Rachel Nelson-Smith's Bead Riffs: Jewelry Projects in Peyote & Right Angle Weave (Beadweaving Master Class Series) Hardcover – September 6, 2011

I loved Rachel's first book, "Seed Bead Fusion". Her projects combining beadweaving and wire work were enough to convert me into someone who loves wire. I was fascinated with the way she combined right angle weave and peyote stitch (two of my favorite stitches) to get these amazing textures and three-dimensional forms in her beadwork.In "Bead Riffs", Rachel takes her love of jazz and combines it with her love of beads and her artistic talent to create 23 truly original and inspiring beading projects. These projects are incredibly innovative in their use of right angle weave and peyote stitch, and Rachel's color sense and subtle use of Swarovski crystal components and beads in these projects makes them beautifully artistic as well as technically challenging.After just one read-through of this book, I've decided to do a "Julie/Julia" project and bead my way through the entire book. I suspect that this will be an amazing learning experience and a great way to gain insight into the mind of one of the most talented bead artists to emerge this decade.

Finally got it.... LOVE IT! Not only are there great designs, but fabulous tips on how to alter the designs to create other versions. The basic stitches are Peyote and Right Angle Weave. If you are familiar with these, you can jump in and take 'em to a whole new level with the designs here. If you are not familiar with these, you really need to spend time with the basic instructions in the front of the book before you attempt the projects... but all the info is here. This book is fun, and great designs.

I adored Rachel's first book & was SO excited when I found out there would be another from her to add to my collection. Although the photos & stories are beautiful, there was nothing there that I could not have found in other beading books. I expected projects that would be new & different from what other people are doing. I did not find this book to be different from what is already out there. If I had waited for it to appear in stores & looked at it, I would have saved my money for her next book, or purchased something else. The photo gallery actually is much better than the projects listed, but there are no instructions for those. Some of the instructions are hard to follow, even for an experienced beader. I'll keep it on my shelf, but her first book was by far MUCH better.

Im usually a lover of all types of bead books but I was a little disappointed in this one. All the pieces pretty much have the same design in all of them, something she calls bumps that either have two or three bead bumps is the only real difference (how big to make the bumps). Also, all of the instructions on HOW to make these "bumps" are all at the beginning of the book only so you have to bounce back and forth from project to instructions:-(. Not a huge fan of this one, sorry!

it's okay but... I will not longer be submitting any reviews if I have to submit a required number of words - for every purchase - a star rating should be enough. If I want to add additional comments I will.

Love this book! From the creative projects, which I can hardly wait to start on, to the jazz theme inspiration. My personal favorite, "Dolled Up".....have coveted this one for awhile now. Thanks for another great book Rachel. I am so happy Lark has published this series in hard cover.

Racheal Nelson-Smith has taken basic stitches to new levels of funky and fun. This is a new book in the Master Series from Lark Books. Each one just gets better and better. I keep learning new things from every book. I would totally suggest buying this book. Even if you are a beginner.

Wonderful book and every bit as accessible as the first, Seed Bead Fusion. Not a planted review or even an acquaintance of Rachel's, though we share the same first name. ;) Only bead books I buy, hers and Sonoro's, because the materials are exquisite, yet budget-friendly and easy to find. Xx

mi aspettavo qualcosa di più perchè conosco i lavori dell'autrice e francamente il libro è davvero scarso, grazie cordiali saluti

Dieses Buch ist der Hit. Ich habe schon sehr viele Perlenbücher gesehen, aber was mir an diesem ganz besonders gefällt, ist, dass es ein richtiges Gesamtkunstwerk ist. Es stimmt einfach alles, die Aufmachung, das Layout, die grafisch sehr gut aufgebauten und fotografisch unterstützten Anleitungen, die Farben. Besonders pfiffig, wie die Autorin ihre Liebe zum Jazz und zu den Perlen auf besondere Weise verbindet und zeigt, wie sie die Improvisationen aus der Jazzwelt in die Perlenkunst übersetzt. Die Stücke sind ja immer Geschmacksache, aber ich finde sie fast alle ganz wunderbar - kein Perlenkitsch, sondern peppige und jazzige und dennoch sowohl alltagstaugliche, als auch "abendgarderobentaugliche" Projekte, die allesamt phantasievolle Namen tragen und kleine Geschichten haben. Sehr beeindruckend auch das ausgezeichnete Farbgefühl der Autorin. Prima, dass die Stücke in vier verschiedenen Farbvariationen gezeigt werden; diese vier grundlegende Farbvariationen stellt die Autorin am Anfang auf einer Übersichtsseite vor, alle fein aufeinander abgestimmt - auch das eine tolle Idee.Anfänger sollte man wohl nicht mehr sein, aber als fortgeschrittener Anfänger komme ich gut klar.

Ein ganz tolles Perlenbuch für alle, die Spaß an kleinen Perlen haben. Ich habe viele interessante Projekte vorgefunden, die zur persönlichen Abwandlung einladen und Inspirationen für eigene Kreationen bieten.Die Erklärungen in englischer Sprache sind aufgrund der gleichzeitigen Bebilderung auch für ungeübte Leser leicht zu verstehen.Eine besonders schöne Idee sind die Farbvarianten am Ende jeden Projekts, die erkennen lassen, wie unterschiedlich der Eindruck durch geänderte Farbstellung sein kann.Dazu die Geschichte der Autorin und ihren Weg zu und mit den Perlen.Für mich ein wunderschönes Buch.

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Rachel does it again! After producing the AMAZING 'Seed Bead Fusion' book, I hoped this would be just as good. In fact, it's better. Rachel always includes a little backstory for each project, which gives the project context and make it more than just a standard project.All of the projects are challenging but also fun to make, and I couldn't wait to get started. If you've already tried bead weaving, then definitely buy this!