Making Bead Flowers and Bouquets by Virginia Nathanson
ISBN 0-486-42246-1, Softbound, 192 pgs., $7.95US, Dover Publications, Inc., 31 East 2^nd Street, Mineola, NY 11501, www.doverpublications.com

Virginia first published her book in 1967 and was one of the pioneers authoring beaded wire flower how-to books.   Her book was published again in 1983 and is now in print for the third time with instructions that are as good today as they were in 1967.  With the new popularity in beaded flowers, beaded wire flowers are also having a renaissance and several new books have recently surfaced.

Virginia’s book continues to be an excellent how-to book for beaded wire flowers.  There are not as many color photos as there are in the new books, however, those included are beautiful and there is a black and white photo accompanying every flower pattern.

There are about 43 flower and leaf patterns, 7 potted plant, 8 miniatures and 5 holiday and table decorations.   All the material, instructions and illustrations are provided.  Since this book was authored almost 30 years ago, there is no discussion of new materials available today.   Instructions for making bouquets are included along with type of plant containers and care of beaded flowers.

This new issue includes all the original content.  I know, I have one from the 1983 edition.  There are a few more color photos included in the original book and some were larger than those included in this newest edition.

The horizontal bouquet of Delphinium, Carnations, Lilacs, anemones and Fuchsia in various shades of lilac loses much of the intense beauty when seen in black and white instead of color, however, it still tells you how to make them.