Jill Wiseman's Beautiful Beaded Ropes: 24 Wearable Jewelry Projects in Multiple Stitches (Beadweaving Master Class Series) Hardcover – September 4, 2012

I pre-ordered this book about six months ago, and have been eagerly awaiting its arrival ever since. It far exceeded my expectations! Jill's designs are just stunning, and this is a book that you will definitely want to add to your beading library!The focus of the book, as you can tell from its title, is on beaded ropes. Lest you're worried (as I was) that it would only contain necklace projects, I hope you'll be happy to note that it contains several bracelet and earring projects -- and even a stunning ring called Ziggurat Ring.It is organized as follows:* Chapter 1: Supplies and Techniques* Chapter 2: Spiral Ropes* Chapter 3: Peyote Ropes* Chapter 4: Netted Ropes* Chapter 5: Herringbone Ropes* Chapter 6: RAW Ropes* Chapter 7: Other Stitches* GalleryIf you flip through the "Look Inside" feature of the book, you'll notice how lovely all the projects are. I always know that I'm going to love a new beading book when I flip through it and immediately want to start making everything in it -- which was also the case here. In addition to the projects, the Gallery section contains lovely, inspiring eye candy not only by Jill, but also by the likes of Melissa Grakowsky Shippee, Melanie Potter, Nancy Cain, and others.As with the other books in the Lark Master Series, the instructions are precise, the diagrams are excellent, and the supply lists are clear. I also love how these books are hardback, since they are so much easier to bead from.On a personal note, if you've ever taken a class with Jill or are friends with her on Facebook, you'll know that she is one of the sweetest and funniest people around -- and a bead artist who truly lives and breathes beads. Her instructions also have her fun sense of voice in them. I took a class with her last year when she was still in the process of writing this book, and she said that the editors had her get rid of some of the "Jill talk" in her instructions, but I think you'll find that her fun voice and spirit is still present in every project. Beading with her is a true delight.Happy beading!

Don't let the phrase "master class" scare you off. This isn't a class for master beadweavers; it is a class by a master beadweaver. If you are a beginning beadweaver, Jill provides you with excellent instructions for the basic tubular stitches - peyote, herringbone, right angle weave, and netting. She then helps you build the skills needed not only to bead some of the more basic ropes in this book but also to feel comfortable to move on to the more complex pieces. Once you have finished the book, I don't doubt that you will find yourself adapting what you've learned to your own designs. The 24 projects in this volume, while each wonderful in their own right, provide you with a strong foundation from which to continue your development as a beader, perhaps even as a designer.One of the benefits of attending a class taught by a master is that she has many - and shares some of her - little secrets, secrets that don't often find their way into instructions for individually published designs in magazines or kits. Throughout Beautiful Beaded Ropes, you will come upon items from Jill's own treasure chest of beading wisdom, some in call-out boxes, others hidden as little gems within the instructions themselves, each priceless. They range from advice on how to hold a spiral rope to avoid getting thread caught in the winding beads to the secret for how to keep the bubbles in the Bubbles and Bumps necklace from collapsing. You will experience more than one "why didn't I think of that?!" moment during your time in this class.More advanced beaders will appreciate some of the twists and turns Jill takes with traditional techniques. In Josephine's Fortune, two long netted ropes create their own impressively knotted focal for a necklace that promises hours of fun beading with enough challenge to keep it interesting without becoming overwhelming. And, Jill, your experienced teacher is by your side the entire time, reminding you to "have patience," that you haven't bitten off more than you can handle. Speaking of knots...the Forever Tango bracelet caught my attention from the get-go. A simple, beautiful herringbone stitch turned into a visually stunning design.With this book, Jill has made me want to give every one of the tubular stitches that I dismissed early in my beading career (for whatever reasons) another chance. I've already selected the beads for a cool-colored Dew Drop Spiral necklace, although I will probably let it morph into a lariat. And for the very first time, I am interested in trying the Ogalala stitch. In Butterfly Kisses she has transformed it from something too lacey and dainty (and perhaps young) for my personal taste into an impressive, elegant, and substantial rope.If, like me, you tend to think of ropes as items that go around your neck and, perhaps, your wrist, Jill will surprise you. After seeing the enchanting Bohemian Earrings and the mesmerizing Ziggurat ring (which has found its way to the top of my absolutely-must-bead bucket list), you will open to new and exciting possibilities in your own beadwork. Two other designs, Heavenly Hoop and Figure-Eight, let you apply tubular peyote and tubular herringbone ropes, respectively, to stylish earrings.What I may love most about Jill Wiseman's Beautiful Beaded Ropes, however, is that there is not a single piece of jewelry in it that I would not happily wear, better yet, not a single piece that would have me wondering when or where I could possibly wear it. This book has jewelry for real women, not for runway models, pop stars, or high society gals. You don't need to find an excuse to wear these pieces; they will not languish in your jewelry box after you've had the fun of beading them. Promise.

Très agréable à lire, avec plusieurs projets de bijoux à réaliser, bien expliqués. Jill Wiseman nous offre un très beau livre ! :)

Easy to follow, got here fast

Los modelos muy bonitos pero de falta mas detalle en las explicaciones sobre todo en los dibujos.

The high quality of this second hand book, love love love it

Beautiful Book with useful descriptions and gorgeous beaded jewelry. A very Good Job by Jill, Who is a very Good teacher, I' m doing some of these works And I really like them.