Crystal Brilliance:Making Designer Jewelry with Crystal Beads

Here is a copy of the review I posted on the Swarovski's Community website in July 2010:
http://community.create-your-style.com/

Crystal Brilliance

Firstly, I'd just like to say a very big "thankyou" to Admin for sending me Crystal Brilliance to review. I have thoroughly enjoyed browsing through the pages and viewing the delightful treasures that Anna Elizabeth Draeger has set out before us. Now... to be honest I rarely ever make anything I see in a Beading Magazine or Book but I have to say that there are a number of projects & techniques in this book that have seriously caught my attention!!

This book is 95 pages in length and is essentially geared to the crystal enthusiast who likes to use a needle and thread! For those of you who have not stitched before this lovely book with concise materials lists and instructions will certainly have you on your way in no time at all. Projects are designed for varying levels of skill and competence.

What I loved about this book include:

• An insight into the artist Anna Elizabeth Draeger and her inspirations
• Several pages in the front and the rear of the book which cover all sorts of jewellery making tips & tricks, crystal information, stitching basics and jewellery making basics (ie opening/closing jump rings, the plain loop, the wrapped loop and crimping)
• The projects have been divided up into 4 main categories being: CLASSIC, ROMANTIC, GEOMETRIC & ORGANIC
• Each project has a design option which helps many of us with our ability to think outside of the square

I loved many of the designs in this book and will be really looking forward to trying these projects from the following sections:

• Victoria - CLASSIC
• Antique Lace - ROMANTIC
• XOXO - GEOMETRIC
• Curved Branch - ORGANIC

So...for all of you out there who haven't yet embarked on a stitching adventure with crystals I would certainly recommend this book as a terrific way to inspire and motivate you into creating your first project.

For me...I have previously stitched with seed beads and added a few crystals into the mix but now I will look forward to making a treasure trove of stitched sparkling creations with charisma and confidence!!

Enjoy...Melissa