Product Description

Colour has the ability to transform your beadwork from mundane to magnificent. This indispensable book features 200 failsafe colour schemes created especially for beaders. Targeted at the beginning beader as well as the seasoned artist, basic colour-mixing principles are explained, and you'll discover how finish can greatly alter the effect. The main directory section is organised into tonal groups and features a wide range of inspirational themes, from the clean, fresh colours of Spring Bouquet to the sizzling hues of Indian Spice. Each colour scheme is demonstrated on an item of jewelry to clearly show the effect, and graphic icons identify the precise colour mix and proportions used. It includes a selection of projects, with step-by-step instructions, allowing you to put your colour mixing theory into practice and create a range of beautiful beaded jewelry.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #106426 in Books
• Published on: 2007-02-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

Review
This book is very well thought out and illustrated and is a must for new beadworkers struggling with colour mixing. It will also be inspirational for the more advanced reader to provide the impetus to experiment with colours outside their 'safe' usage. The detailed first section will help to unravel the mysteries of colour combinations to achieve effects ranging from delicate blends to startling combinations and unusual results. Also discussed are depth of colour, texture and size of beads and the effect of these on the finished piece. The second section is a feast of colour pages of beautifully presented finished work from many different beadworkers grouped under evocative headings descriptive of the colours used. The reader will undoubtedly enjoy dipping into these pages time and time again and returning to favourite pages for inspiration. The third section comprises ten projects which vary from simple to more complex with an initial choice of four alternative colour selections for each one, though using the first section will make the choice of colour combinations much wider, helped by the fold out colour wheel page at the end. I would recommend this directory as a permanent reference for colour selection and it will be difficult to resist reaching for your beads before finishing the book. --Pat Ayre, Bead Society of Great Britian Newsletter 89

About the Author
Sandra Wallace taught in mainstream education until 1995. For the last ten years she has taught crafts and City & Guilds Certificates in embroidery and beadweaving at colleges in the north of England. Now a self-employed beadworker and textile artist, she gives lectures and runs workshops for the Embroiderers' Guild and other organisations all across England. She is an exhibiting member of TAG, a Textile Art Group, and has also exhibited for several years at the ICHF Fashion and Embroidery Show in London.

Customer Reviews

A bit disappointing really
The book does start off with a sound explanation of colour theory; i.e. explaining primary, secondary and tertiary colours, warm and cool colours, tones, halftones, shades etc. and offers advice on how to use the colour wheel when planning your designs.

The main part of the book, however, consists of "looking at the pretty pictures" and whilst it does have some gorgeous examples, it is really just a gallery of other people's work.

There are 10 projects in the back of the book, none of which are as nice as some of the previous examples given, although they do show each design in a different colour scheme.

I was a bit disappointed in the book; it wasn't what I expected. I would have preferred the opportunity for more 'hands-on' practice.

Gorgeous eyecandy!!
If you are looking for inspiration for your projects then have a look at this.It contains about 10 projects at the back not much you might think but more to the point it gives you great colour guidance and shows you how to mix colours to get the most eyecatching pleasing designs, even if you don't choose to make any of the designs from the book, it's a valuable resource for your own designs and shows you how creative you can get with colour and texture.

Good to look at . . . .
Reasonable beginning section on colour theory followed by pages of "eye candy" which are quite nice to flick through for inspiration but the projects weren't to my taste. If, as a beader, you are looking for a good book on colour theory I'd suggest you go look in the Quilting books . . .