CONTEMPORARY GEOMETRIC BEADWORK
an open source architectural beadwork project from Kate McKinnon and a worldwide team of innovators
Digital Downloads: Volumes I and II
Click either link below to open the site PDF Reader to view or download the books. You’ll be asked for a download password for each PDF. Fully linked, interactive eBook and App versions will be released soon; stay tuned for details!
Digital versions of each book are complimentary when you buy the paper books from Kate (get yours here) or can be bought separately online ($15/$25).
Download links (passwords required):
Please don’t share your password, or distribute the downloaded files. Although CGB is an open-source project, paper and digital book sales actually fund the project; each purchase is greatly appreciated.
There are lovely samples of both books in the Free Pattern Library on this site, perfect for sharing with people who want to know more about our work.
145 comments on “Digital Downloads: Volumes I and II”
Please feel free to comment!
Get your copies of CGB Volumes I and II
CONTEMPORARY GEOMETRIC BEADWORK 
Hi, I know it’s been a long time since you published these books. I couldn’t buy them back when you first had them for sale. Are the digital versions still available? If so, how do I get them? Are they only available for Kindle? Is there a Volume III?
Thank you so much!
Hi Melanie, yes to all! Plus four new books coming out soon to finish up our project. Find the digital downloads of Vols 1 and 2 here:
https://www.cgbteam.com/
and pre-order the new book(s) if you like, here:
https://theunlab.bigcartel.com/products
Thank you. I’m happy, I can’t wait to start my projects applying these tutorials
I’ve purchased the set books twice now because I forgot i purchased and when i go to the link to download they says i’m at my limit. Now when I email support it bounces back.
You can always email me. I can help. kate@katemckinnon.com
I’ll email you now. The downloaded files can be difficult to find, as many of our computers, phones and tablets are configured to stuff them in files like Downloads, My Files, Spam or Promotions, making them hard to find. I have a manual version I can share, and of course we’ll refund your extra purchase.
I want to buy your book, but no PayPal in Turkey. I would be glad if you add credit card payment option other than Pay-pal.
Hi! Sorry if the PayPal website is not available, but the books will all be back for sale on Amazon again soon, and with bead and bookshops worldwide. At this time the only things we have for sale are PDF downloads of our first two books.
Hi
I love what you do. I enjoy beading and wanting to Brad a geometric kaleidoscope flat rose . Would you have a video to show me or a step by step photo of how it can be made or sonething similar please.
Please do you have a step by step photo of the 3d geometric triangle or a video .
Please add me to your mailing list.
With care and stay safe
We will have this covered for you in just a few weeks, Bee- but there are many many free tutorials online to make a peyote triangle!
Kate
I purchased pdf copies of books one and two. I’m ready to head to the bead store as I am so excited to try some of the fabulous things in these books and on the website. Thanks for the inspiration and the wonderful website projects. Please send password so I can get to work.
Amazing! Can I get the password for volume two? Absolutely love volume 1! Geniuses!
Sure! We sell the books in our online shop, here. When you purchase Volume II, it will give you an instant download. Or have you already purchased it, and are trying to figure out how to access it online? Email me at kate@katemckinnon.com if you need help.
https://www.cgbteam.com/products
Hi Kate, I just wanted to say a huge thank you for your prompt and extremely generous response to my download problem yesterday. I must admit that until I received your email I had just assumed that it was a 24 hour delay, as I have found with other digital patterns I have bought. I only picked up a beading needle 5 months ago and searching on Pinterest for some beading patterns I came across the absolutely awesome work of you and your contributors and I was hooked! Stunning work, and having now opened my ebooks, I can see that the dust in my home will be getting even thicker as I become more and more drawn into this amazing community.
Thank you again
Jenny
I am excited to see what you make, Jenny!
Does anyone know how long it takes to receive the password for the digital editions? I purchased both volumes I & II, through Kate’s website, a few days ago. Thank you.
