Bead Style: Fabulous Chunky Jewelry

Don't judge this book by the cover or title. I've seen this book for over a year and thought this was about cutesy, trendy jewelry. The words "chunky" and "funky" didin't help either. Wrong. The jewelry projects stike me as classic costume jewelry along the likes of Kenneth Jay Lane and maybe even Miriam Haskell. Costume jewelry is big and bold and opulent whereas many books on vintage styles are more delicate in scale. That being said, the jewelry in this book will look good decades from now and may be best described as making contemporary costume jewelry. There are 25 designs in this book; 10 necklaces, 10 bracelets and 5 rings. All except one have a variation making it a total of 49 projects. The only project without a variation, Black Orchid, is reminscent of a Miriam Haskell design. There are no earrings or pins in this book, hence the four star rating. Several multistrand designs adds to the costume look of the necklaces and bracelets. The rings use premade forms instead of wire worked rings so a mandrel isn't needed. Everything is beautifully photographed and the stand-up format makes it easy to use. Each project lists the technique to be used in making the design. The tutorials at the end of the book on jewelry making essentials: crimping, the proper opening and closing of jump rings, knotting and making a loop are well taught and photographed.