Jewelry Making & Beading For Dummies

I already had a copy of this on my bookshelf, but I ordered another one and had it shipped directly to my 8 year old grand-daughter who started learning to make jewelry when she visited last summer. She loves it! (But I did pre-explain that I don't think she's a "dummy" before I sent it to her, LOL) She's enjoying being able to try new things on her own, as well as being able to call g'ma and ask about info on specific page numbers that I can look up on my end and then walk her through via video chat. It's a great addition to our "video chat art sessions." (She lives half way across the country away from me).

I have never purchased a book in the Dummies series but I happened to be at a bookstore and noticed Jewelry Making and Beading for Dummies. I was just starting out in beading and so I began to peruse the pages and decided this was the book I wanted! To me this book should be THE BIBLE for any one just starting to bead. Ms. Powley starts her book with easy projects, which gives the novice beader confidence, her instructions are easy to follow, and there is a glossary of terms in back of the book that is quiet useful. The book also has plenty of pictures so you get a chance to see how your jewelry looks as you follow her directions.As a side note, the librarian at our local library knows my passion for beadingand asked what book the library should have for the novice beader. I said "Jewelry Making and Beadiing forDummies". It now graces the bookshelf at the library. It is getting dog eared but still it keeps on beinging checked out. It also graces my book shelf and I often reach for it. Worth every penny of my hard earnedmoney, and if you can get it on sale, with the money you saved you can buy more beads! Sharon (Wannabe Beader) Some where in Texas.

This is an excellent introduction for beginning beaders and jewelry makers. It covers several different types of beading, including working with seed beads, wire wrapping, and creating clasps. It apparently, however, was either not edited at all or edited very poorly. Quality control for this book was abysmal. Too many of the instructions are confusing or just flat out wrong. For one earring project, the instructions, the line drawings, and the color photograph are all different. Which one is correct? For another project, the line drawings only make sense if you go from c to b to a, instead of the other way around. The author refers the reader to the yellow cheat sheet in the front of the book. There is no yellow cheat sheet in the front of the book. Instead, there's a reference to a Web site where you can get the cheat sheets, which is fine, but then why refer me to a nonexistent yellow cheat sheet instead of the Web site? In another set of instructions, Step 6 reads: "Step 6: Repeat Step 6...."And I'm only half way through the book!I'm sure someone who knew how to bead could figure the instructions out and make the projects, but someone who already knew how to bead would not be buying a basic book on how to bead. The information in this book appears helpful. If it had been edited at all, it might have been a great book, but since it was so sloppily produced, I don't know how much of the information in it I should trust. Already it seems obvious that if I'm going to learn how to bead, then I need a different book.Note: I have 20 years of copyediting experience, and a couple years back I applied to Wiley. They never responded. Bad move on their part, because obviously they really need a good editor.

Great, informative book! Covers a wide variety of jewelry making.

I bought a copy of this book, used, nearly two years ago. I was anxious to receive it because I had inadvertently gotten interested in Jewelry Making. I didn’t have a clue about anything, such as tools, types of beads, or how to attach a clasp.My excitement dwindled down after I received the first copy. It smelled and bothered me. I managed somehow to read just over one hundred pages. After that, I could no longer tolerate just holding it. This book isn’t an easy find. At least not the original “Jewelry Making & Beading For Dummies”. And new copies are expensive. That was the reason for my buying a used copy.I decided to try it again. This time I found a used copy that was being sold by Amazon, which was neat because along with some other items purchased I didn’t have to pay for shipping. I considered buying the updated version of this book but the reviews weren’t very favorable.I’m not going to pretend that this book is fantastic and wonderful. But if someone haven’t any knowledge of this craft and don’t know what to do or how to begin, then this book is a very good place to start. It’s informative and it helps to take the kinks out of some of the “how to’s”. And everything needed to get started is right in this book. It breaks everything down so a person can begin right away. Everything from types of beads, threads, and clasps, to millimeters, designs and suppliers. Since this is an older book don’t expect some of the suppliers to still be in business. I’ve already found at least one that isn’t.This book is not specifically helpful in designs for making fantastic jewelry pieces. If that’s your purpose you need a book that teaches that art. Or consider taking a Jewelry Making Class, as something that was suggested to me. This book, in my opinion, is a Starter Book. You can find what you need right away by going to the Index. This book is broken down into five parts, besides the index. There is an Introduction, eight pages of photos of jewelry that tells you which chapter to go to make that piece, along with tips, remembers, and warnings along the way. Of course you can improvise and make something like what’s shown.I gave this book four stars because for me it’s not exactly user friendly. I believe this is because I’m very new to this craft and I’m still learning. To me, that’s important. Also I want to work with metals. One of the ways to create metal jewelry is to use a “Jeweler’s Hammer” and a “Steel Block”. I have looked for that method in this book. So far I haven’t come across it. I’m wondering how could an Author of a Jewelry Book have miss that?! There is also a method of soldering to make jewelry too, which I’m not interested in. Maybe she didn’t feel that they belonged in this book. Maybe they’re in the updated version.

I already know how to make jewelry, but since I'm self-taught, I've missed the tips and techniques I would have learned in classes. This book fills in all of those blanks I had and more. I'm enjoying the learning as well as the designing of new jewelry.

Received it quickly. More than reasonable price. Piece was slightly used, which I knew but still in very good condition. Definitely recommend this provider.

Love the book!

Despite some of the negative reviews about this book, I decided to get this one after picking it up in a craft store, but bought it on amazon because it was cheaper!It may be US-orientated, but the information is plentiful and useful nevertheless. It is really comprehensive so will be an essential for the jewellery/beading novice that I am. It covers everything a beginner like me needs; including the essentials such as threading and finishing, the different types of beads available and a really good section on starting your own business which includes ideas such as holding a beading party for your friends. The images may be outdated but the lively and helpful instructions certainly arent. Worth buying.

je n'aime pas le produit

this book I thought was for a beginner but once you start reading it you are taken through every stage of Jewellery making and be leave me you will not want to put this book down its a fab book to read and its easy to follow so if any one is thinking of starting to make Jewellery either to keep for themselves or to sell on and make some money I would say don't think about it just go and buy itI cant see any one not lik,ing this book and the price is great Value so just get it.

I found a copy of this book in my local library, and having renewed it a couple of times, decided that it was really worth buying.I have been a leisure beader for a couple of years, so I have some knowledge of the subject, but this book has so many useful facts, tips, and techniques that it truly is indispensibleFor me, it is my "Beading Bible" !!!