Seed Bead Fusion: 18 Projects to Stitch, Wire, and String

by Rachel Nelson-Smith

Featuring 18 exciting projects presented with detailed step-by-step photography, color variations, and practical illustrations, this fresh approach to seed bead jewelry teaches crafters how to combine materials, techniques, colors, inspiration, and design ideas for jewelry with a contemporary edge. Inspired by a wide range of sources--from Indian Punjabi folk costumes to Native American beading--the designs in this inventive resource fuse materials such as silver, copper wire, seed beads, Czech glass, and crystals into these traditional arts in order to achieve a unique outcome. All of the basic beadweaving stitches, wirework, and stringing techniques are explained and illustrated.

Genres: Crafts, Beading, Jewellery, Reference, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2009

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seed Bead Fusion by Rachel Nelson-Smith is dripping in color. I've always been intimidated by complex seed bead projects, but this book made me feel like I can branch out into seed beads too. This book offers very pretty designs with easy to follow illustrations. If you like seed beads or are not sure and feel intimidated like me, I think that you will enjoy this book.

From the back, "Bold, inventive, and edgy colors, materials, designs, and techniques fuse together for seed-bead jewelry with a contemporary edge in Seed Bead Fusion. Discover bead weaving with wire, wire working with seed beads, stringing, and combining bead weaving stitches to create exciting and unique projects."

In this book you will find:

Step-by-step photographs & illustrations
Design inspiration
Color variations
An extensive basics section (for beginners like me)

[Ligaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

WOW! You open this book up and it goes right into the projects! They are stunning and assume you have some knowledge of beading, but the tools, materials, and techniques are in the very back of the book. The projects look very complex - I haven't attempted any - but (it seems like) the directions are clear and include multiple graphics, diagrams, and photos. This type of jewelry isn't my style, but this book shows a lot of beautiful work.

[Carolynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love beading and beadwork, especially intricate beadwork, and the cover of this book had me at first glance. But the author pretty well shot her wad of interesting stuff (for me) on the cover, and in particular on the necklace in graduating color. Of course, any beading pattern can be adapted and adjusted (color being the easiest way), but there wasn't that much there worth building on. Just the orange and white necklace (I would convert to amethyst and white). Perhaps if I go back and look at Seed Bead Fusion now, I will find more that is worth working with, but I do remember how disappointed I was at the time, and how carefully I checked the designs then. (Sigh.) Even great designers have off times. Perhaps another book of hers has more interesting work in it?

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Much too advanced for me. I liked the wire projects though, so I may check it out again when I get the right supplies.