Book review: Quick & Easy Beaded Jewelry (Beadwork Books) by Elizabeth Gourley

Excellent! Clear and detailed instructions

 This is an excellent book with clear explanations and interesting projects. I am relatively new to beading and picked up this book in the library to learn how to add clasps correctly. This book is great. It had terrific section on techniques. In the table of content below you see that there is a lengthy chapter on techniques. It helped me solve the issue I was having with clasps. In addition the book has a lot of interesting projects, in particularly I enjoyed the section on weaving necklaces techniques (I am attaching an example under Customer Photos). It gave me a lot of new ideas and showed me the tools that will help me get the job done better and quicker.

This book has 127 pages, lots of images, and clear explanations. It has a nice index at the end, which helps to find a specific topic. The projects are suitable for new and experience beader, some are quick and some a lengthy. Here is the content with my annotations. I hope you will find it helpful.

CHAPTER 1
Introduction - Excellent chapter for a beginner as me, I finally undersood what exactly falls into "Findings" category.
Tools
Threads and Wires
Findings
Beads

CHAPTER 2 - My favorite chapter, very clear explanations, shows many options for each area.
Jewelry Standards
Techniques
Attaching Clasps Using:
- Thread
- Crimp Beads and Tiger Tail
- Bead Tips
- Cones and Eye Pins
- Cord Tips
Using a Head Pin or an Eye Pin
Making a Jump Ring
How to Open and Close a Jump Ring
Tying Knots
Tying a Stop Bead
Making Stitches, Netting, and Angle Weave:
- Ladder Stitch
- Chevron Chain
- Daisy Chain
- Vertical Netting
- Square Stitch
- Right Angle Weave
- Making Even-Count Flat and Tubular Peyote

CHAPTER 3 Bead Stranding Projects - Very nice, project range from simple to complex.
Metal Flower Anklet and Earrings
Lemon Necklace and Bracelet
Black and Silver Necklace and Earrings
Tooth Necklace and Earrings
Pink Stretchy Bracelets and Earrings
Grapes Necklace and Earrings
Three-Strand Flower Necklace and Earrings
Seven-Strand Twist Necklace and Eyeglass Chain
Three-Strand Braided Necklace and Headband
Seven-Strand Braided Bracelet and Barrette

CHAPTER 4 Knotted Projects
Knotted Pumpkin Necklace and Bracelet
Blue Ribbon Crystal Heart Choker and Bracelet
Knotted Pearl Necklace and Anklet

CHAPTER 5 Bead Weaving Projects - Stunning results, detailed explanation on how to achieve them.
Green Ladder Stitch Bracelet and Ring
Purple and Black Ladder Stitch Necklace and Earrings
Blue and Green Chevron Necklace
Purple Chevron Choker and Earrings
Topaz and Lavender Daisy Chain Necklace and Bracelet
Black and Turquoise Triangle Daisy Chain Necklace and Earrings
Blue, White, and Purple Netted Choker and Earrings
Vertical Net Necklace and Headband
Peyote Stitch Bracelet and Barrette
Tubular Peyote Sunset Bracelet and Earrings
Square Stitch Scarab Choker and Belt
Square Stitch Flower Broach and Earrings
Crystal Right Angle Weave Pink and Purple Bracelet and Earrings
Blue and Roses Right Angle Weave Dog Collar and Ring

CHAPTER 6 Wirework Projects - Very interesting, I became interested in trying wirework which I was not considering before reading this book
Memory Wire Choker and Ring
Wirework Rosebud Bracelet and Anklet
Rhinestone Necklace and Earrings
Carnelian Daisy and Chain Necklace and Earrings
Red Glass Beads and Wire Necklace and Earrings
Jump Ring Netted Necklace and Bracelet

Excellent book, clear instructions, projects in the book will inspire you!


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Book review: Chic and Easy Beading, Vol. 3, by Editors of Bead&Button magazine

 So much content - I was very pleased!

I am relatively new to beading and picked up this book in the library to learn how to add clasps correctly. This book was all I could hope for. It help me solve the issue I was having with clasps and gave me a lot of new ideas and showed me the tools that will help me get the job done better and quicker.

This book is written by Editors of Bead&Button magazine.  This book has 143 pages, lots of images, and clear explanations. The projects are suitable for new and experience beader, with the goal of producing great results without a huge investment of time. It has basic as well as unique designs. Here is the content with annotations for each project. I hope you will find it helpful.

