The Bead Maker

Rating:
Summary: Lots of great ideas
Review: Just looking at the title, my first thought was that this book would be about glass lamp work beads, but after I pulled it off of the shelf, I was surprised to see that glass beads did not rate Mary's mention. Instead, Mary shows you how to use easily-found materials to make some fabulous beads. Mary recommends candy foil because it can be formed into shapes and is light and colorful. Other materials she explores are clay, polymer clay, felt, natural materials, aromatics, plastic, and embroidery. Seeds and shells are pierced to make beads. Paper can be used to make papier-mâché' beads or can be cut into strips and rolled around a toothpick and glued to make a bead. Mary's roses made from colored tissue paper and wallpaper paste are lovely -- I'll use this technique to decorate holiday gifts. Raid your spice rack to make aromatic beads from anise, cloves, cinnamon bark, cardamom pods, and whole nutmegs. For Valentine's Day, sending velvet hearts decorated with embroidery would be more fun than a greeting card. Mary's book will send your imagination soaring.