Jewelry making is one of my hobbies and I have a fairly large collections of books related to this topic. I was thrilled to see French General: A Year of Jewelry, since the creations in it are exactly what I’m most interested in with jewelry making. Plus, the final products are just absolutely stunning! The book itself is a pleasure to look through, with the necklaces, bracelets and earrings placed on vintage fabric, pillows and papers. There is lovely, antique look and feel to it, while the projects are consistently some of the most gorgeous ones I have ever seen.

The author of French General: A Year of Jewelry offers lots of helps to the novice crafter in terms of what to look for in beads and why. I learned a lot and I am gathering the materials to make Les Fruits Necklace, with its summertime treats hanging from the chain. It’s so hard to pick a favorite, I really love them all! I am looking forward to not only making them, but also using what I learned to bring to life many of my own creations as well. This book is so amazing, I am definitely going to look into the author’s other titles.

About the Author:
After studying jewelry-making techniques at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Kaari Meng sold her designs to specialty shops including Bergdorf Goodman, Anthropologie, Sundance Catalog, and Peruvian Connection. In 1997, her business evolved into French General, a Soho retail store selling a French-inspired lifestyle that included textiles, ephemera, and household items only found in France. The shop moved to Los Angeles four years later. Kaari has designed quilting fabrics for Moda, wallpaper and home décor items for Fabricut, and scrapbooking supplies for Jo-Lee’s Boutique. Over the years, Kaari wrote five books for Chronicle and Lark Books highlighting all of the elements the French General brand had evolved into. Her home and shop have been featured in Oprah, Martha Stewart Living, Country Living, Romantic Homes, and Mary Engelbreit Home Companion magazines. Kaari lives in Los Feliz, CA.