A Beaded Romance: 26 Beadweaving Patterns and Projects for Gorgeous Jewelry

I was so excited to see Kelly publishing another book! This second one did NOT disappoint me! From a beader's view, this book has amazing variety. Many of the projects contain a complimentary piece to go with the project. In other words, if there is a bracelet, maybe a pair of earrings. If it's a necklace, a bracelet. The "Look Inside" feature is great because you can see many of the projects.The photos are outstanding! The projects are either bracelet, earrings, necklace or one ankle bracelet. Pricing for making the projects would be extremely economical with a trip to Hobby Lobby or Michael's filling the project need for beads to your local bead shop or on-line store for rivolis, drop beads or foundation supplies for embroidery.If you look at Kelly's web site, you can see her style. It's light and soft and beautiful! Also, her materials are simple to find or easily purchased on-line through Fusion Beads. Of course supplies are all explained at the begging of the book.Her directions are amazing so I am not sure what the woman who gave a one star rating was meaning. (No disrespect to her.)In fact, I think her directions are one of the best I've seen! In the beginning, she shows step-by step of stitches with real beads! The color photos are clear and well explained. Not rushed. Then, as each project is presented, there are photos and written directions of each step. For me they are extremely clear. I think better than some with just thread paths are.Another thing I would like to mention is that there is true variety. For example, there are some projects that are basicly seed bead projects. Then there are those that you use lots of crystals. She also teaches you how to do bead embroidery. So if you are afraid of it, there are two great necklace projects to learn. One uses a cameo (very inexpensive to buy) in a black and white combo, and then there's a gorgeous three large crystal stately project--also a necklace.The woman who was disappointed in that there were no thread paths, I beg her to look again and really see how this book is put together. I also encourage her to please contact Kelly (www.beadparlor.com)for more help!! Kelly is a helpful and dedicated individual who truly does care and I am sure she would be happy to give assistance!!! As far as the projects go, as previously mentioined, yes, there is a ankle bracelet with dangles, but honestly, I have seen them on woman much older than those in their 50's wearing them. I am going to be 55 years old and I would not wear an ankle bracelet myself, but I don't expect every project in every book to meet my needs or desires. Just like cookbooks. Not every recipe would I make, but that doesn't make it a bad investment.One other thing I would like to mention is there are no filler items. No show cases of anything. Nothing to distract from the projects at hand.You will cover the main beadweaving stitches: chevron stitch; herringbone; flat round peyote; tubular peyote; right angle weave; St. Peterburg chain, brick stitch and netting. To learn these stitches you will find her "Victorian Circles" which is constructed using mainly firepolish beads and seed beads. This is a great begginer project because it's large enough to handle with ease and the thread paths are basic. The layout of the seed beads help you to know where to connect pieces by their color. And it's basic but pretty. You would actually wear it! There's a matching bracelet, too.Next up is "Picot Petals." A lovely necklace with a matching ring. This is a Kelly's feminine style of writing, for sure!Three beautiful flowers, with a small drop dangle. This one uses 12mm rivolis and 15/0 beads. VERY nice!Then comes "Sequins in Symmetry" bracelet and earrings. Circular herringbone is used on this project. This could be made up in some fun colors for a holiday bracelet. This project takes mainly seed beads and 6mm sequins. Then it goes on from there.One of my favorite projects is "Flower Garland" necklace and bracelet. This is a signature Kelly design for sure!ADORABLE flowers in layers around crystals with 8mm pearls used in the bracelet and necklace as part of the strap.(The flowers don't go all the way around.)I am just delighted with the book and the way it's photographed, written and designed! I have just placed a bead order for the supplies I need to get going on the projects from Fusion. I can't wait to get started!If you are a Kelly Wiese fan, you will love this book! If you've never tried out her projects before, this is an excellent place to start! The book's price is outstanding, especially considering the collection of patterns available!I can't say enough good about it! :0)GREAT job, Kelly!!!!!!!

