The Venetian Glass Bead by Kathy Fox is a themed project book. The projects are all built around those gorgeous little bits of glass art from Venice.

This is part reference book and part project book. It is a treat for people who want to know a little more about Venetian glass and wonderful for beginning beaders who want to do trendy boutique style pieces.

The introduction includes some history of Venice with gorgeous color photos, as well as information about how the beads are made using old traditional methods. There is also a short bibliography of suggested books for more in depth information.

Then into the projects, which are well explained. The pieces use the bright colors and finishes of the beads as the focus. For the most part, they are trendy fashion pieces that would make wonderful gifts. Interspersed with the projects are more photographs of Venice with more information about the region.

It starts with patterned which are made using canes. The photographs show the lovely beads well. A lovely rosary is the second project with colorful milleflori beads.

Giovanni is a leather cord necklace that is masculine enough to make a wonderful gift for a young man in your life.

The various projects use techniques like stringing, wire coiling, wire wrapping, wire work, Viking knit, using head pins and making wrap bracelets with leather cording and button clasps.

There is information about the various kinds of Venetian glass included with the projects. You will learn about foiling, millefori, chevrons and many more glass styles.

My favorite projects are the elegantly luminous La Fenice necklace and earrings which use filigrana beads, the Farfalla Viking Knit bracelet with a foiled disk focal, and the very colorful Rezzonico necklace which is made with gemmato beads.

I love the Lucia wrap bracelet as a project that I can do with my daughter.

I love the photographs of Venice. My husband has been there, and it's a place that I've always wanted to visit.




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Kalmbach Publishing Co. provided this review copy of The Venetian Glass Bead to me free of charge. My reviews are always my honest opinion.