What do you think?
Rate this book
Diane Fitzgerald's Favorite Beading Projects: Designs from Stringing to Beadweaving
Diane Fitzgerald presents 24 of her very best, never-before-published beadwork projects! These favorites are drawn from Diane's 20-plus years of creating and teaching and highlight her signature style. As she does in her sold-out classes worldwide, Diane provides a wealth of professional tips for getting great results. Packed with color and amazing designs, this must-have book from one of today's leading bead artists belongs on the bookshelves of beaders everywhere. The book includes a small additional photo gallery of the artist's work. Diane, a 2012 Designer of the Year for Beadwork magazine and a Swarovski Ambassador, is one of the most popular and accessible bead designers in the world!
128 pages, Hardcover
First published March 6, 2012
1 person is currently reading
50 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 24, 2017
Interesting projects. I had a little trouble following the instructions and the illustrations didn’t provide me with help I needed. Experienced beaders will truly enjoy the book.
October 9, 2024
A lot of fun patterns in here
Read
November 8, 2013As the title says, this book is all about the projects. After a brief introduction by Diane Fitzgerald and a multi-page foreword (AKA lovefest) by Jean Campbell describing Ms. Fitzgerald's career and many talents, the book starts right in on the projects. There is no 'Basics' section, but tips and techniques are woven throughout the book.
This book has a whopping 24 projects. At an MSRP of $27.95, that is about $1.04 per pattern. If you want to try a lot of different techniques, this is a good book to buy.
Throughout the book, the author shows very clearly how to put the beads together into the larger units needs to make the project. In looking at these images, I am sure a clever quiltmaker could apply beads to a quilt project in the same manner and achieve a great, if flatter look. The book is also good for the quiltmaker who wants to know more about beads. This book has wonderful pictures of different beads used.
I was hard pressed to pick a favorite project as I started to look through them. Many of the projects are necklaces in styles that I don't wear. I liked the Midnight Snowflakes (pg.75)necklace, but it wasn't a favorite. I also liked the Lacy Bracelet (pg.71). I was also quite partial to the may Basket project (pg.65), but can't imagine wearing them as a broach or as a pendant, so I didn't know what I would do with them. I did like their look and imagine having a "Spring Tree" (as opposed to a Christmas Tree) covered with these baskets. I was getting discouraged, but the end of the book (pg.100) is the Braided Garland Necklace. Though it is a little bit large, I love the spring feeling of it.
Each project has a page with a variation so the reader can see what the project looks like in slightly different colors or using different beads.
The end of the book has a gallery of projects, presumably by Ms. Fitzgerald. I really like the Tulip Necklace Pouch (pg.125). It reminds me of the beaded bag Hermione uses in the Deathly Hallows.
Enjoy this inspirational book and thanks to Lark Books for sending it to me.
This book has a whopping 24 projects. At an MSRP of $27.95, that is about $1.04 per pattern. If you want to try a lot of different techniques, this is a good book to buy.
Throughout the book, the author shows very clearly how to put the beads together into the larger units needs to make the project. In looking at these images, I am sure a clever quiltmaker could apply beads to a quilt project in the same manner and achieve a great, if flatter look. The book is also good for the quiltmaker who wants to know more about beads. This book has wonderful pictures of different beads used.
I was hard pressed to pick a favorite project as I started to look through them. Many of the projects are necklaces in styles that I don't wear. I liked the Midnight Snowflakes (pg.75)necklace, but it wasn't a favorite. I also liked the Lacy Bracelet (pg.71). I was also quite partial to the may Basket project (pg.65), but can't imagine wearing them as a broach or as a pendant, so I didn't know what I would do with them. I did like their look and imagine having a "Spring Tree" (as opposed to a Christmas Tree) covered with these baskets. I was getting discouraged, but the end of the book (pg.100) is the Braided Garland Necklace. Though it is a little bit large, I love the spring feeling of it.
Each project has a page with a variation so the reader can see what the project looks like in slightly different colors or using different beads.
The end of the book has a gallery of projects, presumably by Ms. Fitzgerald. I really like the Tulip Necklace Pouch (pg.125). It reminds me of the beaded bag Hermione uses in the Deathly Hallows.
Enjoy this inspirational book and thanks to Lark Books for sending it to me.
February 26, 2012
Diane Fitzgerald is very well known in the beading community, she's been writing books and helping beaders learn new techniques for years.
This collection of her favorite projects is a great resource for people who are just starting with bead weaving. The projects are dramatic, wearable and use a variety of stitches that are diagrammed well enough for a beginner to follow.
