Beaded Jewelry

June 1, 2012
It's about time that crafts authors (and publishers, too) rethought the architecture of a how-to book. In this revision of her first edition (2006), California jewelry designer Brenner got it right. She got rid of the boring color-wheel discussion and substituted that with a 20-item guide, from boho and Bollywood to rain forest and waterfall, that groups colors visually by style. She focuses every project (30 in total) on photographic or illustrated step-by-steps; with lean verbiage, readers will be better able to master and complete. And think quick gratification: Gunilla Johansson, inspired by Brenner, offers 12 earring-bracelet-necklace items to fashion in four steps. Most of the pieces are not flamboyant but, instead, are intended for any-day, everyday wear. What the author chooses to concentrate on is transmitting her love of beads and all things beaded to the beginner. And, yes, it works.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)