Rachel Nelson-Smith has been beading for a very long time, she also sings jazz. This book is jewelry inspired by her love for jazz music.
After you read the introduction, there is a 20 page set up section which explains the tools and supplies as well as being a primer in the techniques used in the jewelry. One of my favorite parts of the set up is a photo of the color palettes she works in. The instructions are clear with diagrams as well as photos that use contrasting color beads to show how things are joined together.

Most of the jewelry in the book is built from a single needle right angle weave base. It creates the frame work for embellishment which is done in netting and peyote.

The projects are separated by type rather than by technique. So the first project chapter is Necklaces. The ornate layered collar "Jazz" is a project easy to get enthused about because the embellishment has so much room for personal expression. My favorite is "Fly Me To the Moon" with it's beaded donut.

Rings and Earrings puts on the glitz and sparkle with dimensional encrusted pieces that make use of rose montees and other kinds of sparkly. The Billie ring, named for Billie Holiday would make an amazing cocktail ring.

Bracelets are my favorite kind of beading, and the Bracelets chapter is my favorite. Dramatic cuffs and lots of sparkle. My favorite bracelet is the "Something Cool" with rivolis, drops and size 15 beads.

Recommend for advanced beginners and intermediate beaders who really love sparkle and glam. This book is full of that sort of beadwork. Drama rather than delicate, it's statement jewelry that is still very wearable. It is part of Lark's Beadweaving Master Class line.

At the end is a gallery of jewelry by various artists that's just fantastic. It uses the same stitches and some of the same techniques as the jewelry in the book, the gallery pieces are art and inspiring. The author picked them well.

It's a lovely book with well written instructions and wonderful pieces. I recommend putting on some Sarah Vaughan or Miles Davis while you're deciding which piece to make first.

You can get this book directly from the publisher,Lark Crafts or by clicking the Amazon.com affiliate link below.

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Lark Crafts provided this review copy of Bead Riffs to me free of charge.
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