| Jewelry Making & Beading for Dummies was | | | | a beginner. I should also mention that there are |
| first published in 2005 and is probably the most | | | | simple projects spread throughout both sections |
| popular book available for teaching beginners | | | | so that you can practice what you are learning as |
| about the basics of jewelry making and beading. | | | | you go along. |
| When the book was published a few years back I | | | | Looking at this from the perspective of a |
| had already been making jewelry for quite some | | | | complete beginner, I think Parts 1 and 2 of the |
| time so I wasn't really interested in getting it. | | | | book are all you really need. |
| Now that I focus more on teaching jewelry | | | | Part 3 of the book consists primarily of beading |
| making I am always looking for jewelry making | | | | projects, and while they are all very nice pieces |
| information that can help beginners, so I decided | | | | of jewelry, there are very few graphics showing |
| to get the book and review it. | | | | step by step how to make the pieces. In my |
| Here is an overview of the contents of the book | | | | experience working with beginners I think many |
| and my opinion about each section. If you are | | | | would find it difficult to make these pieces without |
| new to beading and/or jewelry making I hope | | | | detailed instructions or hands-on help like a class or |
| you will find this useful. | | | | video. |
| The book is divided into five parts: Part 1: Creating | | | | So if I were a beginner, I would learn everything |
| Irresistible Jewelry, Part 2: Discovering Simple | | | | in Parts 1 and 2, and put the book on the shelf |
| Jewelry-Making Techniques, Part 3: Implementing | | | | for a while, and then maybe revisit Part 3 later |
| Design Ideas, Trends, and More, Part 4: Building on | | | | after I had gained more experience. |
| Your Jewelry Making Hobby, and Part 5: The Part | | | | Part 4, in my opinion, goes off on a tangent that I |
| of Tens. | | | | don't think has much to do with learning beading |
| The first part, Creating Irresistible Jewelry, covers | | | | and jewelry making. |
| from A to Z everything a beginner needs to | | | | Things are covered like how to decorate other |
| know about the different strings, chords, and wire | | | | objects with beads, making jewelry with kids, |
| options available. There is also a complete | | | | hosting a jewelry party, and tips for what to do if |
| explanation of the basic jewelry making tools and | | | | you want to turn your jewelry making hobby into |
| the different kinds of connectors (head pins, eye | | | | a business. |
| pins, jump rings, etc.) and clasps. | | | | I will say that the part about turning your jewelry |
| There is also a very comprehensive explanation | | | | making hobby into a business has some very |
| about bead types, crystal beads, pearls, and | | | | good tips, especially on how to correctly price |
| stones. A small section is also dedicated to | | | | your jewelry. It shows you how to make sure |
| explaining where you can find jewelry making | | | | that you include a cost for how long it takes you |
| materials both online and offline. | | | | to make a jewelry piece. Most jewelry makers |
| The section finishes with a chapter dedicated to | | | | forget to do this and it leads them to significantly |
| explaining how to best set up your workspace. | | | | underprice their jewelry. |
| So Part 1 of the book is basically a description of | | | | The final section, Part 5: The Part of Tens is so |
| "what" whereas Part 2, Discovering Simple | | | | named because it gives you three chapters of |
| Jewelry-Making Techniques, gets into the "how." | | | | Top Tens. The first top 10 is jewelry suppliers. It |
| Not surprisingly, it starts with stringing and | | | | is good but a little dated. New suppliers have |
| knotting and how to use crimps. The next | | | | emerged since the book was published that are |
| chapter is dedicated to Bead Weaving and | | | | better than some listed in the book. |
| focuses primarily on weaving with seed beads. | | | | The second top 10 is common jewelry making |
| I thought it was a little unusual to focus so much | | | | mistakes to avoid and has very good tips for |
| on seed beads as there are many beautiful pieces | | | | avoiding mistakes that beginners commonly make. |
| you can make weaving with beads other than | | | | The third top 10 is ideas for making money selling |
| seed beads. So I think this chapter could be | | | | your jewelry. There are some very good ideas in |
| greatly improved by showing more details in that | | | | this section. |
| area, but still it does cover basic weaving | | | | Overall, I would recommend this book to |
| patterns. | | | | beginners as a good resource to get started. But |
| Part 2 ends with a chapter on wire wrapping | | | | keep in mind that if you're learning style is more |
| which includes how to choose wire, basic wire | | | | suited to learning by seeing things in action then |
| wrapping techniques, and a nice section on how to | | | | you may have trouble actually learning beading by |
| use a wire jig. | | | | looking at this book simply because there are not |
| So Parts 1 and 2 take up about half of the book | | | | a lot of "how to" graphics. |
| and really cover everything you need to know as | | | | |