Author(s): COUNTRY BUMPKIN

Fashion & Textiles

This comprehensive guide to bead embroidery features more than 30 stunning and versatile projects. With over 440 step-by-step photographs, it brings bead embroidery within the reach of anyone who can thread a needle. Find out how to work tambour beading, beadpoint, padded beading, how to handle sequins and bugle beads, and so much more. Discover the best tools for the task and learn to identify different beads by their size, shape and finish. Full of hints, tips and historical insights, and all patterns are provided. Review: Feb/Mar 08 Another book from the team that publish 'Inspirations' magazine. This book is full of over 440 step-by-step photos and over 30 ornate projects. We felt that the instructions and projects were clear so it may be ideal for beginners and more advanced beaders/embroiderers alike. * Bead * No. 45, Feb/Mar 07 With more than 440 step-by-step photographs and 30 excellent projects, this book is very simple to follow. It covers such techniques as tambour beading, beadpoint, padded beading, how to handle sequins and bugle beads, and more. The best tools for the task are also discussed as well as how to identify different beads. A very useful book to have in your stitching library. * Stitch * Sept 06 Another in this Australian A-Z series, the book gives brief instructions for basic beading methods and materials. The format then is to show pieces from bead artists from around the world. Some of the pieces are lovely and full instructions are given on how to make them. Unfortunately, the photography is not good although you can usually work out the method. It has to be said that one or two pics are so fuzzy that this is not possible. What a shame; it would have been a lovely book. * Workshop On The Web * August 2006 If you love beads and embroidery, this glorious book combines the two in sumptuous splendour as only those at Country Bumpkin Publications know how. This is the thirteenth entry into the A-Z series, but there is nothing unlucky about it. Whether you are into wearable art, soft furnishings or pictures there is something here for everybody. As usual, the pieces are from a variety of designers and have this look about them of being dazzlingly advanced. However, if you are familiar with forming even fairly simple embroidery stitches these excellent photographic staged instructions ought to have you beading like a pro fairly quickly. The way in which every tiny step has its own separate high-resolution photo and written instructions makes for a foolproof combination, and I don't think I ever learned anything so fast. Other writers of how-to books take note! As for the projects, these include several floral studies, some abstract, dragonflies and a lovely bead adorned portrait as well as edgings that would make great jewellery with a little adaptation. The photography is superb, as are the invariable little additional touches such as 18th and 19th century floral paintings make this a truly beautiful book as well as a formidably useful one. This is definitely another one for the keeper shelf. * Myshelf.com * July 2006 This book contains all the information you would ever need to know about beads and their uses. It is very well illustrated with full colour photographs and shows techniques and stitches including tambour work and sequins. There are beautifully worked examples illustrated and at the end of the book are clear diagrams of the designs so that they could be used by novice stitchers or as a basis for further development by the more experienced. Particularly interesting is the section on fringes, showing some inspiring decorative work which could be used as edgings or as a basis for jewellery. * Merseyside Embroiderers Guild * Newsletter 65, Summer 2007 This book on beading is very informative and well illustrated. The stitching techniques are clear making it simple to follow the instructions. The designs are also beautifully photographed and have encouraged me to consider embroidering more with beads. Definitely a book to buy. Eileen Barden, Launceston * West Country Embroiderers * Contents: 5 GENERAL INFORMATION 6 Beads 6 Types of Beads 7 Glass bead finishes 7 Sizes of beads 7 Other materials 7 Fabrics 7 Threads 8 Tools and equipment 8 Needles 8 Hoops and frames 9 Needle threaders and grabbers 9 Storage containers 10 Bead mats 10 Waxes and conditioners 10 Scissors 10 Pliers 11 Transferring designs 13 STITCHES AND TECHNIQUES 14 Attaching a single seed or cylinder bead 14 Method 1 - whip stitch 15 Method 2 - back stitch 15 Method 3 - keeping the hole at the top 16 Attaching a pair of beads 17 Attaching multiple beads 17 Method 1 - whip stitch 18 Method 2 - back stitch through each bead 19 Method 3 - back stitch through selected beads 20 Method 4 - couching using two needles 21 Method 5 - couching 21 Method 6 - lazy squaw stitch 22 Method 7 - lazy stitch 23 Attaching a single bugle bead 23 Method 1 - whip stitch 24 Method 2 - back stitch 25 Method 3 - detached chain 26 Bead loops 26 Circle of beads 27 Attaching a bead to the end of a bead 27 Beadpoint 27 Waste knot 28 Long back stitch 28 Short back stitch 29 Alternating long and short back stitch 30 Attaching a single sequin 31 Attaching multiple sequins 31 Method 1 - whip stitch 32 Method 2 - back stitch 33 Tambour work 33 Making a spool holder 34 Preparing the hoop 34 Securing the thread at thebeginning 35 Ending off the thread 36 Attaching beads 37 Attaching sequins 38 DESIGNS 39 Starflower 40 Pandora's Garden 43 Japonica 46 Victoriana 48 Siam 50 Marie Antoinette 52 Magnolia 56 Dragonfly 59 Duchess 62 Punica 64 Roseline 66 Ruby 70 Summer's Jewels 72 Gloriosa 75 Sampler 78 Twilight's Breath 80 Papillon 84 Shimmer 86 Rainbow Whorls 88 EDGINGS AND FRINGES 89 Cleopatra 92 Borealis 94 Pearl 96 Alice's Garden 98 Blue Lotus 100 Lasiandra 102 Irish Moss 104 Nightshade 106 Millefiori 108 Killarney 110 Baroque 112 Water's Edge 114 PATTERNS 124 INDEX