Beadwork Creates Necklaces

Rating:
Summary: Sigh, not what I had hoped for from Beadwork Magazine.
Review: I was hoping for something great from Beadwork (the magazine) and this was not it. Lots of pictures and examples all with instructions should have made up for my disappointment, however, it didn't. The examples of beadwork necklaces are mediorce at best and can be found in nearly every book available on the market today. Beadwork Magazine has had amazing bead artists in their mag and I was hoping those were to be the pieces with instructions offered. The size and cut of the book is not usable either. I understand that publishers like to experiement with different sizes and shapes to capture buyers attention, but as a practical use, it has none. The pages do not lay flat in spite of this being touted in their advertisment. The long, skinny length of this does not allow for ease in following directions either. I have watched the bead industry soar these past 5-7 years and this book does not reflect this creative direction. Perhaps I am a bit jaded as I have been beading for so long and have seen what is out there, still, an offering from Beadwork Magazine should have had more splash and usable pizazz. This may be a strong springboard into beading for the beginning beader.

Rating:
Summary: Sigh, not what I had hoped for from Beadwork Magazine.
Review: I was hoping for something great from Beadwork (the magazine) and this was not it. Lots of pictures and examples all with instructions should have made up for my disappointment, however, it didn't. The examples of beadwork necklaces are mediorce at best and can be found in nearly every book available on the market today. Beadwork Magazine has had amazing bead artists in their mag and I was hoping those were to be the pieces with instructions offered. The size and cut of the book is not usable either. I understand that publishers like to experiement with different sizes and shapes to capture buyers attention, but as a practical use, it has none. The pages do not lay flat in spite of this being touted in their advertisment. The long, skinny length of this does not allow for ease in following directions either. I have watched the bead industry soar these past 5-7 years and this book does not reflect this creative direction. Perhaps I am a bit jaded as I have been beading for so long and have seen what is out there, still, an offering from Beadwork Magazine should have had more splash and usable pizazz. This may be a strong springboard into beading for the beginning beader.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Necklaces
Review: The necklaces in this book are beautiful. I can't wait to try them. I think, though, that if you are a beginner this isn't a good book to start with - you should have some beading experience unless you are good at following written directions without diagrams for each step. Certainly worth buying if you have some experience - like opening a present with each page!