Ceramic Bead Jewelry: 30 Fired & Inspired Projects (Lark Jewelry Books)
Practicality is the theme here; instead of, for example, advocating the purchase of an expensive kiln and other equipment, the author recommends asking to share space with a local studio, yielding a much smaller payout. About half of her book demonstrates the fundamentals: tools and materials and the making, decorating, and firing (bisque as well as glaze) of beads, along with techniques, like raku, metal clay, and luster, among others. Then on to the 30 projects, ranging from a boyfriend black-and-white bead on a cord necklace to an elaborate autumn-bounty (with acorns and leaves) necklace, with rings, brooches, and bracelets well represented in the projects. Each design includes the requisite list, color photographs, and instructions (though not labeled by level of difficulty). A velveteen cuff is studded with ceramic beads for a luxurious impact; a multistrand bracelet, on the other hand, is fairly straightforward and middle of the road. --Barbara Jacobs