Reviewed: A Bead in Time

February 10, 2010

One of R&T’s blog partners, Lisa Crone (of A Bead A Day), has a new book out. “A Bead in Time” was just published by North Light Books.

Lisa Crone's new book!

Lisa’s subtitle is “35 jewelry projects inspired by slices of life.” She shows you an impressionistic approach that could be really productive for making personal or commissioned pieces of jewelry. The essential idea is to start from a subject that’s meaningful to you — or to your customer! — and:

“Create your subject literally, by making an obvious replication of it, or in the abstract, by using colors, fibers or other materials that remind you of the item.”

If you’ve read Lisa’s blog, you’ve experienced her unique idea of focusing on the beauty of each individual bead. Her interpretations in this book riff on the truly strong points of a given bead to paint a picture in jewelry form. Some examples that I think are particularly effective here are

  • Using hematite and pewter cubes to evoke a favorite skyscraper
  • Putting glazed rectangular ceramic tube beads into a Frank Lloyd Wright formation
  • Cultivating a bright dandelion theme with green memory-wire tubing and yellow seed beads on a brooch form

These and many more fun ideas are presented in a really approachable, understandable way in Lisa’s book. Reading this volume, I’m left with a good feeling that “what you see is what you get:” From the thoughtful materials, tools and techniques tips at the beginning, through to the very last project idea, I felt I was getting patient, useful guidance in making craft jewelry.

I’d recommend “A Bead in Time” both for your own use, and for introducing new jewelry crafters to truly useful techniques in action!

Plus there’s a “gnome jewelry” project that would make Russ Troll Bead proud 🙂

Have you read Lisa’s book yet? You can share your comments below…

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4 Comments

  • Reply Lisa Crone February 10, 2010 at 10:51 pm

    Hi Dave!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I hoped you would love the gnome project!! I hope to be able to share the dandelion project on my blog in the near future. We are buried under at least a foot and a half of snow in Ohio right now and boy what I wouldn’t give to see a see of bright yellow dandelions!! 🙂 This means so much, thank you!!

  • Reply JustATish February 11, 2010 at 9:11 am

    I have Lisa’s book, and I love it!

  • Reply Dave Robertson February 12, 2010 at 2:49 pm

    It was a pleasure to read this book, Lisa. Tish, I agree with your positive review!

  • Reply Cindy Lietz, Polymer Clay Tutor February 20, 2010 at 12:17 pm

    Great review Dave! I wrote one for Lisa’s excellent book as well. I just love all the different approaches that people have taken in writing about it. Easy to do when you’re writing about such an inspiring jewelry making book!

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