This new book by Dianna Stevens is a delightful frothy concoction of patterns for Christmas ornaments embellished with beaded tatting.

There are 14 patterns (actually 12 different patterns but two are written for different sized ornaments providing 14 patterns in total). Each ornament is photographed in full colour, and the ornaments are shown in a colour section on their own at the front of the book, then each is shown with its pattern through the book so that no mistake can be made as to which one you are attempting. The book is privately produced and printed and spiral bound in laminate covers.

The patterns are written in a combination of diagrammatical and fully written out instructions, but when attempting her projects in the past I have always found her instructions to be clear and comprehensive. Full itemised lists are given at the beginning of each project for supplies and lists of suppliers in the USA are given at the back of the book.

Dianna is in this book exploring the use of beads on the core thread as well as incorporating needle and thread beadwork with the tatting, particularly in the ornament named Netted Beauty. Some of the ornaments are in unusual shapes and you might have trouble obtaining them, but you could always use starch or stiffener on the ornament and "stuff" the ornament with tissue or greaseproof paper supports to hold it in its 3D shape whilst it dries - Moravia Decoration Starch from Roseground Supplies or products such as the trademarked Stiffy can be used much more easily than the traditional sugar starches and you will want to ask your local craft store what they have available for your intended purpose. This is however my suggestion, not Dianna's!

Dianna uses a wide range of beads in the book but again they are standard sizes and shapes, and fairly easily available from the online bead stores - Fire Mountain Gems, Whimbeads, London Bead Company/Delicate Stitches and The Bead Merchant are all well known USA and UK based stores which will supply the beads required for these projects.

Is this book for you? If you like to incorporate beads in tatting in every way possible yes - the ornaments will make ideal Christmas presents and holiday decorations but tatting with beads can be quite fiddly to do and more time consuming than plain tatting so the book is not for those who want instant results. If you want it you can order it from Handy Hands Tatting or directly from Dianna herself at Domestic Arts.

My thanks go to Dianna Stevens for the review copy of her book.