Beading is among the most popular crafts today--and it's a growing segment of the $30 billion U.S. craft and hobby market. Making your own beaded jewelry is often significantly cheaper than buying the same pieces, and you can tailor designs to suit your own tastes. The prevalence of bead shops and other retailers selling jewelry-making supplies makes it an easy hobby to pick up; a 2004 survey conducted by Interweave Press found that there are nearly 1,800 independent retail bead shops in the U.S. And craft chains like Michael's and Joann's have significantly increased their inventory of jewelry-making supplies as well.

Beading VISUAL Quick Tips shows readers how to do everything from basic stringing to bead weaving with the peyote stitch to macrame and braiding with beads, all in the series' easily accessible, portable format. Hundreds of full-color photos help visual learners see exactly how each technique is accomplished.