About the Author

Coming from a strong design background, Heather Laithwaite has always loved the creative world. From running her own baby boutique she went on to designing and making a gift and baby range for Biggie Best for 12 years. She joined the Cape Embroiders Guild and learnt the art of embroidery, canvas work and lace making, and this triggered her interest in beadwork. This interest grew and she joined the British Beaders Guild. She loves playing with colour and texture and can explore both these elements through beading and design. Heather has taught beading and canvas work all over the Cape for six years, and the long waiting list to join her classes is testimony to the infectious enthusiasm with which she shares her amazing talent and skill.

Reviews

Oct 06

Bead up a storm using some off-loom techniques and make some wonderful wardrobe-extending pieces, as well as bookmarks, keyrings, wineglass markers, napkin rings and tablemats. There is even a very brief history of beads and their impressive antiquity, and a short guide to different types of bead used in the book.

But mainly it is filled with glorious patterns, which is the most important part for keen beaders! There is a list of what you need too, but if you don't own surgical memostats or a spring-clip opticaid I shouldn't worry as I don't and I have been beading happily for years. I liked the way the book started out simple, and introduced different techniques gradually, as this made it possible for even a beginner to have a go and make something. This makes it just the sort of book I would buy for somebody who wants to start beadwork, and there is a gap in the market for a book that can start with the basics but give patterns for some pretty fancy-looking work. The diagrams are some of the clearest I have yet to see, tackling topics such as spiral rope, flat and tubular brick stitch and various forms of peyote stitch wonderfully simply and with none of the usual plethora of fuss that accompanies things such as increasing and decreasing. Better yet, there are none of those items that UK beaders find impossible to source that bedeck US books so just about anybody in a large range of countries can obtain everything in here. I would highly recommend this book to beginners and intermediate beaders everywhere.

Feb/Mar 07

I was really impressed with [this book]. It focuses on various off-loom weaving techniques to create eye-catching pieces of jewellery and other items.

I liked the way that this book is divided into sections, beginning with the introduction that includes the history of beads, the different shapes, sizes, colours and finishes of beads available and how to choose the right bead for your project. There is also a glossary of the various materials and tools used in beading.

The remaining sections introduce the four techniques used for the projects in this book which are tassels, spiral rope, brick stitch and peyote stitch. The different techniques are introduced gradually, starting off with the simplest of projects and getting progressively harder, so that even a beginner could undertake a project.

Throughout the book practical hints and tips can be found and before each projects the materials required are listed. Also, alternative colour schemes are given for the various projects.

This book is beautifully illustrated with specially commissioned colour photographs and all the projects included are accompanied by detailed easy to follow step by step diagrams and line drawings.

I think that there is something for almost everyone amongst the 17 projects in this book as they include bookmarks, key rings, wineglass markers, tablemats and several beautiful necklaces.

I would highly recommend this book for the novice as well as the more experienced beader.

Liz Goulty