Christmas
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Mine’s a very strange job when it comes to Christmas, we need to work on the Christmas issues so early, that we almost have two Christmases, and you get all festive and organised, three months early, then it goes away and comes back again in a hurry when you realise you need to do it for real this time.
Well the pre Christmas panic has just hit me, it’s a juggling act every year on just what to do first, wrap presents, write cards, put up decs, or feed the baby! Every year I start earlier, yet it still seem to fill every spare moment, and some more! Perhaps it doesn’t help that we are still desperately trying to finish building our house too.
At least I’m organised enough this year to spare a little time for some ‘me shopping’, next week I’m looking forward to purchasing my Christmas Day outfit, and I know exactly what will happen, I’ll rush home with my new attire, straight to my beads to make something to match, and still be finishing it off Christmas morning. Sometimes it would be so much easier to buy a necklace – but I just can’t bring myself to when I have so many lovely beads!
Have a great Christmas and we’re already working on some great new features for the New Year.
Michelle
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Editorial Correction
Monday, December 14, 2009
January issue 2010
Unfortunately it has come to our attention that there is a mistake in the Top 20 bling ring text and should read as follows,
Sorry for any inconvenience caused.
The editorial team.
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Back from Greece
 Michelle Powell - Editor
Friday, October 30, 2009
I’m back at work now after ten days aboard the beautiful Celebrity cruise ship Solstice.
We cruised around Italy and Greece with stops at some beautiful ports. I think Rhodes, Mykonos and Santorini were my favourites, particularly for their abundance of Jewellery shops. Occasionally between the masses of tourist tat stores I’d spy a small independent artist working in these beautiful locations. My particular favourite was a small store in Mykonos – we went for a drink, came back for another look (and to spend some hard earned cash) and it was closed! Oh well a good excuse to go to back to Mykonos. On board ship they also featured a hot glass show – unfortunately not lampwork, but the next best thing, glass blowing. Three guys from Corning Glass put on a variety of demonstrations throughout the cruise on making vases, bowls and decorations. As much as I was itching to give it a try, it did look like hard work, and I was a little scared at the though of that amount of molten glass on the end of a really big mandrel. Their work was beautiful and a unique attraction for a cruise ship. Now back to reality and on with the January issue! Cheers, Michelle.
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Heather Kingsley-Heath
Michelle Powell - Editor
Thursday, September 17, 2009
I'm all excited as my beads have just arrived to make Rebecca Anderson's beautiful beaded flowers, as featured on page 38 of the November issue.
I'm a big fan of flowers and these beaded ones are so beautiful, I just had to give them a go. I've also treated myself to enough beads to make Heather Kingsley-Heath's stunning beaded beads on page 74 of the November issue. Now all I have to decide is which project to start first! While I'm on the subject of Heather - I must just make her a huge apology - the web address we printed as part of her Albion Stitch book review in the last issue was incorrect. It works beautifully if you have a Mac, but if you are using a PC you will need to use www.heatherworks.co.uk to be directed to her site...I still love my Mac despite this! I'm off for a few days in Suffolk next week, my partner Christian is working there for six weeks so I'm visiting him and taking a little time for myself to do some beading. Beads for both Heather's and Rebecca's projects will be packed and taken with me for some beading by the sea in (hopefully) sunny Southwold! Until next time, happy beading! Michelle
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Lampwork
Michelle Powell - Editor
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Well I’m just starting to recover from my recent holiday – if you can call it that! I spent a week in a two berth caravan with my partner and 11 month old baby, my… I’m glad to be back at work for the rest, I don’t think I’ve ever come back from a holiday and been so exhausted!
