Beading Magazines

How do you know which beading magazines will help you? Read this article and check a few of them out.

Considerations When Choosing Beading Magazines

The first thing most people think about when they think about subscribing to beading magazines is the price. Price is a major consideration since beading magazines, like most magazines dealing with specialty crafts, can be rather expensive. Beadwork magazine, for instance, has a cover price of $35.94 for just six issues.

While you don't want to break your budget with beading magazines, the price alone shouldn't be the only thing you're worried about. Here are some other things to think about:

• What are the projects like?
• How many projects are there per issue?
• Does the magazine seem to be geared to crafters on the same level as you?
• What kind of beads and supplies are used? (The magazine may have more expensive tastes than you do.)
• What else is in the magazine besides projects—techniques, interviews, buying guides, etc?
• Is the magazine high-quality? Do the pictures look good? Do you want to thumb through it? Would you like to have it on your coffee table?
• How many projects out of a random issue look interesting to you?

Probably the most important of these questions are whether the magazine speaks to crafters on your level and whether the projects appeal to you. If you're a beginner, you won't enjoy a magazine full of techniques you don't know how to do. And even if it's on your level, if you don't like the look of the projects you'll never make them and it's a waste of money.

Scouting Out Beading Magazines

Luckily it's not too difficult to page through beading magazines before you buy. If your town has a large bookstore, you'll probably find several of the bigger beading magazines on display, and they are happy to let you thumb through the pages before you buy (even if you don't decide to buy).

Your library may also be a good source for beading magazines. If your library does not currently offer beading magazines, you can request them. If you can find these magazines at your library, you can page through the issues and make copies of any designs you like. If you find yourself drawn to the same magazine over and over, you might want to invest in your own copies.

If you have beady friends, you could always have a magazine swap. Each person could subscribe to a different magazine and you could all trade after looking through each issue. Or go in on a subscription together and pass it around. These magazines are expensive, but that shouldn't keep you from enjoying all they have to offer.

Finally, visit the magazines' websites and look at their subscription offers. Sometimes you can get a free preview issue and cancel the subscription before it goes into effect. This is a good way to see if you like a magazine and gives you a little more time to make a judgment call when you're browsing at home.

Beading Magazines

Now that you know what to look for in a beading magazine, here are some sites and periodicals you'll want to check out.

• Bead and Button—lots of emphasis on stitching and wire work
• BeadStyle—a fun magazine for beginners and those who like fast and easy projects
• Beadwork—an emphasis on fashion makes this magazine stand out, again lots of stitching
• Jewelry Crafts—features a wide array of techniques for beading and making beads
• Lapidary Journal—geared toward the professional and those with a passion for gems
• Simply Beads—focuses on quick and easy beaded projects of all sorts
• Bead Unique—about using beads in all aspects of home décor in addition to jewelry
• Bead Bugle—an online beading magazine downloadable by paid subscription
• Beading Times—offers tips on beading and marketing as well as projects and interviews