Zulu Beaded Chain Techniques (Contemporary Beadwork Series)

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Zulu chains!
Review: I really am enjoying Diane's Zulu chain book. It is full of inspiration and new ideas. Diane has studied and researched these beautiful chains and the result is a gift to all bead artists! Instructions are easy to follow and the designs are great! She provides clear graphics, step by step instructions as well as hints and tips throughout. Perfect as a gift for a bead crazy person or as a gift to your self.

Rating:
Summary: More, please!
Review: This carefully researched, well-written little paperback is a gem. It's an interesting read for cultural and decorative arts information as well as for instructions for beading the chains shown. Photographs of pieces are clear, even when the pieces are grouped. A table of contents helps you find the instructions for the piece pictured. Color photographs would have enhanced the book greatly, but that's a budget issue, not a content problem. Fitzgerald has another book out now, also on Zulu beadwork. Buy both of them, they are great companion pieces.

Rating:
Summary: More, please!
Review: This carefully researched, well-written little paperback is a gem. It's an interesting read for cultural and decorative arts information as well as for instructions for beading the chains shown. Photographs of pieces are clear, even when the pieces are grouped. A table of contents helps you find the instructions for the piece pictured. Color photographs would have enhanced the book greatly, but that's a budget issue, not a content problem. Fitzgerald has another book out now, also on Zulu beadwork. Buy both of them, they are great companion pieces.

Rating:
Summary: A Lovely Little Book
Review: This little book packs a nice punch. It starts with a brief discussion of native Zulu beadwork with a few black and white photos. Then there are a few pages to give the beginner pointers to start beading.

Finally there are the stitches: spearhead chain, square tube, tri-leg chain, ladder, zig-zag chain, two-bead covered cord, flowerette chain, and laceleaf chain. The diagrams are clean with well-written instructions. "Helpful Hints" appear throughout the book. It ends with a nice bibliography until you can do further research on Zulu beadwork and several blank pages in the back.

Sadly the only color pictures are on the front cover. This book is stitches, not projects so what you make will be your choice. I'd say this book is good for beginners and up.