A Bead In Time by Lisa Crone is a lovely new book that takes it's inspiration from life, in fact, it's subtitled "35 jewelry projects inspired by slices of life."
The first part of the book is a basic introduction the materials and tools and well photographed and explained techniques. It's fairly short, most of the 125 page book is the projects.
The projects are lovely and casual. Easy projects with a lot of large full color photographs and explanations that cover several basic beading techniques. I think this book is an excellent book for someone just getting started in beading. The projects are mostly stringing and wire work, but there are some seed beading techniques that are worked in big enough beads to be non-intimidating to novices at beadweaving.
The first chapter which gets it's inspiration from architecture has a striking necklace called City Style that's done in a combination of stringing techniques with square stitch. I also love the geometry of the cross woven Colored Pencil Art necklace.
Chapter 2 is Outdoor Ideas and it has some very pretty strung pieces, a micro-macramé bracelet, and my favorite from that chapter is the Dandelion bracelet which is bright yellow seed beads wired to a base. It's so much fun. After that, the delicate wire worked Icicles Necklace is something I'd happily make with my daughter so we could have matching necklaces.
Chapter 3, Life's Pleasures has my favorite project in the whole book. Summer Salad- a bracelet wire worked over a shaped fork. It's inspiring so many other ideas for me. Another favorite is the multi-strand strung Box of Chocolates Bracelet which combines shapes into a dramatic bracelet that would work with jeans or when you're dressing up.
The final chapter, Funky Finds shows ideas for things you find for other crafts. Maybe ribbon, or a pretty button you've had in your button box for years as well as a few holiday inspired ideas. My favorite project in that chapter is the Rock Star Iron-On bracelet made with denim iron on patches, simple bead embroidery and hemp cord. It's a very fun casual piece with a lot of potential.

You can get A Bead in Time from your local bead or book store, from MyCraftivity.com or below from Amazon.com


North Light Books provided this review copy of A Bead In Time to me free of charge.
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