Bead Blog

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

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

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