Beadwork Creates Necklaces edited by Jean Campbell
ISBN 1-9131499-22-5, Semi Hardcover, 112 pgs., $16.95US,, Interweave Press, 201 East Fourth St, Loveland, Colorado 80537, 800-272-2193, www.interweave.com

This book is packed full of designs and inspiration. The 30 projects are enough to get you excited and wishing for more. Interweave Press, as usual, has chocked the 112 pages full of color photos and continues with the clear, concise diagrams and instructions in the back of the book that they are known for. Having so many of the top beaders and designers published in one book is a real treat.

There is something in this book for everyone.  Simple strung pieces to get the beginner started down the bead path of life, beginning wire work pieces and also some more complicated projects for the experienced beadworker. I did find a couple of the designs needed more explanation for the beginners but the experienced beader will have no problems.

The new shape and size will definitely call attention to the book on the shelf in the store but I wish they would have done the spiral binding like the “Beaders’ Companion” book.  I like the way I can turn it back to what I am working on and it stays where I put it.  I’m taking it to my local office store to get that done to it the next time I go into town.

Beadwork Creates Necklaces will be well used in this studio no matter what the binding is! The pictures will inspire even the most experienced beader to forge ahead and try something new. Thanks again Interweave Press.

- Reviewed by Teresa Barrett

Beadwrangler Note:  I loved Diane Fitzgerald’s multiple strand necklace with gem stone chips at the bottom; the bronze beads looked like a waterfall dropping into the garnet chips!  The necklace by Pat Mayer with Nakia Angel’s Sparkly Wheel as the center piece creates a stunning finish.

I do have a grump regarding the bead crochet  instructions at the back of the book.  Instructions for bead crochet in rows is provided, however, I did not find a project for bead crochet in rows.   It states you must cut the thread at the end of each row for bead crochet in continuous rows.  This is not true!  You can work continuous bead crochet rows using a bead reverse single crochet stitch and there is more than one method.  Interweave continues to use canned instructions for new books with bead crochet included instead of updating their information.  Since Beadwork Magazine just published my bead crochet samplers in the Aug/Sep 2002 issue for continuous bead crochet rows, it does not make sense to make this mistake since it is a Beadwork/Interweave publication.  You may ask what is the big deal since there are no projects for bead crochet in rows?  I am a bead crochet educator and it bugs me, I beadjest you not, that publishers do not check with a bead crocheter prior to publishing so those new to bead crochet will have the correct information.  By the way, I did like the combination of bead slip stitch rope and a peyote bail used together by Sylvia Sur.  The rope worked in size 11/0 or hex beads and 8/0 matte beads made the larger beads pop out in the pattern with a pleasing finish.

I find the book shape strange.  Although it looks cute, because it is thick and long rather than a larger size and not so thick, it is difficult to keep each page flat to work.  Once those pages are pushed down flat by force so you can work, the book pages no longer close back together and the cover sticks up.  I recently stopped at a book store and the Beadwork Creates books could not even be seen on the book shelf; they were pushed back so you could not see them or the titles.  People may miss the books because they do not see them unless they are displayed separately in a display rack.