Micro Macrame Beaded Jewellery: 30 Stunning Designs Using Crystals and Cords

Description

Micro macrame has re-emerged with a gorgeous new twist. Evocative of the Victorian-era macrame lace that decorated fashionable women's shawls and purses, this easy-to-use book updates the art of macrame with a range of stunning beaded jewellery designs. Beautiful and infinitely versatile, learn how to capture the allure of this classic craft by combining it with beads to create stunning items and rival the elegance and intricacy of pieces made years ago, yet they are easy to make and have a contemporary feel.

Annika deGroot's passion for micro macrame began more than ten years ago when she was inspired to recreate a beautiful bracelet that she found in a gift shop. In addition to exploring and developing different macrame techniques in her work, she teaches workshops, and her macrame jewellery designs have been featured in magazines.

If macrame conjures up visions of jute plant hangers from the 70s with the usual shudder, then think again. Before this folksy makeover happened macrame was far daintier and more likely to be used for smaller projects such as jewelry. Now it can be again, with the aid of some new thin cords and of course those traditional knots. There are some glorious projects in here that almost make you forget about those plant hangers; they just don't look like the same craft. Add beads and other jewelry findings and you have some beautiful pieces, from necklaces to earrings, cell phone charms to rings, chokers and lots of bracelets. Possibly because the author was inspired to take up this craft after seeing a micro macrame bracelet, but there are more of these in here than anything else, including a watchstrap. The most important part of the book is the instructions, and there are some excellent staged photographs to aid you as you learn the knots. I've got other books on this topic and personally I find that these photographs are a lot easier to follow than diagrams (especially if they are only one color) as the threads all get in a muddle easily without any color difference. There are also instructions on how to make a padded work board, and beading around cabochons. There are lots of useful diagrams with captions for every project too, so in my opinion this is the most foolproof way I have seen yet to learn this rewarding but tricky craft. This book was originally published in the US, so the list of cords and threads will be familiar to US crafters but locating them in the UK is not easy. This point aside, this is a beautiful and useful book that shows you how to master the intricacies of a craft that has hitherto baffled this reviewer, but does no longer.-Myshelf.com Annika deGroot demonstrates that macrame can be used to create intricate and detailed items of jewellery as well as the larger and perhaps more basic projects that macrame is often associated with. Annika deGroot is an experienced micro macrame bead jewellery artist and she presents the book so that complete beginners as well as more experienced jewellery makers or beaders can quickly learn the basic skills required. The projects in Micro Macrame Beaded Jewellery are accessible to macrame artists of all experience levels. The relatively low cost of materials and the fact that beads can be recycled if a project goes wrong, combined with the fact that the projects are all explained with clear step by step instructions means that these are particularly well suited to beginner macrame artists. This is an ideal book for people looking to learn new skills and wanting to produce interesting and unusual items of beaded jewellery.-Suite101.com If you have even the remotest interest in learning macrame then this is the book for you. The first few pages give an in-depth look at the tools required, which you probably already have in your bead box. She gives very clear instructions on how to tie each of the different knots and I had no trouble understanding the positioning of each cord. The 30 projects range from beginner to advanced and are explained very clearly. She has included a varied range of jewellery projects but also a few non-jewellery such as tassels and a Christmas tree ornament, which is beautiful. My favourite design is the Icicle Ear-rings which I made exactly as the book described first, but was immediately inspired to try something with a bit more bling and added crystals to the knots, which was very effective. The projects don't feel restrictive at all and there is plenty of room for your own interpretations and designing flair to come out. She uses Tuff Cord a lot and I had a little trouble sourcing the colours I wanted but I substituted them with C-Lon cord which worked very well, although you do need to give this a really good stretch after unravelling from the spool. I have also tried some of the simple knots using craft wire which results in a more open knot but is very effective and surprisingly strong. I love this book and have made many of the projects, and would recommend it to anyone wanting to expand their jewellery making knowledge.-Bead Society for Great Britain