Maggie Meister's Classical Elegance

For those familiar with Maggie Meister, you know that her beadwork is breathtaking. Her fans love the works she creates from archaeological elements (like a Byzantine knot created from a design taken from a Byzantine floor). Those who are new to her work can create some masterpieces at home with her book Maggie Meister's Classical Elegance.

20 Different Jewelry Designs

Maggie Meister's designs are inspired by ancient and antique jewelry, mosaics, different textiles, architectural elements, and exhibits she has been to. The primary colors in most of her 20 designs include gold and silver colors and metallics, and jewel colors like deep purple, greens and blues. The pieces she completes are brooches, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and cuffs, and more.

Thorough Introduction and Basic Stitches

Her projects are graphically laid out with photographs of the finished piece, along with colored illustrations of how to assemble them. There is a concise entry listing of the different beads and thread used in beadworking, as well as descriptions of tools needed to complete the projects. A main component of beaded jewelry is the ability to stitch the tiny seed beads together. Meister, in the second chapter, gives a good reference to fall back to on how to do the many functional stitches:

• Peyote Stitch
• Ladder Stitch
• Brick Stitch
• Square Stitch
• Herringbone Stitch
• Right Angle Weave
• Nepal Chain
• St. Petersburg Chain
• Backstitch
• Combining Stitches

Maggie Meister's Classical Elegance Overview and Chapters

There are five chapters, two of which are overviews of the tools and stitches, and three having all the projects. The jewelry designs are divided into different categories by what the inspirations were: Ancient & Antique Jewelry as Inspiration; Mosaic & Textile Motifs as Inspiration; and Architectural Elements as Inspiration. The gallery at the back of the book shows off some of her most famous works, such as Olivia, 2010; Byzantine Knot, 2004; and Castellani Necklace, 2009.

Whether or not her work is known to you, the designs will be appreciated by anyone interested in history or ancient architectural pieces. Meister's ability to replicate an object from mosaics or classic architecture into a wearable piece of jewelry is inspirational, and her Classical Elegance is recommended to both novices in beadmaking as well as those experienced in jewelry creation.

Book Information:

• Maggie Meister's Classical Elegance; 20 Beaded Jewelry Designs; by Maggie Meister
• Lark Crafts, an Imprint of Sterling Publishing
• ISBN13: 9781600596919
• Hardcover; 128 pages

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

Lark Crafts: Maggie Meister's Classical Elegance

Enjoy,
Renee.