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.
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.
*Myshelf.com*
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
*Bead*
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