French General: A Year of Jewelry: 36 Projects with Vintage Beads

by Kaari Meng

Overview

The gorgeous lifestyle store French General has legions of devoted fans—and its founder, designer and stylist Kaari Meng, has created an exquisite book based on the boutique's beloved aesthetic. Inspired by vintage French beads, these 36 simple but gorgeous jewelry projects go month by month, season by season. With evocative names like Les Grandes Vacances (Vacation by the Seashore), La Rentrée (Back to School) and La Saint Valentin (Valentine's Day), the 12 sections each feature three pieces of jewelry-including necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781454708049
Publisher:	Lark Crafts
Publication date:	01/06/2015
Pages:	132
Sales rank:	1,087,687
Product dimensions:	8.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

After studying jewelry-making techniques at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Kaari Meng sold her designs to specialty shops including Bergdorf Goodman, Anthropologie, Sundance Catalog, and Peruvian Connection. In 1997, her business evolved into French General, a Soho retail store selling a French-inspired lifestyle that included textiles, ephemera, and household items only found in France. The shop moved to Los Angeles four years later. Kaari has designed quilting fabrics for Moda, wallpaper and home décor items for Fabricut, and scrapbooking supplies for Jo-Lee's Boutique. Over the years, Kaari wrote five books for Chronicle and Lark Books highlighting all of the elements the French General brand had evolved into. Her home and shop have been featured in Oprah, Martha Stewart Living, Country Living, Romantic Homes, and Mary Engelbreit Home Companion magazines. Kaari lives in Los Feliz, CA.

Editorial Reviews

01/05/2015
Bauble-and-bead designer Meng offers 36 chic projects that require trays and trays of vintage beads. Don’t worry, though: Meng, who founded the French General store and its brand of home design products, is no stranger to digging up treasures and is generous with her knowledge and tips. The book is full of advice for tracking down rare finds, such as mercury glass beads, lucite flowers, and stamped brass charms. (Clue: Providence, R.I., turns out to be a mecca for old beads. Who knew?) Though the book is heavy on tips, it is light on technique. Much of what is included here can be accomplished with just two or three tools and the ability to hang a charm on a chain or string a few beads together. The real value of the book lies in its ability to inspire with its lush photographs of charm bracelets, tassel necklaces, and dangly earrings, as well as its rich color palettes inspired by the French seasons. A great addition to any beader’s shelf, especially those ready to take Meng’s vision of French vintage and run with it. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly