoire is rings. I can’t help but be inspired to try my hand at more ring designs with Marthe Le Van’s 30-Minute rings. It may seem unlikely looking at some of the designs, that you could actually finish something so cool in 30 minutes or less but after reading through a few of the instructions, I realized it definitely can be done!
One of the artists featured in this book is Victoria Takahashi, of Experimetal. I have admired her work on Etsy for months now.
She has one of the coolest rings in this book that I would love to buy from her- it’s soldered silver with thick copper bar. OH! Here’s a pic!
You can find 30-Minute Rings (Lark Books) on shelves now!

I know I’m not a lampworker but I know a lot of talented ladies who are! And I’m sure they’ll be inspired by this creative How-To book on making lampworked beads and pendants. I like the step-by-step photos in any how-to book and Jeri Warhaftig has included many great tutorials with stepped out photos for most projects. This book features beads from some talented women, and some of the most admirable lampworkers around like: Heather Trimlett, Andrea Guarino-Slemmons, Claudia Trimbur-Pagel and Pinar Hakim to list just a few!!
If making beads is your passion, this is a definite MUST HAVE for your library.

Creating Glass Beads (Lark Books) is available now!

Now the fun part! If you are interested in participating in a giveaway, leave a comment on this post and tell me which of the 3 books listed here, you would like to have and why. I will draw 3 random winners from the entries on Tuesday April 5th, which is my baby sister’s 21st Birthday! WOOT!  You may enter only once, leave one comment, and please make sure I can contact you – no anonymous comments please.

i have not been paid or compensated for doing this review.

Lark Books- A giveaway

The awesome and generous Lark Books sent me a few of their newest Beading books to review and give away on my blog. The first is Beading with World Beads by Ray Hemachandra. This is an excellent source of inspiration. The photographs, which always grab me in books like this, are stunning, crisp and all of the shots are laid out so well! The instructions are nice and easy, for any level beader. A nice variety of strung projects, wire wrapped necklaces, and other non-jewelry items are included. Many of the projects aren’t as “ethnic” as you may think, and I’ve pulled many great ideas from the inspiration amongst these pages.

The second book is Bugle Bead Bonanza, by Jamie Cloud Eakin. Since I’ve never really done and beadwork with seedbeads, I can’t really say that I’ve tried the projects in this beading adventure. I would say that the photographs are beautiful and the projects seem interesting and there is something for every level, beginner to advanced. Step by step diagrams for each of the advanced projects are well organized and understandable. My favorite projects in this book are the stunning cuff style bracelets

I am giving both of these books away, to two different winners. Each copy is signed by the author! I will draw a random winner using the Random Integer Generator on Wednesday morning, January 20th.

Please leave a comment on this post to be entered into the drawing, and state which of these two books you’d prefer if you were to win!

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!

Lark Books has sent me these items free of charge, and I have not been paid in any way for the review of these books. I have given an honest review of each title.