Beautiful Beadwork from Nature: 16 Stunning Jewelry Projects Inspired by the Natural World

by Melissa Shippee

Overview

16 gorgeous beaded jewelry projects for intermediate-to-advanced beaders, featuring one-of-a-kind, nature-inspired designs.

 “The elaborate process of creating tiny beaded works of art has never been so well-captured.” —Booklist (Starred review)

Drawing from the shapes, colors, and beauty of the natural world, award-winning jewelry designer Melissa Shippee has fashioned a breathtaking collection of wearable art. From delicate earrings made of graceful beaded flowers to a showstopping crystal fringe necklace inspired by ancient stalactites, each striking project uses popular materials such as seed beads, crystals, and Czech glass beads. Along with illustrated step-by-step instructions, a basics section provides a refresher on essential beadweaving techniques. A gallery of works from top artists offers additional inspiration.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781454710974
Publisher:	Union Square & Co.
Publication date:	05/07/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	176
File size:	35 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Melissa Shippee’s beaded jewelry has won numerous awards and appeared on the covers of Beadwork and Bead&Button. In 2017, she was named one of Beadwork magazine's designers of the year. Melissa teaches workshops nationally and internationally, including at the Bead&Button Show, and she sells kits featuring her beadwork designs on her website. She is the author of I Can Herringbone and a contributor to Beading All Stars, 500 Necklaces, and 1,000 Beads (all Lark). She lives in Ashford, CT. Learn more about her on mgsdesigns.net.

Table of Contents

Introduction vi

Tools and Materials 1

Techniques 4

Small Accessories

Bluet Earrings 17

Jellyfish Tassel Earrings 21

Leaf Hair Ornament 27

Little Lilies Ring 33

Dahlia Brooch 37

Raindrop Anklet 49

Bracelets

Ocean Waves Bracelet 63

Vine Wrap Bracelet 71

High Tide Bracelet 79

Butterfly Bracelet 87

Metaphase Bracelet 99

Necklaces

Seed Pod Lariat 109

Stalactite Necklace 115

Orchid Necklace 125

Snail Shell Necklace 141

Moon Cycle Necklace 149

Gallery 164

Acknowledgments 167

About the Author 167

Index 168

Editorial Reviews

The elaborate process of creating tiny beaded works of art has never been so well-captured. Devoting several pages to explaining each of her 16 projects, Shippee emphasizes the painstaking nature of the beautiful creations at hand. While this is not a book for beginning beaders, it lives up to its billing: everything is nature-inspired. Among the more unusual projects are an ocean-waves bracelet that mimics water movements, jellyfish-tassel earrings that sway with the wearer, and a snail-bead necklace (shown on the cover) worn as a statement piece. The book's first two chapters cover tools and materials (from mat surface to bead identification) and techniques, such as netting, ladder stitches, and the prismatic right-angle weave, either three or five-sided (PRAW 3 or 5). Project directions are intensive, with both step-by-step narrative and so-necessary accompanying illustrations. Good color photographs of the finished jewelry are featured alongside information such as skill level, color symbols, dimensions, materials, tools, techniques, and variations (simplification, different colors, and the like). This will naturally inspire beaders to up their skills. —Booklist

From the Publisher