Beadwork by Donatella Ciotti
ISBN 1-58180-327-3, Hardbound, 160 pgs., $19.99US, North Light Books, F&W Publications, Inc., 4700 East Galbraith Road , Cincinnati, OH45236, 800-289-0963

I knew Beadwork would be excellent when I read that Donatella Ciotti’s instructor is Giovanna Marchesi Poggi, author of The Flowers of Venice.  I did not know just how astounded I would be when viewing the splashes of color draped across these pages.  Beadwork is a wonderful book of beading with wire.

Full color scrumptious floral bouquets catch one’s eye on the table of contents and introduction pages.   , Donatella provides historical information about glass beads and discusses seed beads, explaining what “conterie” means.   Before you even get to this second section, you eye goggle an exquisite full color photo of a dynamite flower in crystal, browns, white, gray and a light pink.  It was difficult for me to take my eyes off that page it was so impressive.

Materials are listed in addition to explanations of bead types and wire sizing.  The beaded wire flowers are beautiful.  Step-by-step instructions accompany illustrations and photos for each project.  There are at least 30 flower projects.  I really like the Water Lilly; it gave me many ideas for beaded flowers using thread with beads instead of wire.  The grape clusters are fun and easy.  I could just see working some smaller beads such as Charlotte one cuts and thinner wire to make smaller grapes.

There is a color section of beaded flower bouquets, each bouquet covering a whole page with notes and instructions required and offering visual pleasure at the same time.  These centerpieces and bouquets will bring many ideas to mind for displaying and arranging the flowers.  Donatella also explains how to use these flowers as decorations for candle holders, as trim on gift boxes and lamps.

Now for the grabber…..Miniature Plants!  The two page layout of the miniature plants was a big surprise for me.  Although many of the techniques are easy, the way Donatella has combined the bead colors, arrangements and style reflect Old World Beauty and Venetian artistry.

As I look through page after page of miniatures,  I can’t help but lip-smack over these miniature creations, I beadjest you not.  There are mini trees of Almond, Maple, Peach, Wisteria, Cherry, Pyracantha, Lantana, Willow and Bonsai, plus gold and silver holiday trees.  There are Jasmine and Grapevines, plus a winter snow plant.   I loved all the mini trees and can’t wait to make a few myself.

Some of the trees require purchase of unique material such as little cherries in pairs made of glass, polymer clay or other material.  I think small red beaded beads in size 14/0 or smaller would make good cherries too.  Using different shaped beads will also add interest to the trees.   Some of the trees are wire wrapped around a wooden dowel and shaped, others are actual roots, some with branches.  You will either need to make a trip outdoors to find tree roots and branches or use paper clay over an armature and add wire around it for final shaping.   There are lots of new materials available to make realistic mini trees.  Also driftwood would work for some of these designs.

There used to be mini tree kits available in the 1970’s and 1980’s in the USA and the bases were made of wood with a multi wire armature extending and plastic beads and sequins for the leaves.   They were never as lovely as the trees in this book, however, the old armatures would work for making a new tree with the beaded wire florals.

There is also a jewelry section with chokers and necklaces with beads suspended between sections of wire using crimped beads to hold them in place.  There are necklaces with unique bead spacing and design; pendant pieces, a mini bag and cigarette lighter cover using right angle weave beading with wire and larger beads instead of small beads and thread; various intertwined wire strung beads with draping effects and dangle ends; braids of beads and wire; a wire crocheted necklace with beads added sporadically; a beaded pendant worked over a wire mesh frame and a bead knitted cover for a bag.