Diane Fitzgerald is very well known in the beading community, she's been writing books and helping beaders learn new techniques for years.

This collection of her favorite projects is a great resource for people who are just starting with bead weaving. The projects are dramatic, wearable and use a variety of stitches that are diagrammed well enough for a beginner to follow.

Each of the projects has complete instructions. So instead of an introduction providing an overview of materials and techniques, it starts with an introduction to Diane Fitzgerald and her contributions to the beading community written by another notable luminary, Jean Campbell. Then it gets straight into the projects.

Starting for absolute beginners is the One to Many Strand Necklace, which is an older project of Diane's that works just wonderfully with today's trend for statement necklaces. The many strands are dense and heavy with seed beads, and well balanced by graduated beads in the "one strand" part.

Then the projects get more complicated, ropes worked around cord cores, peyote, netting, brick stitch and square stitch, hexagonal weaving and other stitches.

My favorite projects in this book are:

• Apple Blossom Necklace- A netted tube worked over a core and accented with a bead embellished ribbon flower


• Button Doll Ornament- this little button man reminds me of necklaces I strung for my daughter when she was little. A simple thread path to make something adorable


• Yao Necklace- A very dramatic looking necklace made in motifs which are square stitched


• Shimmering Waves- Super easy peyote variation that makes a gorgeous necklace

One of the things I like best about this book is the supplies for the necklaces are very easy to find. Very standard bead types make it a project book that's very accessible. A good bead store should have everything you need except for some supplies you might need to find at a craft or fabric store.


Advanced beaders who want more of a challenge might be happier with Diane Fitzgerald's Shaped Beadwork or Maggie Meister's Classical Elegance

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Lark Crafts provided this copy of Diane Fitzgerald's Favorite Beading Projects to me free of charge for reviewing purposes. My reviews are always my honest opinion. You can learn more about BellaOnline's review policy here