I did a quick class on Saturday - making a simple pendant in peyote with bugle beads and am keen to learn more. Should I get a book or a kit and if so can anyone make any recommendations?
Mary

I say this every time: the best beginners' book I know of is Dustin Wedekind's 'Getting Started with Seed Beads' Work through that and you will have learned loads of really useful stitches and techniques and be ready to tackle magazine projects or design your own pieces.
Bead or Step by Step Beads are good for beginner-y seed bead projects too

Have a look at the Bead Merchants kits. I think they are well put together, they send you lots of lovely beads and Jills colours are always gorgeous together.
Many of us on here have started off with a couple of those kits, so you can shout if you need any help with them.

i am with amy on this -they have there kits graded according to experience too and will help if you get stuck-me i would go for one of the simple spirals cos they can be soo useful-but then i`m a spiral fanatic

Thank you for all the suggestions - I have treated myself to 'Getting Started with Seed Beading' and it looks very clear. I will look into getting one of the kits but that will have to wait a bit. I have managed to finish a bracelet in the spiral rope from the current issue of Bead magazine and even put on a button and loop fastening using the book. Tonight I have a choice of starting the daisy stitch project in the book or doing the ironing!!
Ah well - crushed clothes never hurt anyone.
Mary

Hehehe, welcome to the Seedy Side! (Lots of crumpled clothes in my house too... )

Yep - beading every time!

Good luck, and keep beading.

(If you want to build a quick beady stash then join a "bead of the month" club. Quite a few of the internet bead shops do them.

I am feeling quite pleased with myself cos I have finally finished a (very simple) peyote bracelet. This was my 3rd attempt and the other two got taken apart cos I could not get the tension right.
I have also done even more variations on the ladder stitch ring- I enjoy them cos they are so quick.
I fell a bit of a fraud putting up this picture cos the stuff is so basic but this is my first peyote bracelet, the first of the spiral bracelets and the latest ring.

Mary

you crow gal-loudnlong the 1st time is always fabulous(well for some things ) and they look great

Very nice work - I like the peyote bracelet with the edging - and that ring looks almost like a metal one, very effective! You seem to have cracked the tension for the peyote It does get easier with practice too - a good excuse to make more, if ever you needed one!

Theyre lovely! Seeds and especially Peyote are my faves (I may have mentioned that once or twice on here ) Its one of those patterns where once you get into it theres no end of `stuff` you can create! Lovely, lovely bracelets, well done you, just a tip...next time you vaccuum, shove a pop sock over the nozzle, youd be amazed at how many beads you collect!

Vacuum???????
mary