I buy a lot of glass beads. I know this because I used to organize my beads by type and the "glass" drawer was packed to the point where I could barely open it.
While I don't know how to make glass beads myself, I'm interested in the process. So I was excited to flip through Creating Glass Beads by Jeri L. Warhaftig. I enjoyed seeing how those "sugary" beads are created by adding frit to the outside. I also liked seeing how some non-lampworking materials were used such as the silver clay paste or the resin in the lampworked bezel. And I love the idea of an "end of the day" bead that uses up all your leftover bits. I'd love to find a way to do that with my jewelry making!
The best part of the book for me was the use of project testers. I know that many books do have project testers or editors who review the project instructions. But what was unique in this book is that the beads by the testers are included, along with some notes about their projects. It was helpful to see the different approaches, especially the things that didn't work. For me, that's always the most frustrating part of any project book. If your project doesn't turn out like the one in the book, it's not always clear why or how to fix it. The tips from the testers, along with the "workshop wisdom" tidbits from the author, give you lots of options to explore if your bead doesn't turn out as planned. This book is much more like a collaborative workshop experience than most how-to jewelry books.
Book Giveaway
If you'd like to learn more about making glass beads, enter my giveaway to win my (brand new!) copy of Creating Glass Beads by Jeri L. Warhaftig. This is a book that's aimed at advanced beginners or intermediate beadmakers. It's packed with step-by-step photos, along with lots of photos of finished beads from the testers and the author herself.
How to Enter
To enter, leave a comment telling me who makes great glass beads. The name could be an individual or a company. I'm always looking for new glass beads to add to my collection!
Last day to enter is Sunday, August 7, 2011 at midnight Mountain Time. I'll pick a winner at random and announce the results on Tuesday, August. Contest is open to everyone.
Update: This contest ended August 7, 2011 and the winner was announced. You're welcome to leave more suggestions for glass bead artists, but no more prizes will be awarded.
Standard Disclaimer: I received this book free of charge from Lark Books. My review is my honest opinion. I have received no compensation for my review, nor for the costs associated with this giveaway.