Bracelets, Buttons & Brooches: 20 Projects Using Innovative Beading Techniques Paperback – December 19, 2007

I realize that beginners have to start somewhere, but 99% of the bead books available seem to cater to the newest of the new: people who can't thread a beading needle, or need to be told what a seed bead is. And frankly, as I read the first chapter of Bracelets, Buttons and Brooches, I thought it was another one of the same. That is, until I got to the projects:Yay! These projects are NOT for beginners, except for one or two at the beginning that appear to be put there so that an adavanced beginner who bought the wrong book won't take it back to the store. The rest of the instructions, while complete and thorough, don't assume that you can't tell a Delica from a Treasure or a Charlotte. And this book makes liberal use of all three, along with 11/0 beads, 15/0 seeds and 8/0 Delicas and seed beads.I love the new (to me) methods of surrounding a cabochon with beading on both sides at the same time. The method is ingenious, and I gave myself one of those "why didn't I think of that" smacks in the head when I saw Ms. Davis' clear and easy to understand diagram. I was also thrilled when I looked at the twenty projects and realized that they were merely the springboard for many, many more projects simply by adding some of the steps in other projects or subtracting an edging or a bit of netting that is too fancy for the cabochon or button that you're using for that particular project. You can also fancy up a project to your heart's content with netting, edging and pretty links to the other focal beads in your project.Ms. Davis assumes that the reader can follow a flat peyote pattern, knows netting, brick, ladder and peyote stitches (both flat and round), although she does give one of those one paragraph once overs at the beginning of the book. If you aren't familiar with all of these stitches, plus probably going from one stitch to another, you might want to wait before buying this book. But if you are an intermediate to "almost advanced" beader, you are going to leap for joy because there is finally a book with some new projects for the rest of us! (I say "almost advanced" because there are advanced beaders who do loomwork in 24/0 beads in twenty shades of yellow, or think nothing of encasing a kitchen chair in Aiko beads. Those people don't need books. They write them, unless they are busy making beaded clothing from handmade beads they got on their last bead-gathering trip to the Yucatan. I'm exaggerating slightly, but people who are that advanced know who they are)Most of all, the finished projects are pretty and can be finished in a weekend or less. Those are two big deal selling points to me, because I don't want to spend three months working on something that isn't mind-numbingly easy only to find out that using ten shades of taupe doesn't look so good. It also gives you a chance to use those cabochons that you bought because they were so beautiful then stored somewhere because beads without holes present challenges all their own. Or if you have a drawerful of beautiful buttons from your grandmother, and you'd like to make something beautiful that would remind you of her. If those things apply to you, then you will be very happy you spent the money on this book and will shriek at the spouse who says, "Another one of those freakin' books? I'm throwin' this out!" (Or maybe that's just me. I don't think a bookcase dedicated to beading books is too many, do you?) Just sayin'To sum it up, if you're sick of the average "here's how to make an odd numbered peyote watchband" project, then this book is for you. It's a happy medium between so simple you can bead in your sleep and so tough that you're scared to buy the beads. Best of all, it teaches some very clever techniques that can be adapted to even more projects and you'll refer to the book again and again.P.S.: The author mounts a lot of her cabochons on a backing, i.e., Lacy's Stiff Stuff/heavy interfacing/bonded felt. It would be a good idea to purchase a little bit of your favorite backing so you have it on hand when the book arrives. That way, you can jump right into beading your next masterpiece. You will also need a good quality white craft glue and a very good quality glue that dries clear and bonds anything to anything else.

Fantastic! Everything I ever wanted to know about designing bezels for cabs with beads; plus tips on creating simple beaded chain to match! The beautiful buttons are a bonus for me but seeing them like this book presents them....I know that I've found something else to include in my love of bead weaving and wire working. The book has good directions with great pictures of specific beads and where they belong at different points within the projects (no complicated patterns for beginners who are learning). I wasn't expecting the tips on creating simple beaded chain but am certainly glad that they were included. These ornate works of art require no fancy bead weaving to embellish them further. Although the author gives full instruction, including specific materials, a feeling persists throughout the book that encourages you to try your own ideas within the projects. Lovely, lovely work that truly encompasses the cab or button, yet does not eclipse it.

Having done some beading on leather, I am delighted with this book. It has very clear directions, illustrations, & the pictures are great! I began beading on leather after buying, "Beading With Cabochons" by Jamie Cloud Eakin. This book, "bracelets, buttons & brooches" by Jane Davis gives me more options & more ideas for my jewelry. I think it would even be a good book to start with, but maybe I shied away from it because I wasn't thinking buttons or brooches. That was my mistake, and I'm very glad I bought it.

I like this beading book. There are several patterns that I will use. I have never found a book that I love all the patterns in but this one has several.

Nice book, good ideas. But not what I personally expected.

Love the creativity and inspiration. Will definitely use this book and I bought one for my friend, and she loved it too

Love this book and its very helpful.

The book was in great condition. All of the girls in my beading group loved it as did I. Thank you very much.

This is an inspirational book and includes basic instructions on all the techniques used. Cabochons are created by using a backing material on which you stitch your first row of beads - then you bead further rows using this initial row. Stitches include Peyote, Netting, Ladder and Brick stitch. Lots of designs to make; but you may need to adapt some of the requirements for the projects in this book. In view of this, I would say this book would be suitable for someone with some experience of beading and beading stitches.

its okay

I bought this book recently from amazon,with the hope to find ideas to create button brooches with my never ending supply of buttons.Allthough the book had very clear instructions ,every single item required knowlegde of beading,not one brooch that contained just buttons.It is a good book for somebody that enjoys beading,however,a lot of the ideas in this book were very repetitive

Je recommande vivement cet ouvrage qui permet à une brodeuse de perles d'aller plus loin dans le choix de ses matériaux. Très bonnes explications techniques et surtout permet de diversifier ses choix (cabochons de pierres semi-précieuses, boutons,perles variées, pâtes polymères.......)pour composer des bijoux vraiment personnels, qui nous correspondent. Ce livre incite à reclycler une partie d'un bijou cassé mais auquel on tient ou un morceau de broche chiné dans une brocante qui, une fois enchassé dans un nouveau projet devient tout à coup superbe !Il y en a pour tous les styles et les idées sont infinies...

Bien expliqué, avec photos des projets. Techniques de base. Avec boutons, cabochons et projets divers. Un bon achat que je ne regrette pas