The bead is imbued with history, a compact record of human ingenuity and creativity. Beads are, quite simply, beautiful. One of the great things about beading is that it can be extremely easy or very complicated, according to how much time or patience one is willing to give to it. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Beading Illustratedgives readers all the skills they need to do many of the different kinds of beadwork made all over the world. Included are hundreds of step-by-step instructions and simple samples to make for each technique, more advanced projects, and finally resources to broaden beading knowledge and crafting expertise. Readers will learn how to make their own beads from wood, clay, or found objects; understand the intricacies of fasteners and clasps; design their own beaded jewellery; work with wire and assorted threading techniques; bead on fabric and fibres or looms; and more!