An Important Announcement from Step by Step Beads

I just wanted to pass along some important information from our circulation department:

Now readers will get the best of both worlds without having to make a choice between two magazines - Step by Step Beads magazine is being merged into Beadwork magazine!

PLUS, on top of doubling the value you receive, starting with the Apr/May 2010 issue, here are the exciting new features you can expect in every issue of Beadwork!

• Stitch Pro: A starting place for beginners that teaches a common stitch, while offering beaders of all levels an in-depth exploration of the stitch. Discover tips from editors, other well known designers, and readers.
• Simply Seeds: A spotlighted project 100% made with seed beads, from clasp to the body of the project.
• Bead Artist: Expanded to include profiles of both bead artisans and beadweaving artists.
• Project ratings: A graphic that rates a project’s required time commitment level on a 1-to-3 scale.

Please be advised that Step by Step Beads magazine will cease publication after the Jan/Feb 2010 issue. Current subscribers can look forward to receiving Beadwork magazine for the remainder of their subscription. If you already have a subscription to Beadwork magazine your current subscription will be extended. If you have any questions or concerns please contact our customer service center at (800) 448-0865 for further assistance.

This does not make me happy at all. I really liked the broad range of different techniques and projects in Step by step beads. They had some stringing, some wire work and some bead weaving. Something for all of us who are into more than one area of jewelry making. I do lots of stringing and some wire working. I do not do any beadweaving, but enjoyed looking at the easier bead weaving projects, thinking one day I might try something. But now it sounds like SBSB is basically just going out of business and you're encouraging everyone to subscribe to beadwork instead. My subscription runs out with next issue, and I won't be renewing. I'll just have to make do with Stringing and Step by step wire.

Erin

Erin:

This does not make me happy at all. I really liked the broad range of different techniques and projects in Step by step beads. They had some stringing, some wire work and some bead weaving. Something for all of us who are into more than one area of jewelry making. I do lots of stringing and some wire working. I do not do any beadweaving, but enjoyed looking at the easier bead weaving projects, thinking one day I might try something. But now it sounds like SBSB is basically just going out of business and you're encouraging everyone to subscribe to beadwork instead. My subscription runs out with next issue, and I won't be renewing. I'll just have to make do with Stringing and Step by step wire.

Erin

 I have to agree with this completely! I just recently found SBSB and have been picking up issues since I haven't had the money to subscribe yet, SBSW was first for me :)

SInce this change I won't subscribe. I liked SBSB because it was more than just weaving, a combo of many different techniques.

Beadwork seems to be more weaving something I'm not all that interested in- At least not the hugely complex dealios. Weaving stops at simple for me.

 I think that I have to voice my concern as well, but from a different perspective.  I am almost 100% beadweaver.  The concern I have here is 2 fold...number 1 - is there going to be more pages to the magazine since they are basically "combining"?  Because if not we are getting less patterns for those of us who subscribe for the beadweaving - esp since some of us rarely get really challenging projects if we are experienced and there is less of a market for harder patterns.  But then if there are actually going to be MORE pages so that each beader-type gets equal article space then are you going to be charging more for your magazine to offset the cost of more pages?  Neither one really works out for anyone!  And #2 will the stringing projects for stringers fall away similarly to how Bead and Button really became more bead and less button?  I may not string and I may not "button" (lol) but there is definately a significance to their hobby too!!!  I think that it might be cutting off a large part of your market for stringing designs and inspirations by absorbing another magazine.

I am with Lyilha, I also do mainly beadweaving. I find SBSB ismore for the very beginner and I am not exactly a newbie. I aslo am not into the clay part of SBSB. I really hate to see the changes that this will bring about in my beloved Beadwork magazine. I just wrote a check today to renewal my subscription, but now I have second thoughts about mailing that check for a while to see what this is going to do to the magazine.

You can call me a beading snob but if they change Beadwork Magazine it will just be another Bead and Button Magazine. A little of this and a little of that and not really what I am looking for.  We already have a couple of magazines like that with Bead and Button and Bead Style Magazines.

