Bead Blog

Colours and more exciting news

After the exciting news a couple of days ago, about an additional Big Bead Show, I actually have some more news I can finally reveal- in 2010 there will be even more of Bead to love!

We are increasing the amount of times we're published from 6 times a year to 8- this means we get to have an extra 2 issues in which to bring you the best of the Uks beaders, bead makers and projects.

The first extra issue will appear in April and will have the theme of "Colour"

In addition to lots of articles on using colour, with tips from all of your favourite designers, there will be some specially commissioned projects which show you the best way to use colour in all aspects of your work.

I'm especially pleased about this as I have been busy working on my own personal Colour Challenge and hope I can let you know more about what I have learnt.

My project for this issue will be one that's a huge favourite of mine and one that I'm working on at the moment. It's a herringbone rope with an ingenious (if I do say so myself!) hidden clasp so that any part of it can be worn at the front.

It's a great project for playing around with colour and as I'm working with reds at the moment I plan to bead three different variations all in red- check back soon to see how I get on- and also to find out more about our second extra issue!

Jean Power

Big news pt 1

I have some very exciting new for all those of you who enjoyed last months Big Bead Show and don't want to wait a whole year for the next one- next year there will be 2 Big Bead Shows!

The first will be Saturday 17th April and the second will be Saturday 30th October- so only 5 months to go until over 80 of the Uk's best vendors and thousands of bead lovers will descend once again on Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey.

Unfortunately I won't be there but  expect to hear all about it and it just means I get more time to save for my shopping in October- which is a good job as this time I plan to spend a bit more than I did this year.

Jean Power

Project Photos And Outrageous Earrings!

Another visit to Arundel and the main job for this week is to take photos of the last project for issue 19- a lovely set of lariats from Lynn Davy.

This is a great project as there are two different versions. So if you prefer a more advanced and embellished version there's one for you, but if you're maybe more of a beginner or prefer less embellished pieces then there's one for you too!

Whenever we take project photos there's always a lot of experimentation to try and get the right one.

These photos went through quite a few different stages- some of which are shown here:

Trying to choose a backing paper which brings out the shades in the lariat

Choosing which suits the pink version best

Trialling lots of different props!

Another photography job we have today is some items for the gallery and challenge in issue 20.

The challenge theme is "Outrageous Earrings" and already we have had one completely outrageous entry!

Make sure you check out issue 20 to see them in all their glory!

Jean Power

The Show!

The day is finally here and after an early start (leaving the house at 5.45 with an added panic when I thought transport might let me down) it was a fanstic day- of course!

I got to Sandown at just gone 7am and was the only one in the big hall for half an hour so got to wander around and eat my breakfast looking forward to the day ahead- it still looked very empty!

When others began to arrive we set about setting up the display for the British Bead Awards and it was a joy to get to see all the pieces again and know that keeping the results a secret would soon be over.

At 9.30 am I got changed out of my unglamorous (but warm) clothes and out on my new dress and best jewellery all ready for the day and my next task of filming a piece for Bead-TV with the queue to get in (which by 9.30 had filled the cafeteria, snaked 3 times around the foyer and was trailing down the stairs!)

Then the doors were open the day had begun properly.

The next 7 hours went in an absolute blur but some higlights were getting to catch up with old friends, meeting up with forum members- and eating cake with them- and presenting the awards.

I was very nervous about standing in front of people and announcing but as soon as I began the joy of letting people know they'd won soon overshadowed my nerves.

I spent a lot of the day trying to avoid the magazine's stand with its large screen TV playing films of me demonstrating making projects from the magazine- very disconcerting! But I did try to hang around to encourage people to vote for their favourite choice of covers for the next issue.

 

By around 4.20pm I had done all my work for the day and had a quick chance to wander around and shop but by then my brain had shut-down so all ideas of my shopping list went out of the window and I went for the items I just not leave without buying! So I bagged a lovely cab from Designer Cabochons and a lampwork bead on an antique key from By Keiara.

Of course I put my camera away as soon as the show opened so have no photos here after that- but check out issue 19- out the 18th November- to see photos of the show as well as all of the finalists of the awards.

Jean Power

Getting ready for the show- part 3

Phew- only 24 hours to go now and I'm at Sandown Park Racecourse- home of The Big Bead Show for the 3rd year running and once again we're taking over the large hall.

