The Temptation to Bead Fulfills a Need Book Review Written by Ann Turner
I saw this book and I found it irresistible. In her new book Delica Beaded Jewelry, Alice Korach has shown me a way to fulfill a need I never knew I had! Alice has led me to the next step on my beading path; the middle way, with Miyuki 10/0 Delica beads. This wonderful book will lead you to a more versatile, sculptural way of working with beads by exploiting the subtle difference between the sizes of the beads. Whether the objective is flat or dimensional, this new size has a place in your stash, and Alice has demonstrated how to exploit their properties within seven fantastic projects.
I am by circumstance more of a bead stringer than a bead weaver or stitcher. This is because I have a very busy life with 3 jobs. I am often too impatient to follow through on long-term projects when I may have only a few stolen hours a week to devote to an avocation. However, I have been beading for more than 40 years because I truly enjoy the process and the peaceful focus I can achieve when working with small beads. Beading is my therapy. Also, I love my creative outcomes.
The Beads
In recent years I have "discovered" Delica beads. I found that they work up faster and produce a more consistent result than I get from ordinary seed beads. Delica beads are of very high quality and dimensionally precise. There is very little waste of time or material as can be experienced because “ordinary” beads have irregularities. This characteristic of uniformity is an advantage in the kinds of work I do with small beads. The faster a project may be completed, the more likely I am to engage with it to begin with! So, Delicas are great in my book, and I have squeezed in a couple of extra projects a year because they exist. I have taken joyful advantage of the fact that Delicas came in 2 sizes (8/0 & 11/0), and in the past I have utilized the 2 to work out texture and beaded dimensional forms. When I saw Alice's book "Delica Beaded Jewelry," I was surprised to learn that Miyuki has come out with an intermediate size (10/0). "What for?" I asked. In her preface to "Delica Beaded Jewelry," designer/author Alice Korach asks a similar question and proceeds to answer it there with a reasonable comment and within the designs of the ensuing projects. The new Delicas are just small enough to pick out detail or reduce; yet they are large enough to work quickly.
This book features a detailed and informative resource section, which includes a concise history of Delica beads, identifies the range of Delica bead shapes & sizes, materials, equipment and techniques.
The seven projects detailed in Korach’s book are beautiful, original, and innovative. The style is very contemporary and the process of production for each project is clearly described and illustrated. I have to warn you: It will be difficult to pick one project to begin, because you’ll want to make them all! In many ways, this is Korach's best book yet. I highly recommend "Delica Beaded Jewelry" to anyone who wants to explore the advantages of these lovely beads with easy to follow instructions, striking design, and hours of peaceful occupation.
About The Author
I was not surprised to learn that Alice Korach is an extraordinarily creative and accomplished woman. She has a PhD in English Literature, is a college professor, a former Editor at Threads Magazine, Founding Editor of Bead and Button Magazine, and an editor of Bead Bugle, an e-zine published monthly. Alice had authored many books on beading and bead related topics, starred in a video, and she teaches beading in several public venues, from classes at local bead shops to national bead events, such as the Bead and Button show. Alice has published many articles and books on other creative topics as well, including Fiber arts, Knitting, Pâte de verre glass technique, and more. In addition to writing and beading, Alice knits, spins, embroiders, sews, and creates sculpture in glass.
Design Originals
When I got this book, there was something I was surprised about; The publisher. I had always thought of publisher Design Originals as producing a less sophisticated line, but after seeing some of their more recent publications, I freely admit that I was wrong. This publishing house has really come of age, and Alice Korach's books are an excellent example of what I mean by that. I own 4 of her books now, and each is wonderful. The books are attractively laid out and the pages are printed on a heavy semi-gloss stock that stands up to all sorts of abuse incurred while carting projects hither and yon. Also, at about 36 pages, they are convenient to carry around with your beadwork.
Other works by Alice Korach
Delica Beaded Jewelry (2008), Design Originals
Beading With Cubes and Triangles (2007), Design Originals
Beading With Cubes and Triangles 2 (2007), Design Originals
If You’re interested in obtaining any of Alice’s books, you can find them at better bead and craft stores, and many book stores.
If you’d like an autographed copy, you can obtain one from the author herself. Just e-mail Alice at akorach@gmail.com
About The Author
I was born in New York, and grew up on the North shore of Long Island.. My first degree, from FIT, is in fashion design. I eventually earned another degree in art education and a third in fine arts, with minors in anthropology, art history, and psychology.
I’ve had the opportunity to travel extensively and have lived many places in the world; settling for about 10 years in a remote Catskill mountain cabin with no utilities or running water. I made sweaters, shawls, clothing, soap, and jewelry to barter for the “extras” we couldn’t afford, such as the midwife who delivered my children. When my youngest was a little over a year old, I took on full-time employment as a counselor in a psychiatric day-treatment program. I led a handcrafts group and provided supportive counseling to deinstitutionalized people.
Since 1997, I have worked as a therapeutic art teacher in a residential facility for court adjudicated boys. I never seem to teach the same project twice, though every year I do teach ceramics and some form of jewelry making – metal work, glass fusing, wirework, beading, copper enamel, and more. My boys (aged 12-18), really enjoy combining macramé and beading! I love teaching and working with these special guys, but in an attempt to make more money, occupy my mind productively, and enjoy more creative gratification, I began designing jewelry on my two-hour commute.
Soon I was spending time combing the internet for suppliers. When I had an inventory of only ten pieces, Backwoods Beadery was born. We sell from our Website and at craft fairs and home parties. My husband John is our Webmaster and takes care of the business end in addition to being a great bead designer. I do the buying, more of the design, and the new product end of things. We both contribute to the newsletter.
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I was not surprised to learn that Alice Korach is an extraordinarily creative and accomplished woman. She has a PhD in English Literature, is a college professor, a former Editor at Threads Magazine, Founding Editor of Bead and Button Magazine, and an editor of Bead Bugle, an e-zine published monthly. Alice had authored many books on beading and bead related topics, starred in a video, and she teaches beading in several public venues, from classes at local bead shops to national bead events, such as the Bead and Button show. Alice has published many articles and books on other creative topics as well, including Fiber arts, Knitting, Pâte de verre glass technique, and more. In addition to writing and beading, Alice knits, spins, embroiders, sews, and creates sculpture in glass.