Thankfully the weather was beautiful and it really was great fun to play in the sand and paddle in the sea once again. My daughter is a real water babe and we spent lots of time in the pool. We had a few days in Dorset then went over to the Isle of Wight where I managed to get in a quick visit to Isle of Wight Glass. Sadly it was a Saturday so there were no glass demos going on, but still it was fascinating to see all the beautiful glass creations in the showroom and I’m sure lampwork artists would be thoroughly inspired by the stunning effects. Talking of lampwork, on my last working day before my holiday, Becky and I were lucky enough to spend the day with one of our contributors, the very talented Julie Fountain at her studio here in Malvern, it’s in fact just around the corner from our offices. Julie kindly gave us a special workshop and went through all the basic lampworking techniques, the essential materials and tools. I think it was the most inspirational and fun day at work I’ve had in a very long while and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Julie for her kindness, hospitality and of course for sharing her expert knowledge, tips and ideas. I’d also like to thank her for allowing us to drool over all her stunning beads! Look out for more about Julie’s fantastic courses and more beautiful projects coming up in future issues of Beads & Beyond. If you just can’t wait check out Julie’s website here: www.lushlampwork.co.uk I think I’ll sign off now, print date is looming and it’s always a rush to catch up after spending time on holiday. If you’re off on your holiday, have a fantastic time! Michelle
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New Designers - London
 Rebecca Hughes - Assistant Editor
Monday, August 10, 2009
I took a trip to London on the 10th of July to check out the New Designers exhibition in Islington.
It’s a place for final year University students from all sorts of artistic creative fields to exhibit their work. The whole building was a hub of activity with lots of students milling about! There was so much to see including ceramics, glass, textiles and of course the reason I went– jewellery! I was so impressed by the quality and professional standard of work but also the concepts behind each collection. I met lots of enthusiastic young designers so watch this space, I’m sure you will see them on the pages of Beads & Beyond in the coming months! While I was in London I also popped over to Covent Garden to have a sneaky peak around the Covent Garden Bead Shop, I got myself a few supplies so I’ll be busy making project over the next few weeks. Bye for now,
Becky
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Sorry!
Rebecca Hughes - Assistant Editor
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Subscription gift – Pink tool kit availability.
Since the makeover of Beads & Beyond we have been overwhelmed with the fantastic response from readers. Our subscription gift during the first month did particularly well, but unfortunately due to the high number of new subscribers and circumstances beyond our control we have been experiencing problems getting them in on time from our supplier. We would like to take this opportunity to apologise for the delay, but please be assured they are on their way and will be with you soon. We would like to thank you for your patience, The Beads & Beyond team.
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George Harpers English rose pendant
Rebecca Hughes - Assistant Editor
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Hi all, I have just found out that the dragonfly company have made up kits of George Harpers English rose pendant from the July issue. I have already ordered myself two!
As I am only a beginner ‘chain mailler’ this is perfect for me as it means I don’t have to buy higher quantities of jump rings that I may not use up. The kits are available in sterling silver and are priced at just £8.95.
The only thing you will need is the stringing material, I think I’m going to put mine on a piece of ribbon, the other is for a birthday present so I’m going to put that on a simple piece of chain.
Log onto www.thedragonflycompany.com and click on magazine kits.
Bye for now!
Becky
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Knots
Rebecca Hughes - Assistant Editor
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Hi, well, today has been a busy day.
I have spent a lot of time getting to grips with macramé knotting. I really wanted to incorporate some into my project for Augusts’ issue. So I sat in front of a knotting book for a good while trying to figure it out! I did it; I think it was worth it. I would love to know what you all think. I called my project macramé meadow, the on sale date for this issue is the 7th of July. The knot I used is fairly simple to get to grips with and soon I felt I could do it without having to constantly refer to the book. There are lots more knots I want to try though so watch this space for more projects! The book is called Ornamental Knots for Beaded Jewellery and is available from the Traplet online shop. Well, bye for now. Becky
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Oops
Rebecca Hughes - Assistant Editor
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Editorial correction for the June 2009 issue.
