Strictly speaking, this isn't a beadwork book. But, the charts in this book will adapt very well to loomwork, and they are most impressive. Sections include "Past Times & Distant Cultures," "In the Wild," "Not-so-wild" (with lots of cat charts), "The Heavens," and "At Home." I am planning to work up the wild lizard on page 87 as a needle case—I'll post pictures here when it's done.

The most inspirational beadwork book I have ever seen. The contents range from traditional jewelry to beaded objects to social commentary to things you might not even think of as beadwork. This is one you just have to see.

This slim but complete volume covers loomwork history, tools, basic and advanced techniques, and design. It also includes a gallery of contemporary loomwork.

A useful reference for beginners, Beading on a Loom covers such basic topics as supplies, tension, increasing and decreasing, adding and ending threads, finishing, and fixing mistakes. Step-by-step instructions are clear and concise, and the accompanying illustrations are detailed but tidy. However, since Pierce doesn't include any projects, this isn't a complete book for the first-time loomworker. I would recommend finding a kit or a step-by-step project aimed at beginners, and referring to this book if and when things get sticky.

Pierce also has a lot to offer the more experienced loomworker. He includes his recommendations for design, focusing on loomed neckpieces. He goes on to cover advanced techniques, including six kinds of fringe, negative space, beads on the warp, and open weave. The design and advanced techniques section is heavily illustrated with pictures of Pierce's loomed neckpieces, which range from elegant to funky. These photos, along with those in the gallery, are a wonderful source of inspiration.

These are not the usual brick-stitch-triangle-and-fringe beaded earrings. Adventures in Creating Earrings includes several designs based on bugle bead ladders and fans. Others are based on bugle bead cylinders, gourd stitch tubes, and pine needle basketry techniques. New Adventures in Beading Earrings has more bugle bead ladder and fan based earrings, plus some star shapes. My ivory and copper earrings are styled after some of the earrings in this book.

Each book begins with a description of basic techniques. The projects are grouped together by technique. For each project, Reid gives a list of materials, step-by-step illustrated instructions, directions for finishing, and a black-and-white diagram showing the finished earring. In New Adventures in Beading Earrings, she includes an alternate color scheme for each design. There are color photographs of some, but not all, of the designs. Most can be completed within a couple of hours.

Beaded Amulet Purses contains seven amulet purse designs in a variety of techniques, including gourd stitch, netting, loomwork, and right-angle weave. Two appendices include instructions for these techniques. There is also a glossary of beading terms and a gallery of beaded amulet purses. (Some of the purses in the gallery are quite famous, but there are others you probably haven't seen before.) The instructions for each project are quite detailed, including listings of basic techniques and materials, illustrated step-by-step instructions, charts, and finishing directions.

Wells gives us a most thorough guide to off-loom bead weaving. She devotes a chapter each to peyote stitch, brick stitch, square stitch, and right angle weave. For each stitch, she presents instructions for working flat, increasing and decreasing, and working in the round. Next, she briefly describes the African helix, netting, and chevron chain. Finally, Wells discusses techniques for combining stitches—information that I have never seen anywhere else.

Wells offers projects for each stitch and for combining stitches. (Admittedly, there are many more projects for peyote stitch than for any other technique.) These projects were designed by several different artists, and vary in size and difficulty. The black and white diagrams for both general techniques and particular projects are very clearly rendered. Wells adds photographs of contemporary beadwork as example and inspiration.

This is a handy reference book for the intermediate to advanced beader. With some guidance in choosing tools and materials, this would be an excellent book for the beginner as well.