Bloomin' Beads
Valerie Hixson, 1999
/ Hixson Studios
8 1/2 x 11 paper, 33 pages, color photos. $19.95

Just in time for spring, when our attention turns towards Nature's bountiful blooms, comes this lush and lovely new book by Valerie Hixson!

This gem begins with some excellent instructions for flat and tubular Peyote, Brick stitch, loom work, and square stitch, including decreases and increases. These well written and nicely graphed stitch explainations are an excellent resource in themselves.

On top of this great tutorial, we get patterns 42 of them, to be exact! Each page contains a pattern motif, executed in three different styles; collar type necklace, amulet bag and bracelet. On each page there is a beautifuly done graph, a Delica legend, and a gorgeous photo of each one of the three finished pieces.

Valerie offers a veritible garden, including daffodil, pansy, iris (my favorite!), poppy, roses and many more. While primarily geared towards an intermediate to advanced beader, these are some projects in here suitable of a beginner, and loads of inspiration for those just learning. Get yourself a copy today, and have a garden of beads by this summer!

Contact Valerie Hixson for ordering information.