Bead Journey

The 26 projects from the BeadStyle Around the World special issue and eight new projects showcase beads and jewelry styles from all over the globe. The step-by-step photos and instructions, and four sections with Asia and the Pacific Rim, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, make this an easy-to-follow and unique beading guide you’ll want to learn from.

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Author: From BeadStyle magazine
Softcover; 8 1/4 x 10 3/4; 96 pages; 426 color photos; ISBN: 9780871162670

From the editors of BeadStyle magazine.

Introduction 4
Basics 5

ASIA AND THE PACIFIC RIM
China 8
Use Chinese cloisonne beads to make an inventive necklace-and-earring set
Phillipines 10
Blend four styles of wood beads in a three-strand choker with an island feel
Australia 12
Gaspeite gemstones from western Australia make an eye-catching necklace and earrings
South Seas & Japan 14
String faux pearls with sparkling rondelles in a three-strand necklace
India 17
Traditional Indian images strike an exotic chord
Nepal 20
String a necklace and earrings with handcrafted beads
Afghanistan 23
A versatile necklace and bracelet mixes glass and quartz with Afghan lapis
Thailand 26
Thai silver complements a pendant, handmade in a traditional method,
New Zealand 28
Carnelian and jade give two necklaces and a bracelet an added flair

EUROPE
Italy 32
Venetian-glass beads link yesterday’s grandeur to today’s fashion
Greece 34
Arrange handmade beads from Athens on a silk cord
Austria 36
Necklace and earrings show off the size and style versality of Austrian crystals
Czech Republic 38
Attach a variety of Czech-glass beads for a lush bracelet and earrings
Scandinavia 41
Scandinavian pyrie leaves are the centerpiece of theis multitextured necklace
Poland 44
Baltic amber glows in an easy choker and earrings
England 46
Classic styling makes this jet set a tribute to its heritage
Scotland 49
Celebrate Highland folklore with an unusually drilled faerie pendant

AFRICA
Kenya 54
String batik beads on rubber tubing for a tribal-style necklace and bracelet
Ghana 57
Partner traditional brass with ribbon or leather cord for two necklace styles
Tanzania 60
This Masai-inspired collar pairs traditional form with unexpected materials
Morocco 62
String brilliant Moroccan colors in a gemstone necklace and earrings
Egypt 65
Unearth the spirit of ancient Egypt with a turquoise-and-crystal necklace
Democratic Republic of the Congo 68
Encircle your neck and wrist with thress strands of African malachite
Ethiopia 70
Combine silver and brass Coptic crosses with silver accent beads

THE AMERICAS
Canada 74
Make shimmering memory-wire cuffs with nuggets or chips from Labrador
Southwest U.S. 76
Native American squash-blossom design inspires a necklace-and-earring set
Ecuador 78
Nuts from South America are natural wonders
Mexico 82
Showcase Mexican fire opals in a necklace that converts to a bracelet
Caribbean 84
Capture the essence of the Caribbean with a coconut-and-coral necklace
Great Lakes 86
Wire wrap a Great Lakes necklace and earrings
Brazil 89
Create a carnival of blue with Brazilian sodalite
Peru 92
Grasshopper beads and knotted cord give necklace an organic feel

Contributors 95

The first thing I did when I picked up this really entertaining and educational jewelry design book was stop for just a second in order to look up the definition of "armchair traveler", via google. That phrase had immediately come to mind. I felt like an armchair traveler, with this book, traveling all over the world!
Here is what National Public Radio was quoted as saying concerning the term: "It's winter, which may make you feel like you want to go on a journey. Maybe you're actually planning one, or perhaps just wishing for an adventure."
No matter what season it is, if you would like to further your jewelry design experiences, and also like to know a bit about the origins of styles of jewelry from anywhere and everywhere, this is a great book for you. It shows where certain stones come from, and it offers some fabulous design projects which employ variety, flair, and tons of beautiful color, whatever their origin.
I loved the idea that I was being given a tour of the continents, with maps and explanations, and it was so fun to see which gemstones came from which area. I adore all stones, and I loved seeing some stones which are not as commonly used in jewelry design books, like Gaspeite, make an appearance here in Bead Journey. I am always open to learning more about stones and their characteristics as I simultaneously fill my mind with more information concerning quality design. This book was perfect for me, therefore! It offers everything from jet (England) to Batik beads (Kenya) to kyanite (Morocco--the kyanite is shown in a three strand creation, along with garnet and amethyst).
Some of the designs are quite dazzling.
Bead Journey is packed with fascinating projects for you to try from all over the world. These creations were carefully researched and created by some of my favorite designers, many of whom make up the staff of BeadStyle magazine), and also from some jewelry designers I don't know as well. I expect I will be seeing more from them!
As an aside, I own a book which is one of the basic foundations of my bead and jewelry library. It is called The History of Beads by Lois Sherr Dubin.
Although this newer book is smaller and quite a bit different, it is the first book I have found which reminded me of that extraordinary piece of work. I would never say that one could replace the other, but as an adjunct to The History of Beads, you might note that Bead Journey has the same sensibility, just on a far less encyclopedic scale.
The way Bead Journey is laid out will give you an idea of what I mean. It isn't laid out stylistically, it is laid out geographically. This means that for an "armchair traveler", an adventurer who loves to read and is curious, yet likes the comforts of home, you will be given a short course in the jewelry styles of the world, continent by continent. There is a brief introduction. This is followed by a quick but thorough explanation of basics, which is always helpful to beginning and intermediate beaders, and is useful a reminder to all of proper technique.
As Cathy Jakicic, editor of BeadStyle magazine, who is also a contributor to Bead Journey (see one really exquisite and unusual necklace and bracelet set of hers, inspired by New Zealand, which features carnelian and jade, on page 28) explained to me, "Bead Journey is full of creative ideas inspired by materials and design influences from around the world. My favorite thing about the projects is that they make the “exotic” very accessible. This is jewelry you’ll want to wear every day."
I admired many of the designs, none of which appeared too hard to make. Even so, they were outstanding in their creativity. A great example would be Jane Konkel's set from Nepal, which used glass, shell, coral, amber, bone, and turquoise. Mainly you'll get a feeling of mostly turquoise and ivory from this really pretty triple strand necklace, which has earrings to match. I find that I love Jane's designs in BeadStyle, and she is well represented in this book.
If you fell hard for the cover design, as I did, then you love Naomi Fujimoto, another favorite designer of mine! She gets me every time!
Another exciting design is shown off to the fullest by Linda J. Augsburg. Her classic jet set--intended to represent England, is perfectly beautiful! The sizes and shapes of the glass jet beads she uses add so much interest to her elegant "French jet", or faux jet, necklace and bracelet.
A fabulous and impressive collar made by editor Cathy Jakicic represented Tanzania, and would be an excellent way to practice stringing multiple strands using spacer bars. It came with a sidebar comment which said, " In Masai culture, white beads represent purity and health."
This is the sort of observation I love and it just excites me no end to learn more by absorbing information by admiring a piece like this which is so beautiful.
That is basically what this book is about: information and beauty, hand in hand.
Incidentally, some of these projects have been seen before, but not all of them. Also, not all of the contributors are members of the BeadStyle staff, as I mentioned earlier.
I think a book like Bead Journey which gives you the world through jewelry is great. I am delighted I had the opportunity to review this book, and I recommend it to all levels of jewelry makers!
-Jean Yates at http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/