I love making simple jewelry. Over at my site, 30 Minute Crafts, I make a lot of fast and easy jewelry projects. And I love picking up books that take me through basic techniques. I like reviewing the basics, and I also like having books with basic techniques to pass on to my friends who want to learn new crafting skills. So I was excited to review Simple Beginnings: Beading by Suzann Sladick Wilson.
Here is what the publisher says about the book:
Learning to make your own jewelry is easy with the step-by-step instructions in Simple Beginnings: Beading. Author Suzann Sladcik Wilson teaches you everything you need to know to bring out your inner jewelry designer. By learning about the different varieties of beads and becoming familiar with stringing materials, findings, and clasps, you’ll soon discover there is no wrong way to design earrings, necklaces, and bracelets- only your way.
I love that this book starts out with the tools and supplies needed for beading. This is perfect for a beginner wanting to know what tools and supplies to purchase. Wilson takes the reader through a thorough list of basic beading supplies, including tools, materials, beads, and findings. For a new beader, the bead aisle can be intimidating! So many pretty and shiny things… what do you really need? As an intermediate beader, I loved getting a review of materials, and even purchased a few new supplies based on Wilson’s recommendations.
I flipped through the projects in the book, and found a good variety. I decided on a simple beaded bracelet. I chose some very different beads, but followed her directions and pattern to create my bracelet.
I love the way my bracelet turned out! Simple, easy, and a great project for a beginning beader – exactly what I expected (and wanted) from this book!
I really loved the book Simple Beginnings: Beading, and would absolutely recommend it for someone wanting to start out in beading. The only thing I wish was different about the book is that each project is shown only once. For new crafters, sometimes it is hard to see how a project can take on a totally different look when made with different materials. I would love it if Wilson would have made each project twice – with different styles of beads. I realize that is asking a lot from an author – to double up on the amount of work – but I think that it really helps a new crafter to see the opportunities when you change out the materials used, and helps them feel a little less intimidated when they reach for a string of beads in the craft store.
Simple Beginnings: Beading by by Suzann Sladcik Wilson is available in paperback ($21.12)and Kindle ($10.99) editions.
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So happy to find these reviews…………great idea