Book Review Designing Jewelry with Glass Beads

Designing Jewelry with Glass Beads by Stephanie Sersich.

I can sum this book up in two words: visual feast! And if you are hungry for color and texture you'll find your fill in the pages of Designing Jewelry with Glass Beads.

The book starts with an informative primer on the different types and history of glass beads. The best part of this book is the section on design. If you have ever wondered why some jewelry works better than others, the secret rests in the basic elements of design. Stephanie shares her thoughts, ideas and inspiring photos for each element. This part of the book is priceless! The book is also filled with insightful artist's profiles from contemporary beadmakers.

But there is so much more. The projects feature glass in many different forms, from exquisite glass art beads to common pressed glass. Many of the projects work with fibers and glass, an exciting combination. Whether it's a simple pair of earrings to the impressive Knotty Spine bracelet featured on the cover, there is inspiration for all skill levels.

The designs in the book can translate into any medium. Here is a variation of the Tinkerbell Drops project that I created with polymer clay, lucite and glass.