Please check your “Promotions” or “Spam” folders, Elizabeth – we’ve sent them a couple of times.
Bead on!
Kate
Never mind! Found, in my spam, after Kate replied!! Thank you Kate!
i have already started on a kaleidocycle , soo looking forward to the book. just got confirmation of payment and waiting in anticipation to getting my password and the e- book. i’m already blown away by the freebies, can’t wait for the rest!!!
Hi Kate, I got your book Vol II today!!! It is gorgeous. I am so excited to explore all the possibilities. Like I need more projects. But, this really intrigues me.
Love your book! Thank you.
Patty
Oh can I get the password for the digital downloads of Vol I. I’m really sorry I missed it.
Hi, I just received Vol 2 from Amazon (no vol 1to be had). Could I get a password to download the eBook. Hope you are feeling better.
Kate
Sure, check your email!
Hi there, would like to purchase the ebooks only as moving from this address. I went to your link but says ‘coming soon’. Any idea when this would be? Thanks!
Thanks, Natalie, we are opening our Shop again next week! In the meantime, check your email.
Can I purchase these from your store? I click on the link but the store says that there are no products. I would love to purchase them from you vs Amazon. Please let me know how to do this.
Hi Holly! When you buy my books on Amazon, you are buying from me, thank you so much!
I live in a city apartment now, and don’t have room to keep and ship them myself.
Can I get the password I have moved and lost it. My new mailing address is p. O. Box 523 gold beach or 97444
Dear Kate,
I bought Vol 1 shortly after publication – with your signature – and I was a pre-publication subscriber to Vol 2 – I still use my Japanese eraser/map-pin received with the book.
I developed eye problems a couple of years ago and thought my beading days were over. Fortunately, good medical care has saved most of my sight
The sight problems plus computer/ internet connection problems means I lost my original book downloads and my password.
Can I please have a password to allow me to download Vol 1& 2 and the additional materials? I did ask a week or two ago with no response.
Because of my eye problems, I did not subscribe pre-publication to Vol 3 but I await publication eagerly.
I love the ‘pod’ and have now 4 versions and am experimenting whenever I have time. Open ended, it is very useful for necklaces as well as bracelets.
Please send me a password!
Elizabeth White
I am excitedly waiting for the new book and have already made a pod and two kaleidocycles. I also bought the first book on Amazon. It arrived this week, but I don’t have the e-version password. My fingers are itching for my next project! Thank you for all of your hard work!
Hi,
I purchased both books from Amazon. Could you please send me the password?
And one more question: When will volume 3 be available?
Thank you,
Juliana
Check your email address for passwords, Juliana!
Vol 3 coming soon – it will be for sale again next week, I think!
I also purchased Vols. I and II. Can you email me the password?
Are the digital versions of volumes I an II still available? I bought mine from you on Amazon. They arrived yesterday. Such beautiful books. I can’t wait to get started
Yes, definitely, you can find them in our Pattern Library- I will email you the passwords, Karen, and thank you!
Thank you.
Hi Kate,
I have the same situation as Karen. My husband purchased the books for me on amazon, but I have no passwords. Thank you your phenomenal body of work!
Happy to help! Check your email.
New puter need passwords to
Bonjour, je suis française et souhaiterai savoir si vos téléchargements du volume 1 et 2 peuvent être traduit en français.Je suis très intéressée par votre travail qui est fabuleux
Je m’excuse, mais notre traduction française n’est pas encore prête! L’année prochaine, nous aurons les nouveaux livres en français et en allemand, restez à l’écoute!
Merci d’avoir écrit!
Kate
I just ordered Vols 1 and 2. Please tell me I don’t have to wait till Sept to receive the password to download them.
Too funny. They should have delivered to you automatically but you know, the land of email is a foggy one sometimes. I’ll email you a manual set of links.
Kate
Hallo Kate, ik heb het boek volume 11 gekocht het is echt geweldig, maar ik heb geen wachtwoord voor mij is het Engels lezen moeilijk misschien zie ik wat oer het hoofd
grt.Annemarie.
