Bead Blog

Beading in the snow

This weather is terrible! But I guess being snowed in is a good excuse to get the kettle on, get your beads out and snuggle down on the sofa with a good project. Unless you are the unfortunate beader I met on facebook who has been snowed out of her studio!

I was lucky enough to have a workshop with the lovely and very talented Sabine Little on Monday. I spent a very chilly day learning how to make glass beads and I have to say that I am now hooked!

It was a close call me actually getting there however. Sabine lives in a picturesque village just north of Sheffield and it had snowed again earlier that morning. Needless to say the weather combined with my lack of directional skills meant I was quite late getting there! I’m waiting to see how my beads have turned out as they had to go in the kiln. Can’t wait! You can read more about my workshop experience with Sabine in a future issue of Bead.

I think I left Sheffield just in time as the weather has taken a massive turn for the worse. Sabine is now completely snowed in! I am now sat in my office back in Arundel watching the snow building up outside and thinking about getting home to the warm (and my beads!). I’ve got several beading pieces on the go at the moment including some new projects for Bead which I’m looking forward to getting my teeth into when I get home!

It’s been a busy month (as you can tell by my lack of blogging woops!) Issue 27 came out last week and is packed full of lots of fabulous projects, with a real variety in techniques - from chainmaille to polymer clay and of course the ever popular beadweaving projects. Fiona Abel-Smith’s beautiful ‘Four In One Necklace’ is our cover piece for this issue. It works perfectly with her dramatic handmade focal beads. I’ve already had comments about these and you can learn how to make them yourself in Issue 29!

     

Bead’s website has a fresh new look. You can now shop a lot more easily and there are lots of new beady products (just in time for Christmas!) If you missed the fab ‘Gone Beading’ bags at the Big Bead Show you can now get yours online.

Don’t forget to check out the current issue (27) for all the lowdown from The Big Bead Show as well as to see winning entries from the British Bead Awards.

Keep warm and keep beading!

X Chloe X

 

 

Issue 25 is back from the printers hurrah!

Its very strange seeing it in print – my first issue as editor of Bead was a bit of a whirlwind I have to say – talk about deep end! There was lots to learn and take in but I’ve enjoyed every second of it.

There’s lots of exciting stuff in this issue, including loads of great projects like Mel Brooke’s Dia de los Muertos necklace and Lynn Firth’s Tila Connections bracelet. You can also read about unique artist Lesley Todd of Bird Ahoy and our new Reader’s Profile feature. We had a fabulous response to this issue’s Readers’ Challenge so check this page out and see the deadlines and themes for the next few issues. 

I’m currently working hard on the next issue: our Winter Sparkle Special as well as being busy getting ready for The Big Bead Show and filming lots of new projects for Bead TV. I’m looking forward to catching up this week with Mel Brookes and Linda Jones who are both popping in for a spot of filming too.

It’s been an exciting month for me. I’ve been privileged to be involved in the judging for The British Bead Awards, as well as seeing Bead issue 25 come back from the printers. On a personal front I’ve been getting used to my new home and making plans for getting a car (Hurrah – no more crazy train commutes!) I’ve also been discovering all the local bead shops – there’s a new one in Arundel, which has a ‘shop kitten’ - he’s great and chases beads around the floor!

I hope you enjoy Issue 25. Don’t forget I really want to hear from you. If you have any feedback you can email me chloe@ashdown.co.uk

 
x Chloe x

 

Fast Fashion- handmade beads

I love working with polymer clay and just wish I had more time to devote to it (along with more time for beading, wirework, chain maille, felt making, sewing...)

I would love to feature more polymer clay in Bead so if you know of anyone who works with it and has any great ideas do get them to email me on jean@ashdown.co.uk and I can send them the submission guidelines. The same applies if anyone has any wirework, stringing, beading, PMC, felt-making ideas... (can you see a theme here? I love it all!)

We do have a lovely polymer clay project in issue 22 of Bead (which is out 21st April- just 2 weeks away) by Christine Dumont (one of our winners at The British Bead Awards last year) and in issue 23 one of our "Fast Fashion" projects will be these beaded beads as earrings.

As you can see I had a lot of fun making them!

 

So look out for them in issue 23 (out 26th May) to see the end result.

Jean Power
Editor of Bead

British Bead Awards 2010- are you entering?

The deadline for entering these awards is fast approaching- you need to get your photos into us by midnight Friday 2nd July!

Last years awards were our first and we were delighted just how much of a success they were. You can see a full report including photos of all the finalists in Bead issue 19.

I'm pleased to be able to now announce our judges.

As well as myself, Jean Power, editor of Bead, we also have Jill Devon (and her shop The Bead Merchant here) and Sarah Downton.

Jill is an award-winning bead designer who is well respected in the beading industry not just for her work as a designer or for running her business, The Bead Merchant, but also for being the instigator and founder of The Beadworkers Guild and being the creator of the first beadwork show in the United Kingdom.

Jill, who was profiled in Bead in issue 8, has co-edited and co-authored best selling beading books and travels the Uk (and now the world) teaching her designs

Sarah is widely known and highly regarded in the lampworking world not just for her beautiful beads but also for her involvement within and support of the bead making community. Sarah, who was profiled in issue 20 of Bead and was a finalist in the 2009 British Bead Awards, produces work that delights all those who see it.

I am really pleased to have two such talented and knowledgable judges to assist me and I'm really looking forward to geting to drool over all your loely entries so make sure you're planning yours now.

if you need any help, issue 23 of Bead, which will be out on the 26th May 2010 ,has a 3-page business article on entering competitions so make sure you keep an eye out for it.

Jean Power
Editor of Bead

p.s. don't forget that issue 22 of Bead (our colour special) will be out on the 21st April- just over 3 weeks away!

Big Bead Shows 2010

The next Big Bead Show is fast approaching- it's on saturday 17th April at Sandown Park, Esher.

It's Bead magazine's fourth show and our first spring event.

Stands are filling up fast with over 60 exhibitors confirmed and lined up.

This year we will be looking out to see what you're all buying for our show report article which will feature in issue 23 of Bead so if you're stopped by us, we're not just having a nose (ok, maybe we are!)

There are big changes in hand for our autumn show which takes place on the 30th October.

This year, as well as our usual stands and the display for the British Bead Awards there will be 2 days of workshops starting on Friday 29th October.

You can see full details of the workshops here.

Don't forget that if you buy issue 21 of Bead you can get two free tickets to the April show!

Jean Power

Editor of Bead

Bead issue 19

Issue 19 of Bead hits the shops and letterboxes this week and it's a real jam-packed edition.

As well as all the finalist in the first ever British Bead Awards we have also crammed in 2 profiles, 13 projects and all of our usual articles and pages.

Amongst the projects we have three that are ideal for Christmas- one bauble, one card and one pair of earrings:

 

As well as a fantastic double project featuring two very different lariats based on the same techniques and an advanced crystal pendant from me:

In addition I'm pleased to announce our first ever additional free download project:

So make sure you get your copy to find out how to download yours.

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