Nicola Tedman is a skilled artist and craftsperson who has worked on movies and written several books. This one, written with Jean Power is subtitled "Make 30 Moths, Butterflies, Beetles and Other Cute Critters".

The bugs are made using wire and seed beads and make nice little knickknacks for a shadow box, or you could attach pin backs for pins, or attach them to a wire to decorate houseplants. You could also whimsically mount them with their names and Latin names under them and frame them for a wonderful bit of artwork.

It starts with a basic introduction to the tools, materials and techniques. The techniques are explained well enough that a complete beginner to beading could understand them.

Starting with several kinds of butterflies, the wing patterns are based off of real butterflies. Swallowtails, gliders and other kinds of butterflies, all with their habitat, regular name, Latin name, and wingspan listed. Full color easy to follow patterns and further details about construction where needed.

Caterpillars follow, a Southern dogface caterpillar is made fuzzy with the addition of embroidery floss, it's those types of details that make the caterpillars very cute.

Dragonflies and moths follow and there are several of each. They remind me quite a bit of designer costume jewelry from the 30s to the 50s and would look very good as pins on a retro-styled suit.

Then to beetle type bugs like ladybugs. These are shaped to have rounded backs and are intricately detailed. They might be a little too creepy for some people, but I also know some of you really love insects. They work up big enough to be nice pins, or to set in a plant under a leaf to be noticed by the observant. I really like the colorful striped love beetle.

If you're a fan of insects and other creepy, crawling things or if you know someone who is a fan who likes to make things, this is a fun book to add to your library. Because the beading is done with wire and beads it doesn't require learning off-loom seed beading techniques.

I love Nicola Tedman's books. You can read my reviews of other books she's written here
Published by Andrews McMeel Publishing.
U.S.A.U.K.

Amazon.com affiliate links don't affect your cost, and provide extra income to me personally, which helps support my book addiction.

Andrews McMeel Publishing provided this review copy of Beaded Bugs to me free of charge.
To learn more about BellaOnline's review policy, please check our review policy.