Sabine Lippert's Beaded Fantasies: Romantic Jewelry and Free Book Projects

Purple Rope Neclace. Photo courtesy Lark Crafts.

When I think of romance and jewelry together, I think of bold gems, soft curves, and lots of color. Sabine Lippert's Beaded Fantasies has 30 projects with those elements and more. And her poetic use of focal beads brings a touchable elegance to them.

The 30 pieces are separated into chapters: Emellished Bases; Bezeled Stones; A Question of Architecture; and Pearl Centers. And while the showy side of the jewelry is captivating, Lippert works hard to design each piece that ensures all sides are pretty: the reverse of La Fleur Bracelet is just as showy (albeit less colorful) than the front.

Her last chapter was my favorite, and it probably is one of the most important: Sabination Nation, or How One Beader Approaches Design. In it Lippert talks about RAW (right angled weave) and how getting that down gives way to experimentation. Being receptive to colors and obeying simple rules, like knowing each colors gray scale and limiting your use of different shiny objects together (I know, it's hard sometimes!) ensures a proper contrast that doesn't compete.

Her designs bring to mind a fictional era where flow-y fabric in rich colors match the romantic nature of the jewelry. But then again, they would be just as pretty with jeans and a t-shirt.

Book Information:

• Sabine Lippert's Beaded Fantasies: 30 Romantic Jewelry Projects by Sabine Lippert
• Lark Crafts; 2012
• ISBN13: 9781454702467
• Hardcover, 144 pages

Freebies From the Book: PDF Files to Download

• Purple Rope Necklace
• Les Fleurs Necklace

Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the publisher and any opinions are my own.

Renee Shelton.