Japanese Beadwork with Sonoko Nozue: 25 Jewelry Designs from a Master Artist (Beadweaving Master Class Series) Hardcover – April 3, 2012

I waited for this book for what seemed like forever, and read it from cover to cover as soon as it came (sorry family, for my constant "shush-ing" for a couple of days) I read each of the six chapters plus the introduction several times, trying to follow the instructions in my mind. Then, I sat down to make some projects.First impressions: Ms. Nozue is a Master Craftswoman. Her thread paths are perfect, she never appears to have snagged a thread, and her lovely projects have no discernible mistakes in either the projects, materials lists or thread paths. It took me multiple tries on each project to get the finished result to be anywhere near as nice as the ones in the book. Ms. Nozue, I am truly impressed by your skill!The projects begin simply enough, with each one becoming more difficult, although even her "simple" projects are definitely not for someone without quite a bit of experience, at least in reading her patterns and organizing materials. Actually, the first and simplest project in the book is my favorite, a delicious floral garden necklace done in Zulu stitch. Don't know Zulu stitch? Not a problem, Miss Nozue teaches you so thoroughly that you'll never forget.Most of the projects in the book are just as wonderful, but I'm not giving away all the surprises by listing them. I will let you know about my very rare complaints, though. The very next item in the book, called "Shower of Blossoms," is exactly what I don't like about this book and so many of the latest generation of bead books: it requires an incredible number of expensive materials to complete a relatively boring necklace. In this case, a plain netted ribbon of a necklace requires nearly 2,200 three millimeter Swarovski bicone beads.The explanatory photo shows an item that absolutely _has_ to look better in person than it does in the book, if only because that many crystals are so pretty. However, it's a simple band of netted beads that goes on for over three feet. I see no blossoms, don't get the title at all, in my middle-of-the-night opinion. But the worst is the price for the materials, excluding threading material.At my very reasonably priced source, that many crystals costs nearly $180, and the 15/0 seed beads (I couldn't find metal seeds in that size) would cost an additional $20.10. After shipping is included, this single not at all elaborate necklace costs in excess of $200 just for materials! There are a few projects that are like that. I decided that if I was going to make the necklace, I'd use seed beads and do some adjusting. It would look a bit like another project in the book, but that's okay with me.I didn't change my rating of the book simply because I don't want to spend a ton on a project I'm still learning. Besides, most of the projects cost no more than normal seed beads, and they are exquisite. Ms. Nozue knows her way around every part of a bead and I hope that I am fortunate enough to take a class with her someday in the future. In the meanwhile, I'll devour her books!

All I can say is.. This Woman Knows How to Bead Weave! Definitely a Master Artist. I usually buy books for inspiration and its definitely inspired me.Instructions: the book are the best I've ever seen. They are easy to follow and there are a lot of diagrams and patterns to aid the word instructions. This book is good for visual learners. The front has a short tutorial on basic bead weaving stitches. In the back of the book there is a gallery of some of her other pieces which is nice.Projects: All of them are beautiful. There are a variety of designs and stitches. There are challenging pieces and some that are less challenging, but projects are not for beginners though. Just note that her projects use a lot of beads in a a lot of sizes, so if you buy the book to mimic one of the pieces be prepared to spend some money on beads.The book itself is hardcover and the layout is stylish. Every pieces has a picture of what it looks like on a model. The book is mostly grayscale with the jewelry pieces in color.Overall the book is well worth it. Any beader or jewelry maker should purchase or at least view the book.

The best "how to" books always find a way to simply convey how a particular artist works and assembles their work. Not only are the projects in this book straightforward and relatively simple, they provide the reader/beader with insight into how Sonoko Nozue constructs her work. This is important for those who want to use her foundations in order to further explore their own work. If, however, you are not inclined to be so adventurous, this book is great for the beginning beader who has had some experience and would like to create beautiful and fun pieces. Many of the designs in the book are variations on spirals, and rope spirals, that differ slightly in construction from many of the popular spiral stitches done in the United States, Canada and Europe. If anything Sonoko's spirals are less labored, and more relaxed. Finally, it is refreshing to be introduced to a bead artist that has a restrained aesthetic. Too often beaders become intoxicated with their own fabrications resulting in "over the top" materialistic displays of prowess. Ms. Nozue avoids these pitfalls of ego, and delivers work that is refined and elegantly edited.

E' arrivato nei tempi previsti, pur essendo un libroi usato la sua tenuta è perfetta tanto che sembra nuovissimo.il suo contenuto è bellissimo, progetti molto affascinanti

Les productions de ce livre, même si elles sont peut être réservées aux expérimentées (au moins un minimum, mais ça reste tout à fait abordable ;-))sont toutes plus magnifiques les unes que les autres. Vous pouvez les réaliser telles quelles, ou les personnaliser le rendu est magnifique ! un grand bravo à l'auteur !!!

Considering how complicated the Jewelry in this book looks in the beautiful photographs, I was pleasantly amazed at the beautifully simple instructions for creating each piece. This is a truly amazing book that belongs in every beader's "tips and techniques" library. I would give it ten stars if I could.

Stunning book, gorgeous designs, beautiful photography, most of them not daintily cute and girly (as Japanese beadwork designs tend to be) but grown up, elegant and luxurious. I would happily make and wear most of the designs in this book. It is also very inspirational (and aspirational) and has already given me several new ideas for design and colour. It is clearly illustrated and the instructions are easy to follow. There are a couple of new stitches (for me), but note no RAW. The only criticisms I have are that firstly, a couple of the projects use beads that are very difficult to obtain (size 18 beads?) and secondly some would be exorbitantly expensive (several need 100s of Swarovski crystals, one project requires over 2000 crystals, another over 1000 glass pearls); you would need to know how to substitute for easy to find or more affordable options to make some projects. Even so I love this book, and happily give it 5 stars.

Das gerade erschienene Buch von Sonoko Nozue ist umwerfend. Schon die Aufmachung - schwarz/weiß-Fotos, auf denen nur die Schmuckstücke in den Originalfarben hervortreten - hebt sich wohltuend von vielen anderen Büchern ab.Die gezeigten Schmuckstücke zeugen von schlichter Eleganz, andere sind echte Hingucker. Bei allen sind edle Materialien verwendet worden, so hat das Nacharbeiten seinen Preis. Im vorderen Teil des Buches sind alle erforderlichen Techniken mit ausführlichen Zeichnungen erklärt, so daß auch mit geringen Englischkenntnissen gearbeitet werden kann. Allerdings sollte man nicht gerade totaler Anfänger im Fädeln sein, der Untertitel "beadweaving master class" steht nicht zu Unrecht.Die Beschaffung der Materialien ist teilweise etwas aufwendig, da in einzelnen Schmuckstücken viele differenzierte Perlengrößen verarbeitet werden. Aber mit etwas Geduld und Fitness im Internet gelingt auch dies.Ich habe gleich am ersten Tag aus meinen Beständen eine Kette im Chevron stitch nachgearbeitet und bin begeistert.Von mit gibt es überzeugte 5 Sterne