Each of the projects has complete instructions. So instead of an introduction providing an overview of materials and techniques, it starts with an introduction to Diane Fitzgerald and her contributions to the beading community written by another notable luminary, Jean Campbell. Then it gets straight into the projects.
Starting for absolute beginners is the One to Many Strand Necklace, which is an older project of Diane's that works just wonderfully with today's trend for statement necklaces. The many strands are dense and heavy with seed beads, and well balanced by graduated beads in the "one strand" part.
Then the projects get more complicated, ropes worked around cord cores, peyote, netting, brick stitch and square stitch, hexagonal weaving and other stitches.
My favorite projects in this book are:
Apple Blossom Necklace- A netted tube worked over a core and accented with a bead embellished ribbon flower
Button Doll Ornament- this little button man reminds me of necklaces I strung for my daughter when she was little. A simple thread path to make something adorable
Yao Necklace- A very dramatic looking necklace made in motifs which are square stitched
Shimmering Waves - Super easy peyote variation that makes a gorgeous necklace
One of the things I like best about this book is the supplies for the necklaces are very easy to find. Very standard bead types make it a project book that's very accessible. A good bead store should have everything you need except for some supplies you might need to find at a craft or fabric store.
Advanced beaders who want more of a challenge might be happier with Diane Fitzgerald's Shaped Beadwork or Maggie Meister's Classical Elegance.
[I received a complimentary copy of the book to review on my bead site- BellaOnline Beadwork. My reviews are always my honest opinion]
This collection of her favorite projects is a great resource for people who are just starting with bead weaving. The projects are dramatic, wearable and use a variety of stitches that are diagrammed well enough for a beginner to follow.
Each of the projects has complete instructions. So instead of an introduction providing an overview of materials and techniques, it starts with an introduction to Diane Fitzgerald and her contributions to the beading community written by another notable luminary, Jean Campbell. Then it gets straight into the projects.
Starting for absolute beginners is the One to Many Strand Necklace, which is an older project of Diane's that works just wonderfully with today's trend for statement necklaces. The many strands are dense and heavy with seed beads, and well balanced by graduated beads in the "one strand" part.
Then the projects get more complicated, ropes worked around cord cores, peyote, netting, brick stitch and square stitch, hexagonal weaving and other stitches.
My favorite projects in this book are:
Apple Blossom Necklace- A netted tube worked over a core and accented with a bead embellished ribbon flower
Button Doll Ornament- this little button man reminds me of necklaces I strung for my daughter when she was little. A simple thread path to make something adorable
Yao Necklace- A very dramatic looking necklace made in motifs which are square stitched
Shimmering Waves - Super easy peyote variation that makes a gorgeous necklace
One of the things I like best about this book is the supplies for the necklaces are very easy to find. Very standard bead types make it a project book that's very accessible. A good bead store should have everything you need except for some supplies you might need to find at a craft or fabric store.
Advanced beaders who want more of a challenge might be happier with Diane Fitzgerald's Shaped Beadwork or Maggie Meister's Classical Elegance.
[I received a complimentary copy of the book to review on my bead site- BellaOnline Beadwork. My reviews are always my honest opinion]
May 15, 2015
Diane Fitzgerald's Favorite Beading Projects has beautiful photos of her projects and easy to understand instructions for beginning to intermediate level beaders. I loved her button ornaments and found them easy to do with a group of pre-teens that were interested in beading with wire. The 'Shimmering Wave Necklace' looked much harder than it turned out to be when I made one and then played with variations of my own. I still have several other techniques I want to try in this book of beading projects that can be changed to make designs that are unique to each beader using the basic techniques.
July 2, 2012
This lovely book showcases 24 projects, mostly for necklaces, but many bracelets too, and almost all showing more than one variation. Good how-to diagrams & photos as well as word descriptions. Many are quite complex and depend on specialty beads, but there are some simpler designs too. There's also a gallery of 9 other, mostly fancier, pieces that don't have how-to's but are similar enough to give inspiration.
I wish I had the time and patience to make some of these things. I certainly would wear most of them if I had them.
I wish I had the time and patience to make some of these things. I certainly would wear most of them if I had them.
December 27, 2015
A variety of designs and techniques, there is sure to be something here that appeals to anyone who has an interest in beading. Techniques are graphed and explained well, especially if one has had some beading or crafting experience. Alternate versions are suggested which inspires creativity rather than just copying the author's work.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews