Earring Reviews & More

Reviews

I loved the jewelry projects and the easy-to-follow instructions, but I have been unable to find many of the beads used (or even reasonably similar substitutes). For example, I would love to know where Ryan got the pink beads used in the dewdrop necklace. It would have been helpful if the bead suppliers were specifically named for each project.

Finally, a book that provides project that go beyond basic beading! Each project includes clear step-by-step instructions, with pictures that illustrate each step and offer a deconstructed view of multi-strand pieces. New techniques are plentiful, as well as new ways to use shaped beads. You won't be wearing anything "typical" again.

My local library recently updated their collection of jewelry-making books, and I'm glad this was one of the new additions. I haven't had the opportunity to make all or even half of the projects as of yet, but the instructions seem easy to follow, and some of the projects are - or at least seem to me - original and very beautiful, and not too difficult to adapt to my own taste. My favorite so far is the crocheted bracelet, which was easy enough to figure out even though I don't know the first thing about crocheting, and I'd like to get my hands on some 20 and 18 guage wire so I can construct some of the other pieces, like the chandelier earrings and the swirling-wire and pearl bracelet. If you enjoy wire-working, I'd recommend you consider adding this book to your collection; and if wire-working is not your prefered approach to jewelry-making, I'd recommend it anyway, since there are some other good projects like the double-strand orbiting beads necklace.

M.T.Ryan is an amazing designer! This book is my all time favorite of about twenty jewelry design books. I would like to make almost everything from this book.

Due to a lack of experience & knowledge in jewelry-making, this was the first book I bought. I was able to make only one or two things in it, and those I had to *dumb-down* to my techniques. But I LOVED the designs so much that I prepared as if I was going to reach the more experienced-level needed to make this beautiful jewelry. I actually picked out six or seven of the designs, bought all the pieces necessary to make them, put them each in a large pastic bag, marked them with the name of the piece and the book reference (I did doctoral studies so annotation is driven into my brain). Now, about 18 months later, I have pulled out those designs. They are fabulous. I also pulled out the book again recently and found more items I want to make. Someone wrote in their review that the designs involve wireworking, and that is true. The person also wrote that many of the designs involve light color crystals. Also true. It is from this book that I began my love affair with *Swarovski* crystals. This is personal preference. One can adapt most of the designs to use semi-precious stones. A few of the designs are *vintage.* So you can buy it before you learn how to crimp and use it to inspire your development, or you can buy it if you know how to wirewrap and just jump in. But you will find GLAMOROUS jewelry in this book! I hope they do another one.

Reviews

This book is great if you're a beginner. The book goes over basic beading techniques and gives rather basic projects, though some are a bit inspiring. There are also a handful of wire working projects, again, the projects rank at a beginner level, but the book does have useful pictures and directions. The projects are easy to follow but most are simply stringing. Good for inspired, uncomplicated projects.

I paid $20 for this book and was excited to make the earrings on page 117, Les Anciennes. I needed czs in the keystone cut. The resources are not listed by project. I searched every resource listed in the back and several more on my own on the internet. Waste of time. Can't be found after 3 hours of looking. Book is going back. Do we have an author who really wants to help the buyer or just another ego that's saying "look what I can do" . . .and you can't.

Ryan is a genius, I purchased his first book and made several of his jewelry and used his easy techniques for others. I'd like to thank him personally for his inspiration and books. Keep them coming!!

I LOVED this book, which was absolutely not a book for beginners. Some of the projects are fairly easy,as in the even-count peyote bracelet, but it was made of 24K gold Delicas with a sprinkling of jewel toned beads randomly mixed in. As I said, fairly easy, but the finished product was sophisticated and a bracelet that didn't look homemade, to say the least. The cover project can be finished in an evening or two, once you get the materials together, and the look is both glamourous and sophisticated. As with all the projects I make, I don't make the item exactly as directed. For example, I made one version of the cover necklace all in one color. The design was strong enough that the single color version was still striking. A tiny nit is that the author asks for a brand name stringing material that isn't readily available in local beadstores or online. From the look of the projects, she's talking about a brand of "invisible" monofilament line, the type that is used for "tin cup" or "floating" necklaces. She also uses clasps that aren't to my taste, like lobster claws, but that's a personal opinion. I think that there are so many unique clasps that can add a depth to your design that there isn't a whole lot of reason to use a boring and hard to use lobster claw clasp. If you're interested in doing something a little different, a little challenging, but not so time consuming that it takes from Christmas until Spring to make your necklace, this is the book for you. Most of the designs are very fashionable right this minute, which means that you'll probably need to make some changes in the future to keep your work looking fresh. But each design lends itself to variation, and there are a few variations listed with the projects. All in all, a book that's well worth having.

Purchased as a gift after I had gotten one; the recipient loved the book as much as I did.

Reviews

If you're looking for good, quick and simple designs, this is the way to go. It gives basic instructions in the front of the book, so you should know what you're doing by trial and error. These earrings are nice and quick- I finished a pair in about an hour and a half. I do wish the patterns for the earrings were more clear, but I suppose the small pictures will have to do. After you practice them a few times, you get used to what the different symbols mean. There are color pictures of some of the earrings in the middle of the book, so you could just go from those as the pattern (that's what I did a few times). If you want more complex earrings other than the traditional 'triangle' pattern, I would look for another book- that's about all there is in this one.

This is an O.k. kinda book, if you just looking for something simple to do.I would say this book would be good for a new beader.

It's a really cool book, it's easy to understand makes you feel that anyone can make beautiful projects. I absolutely recomend this book to anyone, it doesn't matter if you're a beginner or an advanced beader.

I really enjoy beading these little earrings. The book is very easy to understand for the beginner beader and still useful to the advanced.