Whether a professional bead artist or addicted amateur, every beader needs references to learn techniques and gather inspiration. Here are some of my favorites, the books I return to time and time again.

Basic Techniques: Great Ways to Get Started.

Beading with Peyote Stitch, by Jeannette Cook and Vicki Star, ISBN 1-883010-71-3.  Colorful and clearly written, this book covers everything you need to know about peyote (gourd) stitch in order to make jewelry, vessels and sculptures with seed beads. It covers supplies, techniques and gives easy to follow instructions for several projects. The gallery of works by well-known bead artists is beautifully photographed. I love the TipsTipsTips sidebars scattered throughout to make beading easier.

Beading with Brick Stitch, by Diane Fitzgerald, ISBN 1-883010-72-1. A well-known bead artist and teacher, Fitzgerald crams a wealth of knowledge into a small book that covers the history of brick stitch and offers many wonderful step-by-step projects. She even provides bead stitch grids so you can lay out your patterns. A gallery of works highlights the work of Fitzgerald and many of her students.

Findings and Finishings, by Sharon Bateman, ISBN 1-931499-40-3. A must-have book for every beader. It covers clasps, bails, fringes, findings and finishing. There is a section on how to make your own clasps. Clear instructions are given on how to make any kind of beadwork strong and good looking.

The Beader's Guide To Color, by Margie Deeb, ISBN 0-8230-0487-2. Another must have for beaders. You'll find the answer to all your questions about color in this book. What I find very useful is how Deeb offers chapters on using individual colors, then chapters on pallettes such as Autumn, Spring, Winter, Summer, Pure Colors, Tints, Monochrome and much, much more. Along with the basics of color theory and fabulous photographs, there are several easy to follow projects.

Pure Inspiration: Eye Candy Guaranteed to Spark Your Creativity.

500 Beaded Objects, New Dimensions in Contemporary Beadwork, ISBN 1-57990-549-8. The title says it all. Page after page of beautiful, bizarre, whimsical and surprising beadwork.

1000 Glass Beads, Innovation & Imagination in Contemporary Beadmaking, ISBN 1-57990-458-0. A collection of lampwork and furnace beads sure to fill you with desire--and maybe even inspire you to learn glass beadmaking yourself! What I like best about this book is that I have collected the names of bead makers so I can find them at shows or on the Internet so I can buy their work.

Organic Beaded Jewelry, by Susan Ray, ISBN 0-87349-973-5. This is an unusual book in that it's full of projects with step-by-step instructions, but I found the instructions unclear and many of the materials are rare, one-of-a-kind or outrageously expensive. But for inspiration on how to use a wide range of materials from glass to stone to metal to clay and even vintage stampings and filigree, it's wonderful. The photography is beautiful and the featured artists are truly talented.

Projects: Techniques and Designs to Get You Started or Keep You Going.

Exquisite Beaded Jewelry, Use Basic Techniques to Create Distinctive Designs, by Lynda S. Musante, ISBN 0-87349-808-9. There are over 30 projects in this book that use simple stringing, bead stitching and wirework. How-to photographs are especially useful in demonstrating ways to hold your hands and how the item you're making is supposed to look while you're making it. There are also sections on how to solve problems and adjust patterns and sizes. Gallery photographs are interspersed throughout.

The Art of Beadwork: Historic Inspiration, Contemporary Design, by Valerie Hector, ISBN 0-8230-0307-8. This book is both inspirational and a terrific resource for projects. It covers the history and tradition of beadwork from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas. Techniques are clearly illustrated and the instructions for even the most complicated projects are easy to follow. It also includes a bibliography that is very useful for in-depth research.

The Art & Elegance of Beadweaving: New Jewelry Designs with Classic Stitches, by Carol Wilcox Wells, ISBN 1-57990-200-6. This book is too much fun! The dedicated beader could spend years just playing with the projects and designs in this colorful, elegant book. It covers beaded beads, ropes, chains, spirals, and peyote and herringbone stitch. Instructions are clearly illustrated, and patterns are neatly graphed and easy to read. The gallery photos are interspersed throughout.