Beaded
Embellishment
by
Amy C. Clarke & Robin Atkins Finally someone has come out with more than just a couple of embellishment stitches for beads! Of course, it had to be Interweave Press. They continue to do an outstanding job with the books that they publish. I have been teaching beading on fabric for several years and have always had to recommend several different books to my students. No more. This book will get you started with the basics beginning with your choices for fabrics, when to use a stabilizer, threads, needles and all those other terrific bits of information. The problem solving boxes are wonderful. It is hard to explain just how much tension is needed when you are just beginning and these drawings show exactly what you are talking about. Amy Clarke and Robin Atkins have done an excellent job of explaining the stitches. If you are a visual learner, the diagrams are very easy to follow. My very favorite thing about the book is that according to them, anything goes in bead embroidery! The projects that they have for you to do are wonderful and usable too! I just loved the buttons. Besides concise instructions for the beading stitches and fringes, tucked near the back of the book before the gallery pictures, is one of the most valuable chapters for new fabric embellishers. The chapter is Designing for Bead Embroidery. There are just a few pages, but they are the most important of the entire book. There are little exercises and easy things to try to help in the design process. I could go on and on about this book because I am so delighted with it. It is a must for every class that I teach from now on. If you are teaching yourself to bead, with this book and The Beaders Companion, you should be able to do any project that you set your mind to. Reviewed by Teresa Barrett |