I saw this book while surfing thru Amazon's beading books and loved the projects. I didn't buy it at first because I have never done this type of jewelry before. Then while going thru another time I saw this book again and decided to buy this book. I have had it for less than two weeks and gathered my first project supplies together. I started with one of the more difficult projects "Bedazzled Necklace and Bracelet". Now this is the first time I have ever done woven bead work and I found the directions very easy to follow. I am still working on this necklace... I just started it yesterday.... and OMG it is turning out spectacular!!!! I cant beleive that I could do this and have it come out so wonderful!!!! SO if there is anyone out there that might be intimidated like I was, dont be SCARED!!! I am so happy I bought this book.

I creating jewelry of all types. From simple strung necklaces to elaborate beaded amulet bags. This book really has beautiful items that are unique with a Victorian type influence. Also these projects do not require all types of expensive specialty beads. The only type I currently don't have are the cube beads. But they are affordable. I think that some of these could be a little challenging for beginning beaders and would recommend that they get some good practice on projects that are not as complicated. For those of us who have been at it for years it is a breath of fresh air designs!

The designs in this book are lovely, but I am finding the instructions a bit unclear. I've also discovered that one needs much patience to recreate these pieces of jewelry. If you really love the delicate style of the designs, and have patience, you'll enjoy working with the patterns in this book; however, after making a couple of the pieces, I know I will never attempt them again! I prefer the designs in Jill Wiseman's book "Beautiful Beaded Ropes," with which I have had more success, even though they can also be challenging.

Rarely do I make projects included in a book verbatim, but with this book, I make an exception!! I want to make each and every one of these designs!The designs are modern, chic, and youthful (something I cannot say about all bead design books). I can imagine these pieces featured in Free People and Anthropologie catalogs! "Romance" is a great word to describe the feeling of these designs. Airy and sweet, kind of a hippie feeling. Just my style! I would definitely wear these pieces, or make them for my friends.I can't say I learned many new techniques in this book but I don't care. This book is about the outstanding designs. I am inspired!

I usually like most designs in a book and only love a few. Here the opposite is true, I won't have time to make every piece but love them all. The directions are well written and the graphics easy to follow. I found it inspiring (I'm about an intermediate level beader) and a beginner would be able to produce these projects as well. If you like the style of the cover photo you owe it to yourself to order this book.

Ooooo...this is the 2nd book I've purchased (by Kelly Wiese) & am just as thrilled to own/use this one as the first.Excellent directions/pics & text. Easy to understand & figure out based on both text & pics.

Bought as a gift

Having bought the authors previous book and found the patterns lovely I hoped this book would show design progression. Alas it is simply more of the same with the same ‘ingredients’ put together in a slightly different way with techniques that have been exhaustively covered elsewhere. Disappointing to say the least but I have learned a couple of things - be wary of buying when there is no opportunity to look inside the book, a quick flip through in a real bookshop would have revealed my problem with this volume and have prevented a wasted purchase.The other thing I have picked up is that using contrasting beads of the same tonal value does not make for exciting colour combinations but for a very muddy palette indeed. Information on colour will need to be found elsewhere.

If you love making and giving contemporary jewellery that looks good on people of all ages then you won't go wrong with this beautiful book by Kelly Wiese. Even a relative novice will be able to follow the written instructions because they come with photo's that detail exactly what you need to do. This book is her second and it's marginally better than her first book only because it gives you the colour of the beads she used, very useful for someone like me who is useless at putting colours together! I don't like overly ornate jewellery so Kelly's book is right up my street. Buy it and you'll soon be creating beautiful jewellery that is relatively cheap to make but looks like its expensive counterpart available in the shops.

I love Kelly Wiese's books. Almost every design in this book I would happily wear. It is for beaders with some experience, is very clearly written with excellent diagrams. I was delighted to find it contained an anklet!

Bought this as beaded Allure by Kelly Weise is so brilliant! Although this book uses rivolis most of the patterns are unappealing and even the necklace on the cover is lacklustre and dull. Will sell on the back of being a sequel but disappointing.

This book contains huge range of lovely projects, 25 in all. Plenty to keep me amused for a while to come. All are well designed and femanine. They colour cominations are subtly elegant.