The Simply Stylish line of books are collections of simple to make jewelry that are trendy, current and very wearable from the publishers of Bead Style Magazine. Hopefully there will be several more.

Simply Stylish Crystal Jewelry has a focus on crystals in strung designs, some of them using simple wire techniques. The book collects projects by several designers.

All the basic pieces you need for a jewelry wardrobe, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings are represented. They are easy to make, incorporating basic skills like wrapped loops. Most of the projects can be made in an evening.

Printed in full color, the introduction includes basic techniques, an overview of supplies and tools and a nice little timeline about leaded crystal glass. The projects are shown in step by step photos with text instruction as well. The projects themselves do not include how to do the basics, instead referring you to the techniques section for things like wrapped loops on headpins.

My favorites are:

• Colors of the Prairie by Katie Hacker- It's a necklace with a bracelet variation that uses a channel type circle component for a very trendy "right this minute" donut necklace.


• Krystallos Ladder cuff bracelet by Rachel Nelson-Smith- Easy to make cuff bracelet using wire and crystal beads for lots of sparkle.


• Crystal Illusion Necklace by Teresa Kodatt- a super sparkly necklace that uses a fun stringing technique for illusion cord

The projects in this book are definitely geared towards beginners, but they are also good projects to make for teenagers and as gifts. Many of them are perfect for proms. The colors for most of the projects as shown make them good spring and summer pieces. In more dramatic colors, they would look good in winter as well. The Crystal Illusion necklace for example would look amazing in pearls with red and topaz crystals on a gold, brass or copper chain for winter.

The projects are supposed to be simple, and more advanced beaders may not find anything they like in this collection.

Published by Kalmbach Books Books.
You can get this book by clicking the Amazon links below or at your local bookstore.
U.S.A. U.K.

Kalmbach Books provided this review copy of Simply Stylish Crystal Jewelry to me free of charge. My reviews are always my honest opinion.
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