Groeten, Anne Marie, en controleer dan uw e-mail voor de download codes voor beide boeken.
Hugs!
Kate
I would like to know If I could just download and buy the books. Im from Europe but am not happy about paper books I more like them online. It didnt seem I got an answer.
Of course! This is the link to buy them, from any country.
http://contemporarygeometricbeadwork.bigcartel.com/product/contemporary-geometric-beadwork-digital-pdf-editions-15-25
I come from Denmark but would REALLY like to buy your books as a download. Its not possible with the links you send me I have a good friendship with books i ruin them. 🙂
Hello! Your books are stunning, so much inspiration! Thank you very much!!
Kate,
I bought Volumes 1 and 2 and preordered Book 3…I don’t recall getting a password…OR I might have forgotten? Please advise. I don’t want to miss out on anything 🙂
Thanks,
Cathy
Password for which, Cathy? Volume III is a pre-order (no password yet as nothing to download) and if you purchased the first two books from me, the passwords were emailed to you to download PDF copies. If not, please email me at kate@katemckinnon.com, and let me know what you need.
Where do I get my password from? I just got my vol 2 delivered from Amazon, I’m in the UK 😊
The passwords come automatically for free only if you buy the book directly from me, but of course I am happy to share. Just email me at kate@katemckinnon.com and let me know where you got your book.
Dear Kate, I came across the CGB site more or less by accident – but what a lucky one! I immeadiately ordered and paypaled the digital copies of Vol I and II. It’s now a couple of days that I’m waiting for the password to download the PDFs. Did I get sth. wrong?!? Thanks a lot and happy beading! Petra from Germany
Hello, Petra! I will resend your email with link and passwords.
Best!
Kate
Hi again, what a quick reply! I’ve downloaded all PDFs, everything went very well. Now I’ve got the next problem: what to do first?!?! ;-)) Cheers, Petra
: )
Hi Kate, I bought the paper versions of the books in Germany and I would like to get the password for the online ebooks.
Thanks
Daisy
Certainly, Daisy, please check your email.
So excited. Just ordered both of your books on digital download. Found you on facebook a couple of weeks ago and now i am hooked. 🙂
Claire
xx
Thanks, Claire! Don’t forget to prowl the Book Blog here, there is so much content available!
sorry to be a pain but when do i get my passwords to download the books. 🙂
Link and passwords were in your email, right after you ordered this morning.
Re-sent. : )
I got my book today and it is like shopping… lots of eye candy… Love it. Beautiful work in both books.. Thank you for your hard work Kate!
I just purchased the two volume digital download set. When do I get my codes to download these?
When I start work in the morning. : )
Check your email.
thank you so much! I am extremely excited about these books – especially in digital format!!
Please send me the password for the digital download. I have pre ordered.. Carol Geraghty, gstudio64@gmail.com. Thank you.
My pleasure, Carol! Check your email.
I’m so excited that I will have the book very soon.
Thanks for letting us get the digital versions before the print. I will enjoy wandering through and figuring out what to try first!!!
Thank you very much for the digital version. So I can start !!!
This is the beginning of a truly wonderful beady adventure!! I am an artist (watercolor and abstract acrylics) who usually beads when I don’t have time for “that” art. Just seeing these preview pieces has given me fair warning that those bewitching, tempting beads have just leaped forward into another dimension of challenge. Thank you, thank you, thank you…or maybe I should be saying Uh ohh.
Ah, exciting, another victim! You are going to fall in love with form…. and you are going to need a lot of cylinder beads. ; )
Wow can’t wait for Volume II, haven’t tried anything as yet but this book has my creative mind going crazy. Thank you so very much.
Oh, how we all love to hear those beautiful words!
Your beadworks are beautiful. Congratulation!
The books are here (Brno, Czech rep.), thank you for all the content from the envelope 🙂
YAY!!!
