Mickey Baskett

I like the emphasis on quick projects. This was my introduction to using wire mesh. There were some surprisingly elegant, simple designs with wire mesh.

A decent introduction to gourd work. The projects are not overly interesting but the review of cleaning, prep, and techniques is very useful.

This book starts out with some great info on hemp, e.g., during colonial times in North America citizens were required by law to grow hemp.

The pictures and diagrams are great as is the variety of projects. You start out very simply with necklaces and bracelets using Square Knots and Half Knots. Very quickly you will graduate to a complicated plethora of knots, braids, and weaving techniques and projects that use up as much as 6 yards of hemp cord.

All of the projects use 1mm hemp cord. It is show more available in many colors. My favorites are natural and black. I suggest purchasing your hemp cord from eBay. My local Walmarts (all 3 supercenters) only offer 3 sizes—2 are too big, the other being too little for my purposes.

Once you get your cord you are going to fall into collecting beads, pendants, and the such. I also have gotten into Sculpey.

For those of you interested in hemp, jewelry making, and macrame, this book is a great start! Next I wish to find a book on Wire Jewelry!!!

Please visit eBay store and Etsy shop "Manse de Weese" to see my work! show less

A little too basic, and the projects are unattractive.