We're determined here at Bead, that no matter what the weather, spring is here, with summer soon to follow, and the next issue of Bead will certainly have you celebrating! We've packed it full of colourful designs, guaranteed to blow away the grey clouds. Bead is now available in more ways than ever before, as well the print edition and popular digital iMag library, you can now subscribe to bead through the Apple newsstand and on Android devices! Search for us in the App store today or click this link to find out more! If you just can't wait for... Continue reading

Now available to be enjoyed in more ways than ever before! Check out Bead on the iTunes and GooglePlay stores. Continue reading

We love a bit of cake here at Knitsy HQ and we thought what better way to celebrate the launch Knitsy than to induldge in Jill's delicious lemon and blueberry muffins! Continue reading

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Knitsy Magazine: for yarn tarts, the new & interactive knitting magazine designed just for the tablet & phone on the App Store. Download Knitsy Magazine: for yarn tarts, the new & interactive knitting magazine designed just for the tablet & phone and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad and iPod... Continue reading

My model railroad is in the basement, but at certain times of the year at a certain time of day the sun shines in through a first floor window down the stairs onto a corner of my layout. The effect it has on the scene is so impressive I was inspired to take pictures. There is something about the bright, direct sunlight that makes the whole scene particularly realistic. Typical lighting on a layout, which is usually in a basement, comes from banks of fluorescent lights. They shine behind light shields above the layout that keep the light from glaring... Continue reading

Spring is in the air, so with that in mind we decided it was a great time to give Bead a fresh new look! We hope you love it! We're also celebrating spring with these fresh new projects, brought to you by our very talented designers. We're delighted to bring you an array of fabulous and floral inspired designs, that are guaranteed to have you reaching for your beads. Whether it's Gillian Lamb's totally adorable 'Diamond Boxes' or Sian Nolan's really wearable and surprisingly quick to make 'Beaded Topiary Balls', or one of our other beautiful projects, there's certainly going... Continue reading

Cozad, Nebraska lies on the 100th meridian, the longitudinal line 100° west of the Greenwich meridian in England. In the pioneering days of the United States, this was regarded as the line between the moist, fertile eastern farmlands and the arid lands of the west. It was not until 1879 however that the US Geological survey officially established it as the boundary between the “moist east and the arid west.” You could say it denoted the beginning of the western frontier in the mid 19th century. For the First Transcontinental Railroad, it was the demarcation indicating which railroad company would... Continue reading

We're excited to introduce book signings to the Big Bead Show this year! Come along and meet expert tutor and accomplished author Sue Heaser as she signs copies of her latest book at the Bead magazine stand. Timings to be confirmed. To book your tickets for the show visit the website, but hurry Early Bird Discounts are available for a limited time! www.thebigbeadshow.co.uk Continue reading

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The next Big Bead Show, hosted by Bead magazine, takes place on Saturday 6th April 2013 at Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey. If you’ve not been to the Big Bead Show before then you’re in for a treat! It’s the biggest all bead fair in the UK! Continue reading

Have you ever had a train wreck on your model railroad layout? I’m not talking about one of those occasional derailments where one or more cars drag along the cinders until you stop your train. Nor am I talking about one of those horrors where some of your equipment actually falls onto the floor and self-destructs. I’m talking about a wreck that looks like a prototype derailment after it occurs. I had one such a derailment a while back on my layout. I was so impressed that I had to take pictures! I was running a long train of over... Continue reading

Come along on Friday 5th April for our first ever Big Bead Show Beading Masterclasses. Expert tutor Bonnie McGough tells us more about her class… It's the perfect class for someone completely new to clay or looking to perfect their techniques; students will learn how to properly condition clay,blend colours and create canes. Techniques covered will include the Skinner blend, leaf canes and jelly roll canes. Once you have perfected the techniques you will be able to put them all together to create some colourful and dramatic focal beads similar to those pictured. Allow your creativity blossom and create your... Continue reading

I don’t know about you but I find myself somewhat overwhelmed by the “Building A Cottage” videos with Nigel Overington and Roy Hickman. There are 13 of them and they run typically at 20 to 30 minutes each. Some time ago I put them up and just let them play while I was doing something else in the room.I found that as I listened that some good ideas popped out that I could incorporate in my own modeling, without having to follow the whole step by step process. In particular the idea of using a damp towel to keep some... Continue reading