Chapter : NECKLACES
Lampwork and gemstones
This project combines stone nuggets with lampworked beads in a classic necklace accented with silver tube beads.

Leaf necklace
This simple two-strand leaf necklace is a perfect example of "less is more."

Seed bead serpentine
This project adds textural interest to a double-strand necklace by winding seed beads along a natural path to a lampworked focal bead.

Chain and simple
Beaded elegant necklace that is fast to make.

Neckline variations
Because this design includes both scoop-and V-neck lines, the necklace looks terrific with many wardrobe choices.

Great lengths
This project makes a luxurious scarf necklace with long, flowing strands of seed beads.

Dew drops
Turns sparkling teardrops and bicone crystals into interesting components on an elegant chain necklace.

Lavender lights
project for hydrangea lovers, this a flowery necklace looks like hydrangea.

Falling star necklace
Project to create a sparkling choker.

Triple decker
Bead choice determines the flavor of this three-strand stone, pebble, and pearl necklace.

Shell lei
Shell slices and jade beads fit together in a summery strand.

Cool dip
This necklace uses crystals and seed beads in cool, refreshing colors.

Plaited pearls
Braided beads and pearls coil into a luscious necklace.

Tiered drops
Simple wraps secure dangling pearls and crystals in an choker.

Sparkling sunflowers
Weave crystals and petal-shaped cubic zirconias into a glittering pendant.

Some assembly required
This project uses any small beads you have on hand to create a pretty necklace.

Multistrand elegance
This project creates an elegant multistrand necklace.

Pearls and gems
Play off color and shape with luscious stick pearls and stone slices.

Modern clusters
Wrap crystals, pearls, glass, and gemstones through geometric links for a necklace with casual elegance.

Better in blue
Use five strands of seed beads dressed up with a few crystals, simulated opals, and silver to pick up the shades in a pendant.

Crystal drop necklace
Crystal drops and opalescent seed beads turn this simple pattern into a versatile necklace.

Midnight lariat
This lariat is unusually short, keeping its appeal close to the neckline.

Focal bead fun
Set off a large focal bead with a spray of accent beads in a multistrand necklace.

Pearl garden
Create a stunning pearl necklace from a collection of sparkling components.

Butterfly necklace
This simple multistrand necklace is designed to show off two artist beads.

Tassel necklace
This tasseled piece spotlights an art bead with a multistrand design.

Quick change pendant
This easy pendant is designed to slip on and off a chain, leather, or cord necklace.

Chapter : BRACELETS
Beachy bracelet
Pearl or crystal dangles accent the gleam of shell buttons.

Multistrand twist bracelet
A magnetic clasp is the secret to these easy multistrand bracelets that use up leftover bits and pieces.

Meandering river of beads
Beautiful baguette-cut two-strand crystal spacers connect rows of bubbling beads.

Wire-wrapped bracelet
Wrap assorted beads around a sterling silver form to make an upscale accessory in a flash.

Wrapped hematite hourglasses
Swirling wire and free-floating seed beads encase hematite hourglasses. String in a simple pattern to emphasize the wire curves.

Watch out
The crystal sections of this sparkling watchband string up easily.

Briolette bracelet
Briolettes and crystals combine with accent beads for a sparkling bracelet.

A garden of charms
Combine fun glass beads in the shape of flowers, leaves, butterflies, and ladybugs to make an adorable charm bracelet.

Chapter : EARRINGS
Turning wheel earrings
Textured, hollow copper disk beads are light enough to make comfortable earrings.

On multiple levels
Use chain to create length and movement in these long, dangly earrings.

Feathered finery
Opulent, sable marabou feathers are a wonderful inspiration for jewelry designs and fun plumage to add to any wardrobe.

Gem-set pearls
Teardrop coin pearls are matched in pairs and set on both sides with a variety of tiny, faceted stones in gold bezels.

In one ear.
Personalize metal earrings and frame your face with a favorite phrase, quote, rhyme, or lyric accented by a variety of beaded dangles.

Crisscross earrings
Gold-filled and sterling small-link chains give dangle earrings a delicate look.

Chained beads
These simple but stylish earrings are a good way to use up leftover beads and pearls.

Boho hoops
Suspend a shimmering mother-of-pearl bead in generous double hoops for earrings with a Bohemian vibe.

Creative clusters
Get maximum wear from a few basic earring styles with this modular approach.

Upside down
Free-form wire design is fun and has limitless possibilities for these earrings.

Chapter : JEWELRY SETS
Enamel sensation
Combine fabulous enamel beads with crystals in a classic necklace, bracelet, and earring ensemble.

