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

 

More Inspiration

Following on from my recent post about inspiration, Jane Lock posted on our Facebook page (and also here) a photo of a bracelet she made inspired by a cobbled street.

She writes: "I couldn't find the right yellow for the yellow lines though, so I used colour lined grey cubes because they reminded me of those glazed panels in pavements you get outside shops. I thought blobs for chewing gum was probably a detail too far though".

What have you been inspired by?

Jean Power
Editor of Bead

Issue 23 off to print

So soon!

I know it was only recently I was telling you that issue 22 of Bead was off to print but going up to 8 issues a year means that issue 23 (which will be on sale the 26th May) is already on its way.

As usual I have tried to pack the pages with as much beady goodies as I can and this issue continues our great mix of different technqiues and materials so some of the items we have are:

A wirework and crystal set

Inspired lampwork beads

Quick and sparkly seed beads

 

More advanced seed beads

Chinese knotting inspired seed beads

A sparkling tiara

Quick and easy polymer clay

Scrumptious stringing

plus 5 more projects as well as all of our usual profiles and articles.

Esepcially a great report back from the recent Big Bead show

Keep an eye out for it in your local bead shop or newsagent - or why not subscirbe to the paper copy or iMag to ensure you don't miss out?

Jean Power

Editor of Bead

Crystal Projects

Who doesn't like crystals?

I think every beader or jewellery maker I've ever met is part magpie and is easily distracted by shiny objects.

Even if you don't heavily embellished work, or that dripping in crystals, there's no denying that used well crystals in all forms can bring a touch of light to any project.

These two projects, which use a lot of crystals, will be featured in future issues of Bead magazine.

First up is what I have called "Crystal Interchangeables" or "Sparkly Crystal Wheels"

These dazzling beaded beads will be a project in issue 24 of Bead (due out 21st July 2010) and you can read more about them here.

Next is "Crystal Balls"

This stunning necklace (which some of you may have seen me wearing at The Big Bead Show) will feature in issue 26 of Bead (out 20th October 2010) which has the theme of "Winter Sparkle Special".

Do you think it fits the theme?

You can read more about them and my colour choices here.

Inspiration Anywhere

I am away for a few days at the moment and have taken some beadwork with me.

This current piece is inspired by Miriam Haskell and a leather piece I once saw so it has changed somewhat.

But in the shower this evening I spotted its resemblance to the shower hose and head!

Ever been inspired by anything strange?

Jean Power

Editor of Bead

An Eggs-traordinary Idea

Have you ever wondered what would happen if...

The specifics don't really matter- it's more the idea of having a little nagging thought in your head and then trying it out.

This idea first came to me about 5 years ago and it's taken me this long to actually get my clay out and see if it would work- and I'm delighted to say it did!

I'll leave the specifics to your imagination for now- but check out issue 24 of Bead (out 21st July) for full details and step-by-step instructions.

This photo shows it in progress with a bit of work still to do.

Jean Power

Editor of Bead

Great Minds Think Alike

The idea of Beader's Block (similar to writer's blockbut  with more colour!) has been on my mind a lot recently. Not only do I feel as though I've been suffering from it for months but I also am planning on writing about it in issue 25 of Bead.

In each issue of Bead we feature our "Readers' Polls" (where we ask questions on our forum and print your answers and comments) and our "Top Tips" where I let you know my top 5 tips on a certain subject.

So, for issue 25 I thought I would combine the 2 areas and have them both about the same subject- "how do you deal with beader's block?"

Off I headed to our forum and soon saw that one reader was having just the same thoughts and had posted her own thread on the subject- perfect timing!

So, if you want to join in with her thread, or the polls (and here) visit our forum to have your say.

As I said I seem to have been suffering from it recently and although I have been beading and working away it is on items where I have a specific deadline or agenda- none of "my own work".

Until today that is. All it took was someone to mention the name Miriam Haskell and I remembered a diamond and leather bracelet of hers that I always wanted to bead a variant on. The words joined with a deadline were all I needed- inspiration had struck and off I go!

Jean Power

Issue 22 Off To Print

Having gone up to 8 issues a year it's less than 2 weeks until issue 22 of Bead comes out.

This issue is our Colour Special and features some fantastic projects and articles from award-winning designers.

I have already written about some of the projects that will be featured (here, here and here) as well as testing projects and taking the photos but here's a sneak preview of some more of the pages:

A polymer clay project from Christine Dumont

A lampwork project from Keiara Wells

it also includes lots of seed beads and wirework as well as articles and tips on using colour

Today our main job was getting the cover done- a real challenge as we wanted to feature as many of the projects inside as we could but keep the cover colour themed, co-ordinated and unmessy- not an easy job!

It took us all day with lots of photos being taken and layouts tried but we got there in the end.

 

Here are some of our attempts throughout the day:

Check the issue out on the 21st April when it hits the shops to see what we went with!

Jean Power

Editor of Bead

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