A couple of weeks ago, I checked out a copy of Diane Fitzgerald's Shaped Beadwork from my local library and all I can say is "Wow!" This is another great book in the Beadweaving Master Class series. (See my earlier post about Marcia DeCoster's Beaded Opulence in the same series.)
Why I Picked Up This Book
The beadwork projects I've done so far have mainly been squares and rectangles with the occasional circle (peyote or netting) thrown in for variety. I've been thinking more about creating other shapes (including 3D ones) with seed beads, but I've been a little stumped on how to proceed after making some initial sketches. I probably could have experimented with decreases and increases on my own, but honestly, I was relieved to find that Diane Fitzgerald had already done the hard work for me!
My Experience with the Book
I found the drawings and instructions easy to follow. Using the recommended size 11 Delicas, I made a bunch of samples. (The odd colors highlight how badly I need to update my seed bead collection.) I didn't get to the section on 3D shapes, but only because I became hooked on making as many different shapes as possible. While projects are included, my interest was primarily in learning the techniques.
There are a few errors in the book, but the author has posted corrections on her website. (The only minor error I noticed while reviewing was a page reference pointing to the wrong page.)
Shaped Beadwork is an indispensable go-to reference on creating shapes with peyote stitch. The proof? I've returned the library's copy and ordered one of my own.