The Beader's Guide to Color by Margie Deeb (2004, Paperback)

This is a new book, written by Margie Deeb, and is about color theory from a beader's point of view. It really fills a niche out there - I can't say I've ever seen a bead book like this.

I also can't say enough nice things about the book. The project photos are incredible, and I'd be happy with the book even if the content weren't wonderful. But it is wonderful - Margie really explains color, the moods it evokes, and how bead finishes and types are really important when choosing color. She uses both the traditional artist's color wheel (pigments) and the printer's color wheel (inks, four color), and has developed an ingenious way of making sure that you never mix the two.

The first part of the book is all color theory,and gives a great basic background to those of us who never attended art school. Margie gives plenty of tips and suggestions about combining colors, using Delica numbers to be specific. That might be the only weak point of the book, because who knows if Miyuki will change their numbering system some time in the future. Also, I can't say I always like her color combinations, but they're definitely thought provoking and have expanded the way I think about what goes with what.

The second part of the book is more project oriented, and every pattern is shown in both Peyote/Brick and Square/Loom stitches. Nice touch, and greatly appreciated. Again, it's a very thought provoking section, and although I can't see myself making some of these items, they definitely expand my ideas about color, texture and mood expressed in beads. I have a far greater appreciation for neutrals than I ever had before, and I now want to explore orange - a color I thought I'd never liked.

I rarely say that a book is a "must have," but this one is. I can see myself poring over it for years, and using the eye candy as a jumping off point for projects of my own. One thing cracked me up to the point I was laughing aloud: You know you are _way_ too into beading when you can tell a person's projects without reading the captions: I recognized several artist's pieces instantly.

Anyway, this one is definitely a five star book, up there with the Carol Wilcox Wells books and Beadwork with Ruby as the first bead book purchases I'd recommend to anyone. Well worth the price, and a book I plan to buy as gifts for the new beaders I meet.