Beading with Crystals: Beautiful Jewelry, Simple Techniques »

Katherine Duncan Aimone has a background in studio art and art history. During her career as a museum curator and director, she wrote numerous exhibitions catalogues and organized national exhibitions dealing with fine craft and art such as "The Chair Show" and "The Beaded Object" (Folk Art Center; Asheville, NC). She currently works as a freelance writer.

Bicones, buttons, drops, rhinestones. Glittering and colorful, these and other multi-faceted glass crystal beads have become the jewelry maker’s material of choice. They’re the star of the show in this sparkling entry in the Beading with series, which features a fabulous combination of both simple and more complex projects. Crafters start their creative journey by learning basic techniques, including stringing and simple wirework (looping, wrapping, coiling). Then they’re ready to start making pieces that range from a necklace of matte metal beads and shimmering crystals to a captivating pair of chandelier earrings. Sophisticated jewelry findings accent the finished pieces, and detailed illustrations make the process easy and successful for beginners.