My first thought on entering the hall is the same as last year- how on earth are we going to fill this space?!

If I hadn't seen it first hand myself then I don't I would believe it possible that this large empty hall will tomorrow be filled with over 80 stands and thousands of beaders, bead makers and jewellery designers.

It's a busy day mapping out tables and chairs, making sure everyone has the spaces, tables, electricity etc they booked.

We also begin planning the layout of the room holding the finalists of The British Bead Awards- the winners of which I will have the job of announcing tomorrow.

Then it's off home to try and sleep with all the nerves and excitement!

Jean Power

Editor of Bead

Getting ready for the show- part 2

it's just 2 days until the Big Bead Show now and we're all geting even more excited.

Of course, in-between all of the preparations, we're still working away on issue 19 and Bead-TV as normal. I've actually just got back from filming two projects for the next issue- my Onye Pendant and St Petersburg Pots both of which have been shown here recently.

Whilst planning issue 19 it soon became obvious that we had 2 possible contenders for the front cover- and despite multiple votes being cast in the office we were no closer to making the final decision.
So, I came up with the bright idea of getting all of the show attendees to vote for their favourite- what better people to decide than the largest group of beaders gathered at any one time in one spot in Europe?
The next discussion was how people would actually vote. 
An obvious suggestion was beads or buttons being thrown into pots which led me to think of coins being thrown into a wishing well and once my mind had gone that way it soon seemed obvious.
If people did vote with coins then we could potentially raise a bit of money for a charity- and as this is the 25th anniversary of Breast Cancer Awareness month it seemed an obvious choice.

So, if you're coming along on Saturday do remember to vote for your favourite with any coin and once I've counted them all up when I get home I'll let you know just how much we raised.

Jean Power
Editor of Bead

Getting ready for the show- part 1

I'm down in Arundel today to work in the office and the atmosphere is a complete mix of excitement and anxiety!

Our 3rd Big Bead Show is on this weekend and it's our biggest yet.

Advance tickets sales are nearly 100% higher than last year and the phones are constantly ringing with people wanting tickets, parking queries etc

Of course one of the main decisions we all have is what jewellery will we wear on the day?

I think I have finally made my decision (the reversible rivolis from the cover of issue 18) and as the lovely girls in the office aren't beaders themselves I've brought in a range of projects from past and future issues for them to choose- none of them will go with the t-shirts they'll be wearing on the day so we'll see on Saturday what decisions have been made!

Beading Variation

There's a project in issue 19 of Bead magazine that I have absolutely fallen in love with!

It's my own Onye pendant (and here and here) and though the first one was very tricky to bead and work out, I then went and beaded two more almost straight away.

I then had the idea of varying it with a larger central crystal and more outer ones, and have been working on that over the past week.

Boy has it been a pain!

You can follow the full saga on my blog but here is the finished piece and let's pretend she just appeared as if by magic.

If you're going to be at The Big Bead Show on the 17th October at Sandown Park then do look out for me and her as at the moment she's what I plan to wear (or maybe the 5th variation I plan to bead very soon!)

Project Photos

I’m in Arundel today to take project and step-by-step photos for issue 19 of Bead- our last time being a teen!

 

One of our projects is a gorgeous bauble cover which features a robin motif- with little beaded robbins hanging from it.

Projects which need hanging always need more thinking about as we have to decide whether or not to show what they hang from and what to hang them from.

Then for each photo we have to think about backgrounds and props and each one can go through many, many evolutions until we get it just right.

In this photo you can see me experimenting with how the bauble looks hanging from a ribbon against a simple background with few props. Later experimentation involved branches, presents and even Santa Claus!

 

Another project requires step-by-step photo. Every issue I try to ensure that every project we feature has step photos or diagrams to accompany them- but this isn’t always possible. Not all items are photographed by us and I don’t always have access to the right materials to replicate steps- but often the designer is able to take photos themselves- it really does vary from project to project. Often however I end up re-making samples to use for photos and that is what has happened for this photos- the project is a pair of simple wirework earrings.

More beading on the train

Off to Arundel again and once again I take advantage of being away from my computer and fit in some beading time on the train.

I’m working on making lots of individual beaded beads for a class I’m teaching soon and think I have also worked out a nice adaptation for a future special issue of Bead. More to come as soon as all the details are finalised…