I pre-ordered this book back in March of this year, and have eagerly been awaiting its publication. I've been fortunate enough to have taken a class with Marcia before and have also completed a few of her kits. Her designs are always beautiful and elegant -- and the projects in this book are no exception.
The book is divided into six chapters: Chapter 1 covers beading basics; Chapter 2 provides a good overview of right-angle weave (RAW) that will benefit both experienced beaders, as well as novices; Chapter 3 covers projects that involve flat beading that resembles fabric; Chapter 4 covers rope-based projects; Chapter 5 covers beaded armatures; Chapter 6 covers embellishments; Chapter 7 covers curved projects; and Chapter 8 covers layered projects. The Appendix also contains a lovely Gallery of RAW projects by other bead artists such as Nan C. Meinhardt, Huib Peterson, etc. that makes for great eye candy.
In total, there are 24 projects to choose from; some of them (like Terracita and Etruscan Treasure) are older designs of Marcia's, but there are also plenty of new designs to choose from. There is also a good range of projects for both beginning beaders (such as earrings and bracelets/anklets) and more advanced ones.
Another nice feature is that the supply list for each project lists the precise colors of the beads being used, which should make it easy to replicate the exact look of each piece. A few of the supplies (like various widths of rubber tubing for the projects that involve armatures, etc.) looked like they might be a bit hard to find, but a quick Google search revealed that they should be easy to track down, and Amazon even carries some of them. This is a definite plus since it's always frustrating to discover that a beading project requires hard-to-find materials.
What I also noticed is that the directions in this book are very thorough and clear. I've had a few problems in the past following along with Marcia's directions, but the directions here are very clear and the diagrams are excellent. The instructions have definitely benefited from some good editing by the publishers of the book.
I don't have the first book in this new series by Lark, so I was also pleasantly surprised to see that the book is hardback since hardback books are so much easier to work from while you're beading.
I can't wait to get started on some of these projects!
Excellent resource for learning and mastering RAW (Right Angle Weave) technique. I'm an experienced beader and needed something that would go through the basics and then quickly challenge me with more complex designs.
Tip: When I'm learning a new technique I always use YouTube as a secondary source for making sure I have the correct tension and hand movements, since I'm a visual learner. It helps me to focus on learning the technique while still being able to take advantage of the beautiful designs in books like these.
There are so many things about this book I love I almost don't know where to begin.
She starts by giving us the makings of the basic beading kit. Having these basics in hand before starting projects puts us ahead of the game before even beginning.
Add to that the detailed photos and stylized pictures of the order of beads, with very well written directions, & I have found her projects very easy to complete. I cannot say that about all designers and their directions. Many write in such a way that I am unable to follow them.
I have not found it difficult to locate the beads she uses in her pieces & I really appreciate this. Of course this doesn't apply to one of a kind lampwork beads, but I've been able to adequately substitute by looking around, on Ebay or one of the many beading stores from which we all have to choose.
I've made several of these, but would have to say I've gotten the most compliments from the "Whitby" earrings, which I made in black, minus the drops.
Another thing I appreciate is that she creates many of her designs using components, which can then be used to create an entirely different piece of jewelry. What had been a necklace can be modified to become an earring or a bracelet.
I just received my copy of this incredible book, and it has an infinite number of inspirational ideas that come cascading out of the simple, beautiful and elegant designs portrayed. Excellent instructions with diagrams and text, and gorgeous photography. It's one of the best books I have, and believe me, I have a LOT.
This book is tops in "my book" and I was glad to see in the comments that material suppliers are listed on the author, Marcia deCoster's, website.
Thank you Marcia! This is the best Christmas present I have ever given myself!
I work with a large group of indigenous Mayan Indians on the shores of Lake Atitlan who do beautiful work, and they will love to see your ideas as well. So many variations to be made here. I hope Marcia will consider coming to our design studio and meeting the artisans and perhaps even teaching a class one of these days. How about it?
Yours, Catherine Todd, AtitlanArts dot com
A definite buy if you haven't used but the very basic RAW stitch! You should learn a lot very quickly. I am thrilled with this book after just a couple hours with it in hand!
I know how to do the basic RAW but have never attempted ropes and a few of the more technical projects in here. While RAW is simple to do (I do peyote well enough already and have used several bead sizes for increases/decreases as well as in bead crochet)yet the idea of using the various bead sizes like in Whitby or Ringlets projects never crossed my mind---its an easier stitch to me and now that I can visulize how to produce the same basic effects as with peyote I am positive it will end up being much faster to work as well! Ms. DeCoster's directions/projects clearly show how versatile it can be also!