Hi Kate – After the book is mailed out, will there be a CGB Forum somewhere? I have some newbie questions (just some things that aren’t clicking for me). It would be nice to ask questions of the CGB community.
The book Facebook page is a wonderful resource! Email me, and tell me what you are stuck on, and I will both email you back, and also start a post on the FB page so others can weigh in as well.
I am really looking forward to the book. I love geometric beadwork. My only conundrum is whether or not to look the pages on here or wait for the book?????? lol What I can see on facebook is already blowing my mind!! 🙂
Well… it’s tough! Definitely look at the Fortuneteller section!! We only published 180 out of 240 pages, so there is still a lot put back, if that helps?
My heart is going pitty-pat in anticipation of this wonderful book. It will definately become a classic on every beader’s bookshelf. Bravo!!!
Kate, you are a wordsmith extraordinaire, and your introduction is as captivating as the finished book deserves. Your descriptions inspire, and I look forward to my afternoon reading the e-book…with visions of structures dancing in my head, no doubt. Thank you for bringing this project home–for all of us.
Rebecca
You’re right. Kate does with words like what she does with beads, eh?
Absolutely fabulous. I’m so excited that we’ll have the book very soon.
Thank you!
Oh, WOW!!!! Kate, be proud, you’ve done an amazing job!!!! It’s fantastic, glorious, s scrumptious, magnificent…
Please take time to sit and relax in your garden, surrounded by damp glittering greens, the flight of hummingbirds, and the purrs of Miss Fish, before you embark on the rest of your journey… You’ve done an amazing job, and have set the bar impossibly high for anyone planning to release another beading book, any time soon!!! Good for you!!!
Thank you for all of your hard work, it shined through in all you have shown, to date! xoxo
Lisa
Ideas are spinning wildly after inhaling these marvelous pages…thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
Yay! Almost 4,000 in the pages today, the beady minds of Earth are filling with our forms!
How EXCITING to hear you say that! Thank YOU!
I guess we are all in heaven, in the bead heaven. Kate ecxellent book, the best ever!!!!!!!!!
I think I died and went to heaven!!!!! wiping the drool off my Kindle. This is going to be the best beading book ever!! congratulations . I can’t wait to see the printed book 🙂
Like I had to rinse off your Horned Melon, after I drooled on it?
: )
THANK YOU FOR LOVING OUR 184 PAGES!!!!
Omg! It truly looks fantastic! Even on my little iPhone screen…..now if my iPad will hurry up and charge so I can see it in it’s full glory! I will probably die.
Lucky we held back 60 pages, you have to stay alive for that! There is more of your work in them!
Today is the day and I’m looking forward to get the code! I’m so curious!
The password is the same- everyone who ordered the book should have it. Email kate@katemckinnon.com if you need it.
These pre-order pieces are just awesome 🙂 I know the book is b
Going to be exquisite ,,well worth the wait, seeing both your ladies work is easy to tell you both are perfectionist:) and the book is going to be flawless,,, take all the time you need, these pre order pieces are enough to keep us occupied 🙂
You go ladies,,,,
You darling!
Wowie, wow, wow!
I am very excited to be a part of this adventure. I can’t wait to learn how to stitch the starfish…being from Florida naturally draws me to the starfish. I enjoy all dimensional beadwork. Okay honestly…I love all beads..LOL Once again thanks to all involved and may your creative juices continue to flow easily.
I am so glad I early ordered. This is so fun, makes us all feel like we are watching the construction of some great fantasy building! Awesome, just awesome.
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I’m so glad that you’ve resisted the ‘corporate’ temptation of sticking to schedule no matter what. This is just another indication that this book will be better than imagined. Keep it up…y’all are almost there!
Thanks, David. I think it will be really worth the wait.
Your book is beyond superlatives!! I’ve looked at everything you’ve displayed on all the pages of internet and facebook and every single picture and explanation is as clear as crystal. Thank you so much for your herculean effort, along with all your co-authors. I hope you sell thousands of copies. It is sure to be a classic
Thank you for all the pre-order goodies. Can’t wait for the book.