It has come to our attention that the 'Indian Princess' article by Shiney Company in the June Issue (no. 22) of Beads & Beyond has a wrong quantity in the materials list. You will actually need 16 4mm crystal copper bicone beads not 6 as printed. We apologise for the inconvenience this may have caused.
Becky.
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Swarovski
Rebecca Hughes - Assistant Editor
Friday, May 08, 2009
I though I would just tell you all about our trip to the big city! We went to visit the folks from Swarovski, at the Swarovski Cosmos Lounge!!
We had arranged to meet at Paddinton at 11.00am, Michelle and I had been really looking forward to our day out! As we walked down Great Marlborough street its hard not to miss the sparkling window adorned with crystals! Inside is just as impressive too! Cute little drawers filled with all sorts of crystal in lots of shapes and sizes. Whilst in the café bar area and were shown the latest inspiration trends for the coming season, plus all the new colours and shapes Swarovski have launched. They were gorgeous! We were shown some application techniques by the Swarovski team and were lucky enough to have a ring made for us by designer Andy Farrow. Needless to say we had a fantastic day… and I came home a lot poorer! I would recommend popping in if you are out and about in London. I can’t wait to go back! Speak soon,
Becky
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A five minute make!
Michelle Powell - Editor
Saturday, May 02, 2009
With just 10 minutes until we need to leave to go to Christian’s Uncles 90th birthday party I decide that I need to make myself a necklace to match my outfit! I’ve got a lovely new grey and blue top, but nothing exciting to wear with it, so out come the tools and a few beads (much to Christian’s disbelief!)…
Five minutes later I’m wearing my new necklace! It matches beautifully, but I’m not completely happy with it, the large glass bead is so big it doesn’t sit nicely, but it’ll do for now and I’ll remake it when I have a little more time. Well here it is my super fast five-minute necklace! 
The beads are some I bought in Venice a couple of years ago so I really want to create something lovely with them, maybe a larger cluster of beads below the glass blown bead will make it easier to wear. It would probably suit a longer necklace too. Bye, Michelle
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Hello
Michelle Powell - Editor
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
I find this blog thing a little odd, I was never much of a diary or letter writer and found it positively painful to waste a day of my holidays sending post cards so I don’t think I’m natural blogger – forgive me if I rattle on about anything that springs to mind, but there is quite a lot on my mind at the moment.
I have a very full and hectic life right now, I’m part time editor of Beads and Beyond, Mum to a beautiful 7 month old baby girl, project managing our very own grand design self build house and busy writing books on paper crafts. We are living in my parent’s spare room as the caravan got just too cold over winter with the baby, and our belongings are scattered over at least seven attics, garages and spare rooms of friends and family. Even the simplest tasks become a chore when you need to travel three miles just to grab your moisturiser!
On a daily basis I’m reminded just how disorganised and chaotic my life is and I can’t wait for the day the house is finished, so we can sort out all our stuff and we can spend our evenings and weekends having fun, not filling grooves in plasterboard. The end is in sight, hopefully we’ll move in sometime this summer.
For now it’s back to beads and as a little bonus to celebrate the launch of our blogs we’ve got a special box of beads (over £50 worth) just waiting for a new home. If you’ve made a project inspired by a feature in Beads and Beyond, please e-mail a photo of your creation to inbox@beadsandbeyond.com, with ‘Blog Candy’ in the subject bar and your address details in the body, and we’ll pick one to win the beads on 1st June.
Take care, Michelle
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Ecological heating
Michelle Powell - Editor
Thursday, April 23, 2009
It’s been a full on text week this week; the next print date is just around the corner so I’ve been head down at the keyboard for most of the week. Still excited about my lampwork beads I made at Flame off and I really must book up a course soon.
With a poorly little girl (just a cold, but it seems so much worth on a 7 month old) and a ground source heat pump going in at our new self build house there has been little time for anything creative this week. So instead here’s a photo of our back garden being dug up into 430 meters of trenches all in the name of ecological heating! 
