The Complete Photo Guide to Beading Paperback – December 1, 2012

Edited 12/19/12 - I just wanted to come back on and comment on the wonderful index in this book. Far too many books do not include an index and it is really useful.I've been beading and doing bead embroidery for 25 years, and I have at least 150 beautiful books about both, including Robin Atkins' other books. So I wondered if I'd get anything new out of this one. I needn't have wondered - it is a top-quality book and might replace a few I have on my bookshelf. I learned useful things right away. It covers all the things you can do with beads - stringing (including making a wire clasp), weaving, and embroidery - with clear instructions and detailed projects to get you started. Even though I am chock full of my own creative ideas, which I will never live long enough to accomplish, I still wanted to try more than one of her projects.Every page has something interesting to look at. The photographs are superb, particularly the close-ups of hands actually doing the steps listed in the instructions. The quality of the physical book itself is excellent, the paper and printing, the color in the photos, the sheer overwhelming number of them.I highly recommend this book to any level of beader - if you're just beginning, this is the book for you and let the others wait. If your skill and creativity levels are already high, you'll still find this book inspirational and a great reference.An additional plus is that Robin Atkins is truly responsive to questions and shares freely on social media and through her blog at [...]

I started as a quilter but with an interest in beads. Following Robins lead in this book will let you fall in love with beads. She does such a good job of explaining all the basics first of all, very explicit instruction with stunning step by step pictures on how to do so many techniques. You will never be confused about what bead to use where or how to make it stay there or what tool to use.This is the ultimate reference and takes you from different ways to string beads, to weaving beads, to crochet and knitting with beads,to using beads on fabric. Once you learn some of Robins basics you can go anywhere with beading and have fun going there!!! Even experts will learn new ways of doing things in this book. I appreciate having so much good information in one book and look forward to utilizing some of her lessons and projects. As I have scanned through some of them, it looks like she makes it easy to learn them. I do not hesitate to recommend this book to any stage of beader. A very good investment!!

I became the happy owner of The Complete Photo Guide to Beading a few months ago and continue to be delighted with this especially fine work. The attention to detail is magnificent, the pictures are exceptionally clear and I especially appreciate Robin's empathetic comments like those describing how no ones work is perfect when seen close up.I also like very much that she included some wire working information which, newbie to wire working that I am, I could put to use right away. Here again her attention to detail shines through in things like suggesting testing the hammer taps on one's hand to get used to the feel.Further, the range of projects is broad and interesting. This is a book I definitely will use and enjoy over and over--and continue to praise as I do so. I can recommend this book without reservation--except that you might find yourself so inspired you could be beading way into the wee hours of the night.Thank you Robin!Nili Marcia

Good for all beaders--beginner to advanced. Learned things I didn't know before.

Great book with very detailed pictures.

I can barely do any better than the first 3 reviewers, however, I'll try. This is THE best book on beading as far as I'm concerned! I'm lucky enough to have the book AND to have been in one of Robin's classes. She is a great teacher and this is a wonderful book! If you are an experienced beader, a beginner, and/or know someone who is, get this book. You (or they) will get a lot out of it.

I agree with previous reviews that deem this a comprehensive and inspirational beading book. Whether a prospective beader or an experienced beader, one should not pass up the chance to purchase Robin's latest book.This book came to me just at the right time as I began experimenting with bead embroidery and bead embellishments. It's an A to Z "how-to" book with added inspiration and information to expand your ideas, knowledge and skills in this craft. I can't write enough positive words about this book and I haven't even used it page by page yet.

Good ideas, fun to read, just need more time to spend and place to leave it out so that I can bead and read at leisure. It is not a hobby I can finish in one sitting.

Mrs Robin Atkins is a bead artist, internationally known. We bead lovers may feel privileged that she chose to share with us her knowledge, her experience, her creativity. In doing so, she opens a way for us to free our own creativity. This book is indeed so clear that many things seem to be within our grasp. For instance, I always considered that bead crochet and knotting between the beads were achievements way beyond my skills… After having a look at the chapters devoted to these two techniques, I think they are not entirely impossible! And probably they actually aren’t: the explanations for the different projects are quite didactic and the pictures so very numerous and so very instructive that one gets the feeling that, unless one is extremely clumsy, one can do it. I warmly recommend the Complete Guide to Beading to all people interested in beading : they will definitively find what they are looking for and most probably much more. The book offers a large survey of all things related to beading, from the history of beads to the handling of tools, from a basic stringing to very sophisticated works of bead weaving or bead embroidery. It’s intelligent and quite respectful of the readers who for once are not considered as either nearly professional or completely dumb.,

Robin Atkin's book is a delight. The photos are clear and the lay-out of the text is easy on the eye. It is informative, interesting, comprehensive and, above all, stimulating. Robin accepts that mistakes can be made and gives many common sense solutions and helpful tips. The quality of her workmanship and her enthusiasm for beads and beadwork shine through and are totally inspiring. A wide range of techniques is covered and, whether you are a beginner or a more experienced beader, you will find guidance and 'lightbulb' moments in abundance.

. Half the book on jewellery techniques for beginners maybe intermediate, the other half on embroidery/picture making beading.Tried to cover too much.

Beyond my expectations: a dazzling collection of advice, information and genuinely inspiring photographs. For novice beaders or those with more experience or expertise, I fail to see who wouldn't appreciate this book. A real must-have for anyone interested in art, crafting or who loves colour.

Excellent book for beginners and quick delivery.Thank you