Charmed coral set
Combine silver shells, pearls, and coral for the perfect summer set reminiscent of a classic charm bracelet.

Faux lariat
This lariat design eliminates the wrap around your neck, but leaves two long, slinky strands of beads.

Silver cascade
Simply strung, this necklace can be casual or dramatic, depending on the length and quantity of strands.

Tears of joy
String small teardrop beads between large glass beads for an easy two-strand necklace, bracelet, and earrings.

Pearls just want to have fun
Crystal pearls dance and swing on this bracelet with matching earrings.

Focus on findings
Combine gemstones, crystals, and pearls to showcase textured silver components in simple but elegant strung jewelry.

Chandelier ensemble
Make a delicate pendant-and-earring ensemble with tiers of wire arches accented with small, faceted dangles.

Garland necklace
String a strand of easy-to-make components to create the illusion of an intricate necklace.

Delicate drops
Teardrop crystals drape daintily from a chain necklace and earrings.

Triple-take garnets
Float slivers of silver between garnet beads for a classic three-strand necklace.

I really enjoyed this book, learned a lot, and already used several projects in practice!


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Food review: Loacker Quadratini Lemon Wafer Cookies

WARNING: Addictive! 
  

These wafers need to come with a big warning "Addictive"! It takes a lot of self control to stop eating them. If I did not exercise a lot of self control I would eat a whole bag. Wafers come in a resealable bag, and in theory can last a long time... but in my house the longest one bag lasted was 2 days!

I bought the lemon flavor of Loacker's Quadratini wafers. They have a nice strong lemon flavor - nicely tart with a sweet creamy finish, crunchy and pleasant on your tongue. You can chew a wafer to get the pleasant crunch on just hold it in your mouth and let it melt slowly. Either way you will get an extra ordinary taste experience!

I am attaching a photo and two cookies shown from different angles. Each cookie is 1 inch square. Each consists of 74% lemon cream and 26% wafer.

Wafers have no artificial flavors or colorants, and no preservatives.

Ingredients:
Unbleached wheat flour, pressed coconut oil, glucose syrup, sugar, whey powder (milk), dextrose, soy flour, barley malt extract, lemon juice powder 2%, salt, leavening agents (sodium hydrogen cargonate, disodium diphosphate), emulsifier soy lecithin, natural vanilla pods, lemon-peel-oil, spices.

Loacker wafers are made in Austria and Loackers company had been known for their wafers since 1925.

Ohhhh, so good! I signed up for regular deliveries with Amazon's Subscribe & Save.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Opteka RC-3 Wireless Remote Control for Sony Cameras

  Used with Sony NEX-5N - it just works! Simple to use & inexpensive!

 

I purchased this remote control for Sony NEX-5N camera. It is sized 3.25" long x 1.25" wide x 0.25" thick. I am attaching a photo with a pen and penny next to it for size reference.  Its weight is 0.5 oz.

The remote has two options: one for instant shutter release and one for a two a two second delay. Each action corresponds to two buttons on the top labels "s" and "2s". It is brilliant in its simplicity. It comes with an instruction sheet but I did not need it.

OPERATION
1. The first time you use it you need to remove the plastic separator from the battery compartment
2. Then you need to put the camera in to remote control drive mode.
This is accomplished with two clicks. Using the round navigation wheel on the camera clicked left (it is labeled with timer icon). Then turn the wheel up one notch from single frame to remote control drive mode.

Remote control functions in Intelligent, O, A, S and M modes. Unfortunately it does not function in anti-motion blur mode which has become my favorite (this is a camera limitation, not the remote control limitation).

Other details
1. The remote operates on CR 2025 battery
2. Its range is 16 feet
3. Battery life expectancy: 2 years /10,000 exposures
4. Warranty: 1 year
5. Made in China

I highly recommend this remote control. I like its size, well labeled buttons, it is light, easy to use, inexpensive and it works!

I'm very pleased with this purchase!


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Kindle book review: The Heart of Abundance: A Simple Guide to Appreciating and Enjoying Life

Create your own reality: mindset and your attitude control how you feel
 
At the present time this Kindle book is free on Amazon.  It is well worth reading, grab while it is free! This is a very positive book.

The basic idea in the book is that everyone has something to be grateful for. If even on our worst days we start looking at what we already have, rather than what we do not have we can improve out outlook and spirit.

The book encourages the readers to believe in the best in each person they meet and provide each person some positive feedback. Small specific acts to make a positive difference, for example offer a ride, say a few nice words, say thank you.