Everyone knows all good things are worth waiting for and your book is no exception!
It is exciting to be a part of your experience. Thanks for sharing as you go!
Just a quick observation…The bellyband is AMAZING! It works up so much faster than I would have ever guessed and is simply sheer GENIUS! I would say more but I must BEAD now!
We are so glad that you see the genius of this- sometimes people think, “Oh, it’s just a RAW band, nothing to see here…” but they couldn’t be more wrong about that, it’s a miracle, and it’s all about the thread path. Dustin… he’s a wonder.
Thank you!
This whole process is exciting. Everytime I look at the beautiful beadwork I get goosebumps. Bravo to you all!
Work of art is right… What a gift and labor of love. This will provide inspiration for a life time.
You see why we keep saying, muttering to ourselves even, “..this is a life’s work…. this is a life’s work….
❤
Thank you all for your kind comments- it really does warm my heart to see them- and thanks to Kate for setting up the site to make it so easy for this to happen!
wow now were do i start hehe
Well, I’d start with the Tri-Wing Ring if you want to make Winged or Horned or Helixy things, and if you want to make the Caldera Bangle (and who DOESN’T) then I’d start with the Power Puff Ring.
Really loving all of these very inspiring patterns. Can’t wait for the book!
I’m so very excited…as soon as I have a minute to spare I am going to play with these fabulous freebies!
Just have to say how much I appreciate this advanced sharing of even more wonderful things to come. A unique concept that makes us pre-order people feel pretty special. Thanks so much!!!!!
Helen
Thank you from the bottom and top of my beady heart.
It’s a good way for us both to deliver, and also to work for another few months.
which helps everyone.
And the side benefit of being able to offer people a slot in a gallery, in reward for branching out.
I am in love with this thing that we built of pixels and signal.
I hold it in my mind, while it shimmers into existence.
Thank you so much. Looking forward to your book coming my way. I enjoy you thoughts on your blog.
Best set of beady directions EVER! I have a really hard time reading directions. Having all of the pictures and especially, the flat diagram of what my starting RAW should look like = VERY helpful! Thanks Kate and Jean!
Thank you all for the wonderful enthusiasm!!
This is all so exciting! Thank you for this whole experience!
OMG, Kate! These are just wonderful! What a treat! I just hate that I’m at work and have to wait to go play with these! I, too, am thrilled that you delayed publication of the book until it was just right. You’ve put your heart and soul into this and it ought not be rushed. A million thanks!
Thank you SOOO much for sharing all of this pre-order wonderfulness!!!
-Karen 🙂
thank you for the pre-order-FUN !!! that is so much, waiting is much easier now 😉
died and in beady heaven!! thanks!!
Thank you all for your enthusiasm! It means the world to me.
: )
Kate
Great stuff, thanks. I am just so impressed with the quality of your little “operation”. I love to see people doing things really well. The book should be just amazing.
Kate, I just wanted to say that I am so very grateful that you all decided to put the finish date of the book aside and include so very much more content! It’s just an amazing body of work and I am totally content to wait until it’s ready!
Thank you, what a lovely thing to say! We feel the same.
Thanks Kate & Jean. Can’t wait to see this terrific book. Looks great!
Thank you! Thank you so much to everyone!
Yeah! Thank you!!!
Norma Jean
Can’t wait!
So exciting!
Thank you very much !!!!
I’m so excited, this is a very Special Book and I can’ t wait to get ist finally! Great work!
Wow! So excited that the publish date is coming so very soon! Love all the great early goodies!
The wait was so worth it already!
Yay!
Your book came today!! It is even more beautiful than I expected! Love the size, spiral bound, pictures, everything about it
Keep fighting mediocrity Kate! :-). . . Love it! Thanks. . . Ginny
HA! I forgot that I had stated that as my mission. What a good mission it is.
I am so glad you love the book. Thank you, it makes me feel on clouds when people write in to say so.