EMBEADERY Using classic embroidery stitches in beadwork

by Margaret Ball

$29.95, 157 pages, 2005

There are a lot of wonderful bead embroidery books on the market, but Margaret Ball has done something very different with hers. It is the largest book on this subject I've found, and the stitches are clearly graphed in black and white AND photographed in color. This is tremendously helpful for getting ideas about how to vary the stitches but also for seeing how they will actually appear on fabric. The stitches Margaret illustrates are also somewhat different. As the title says, these are classic embroidery stitches, mostly done with seed beads, rather than some of the stitches I've seen in other books that take advantage of the larger range of shapes and sizes of beads. This is for someone who wants to get her texture from her needlework, not from the beads themselves. Margaret also has instructions and illustrations of projects including the cute mermaid on the cover. I would like to add here that the writing is superb, as one would expect from one of the original authors of the Acorna series (from which I've been earning bead and butter the last few years) and many other fine books and stories. Margaret also makes lampwork and dichroic beads. This beautiful book is self-published and obtainable directly from Margaret by email (margaret@onr.com or by mail, Flameweaver Glass, 3329 Perry Lane, Austin, TX78731-5330. It can also be bought or ordered from many online and local beadstores.

THE BEADER'S GUIDE TO COLOR by Margie Deeb

21.95, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York, 2004

At last a book to answer all of those questions about color asked by both experienced and beginning beadworkers! Artist/designer Margie Deeb (Author of the wonderful loomed beading book, OUT ON A LOOM) has written a classic for beaders of all ages and levels of expertise. With color wheels, suggested palettes, explanations of those confusing words like "hue" and "tint" and gorgeous bands of beadwork (woven by the diva of loomwork, Frieda Bates) down the side of the pages illustrating each section and subject, this book simply has it all. And, as they say on TV, THAT'S NOT ALL. Margie has also created some stunning project designs (with instructions) to help you put your new color knowledge into practice and throughout the book offers a scrumptious feast of eye candy by renowned beaders such as Frieda Bates (who beaded all of the projects Margie specifically wanted for the book but didn't have time to bead herself as well as contributing her own designs to the gallery), Margie Deeb of course, Margo Field, Jennie Might, Barbara Grainger, Diane Fitzgerald, Mary Hicklin, Suzanne Cooper, Jeannette Cook, NanC MeinhardtWendy Ellsworth, Carol Wilcox Wells, Valerie Hector (see review of her book below) and--ahem, YOURS TRULY (page69). And that's just a few. There are so many wonderful pieces of work in this book it would be worth it for the gallery alone but oh, my, it is so much more and I'd say that even if Margie hadn't used one of my pieces, honest..

THE ART OF BEADWORK HISTORIC INSPIRATION CONTEMPORARY DESIGN by Valerie Hector

24.95 Watson-Guptill Publications, New York, 2005

160 pages

Valerie Hector is well recognized for her jeweler's approach to beadwork and especially recognizable for her beaded beads, very symmetrical, often cylindrical. This book contains not only examples of her work of this type but also discusses and illustrates at length the inspirations she and other bead artists draw from both history and other cultures. The galleries of contemporary and historic/multi-cultural work are fantastic and it is just the sort of meaty book I was looking for to get me started in a new direction. The book features work by Marcus Amerman, Robin Bergman, Flora Book. David Chatt, Kathryn Harris, Jacqueline Lillie, Karen Paust, Don Pierce , Madelyn Ricks, Joyce Scott, and Laura Shea.

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44 pages, 60 color illustrations

Face it, the most gorgeous pattern book to emerge in a long time is the new BEADING HER IMAGE collection by Margie Deeb. These fabulous patterns feature the faces of ladies both exotic and divine. Margie's primary bead elves, Frieda Bates and Lela Holcomb, are the divine beaders who turned the lovely faces into necklaces and bracelets. Patterns are for loom, brick, square, and peyote stitch. There are directions for building your own loom. $19.95