Review: Create Jewelry: Glass

(Before I begin, I want to thank you all for your great feedback on craft book reviews! I’m working on some new ideas based on your comments, which I’ll implement in the coming weeks. You have such excellent brains.)

In most bead stores, glass beads are pretty ubiquitous. So I wasn’t sure what to expect when I opened Create Jewelry: Glass – what’s so special, I thought, about glass beads?

Well, plenty, as it turns out. This book is a nice celebration that made me look at everyday beads in a new light.

Create Jewelry: Glass begins with a nice primer on how various types are made: lampworked, blown, drawn, pressed, and others. Then, there are three categories of projects: Classic, Special Occasion, and Fashion-Forward.

As with their book on semiprecious stone jewelry, authors Marlene Blessing and Jamie Hogsett present a collection of projects that incorporates a lot of different beading techniques, and does so in innovative ways. I like this in a beading book, because let’s face it, you may not be able to find the exact focal beads a project uses locally, but you can certainly duplicate the assembly idea with similar beads.

Seed beads play a significant role in many of the projects. There are very clear diagrams for the various bead-weaving stitches, but I might recommend, based on my own beadweaving experiences, that you’ve at least practiced some basic peyote before attempting these. For beginning beaders, there are simpler stringing projects.

I should point out that, when I went back to my photographs to pull this post together, I realized that I had highlighted some of the most delicate-looking projects. That’s just my taste. Many of the projects are actually much bolder than what you see here – using large focal beads and bright colors. So, to get a sense of those bolder designs, visit this nice preview slideshow (scroll down) at the publisher’s website.

Given my penchant for simpler jewelry, I found myself filing away specific ideas from the projects to incorporate into my own designs. There are lots of good concepts to think about, but I probably wouldn’t duplicate a lot of these designs myself.

(I’m crazy, though, about the way these bead dangles are strung into floral shapes. So pretty.)

One feature I really liked about the book was this series of essays scattered throughout. They detail various people, places, and ideas significant in the history of glass. Miriam Haskell, by the way, was a costume jewelry designer from the 1920′s – 1940′s. Beautiful stuff.

Another thing I really enjoyed was the authors’ use of color. Every project is a stunning blend of hues. The indie crowd may find the designs a little polished for their tastes, but I think serious jewelry designers will find a lot of food for thought here.