27 October 2008 I can't believe it's only a few days until 2008's Big Bead Show. The past 11 months have flown by and now with it so close I'm really looking forward to the show. It's the one date in the year I get to catch up with all the advertisers and designers I deal with throughout the year by phone and email, meet lots of lovely Bead readers and of course manage to squeeze in some bead shopping! I have just come back from France where I met many wonderfully talented beaders and learn just how hard it is for them to find the beads they want to use. With only 3 bead shops (all in Paris) and nowhere to buy cylinder beads, no teachers, no groups and no shows it made me realise just how lucky we are here now. It has been a joy to see beading grow since I first started and especially in the last 2 years since Bead began and I really appreciate the fact that we can now all buy almost everything we need (or want!) more easily here and get to see everything at shows up and down the country. If you're coming to the show on Saturday do be sure come up and say 'hi' if you spot me wandering around- I'll be wearing lots of my beadwork to make it easier to identify me- so look out for the lady with long hair, glasses and far more jewellery than should be legal!   13 October 2008 Once again I am in Arundel at the offices to take photos and open the post. . I'm really busy at the moment working on issue 13 and everyone in the office is busy working hard to ensure The Big Bead Show on the 1st November goes smoothly and is as good as last year. The show should actually be even better than last year as we're in the big hall and have over 80 different stands- at least 25 more than last year. I hope you've all been saving your pennies- I certainly have!   30 September 2008 Another busy week working on Bead and as always lots of variety. I visited Arundel last Thursday and had a great time meeting Rosie and Tjobbe who are both currently travelling around Britain on a craft tour. You can check their website out at www.thegreatbritishcrafttour.co.uk or watch my interview with them when it appears on Bead TV at www.beadmagazine.tv in a few weeks. Whilst I was at Bead TV I also fitted in some more filming, this time I decided to do a useful technique and it was 'using gimp'. This is a really useful little tool which is ideal for protecting the ends of your thread. So check out Bead TV and watch it when you get the chance. I set up lots more project photos whilst I was in Arundel. These were mainly for issue 14 and included some lovely beading and wirework projects and even our first metal work one! Don't be frightened- no heat or solder are involved. It's a very simple project using ready-made silver discs and a couple of tools to make your own bead-caps. I was delighted to see how beautiful the finished necklace was and will definitely be making my own caps as soon as I get the chance!   17 September 2008 Do you have a favourite beading or jewellery making book? If so then why not join in the new discussion on our forum and let everyone know what it is and why. All the books mentioned will be entered into a poll and the thread and polls will form the basis of an article on books in a future issue of Bead.   09 September 2008 Phew- just spent a busy few hours on Bead's forum adding new forums and moving messages around which will hopefully make it a lot more user friendly. Not visited the forum yet? Look to your left for a direct link to the forum and join in the fun!   25 August 2008 Issue 12 is just finished, just the cover to complete, and I'm racing along with issues 13 and 14. I'm currently enjoying a working holiday in Northern France and hoping at some point to be able to leave my laptop and get some beading done whilst sitting out in the sunshine! Issue 13 is looking lovely with some more 'advanced' beading projects- including one bead embroidery one, and a great, versatile wirework fibular which is surprisingly easy to make and sure to be popular. I hope you're all getting some summer and managing to enjoy the sunshine when it does appear!   19 August 2008 Another visit to Arundel yesterday and once again it was a joy to open the post! This time I got to see, amongst other things, lots of Bead Soup pieces, some items for the readers' challenge/ gallery and a crystal project that's coming up in issue 14. Most of my day was spent opening the post and responding to letters and emails and then photographing readers' work for the challenge/ gallery before moving on to taking some step-by-step wirework photos for a brooch going into issue 13, planning out the cover for issue 12 and photos of finished items for issues 13 and 14. Because myself and the page designer, as well as the proofer and project designers, all have other jobs as well, we have to make sure we keep well ahead to allow for our schedules, holidays, illness etc so whilst I'm just finishing off issue 12 to go to the printers, I'm well ahead on issue 13, some of issue 14 and gathering items for issue 15! it can get very confusing at times!   12 August 2008 Issue 12 is almost done and on its way to the printers. I find it so hard to believe I've been working on Bead for almost two years and have managed to get 12 issues done and out there! That's over 150 different projects we've featured, over 50 different profiles, 12 reader's diaries and hundreds and hundreds of gallery photos full of inspiration! I dread to think how many emails I have read and sent in that time- but I know it's in the many thousands. A quick check has just revealed I have sent over 3000 since this January alone- now I know why I'm always so busy! It has been a joy editing Bead for the past two years and I hope you will all continue to read us for all our years to come.   25 July 2008 Wow- what lovely weather! I took my weekly trip to the publishers offices at Arundel yesterday to open post and take photos and it was so lovely. I have been visiting Arundel for almost two years and up until the last month or so it had actually rained everytime I had lots of lovely projects to work on yesterday and take the full page photos. I have to say I can't take any credit for those as they are all done now when I'm not there so I just have the nice job of helping to choose which ones are used. Yesterday was a day of variety with photos needing to be done of some horseshoe charms, the back of a beaded phone/ iPod holder, some lovely crystal keyrings/ handbag charms, a beaded necklace and a wirework curtain holder- a real mixed bag! All of the projects will appear in issue 12 which is due out 17th september.   09 July 2008 Phew- Issue 11 finally got to the printers today and will hit the shops on the 23rd July. Once again I've tried to cram in as much as I can. With a total of 12 projects I hope there's something for everyone. The projects featured are: - A netted collar with a floral theme - A Peyote stitch necklace with a leaf motif centrepiece - A pair of wrapped wire and bead earrings - A braided cord and big bead necklace - A dragonfly charm pendant - A star motif bracelet and earrings set - A strung dagger bead necklace - A poppy-themed choker - A new chain for you to learn - Wire and lampwork bead dangly earrings - Parcel and gift charms to continue our series - 'Swags and Tails' a more advanced beaded choker Add to that a 'Why not try' feature on braiding, a follow-up on a readers trip to Ghana, a designer and beadmaker profile plus all our usual items and features and you'll see it's a jammed packed issue! I'm beavering away on Issue 12 - can you believe Bead has been going almost 2 years now? As it's our second birthday I'm working to ensure it's a project packed bonanza with a whopping 15 projects in total. There wil be a mix of beading, wirework, stringing, PMC and even French- wire knitting so it will be a real mix. Check back nearer the time for more details and in the meantime I hope you enjoy Issue 11 when it comes out!