Her positive thoughts and ideas are accompanied by paragraphs from scriptures. If you are religious you will find comfort in these frequent references. If you are not religious you might find these references to God too frequent, but I would still encourage you to plow through it, as the book has a lot of positive thoughts especially for someone who is struggling with difficulties in life.

The Heart of Abundance is about appreciating life right now. No matter what hand you were dealt, finding even the small things that are good can help pass through a dark passage. This book is about being positive about life every day, not just on the occasions when everything seems to be going your way.

I was pleased to recognize some of the things I do when things are not going well. I do find it helps to concentrate thinking about something you look forward to every day, even if it can be as small as, say, a TV episode you plan to see when the bad day at work is over. I found it helps me to get through a bad day.

This book will help you create your own reality - mindset and your attitude control how you feel.


You can find this book on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Carex Bed Buddy Warming Footies / Rice Socks / Foot warmers

They slips off my small feet as I sleep, my home-made solution described

These warming footies is a good idea, but one-size-fits all is not a good execution of it because they don't stay on my (small) feet.

In the winter my feet get so cold that I have trouble falling asleep. I purchased these footies to wear them at night when I sleep but the booties slip off my 7.5 sized feet while I sleep. Putting them back on requires enough effort to really wake me up.

However, I am came up with a solution that really works much better for me. I found stretchy socks into which I inserted my own home-made microwavable inserts. Here is the description how I made them.

 
I measured the length and width of my foot and created two strips which were 1 inch larger than my measurement in every direction. I cut strips out of strong dense cotton fabric. I put the right side fabrics together (the side I wanted to be on the outside) and I stitched 1/4 inch around them 3 times leaving only 1 inch opening on one of the narrow sides. Then I turned the fabric inside out, stitched around it one more time, still leaving 1 inch opening. Then I filled the bag with grain (I used barley, but round rice will also work well) and then stitched the opening closed by sewing it several times for strength. I did not over-stuff the bag, the grain can move easily and conform to my foot.

Before I got to bed I put these bags into a microwave for 1.5-2 minutes, and stuff into the stretchy socks, which I then put on my feet on top of terry socks I normally wear to bed. Perfect! Warm and comfortable, the bags stay on my feet all night. Even when they stop being warm, they provide extra insulation and my feet has been toasty all night.

This solution cost the under a buck for fabric and barley/rice. I have been using the same bags for over 1 year, and they are still working perfectly every time. I hope this home-made option will help someone else!

You can find these "Carex Bed Buddy Footies: on Amazon


Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: Spectrum 33000 Mop And Broom Holder

Works only for some mops : 1 out of 4 for me

The holder holds the mop well if the mop fits into the holder. Unfortunately only one of my four mops fit the holder. For example, the Swiffer Sweeper mop with its softer thicker handle was too large to go through the hole.

I am including the details about the dimensions and installation so you can make figure out if your mops fit the holder. I am attaching three photos that I will be referencing in this review.  

This holder works when you insert the handle into the circle from the below. It is held in place by friction. See Photo #1. You can see me holding the holder with the broom inserted into the hole. I am not touching the broom, it is being held in the air by friction generated by contact with the holder. On the split image on that photo you can see a close up of the rubber ring with groves which provides a good grip on the broom handle.

The inside diameter of the hole is 1 inch. If the handle of the broom is thicker you will not be able to put it through the hole. For example, Swiffer Sweeper handle has a thicker handle and I was not able to get it through the 1 inch hole.

The holder has two options for hanging: adhesive strips on the back and screws. The warning on the package is that you cannot use adhesive strips on the wall paper. This is what I had a room where I wanted to hang the holder, so I had to use the screws. The screws that come with the holder are plain screw, anchors for hollow walls are not enclosed. I had some anchors on hand and was able to proceed with the installation.

Installation: 

After inserting anchors into a hollow wall, I screwed in the back plate half way in, leaving some room between the wall and the back plate. This is necessary so you can slide in the top plate before tightening the screws (see Photo #2). Photo#3 shows the broom hanging on the holder.

Bottom line: The one broom that fit the holder is firmly in place, it is easy to take out and put back in. However, the fit limitations were not clearly stated in the description and the Swiffer Sweeper I wanted to keep in this holder did not fit. Mounting limitations were not clearly stated in the description and I was not able use the adhesive mount. Not all mounting hardware was included (no anchors for hollow walls). Thus an 'okay' rating of 3 stars.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