Beading with Cabochons by Jamie Cloud Eakin

Call Me A Cab

As I widen my horizons in beading, it seems nearly every book I pick up is filled with gorgeous works of art that my fingers are just itching to try. Beading With Cabochons is no exception…in fact, after browsing through it the first time, I found my mind wandering to my bead workshop and thinking about the cabochons I have and what I could do with them!

First off, a definition. A cabochon is a stone, gem, or other object that has a flat back and a smooth dome surface. “Cabs” do not have holes drilled in them, thus necessitating some type of wrapping to hold them in place for pendants, pins, earrings, or bracelet focals.

In Beading With Cabochons, Jamie Cloud Eakin does just that, using seed beads, thread, and beading needles to create awesome, wearable beaded sculptures. Eakin has worked with beads in some capacity all of her life, and in the introduction to Beading With Cabochons, she talks about how she “saw a beaded necklace with a stone cabochon as a focal point. I was awestruck; I knew at that moment I had found the form of expression and creative pursuit I was longing for.” Eakin has studied, experimented and perfected her techniques over the past decade, and I was struck by the breathtaking photos of beaded cab jewelry in her book.

Beading With Cabochons has seven chapters filled with great photos, detailed illustrations and step-by-step instructions. I felt like the tutoring would never end, and it was a good thing! Aside from an interesting introduction, Eakin covers:

Materials and Tools - from the cabs and beads you’ll use to the tools and findings. Great basic info, especially if you are not familiar with seed beading.

Instructional Chapters

Each chapter teaches several techniques ranging from basic to incredibly detailed. For each technique, at least three photos illustrating use of the technique are included; accompanying text for each photo lists that cab material, edge type, bezel type, and attachment type. Great learning tool! The instructions for each technique are detailed, with illustrations and text that are easy to follow.

Basic Cabochon Beading – superb chapter essential to getting started. How to attach a cab to a backing, start the beading bezel and basic edge.

Edge Stitches – from simple to bold to outlandishly eclectic, I never knew there were so many ways to edge a cab! Eakin’s instructions on beading are so easy to follow, even someone who can’t spell peyote could do these stitches!

Attachment Methods – again, I was simply amazed at the number of creative ways to attach a cab to a necklace strand, bracelet or earring findings.

Other Bezel Stitches – the bezel is the ring of beads that hold the cab in place, and extending a bezel further onto the cab creates a framed look that really enhances some cabs. This chapter is devoted to additional embellishments you can work into your design with the bezel.

Project Chapter

Eleven finished projects (necklaces, bracelets, pins) are included, with good written instructions. Most projects rely on techniques used in the earlier chapters, so the beading instructions are not illustrated; use previous chapters if you need help with the stitches. A handy Index to Stitches is included in the back of the book and serves as a great reference to page numbers.

A chapter on Creating Your Own Design wraps up Beading With Cabochons, and Eakin has some great tips about designing, from the creative angle to planning out the construction of your piece.

A final treat is The Gallery, in which Eakin showcases some marvelous works by various artists. While I like to read about the artist or a short clip about the pieces pictured, Beading With Cabochons’ Gallery simply includes the artist’s name and the materials used to construct the work.

The ONLY negative I can see with Beading With Cabochons is that the hardcover copy I have is a bit awkward to use when you are attempting to follow instructions. I’d like to see it released in a softcover that stays open while I’m using my hands for beading.

Bottom line, Beading With Cabochons is a wonderful, instructional book for a beading technique that offers up a challenge if you are looking for one. The instructions, photos, and illustrations are top-notch, allowing even beginning cab beaders to work through projects without frustration.

– L. Kvigne