Lisa Crone's book: A Bead in Time and a partial shot of the back of her book, below~

A Bead in Time, by Lisa Crone

What a wonderful collection of unusual jewelry projects by a woman who greets life with her arms open!

Ah! The "Dandelion" bracelet...a cuff like seed beaded swash of yellow and green grassy color I would love to wear every day!

And ooo! The "Festive Package" earrings, whuich could make perfect gifts for friends, teachers, or YOU!, to get you in the mood for the holiday season!

Or how about "Niagara Falls"? A lovely icy pour of beads for your wrist?

Lisa Crone has created a very large collection of beautiful projects, each of which demonstrates her talents in so many different ways. She has used stringing, wire wrapping, peyote stitch, memory wire, and a number of other techniques to show you how you can get inspired and create your own, wonderful jewelry pieces.

Her first chapter is called "Metro Mixes" and is full of sophisticated, stylish and never seen before jewelry pieces designed by Lisa in colorways which really make you think about what you are creating. I enjoyed that chapter particularly! Say "Frank Lloyd Wright" to me and my head swivels all the way around in delight, so Lisa had me at hello with that project!

Chapter Two is called "Outdoor Ideas" and you will fall for any of the projects which are nature related which are introduced here. The cover project is in this chapter and is truly lovely.

Chapter Three, "Life's Pleasures" really gets down to what makes us love life as humans. Admittedly, it is initially a surprise to see a project called "Hug a Dolphin", but once you realize that Lisa got the chance to do just that, and you take a look at the delightful ocean spray of silvery pearls she has used to express her memory of the sweet delight of that experience, you will understand.

The final chapter is chapter four, "Funky Finds". It rounds out the flavors the author has offered by investigating all sorts of styles and colors previously touched upon in her book. The necklace in this chapter which I really enjoyed was the "Gnome Chain" necklace, as Jim and I love gnomes. You will love it too, I bet, even if you never noticed a gnome before as you have gone along your merry way. It is truly cheering to be alive!, Lisa seems to say.

If you do not feel lifted up by Lisa Crone, and she doesn't touch you in in some deep way, human to human, I would be very surprised. I believe that is a subconscious intention of hers: to give to her readers something to think about and to hold in their hearts the way they hold this book in their hands. A very thoughtful designer, she enjoys what she does to the ultimate degree, yet is not overly dramatic, just perfectly balanced. I give this book an A+! Thank you Lisa, for a wonderful and different jewelry design book!