Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21589 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Spiral-bound
• 240 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781596680135
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review

About the Author

Customer Reviews

Disappointing
I had high hopes for this book. As another review said, it would be great to have all the off-loom techniques in one place. They are, I guess.

I found the book sorely lacking in diagrams (an absolute necessity for off-loom beading), and what few diagrams there are, are small and hard to see. To make matters worse, the written instructions are brief and often confusing (and in one case, I think, wrong). Frequently the projects introduce new methods which are not diagrammed or explained in the introductory material, and in fact, sometimes are hardly diagrammed or explained at all.

This could have been the definitive book on off-loom beading techniques, but it lacks so much that it is just another pretty book.

Disappointing
This is not a book for beginners. For example, the first project uses basket-weave crimp end findings and a ball and socket closure and requires the beader to teach herself how to solder the jump rings closed. Yikes, that is a lot to ask. Most projects have incomplete directions, enough to get started, but not the step-by-step details needed for the entire project. Illustrations are not clearly marked with color or arrows to indicate the direction in which to progress. Difficult to follow.

No disappointments here! Well done, Carol!!!!
While I am not a new beader, this book still offers great techniques and projects. The format is great with a spiral binding for easy access. I am especially impressed with the fact that Ms. Cypher has put in print lessons that she has taught at major bead shows namely "Bead Happy Bracelet" and "Supple, Shiny and Shapely Bracelet." There might even be more, but these are two bracelets which I am aware of.

Good information covering supplies--especially explaining the different threads and what they're for, along with basic information to get you going.

She covers all the necessary stiches: Peyote, Dutch Spiral (some more inspiration and new or updated examples as in as she calls it "Bam! Kick That Dutch Spiral Up a Notch! Bead"), Netting, Spiral Rope (especially well done with some bi-cones worked in for bling instead of just regular glass beads! ), Right Angle Weave (a super pattern for a bracelet using larger beads and pearls--a nice change), Triangle Weave, Square Stich, Daisy Chain, Ladder Stich, Herringbone Stich, Brick Stitch, African Polygon, African Helix (again, well done), South African Scallop and Bead Crochet. She does a super job giving you directions to make a beaded bead for a clasp or focal point--something I've wanted to know how to make. For that time when you want that "special" closure on your piece. Also beaded beads from beads--which any addicted beader will appreciate. The cover piece is not specifically identified as far as directions go--although with so much information supplied, I could have missed it.

Great color photos. Nice bead selection--nothing weird or hard to find. Well written with a sprinkle of humor here and there. Super examples.

If you're a very experienced beader and you're looking for a Melanie Potter, Cynthia Rutledge or Marcia DeCoster type project that is time consuming and real involved, this might not be what this book offers. What it does offer is a great format for all the major stiches, super examples which are well written and some adorable colorways which you might find interesting and inspiring, a variety of beads and bead sizes used in a very user-friendly format.

I would call this a welcome addition to any library for beaders. I am very happy with the book and look forward to making some of the projects shown here. As I said in the title for my review, "Well done Carol!"