Apparently the latent heat in the ground heats the refrigerant in the pipe, which in turn heats up the water enough to run our underfloor heating. Or at least I think that’s how it works! Bye for now Michelle
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Lampwork
Michelle Powell - Editor
Friday, April 17, 2009
I’ve been looking forward to this day for months, ever since reading the review of last years show in Beads & Beyond, it’s Flame off day!
I’ve been beading, doing stained glass and fusing for years, but I’ve never made a lamp work bead and I’ve really been holding off since starting at B&B as I know where these urges usually end up … that is £500 or so the poorer and a new workshop needed to store the associated stash. We are still living out of a suitcase in my Mum and Dads spare room so I really cannot buy anything at the moment that isn’t directly related to finishing our house – and however hard I try to justify it to myself, a beginners lampwork set up really isn’t that urgent when we still need stairs and doors. Becky and I scurried around the event like kids in a candy store, we really didn’t know where to look first and it was all I could do to have a civil conversation with someone, when my eyes were just wandering over the beautiful beads on show. The highlight of the event for me was making my first two lampwork beads on a hot head. Here they are: 
A bit broke off one when it came off the mandrel, but I still treasure it. I was amazed at how difficult it is the see the colours and design on the hot bead and how quickly it would droop if I paused between too long when rotating. I have a new found respect for lampwork bead artists. I can’t wait for my next opportunity to practise making more beads. …and the question you are all dying to ask – did I control the urge the buy my starter kit – well you’ll be proud of me I did, but I’ll let you into a little secret, the cash machine was broken so I was penniless!
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It’s been non-stop since the beginning of the year for me!
Rebecca Hughes - Assistant Editor
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Since starting on Beads and Beyond in January, I have moved to be nearer the offices in Malvern, Worcestershire.
I’m settling nicely into life in Malvern life and I’m over the moon with my flat, within minutes I can be walking over the Malvern Hills – Bliss!
Unfortunately moving house has meant my beady stash has been turned upside down and I can’t find anything! Although I did manage to get some supplies together for ‘teal tramlines’ in the May issue, a project for all you wireworkers out there!
I’m currently working on some ideas for the next issue, I’ve got the pressure of living up to the standard of all our fab contributors... eek! I’m thinking something along the lines of earthy colours and more wirework!
Its been a big month for all of us here at Beads and Beyond, first the new-look magazine and now the website. Hope you all enjoy it, and as always we welcome any feedback.
Happy Beading!
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Welcome to the new-look Beads & Beyond website
Michelle Powell - Editor
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Hello, and welcome to my half of the Beads and Beyond Blog.
Becky and I are going to keep you updated weekly about the goings on here at Traplet Publications as we create our favourite beading magazine (well we are biased!)
Check back soon for the first instalment of my blog, we’ve blog candy up for grabs, sneaky peeks of forthcoming magazines, bonus ideas and general chatter from both of us. .
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DO Crafts
Michelle Powell - Editor
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
It’s been a fun filled, but a very long and tiring day, up at 5.30am, I met Becky and Katie (the Craft Stamper Editor) in Bristol at 7.30, ready to drive down to Dorset to see the exciting new products launched by DO Crafts.
The day started with a cup of tea, essential after four hours driving, and a chance to play with some of their new beading product range. Anna Baird a new designer in Creativity! DO Craft’s very own magazine gave a workshop on linking and we all made attractive cluster style necklaces using a large kit of beads. 
Here’s my attempt, I wouldn’t usually choose to use these colours, I’m more of the murky type, but the necklace looks fresh and summery and I’m sure I’ll wear it. DO Craft’s are launching a whole range of beautiful beading products from a major US company later this year so look out for interesting beads, unusual links and stylish findings that I’ve previously drooled over on holiday in the US, but couldn’t find anything similar here in the UK. …and of course we’ll have details of the products in Beads & Beyond Retail therapy as and when they are released. Bye for now Michelle
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