Delightful Beaded Earring Designs

Welcome to a wonderful new world of beaded earring designs featuring the creative talents of Jan Radford. The author uses a variety of beautiful color combinations; this and the incorporation of beads other than bugles and seed beads is sure to delight all beadworkers, from novice to expert. The wide ranging scope of this book is truly amazing. Fourteen different earring styles are described, followed by patterns for each style. There are a total of 81 new patterns and a picture of each design is included. In addition, 16 of the designs are pictured in color as well as black and white. Combine all these patterns and ideas with information on choosing supplies and a series of easy-to-follow, illustrated instructions and you have a book which is sure to please everyone.

Using a variation of the Brick (or Comanche) Stitch, the first section features detailed instructions and illustrations for the basic technique (Bugle Bead Foundations with Single-Beaded Tops), upon which all the other earring styles are based. Eighteen patterns for this basic technique are included, with pictures of each. This is followed by two sections which increase the number of beads added at one time in the top portion of the earring (Double-Beaded and Triple-Beaded Tops); each section includes instructions and illustrations for the variations along with patterns and pictures.

Next, directions are given for using a Double-Beaded Seed Bead Foundation in place of bugle beads. Directions, patterns and pictures for using this foundation with Single-Beaded, Double-Beaded and Triple-Beaded Tops are given. The base is then expanded to a Triple-Beaded Seed Bead Foundation with patterns for Single-Beaded and Triple-Beaded Tops. A section on Loop Dangle Earrings, using a variation in dangle construction follows and once again patterns and pictures are provided. The Miscellaneous section includes more variations on the basic Brick Stitch technique (Single Seed Bead Foundations and Triangular Post Earrings) as well as new techniques for making distinctly different earring shapes (American Flags and Eye Earrings).

Finally, the long, elegant look provided by porcupine quills and long bugle beads in the dangles is presented, with directions for preparing porcupine quills and ten patterns using these two distinctive materials. This is one book every beader will want to own.