Bead-It Today (All American Crafts) declared bankruptcy in 2014. Please do not contact me about problems with your subscription. I have no contact information for the magazine. I am not an employee and I cannot help you.
***This blog post was originally written in April 2013. It is being kept for historical purposes only.***
A brand new beading magazine debuted this week! It's called Bead-It Today and features trendy, quick, and budget-friendly projects. The magazine sells for $3.99. You can follow the magazine on Facebook to keep up with the latest happenings.
First Impressions
The first issue (June 2013) has a young, hip vibe and is geared towards new jewelry makers. They're probably not obsessed (yet) with beading, but want to make things for themselves or their friends. They might read InStyle or follow celebrity fashions, but have budgets closer $20 than $200.
I enjoyed the "Fashion Watch" column, which included some trends that I knew about (tassels) and some that I didn't (the color gray). Some projects included step-by-step photos or illustrations, which is especially important in a beginner magazine.
Most jewelry magazines focus on necklace, bracelets, and earrings. I liked that this magazine included a non-jewelry project, bobby pins and barrettes. Handmade hair accessories are quite popular (more than 500,000 listings on Etsy!) and can use some of the same techniques as jewelry making.
The materials surprised me. You might expect a budget-friendly magazine to only feature items from the craft store or thrift shop, but some projects include handmade art beads. You can still design something affordable with art beads if you are clever about the other materials you pair with them.
My Necklace
I'm pleased to have a necklace project in the inaugural issue. My easy Tweet Tweet necklace uses turquoise chips, curved tube beads, and a bird pendant. Birds are still very popular in jewelry and gemstone chips are the most affordable shape to use in jewelry. Gemstone chips are easy to find; most craft stores feature a wide selection of them and fewer options for other bead shapes.
I'm excited to see how this magazine evolves over time. If you've seen it, I'd love to know what you think.