Come along on Friday 5th April for our first ever Big Bead Show Beading Masterclasses. Expert tutor Melanie de Miguel tells us more about her class… Eclectica! As the name suggests this piece is composed of a wild collection of exciting crystal components, cleverly connected to form a bracelet or necklace. Rivolis are beaded using a fast and innovative technique that allows them to be embellished in a staggering variety of ways – so you could also use them separately as light catchers or Christmas decorations! Students will work through varieties called the Wagon Wheel, the Atom, Aurelia and the... Continue reading

We're delighted to announce the workshop programme for the April 2013 Big Bead Show. This year we've added something a little different. Not only will we be offering a varied programme of taster classes at the show on Saturday 6th April, but also two masterclasses on Friday 5th April. You can come along and enjoy a full day of beading and expert tuition, anticipating a great day ahead for the Saturday BIG BEAD SHOW. What a fantastic weekend! The Masterclasses are with two of the UK's top tutors and run from 10am-4pm on Friday 5th April, at Sandown Park. Tools... Continue reading

I don't know about you but there is something about taking down the Christmas decorations and finding myself in January that feels good. A new start to a new year. Don’t get me wrong, I have had more than my fair share of festive fare and would like to get out for a good long walk. However, the weather has been restricting many of us going out and about lately and this can make you feel a little down. Cats too can suffer from the winter blues so we have some top tips for getting you both bright and motivated... Continue reading

At the South Central Wisconsin Model Railroad Show, there was one Z scale layout. I think Z scale modelers must think like Ron Galloway, for I watched a 53 car plus caboose train make its way around the track. I chatted with Mark Dorow of the WIZ Kid Z Model Railroad Club about that train. He mentioned that his train length was limited by the radius of the curves they had on their modules. (Picture of train is slightly blurred.) While I watched he added 3 more cars to his train to make it a 57 car plus caboose train.... Continue reading

This issue we're celebrating using colours in our creations and have a whole spectrum of bright and colourful projects waiting for you! Our spiky cover star is brought to you by Siân Nolan who is renowned for her clever use of colour. In this issue's project she brings lots of bright colours together with some on-trend spike beads for a dazzling necklace; and her gunmetal and Crystal AB variation from the cover is just so glamourous we know you'll love it! This issue we are celebrating spike beads and have scoured the bead shops to find you suppliers of spikes... Continue reading

A while back as I was driving to my home in Dodge Center, MN from Ashdown Inc., the home of Model-Railroad.TV, there was a meet taking place between two long trains on the DM&E siding next to Highway 14. But what caught my attention was that there was some guy in a Cadillac pulled over to the side of the road taking pictures of the trains. On those few occasions when I’ve been in Rochester, MN for extended periods of time with nothing to do and been able to spend some time trackside watching trains in the DM&E yard there,... Continue reading

Download your instant copy here for just £2.99 http://bit.ly/XGl7sX I LOVE this time of year. The thrills of Bonfire night and Halloween have been and gone and roasted chestnuts and mulled wine are on the menu. As the nights get chilly, out come the woolly jumpers and our thoughts turn... Continue reading

Well the countdown to Christmas has well and truly begun! It's that time of year when the shops are suddenly stocked full of over priced gift ideas, ridiculously large tins of sweets and novelty stocking filler items that have ceased to be funny almost before the wrapping paper hits the floor. It's also the time of year when beaders everywhere (except the really organised ones) start to panic as they realise that their good intentions of starting the Christmas present makes in August have failed once again. Well worry not! There's no need to go panic-buying (as I did this... Continue reading

Yippie! The December issue of Catworld had arrived just in time for the weekend. With thoughts turning to Christmas, we have some great gift ideas for your loved ones, whether they are of the feline or human variety. As you do your shopping, please try to save a little time or money to donate to your favourite animal charity or shelter. They really do appreciate it. The festive season can be a difficult time for some of our pets, with lots of extra visitors to their home and days left alone while we go out. Take a look at our... Continue reading