Very happy I added this to my beading library :)
Feature Product
- Used Book in Good Condition
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Rare book
Marcia, has pushed the envelope. The jewerly in this book is so fantastic that I could not work on any of the other pieces that I had been planning to do until I made something out of her book. When I bead I want to make something that will fit into my lfestyle where professional clothing and everyday wear overlap. The the jewerly in this book will just add that special touch, to where I will be more than pleased to say "I made it."
This book meets not only met my needs as to what I would like to wear. It also provided the challenge that I needed to learn a new technique. The directions are very exact so at no time have I questioned what the author was trying to say.
I give this book 2 thumbs, 8 fingers and 10 toes up. For I plan to make many of the wonderful designs this creative lady has shared with us.
I have completed a couple projects out of this book, but not easily. The instructions are mostly accurate, but not entirely. The bigger challenge has been finding supplies for the projects. I have improvised, not being able to find exactly what the instructions stated, which also means the pattern has had to be adjusted to fit the bead or beads that had to be improvised. Honestly, I have yet to find a project in here where I am able to find all of the supplies.
The abacus bracelet was the first project - couldn't find the square beads so used Swarovskis which caused me to modify the section they were in significantly... and it really didn't turn out the way it was supposed to. It looks fine when I wear it though.
Then I made Shimmer Queen and am working with someone on Etsy to custom make me the focal bead as I cannot find anything like it anywhere. Lark Book says they have a supply section on their website, which has been under construction since I purchased the book, over a month ago. Then I was going to make Spun Glass and after much searching I did actually find a 6 loop slide clasp.
Went to make the Medici Crop, using 9 x 36 cubic zirconia drops side drilled; have only been able to find front drilled, which means another alteration to the pattern. I did find some other nice side drilled beads which turned out ok, but definitely not like the project intended.
The frustration is that I have to search and search and search to find everything for any single project, cannot go to one supplier for everything, and I still can't find exactly what I want. I guess I'm learning how to improvise with beads, which is I good thing.
The really GREAT news is that the projects are all pretty easy once you figure out what you have to change to make it work. Shimmer Queen, other than not being able to find a focal for it, was extremely simple and the rope, even without the focal, is absolutely beautiful.
This is the classist book on beading I've ever seen. Beautiful photography, beautiful drawings, as everyone says. It's great to find a book devoted soley to beadweaving, and right angle weaving at that. I'm fairly new to off-loom weaving. I like to learn one procedure at a time, and if I enjoy it, stay with it until I get fairly good at it. I think it's difficult to write good instructions so that people can easily conceptualize what's going on, and I find I usually have to read most instructions at least twice and hopefully see someone demonstrate if I haven't tried the procedure before. So for me, a little experience helps (and a tutorial I found at either Shipwreck or Fire Mtn.) for one or more of those AH-HA! moments, but I find DeCoster's instructions so well written and the drawings so clear that they will be easy to follow. The gallery is a lot of fun to look at, over and over. The only complaint I have is that the only mention of materials resources is by Lark Books, which I found misleading. I was looking for some rubber cord and heat-shrink tubing on my usual suppliers' sites, and couldn't find either one. Fortunately, my husband is the vp at a rubber & gasket company, and he brought home just what I needed.
I highly recommend this book for all skill levels, and highly commend the author for a practical and beautiful work of art.
I now have 4 "Beadweaving Master Class" books and I love all of them...and I got them all at an amazing price!
I think this is an important series of books for beadweavers because they are not just offering more patterns and projects to play around with. While each book in the series does offer tutorials for the specific designs, the main focus is an intensive look into a specific technique and the broad scope of design possibilities with each technique.
This one, Beaded Opulence, really helped me to finally understand Right Angle Weave. It was one of those stitches that I just never gravitated towards but after seeing the beautiful designs in this book I was really inspired to try it out.
Marcia DeCoster does a great job of explaining Right Angle Weave and the endless ways in which it can be used. The tutorials for the projects are very clear and well written with good graphics...and the photos are amazing too!
I am not a master beader by any means, but I am not a beginner either. I love working with all varieties of Peyote, Ndebele, Netting, Embroidery etc but I had never attempted RAW before now and this book has everything I needed to actually learn and understand Right Angle Weave.
I have done a few of the projects in the book just to practice and I have had no problems with any of them...and now I have fallen in love with the versatility of Right Angle Weave.
I would definitely recommend this book and the rest of the series to anyone who wants to learn these techniques from scratch or if you just want to learn more about them. It's great for beginners and experienced beadweavers.
I bought this book because I have been looking for a pattern to make a sleek lariat necklace (I got the idea from a necklace that Kate Winslet wears in the movie "The Holiday"). I was able to look through the book and saw a pattern that was close to what I wanted, so I bought it. I have been trying to be good in not buying anything new until I used what I have on hand (every crafter's mantra, right?), but there are so many different styles of patterns that I could use just this one book to work from and not run out of ideas for years!
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