Inspiration For More Than Just Jewelry
The Beaded Home by Katherine Duncan Aimone
The Beaded Home, published by Lark Books, contains 47 home decorating and other non-jewelry projects using beads for embellishment. The projects range from strictly decorative (Flower Pot Fringe, Elegant Door Tassel, Dragonfly Windchime, etc.,) to functional (Strung Bead Drawer Pulls, Lone Star Coasters, Grapevine Napkin Rings, etc.,).
The book begins with a nice introduction on using beads, bead types, size and shape of beads, beading materials/tools/techniques before getting into the projects. The intro section (pages 7-18) contains enough information for someone who is not totally familiar with beading to get a good idea of what to expect and how to do basic techniques. Pages 19-127 deal exclusively with project instructions (not including one page chapter dividers.)
Project instructions include color photographs of the entire finished piece as well as detail for some. Templates or stringing illustrations are included where appropriate, but there are no step-by-step illustrations for most projects. A comprehensive materials and tools list and easy to follow step-by-step text instructions are included for all projects.
Projects are not rated for difficulty, and most require additional skills or knowledge in other crafts (sewing, handiwork, cement use, etc.,). There is little straight "beading"...most projects are using beads to embellish other purchased or crafted items. Beading knowledge levels range from beginner to complex, with multiple beading styles used to create the projects: wire work, bead stitching, stringing.
While all of the ideas are very pretty and imaginative, I question the functionality of some. For example, the Strung Bead Drawer Pull instructions tell the reader to use tiger tail and crimps to attach beaded drawer pulls to screw eyes that are screwed into a wooden drawer. Unless you are storing air in a very lightweight drawer, I'd have to question how long that pull would last! My recommendation would be to use larger hole beads and 20+gauge wire instead.
Many of the projects, however, are fun and a great way for anyone who loves beads to incorporate them into their home decor. I love finding ideas for beads outside of jewelry, and found great inspiration in these projects.
I recommend The Beaded Home if you are ready to branch out your beading and have some basic crafting skills (or can enlist someone with those skills to help you!). At $14.95 (US)/$22.95 (CAN), The Beaded Home is a good value for anyone's beading book library.
