Russian Accessories, (Russian Language/no translation for author or publisher)    ISBN 5-86444-068-X, Hardbound, 151pgs., full color, $19.95, retailers contact Helby Imports for wholesale orders, book #BK1932; retail customers can contact Helby for the nearest bead or fiber store carrying this book. HELBY@IDT.NET, www.helby.com, 908-474-1000, fax 908-474-2100.

This is a whopper of a beading book! Beading samplers grace several of the opening pages followed by how to illustrations for some of the techniques in these samplers. There are pages of fringes and dangles along with easy to follow illustrations.

There are several pages of graphs for netting motifs and right angle weave can be worked for most of these graphs. There are big lovely full color pages of beadwork jewelry, eggs and crosses along with step by step illustrations to make these designs.

Netting, peyote, daisy chains, chevrons, spiraling and right angle weave with two needles are some of the stitches included.

When I say netting, this is a simplistic statement when you see the diversity of design that has been displayed in this book. Many examples switch from one size or type bead to another, often forming a build up of beading between more open netting. What you may have thought as a simple stitch is turned into a technique for hundreds of unique designs.

There are many floral motifs sprinkled throughout the book with very easy illustrations to make them. Some are very tiny and delicate while others are spiky with bugles and tubes sticking out like a big puffy snowflake. There are also polyhedron designs and finished jewelry with these creations added.

The embellishing techniques include grouped beading that is bunched up like little protuberances similar to some of David Chatt’s embellished beadwork. It is almost like this beading is a big fuzzy beaded worm or caterpillar. Various fringing techniques are provided including some we are familiar with such as branch fringe and then there are others a little more exotic. You could spend days just looking at all the beautiful beading.

This is a book full of inspiration, design ideas and gorgeous creations reflecting the exceptional craftsmanship of Russian beaders and their obvious love of beading. If you know a few basic beading techniques, you will easily be able to follow the illustrations and make the projects contained in this book. Russian Accessories is a beading book any beader would love to own.