This truely makes one very

Hey everyone! Be excited about this change! This will only enrich Beadwork, not detract from it. As editor in chief of SBSB for almost 5 years I am certainly emotional about the final issue on the horizon. But I have had a ringside seat to watch how our community's desires changed--yours and mine. This merger reflects what the entire beading community has voiced as the most (and least) sought after in projects, materials and techniques. Bringing the two powerhouse bead titles together means the best of BOTH. (We had to choose one name, after all, and Beadwork has a longer, much more established pedigree.) And while I am honored as the past editor that so many of you loved SBSB so much that you are sad, be eager instead. The spirit of SBSB is just moving into Beadwork's house, not leaving the planet.

Anticipate great things--far greater than those "other" bead magazines some of you are noting, believe me. And keep your comments coming. That's how to get what you want!

This is not an end, it's a beginning!

Editor of Beading Daily

I share a bit of Kelly & Sue's concern, and didn't subscribe to SBSB for the same reasons.  I'll be interested to see what the new combined mag looks like.  I don't mind easy projects here and there because sometimes you just need something like that (and I wouldn't be where I am without them), but I subscribe to Beadwork for the more advanced projects so I'd hate for them to go away.

Leslie:

Anticipate great things--far greater than those "other" bead magazines some of you are noting, believe me. And keep your comments coming. That's how to get what you want!

Hi Leslie,

Can you please tell us more about what the new magazine will be? We all seem to have concerns--those who liked SBSB don't want a new magazine with 90% beadweaving, and those who like Beadwork don't want to lose any of their beadweaving projects to stringing or wire. Can you answer the following questions to address our concerns?

Will there be more pages (adding additional stringing and wire to the already existing number of beadweaving projects)?

What percentage of the projects will be non-beadweaving?

thanks,

Erin

 Perfectly said, Erin. The reason why I subscribe to Beadwork is because I am a beadweaver, and I'd hate to see less weaving projects in every issue to make room for stringing, or wirework, or something else.

Cathi

 Hi Leslie, I am learning to make my Beading Patterns, as a result of loosing faith in Magazines, that promise "Beading".

I have never seen Bead Weaving in a Wire Wrapping Magazine. I have never seen Wire Wrapping in Ploymer Clay Magazines.

If InterWeave wants to be around in the "Beading, future", It need to take a "Look" at the Vast difference in their advertising and the Actual Magazines they produce.

Which is why,I stop susporting the advertising department. I can find "all I need on Line". I don't have to wade thru advertising, only to find a few projects that are "Beading".

I would love to see The Wire Wrapping, stay Wire Wrapping, and Ploymer Clay, Stay Ploymer Clay, and Step by Step Beading get back to Step By Step Beading, etc.

Just my two cents worth.

Mary

 Unfortunately I think I am going to have to voice my concern over this.  I was going to subscribe to SBS Beads but am glad I didn't.  I don't really care for Beadwork magazine because it seems to lean toward the seed bead artist, and that isn't something I'm interested in.  I preferred SBS Beads because it was straightforward stringing.  If it was necessary to combine it with another magazine it would have made more sense to combine it with SBS Wire.  That is just a personal preference of mine.  I do get inspiration from looking at the projects, whether I follow them or not.  I won't spend money on a magazine if it's only going to have a couple of ideas for me.  I will wait and see what happens with it.

Heidi

I have to say this whole idea is quite upsetting for me.. My mom got me a subscription as an early christmas present, and my first issue should be arriving soon (the first one i'm getting is the nov/dec issue)... IF it's not going to have the same step by step patterns when they merge, I will be very upset.. That's the only way I've learned half of my stitches after struggling with them for such a long time..

Leslie, you have to reassure me here.. Since you have some idea what's going on. I hope the magazine will still have the same step by step instructions, otherwise this subscription was a waste.. :( I was so happy when i found the magazine at the beginning of the year.. now I'm sad that it'll be changing just as i got a subscription to it :(

Krista

Heidi:

I preferred SBS Beads because it was straightforward stringing.

Hi Heidi,

if you prefer straight stringing, I suggest you subscribe to Stringing. Its ALL stringing. the big difference is there are no step by step photos. If thats important to you, you can try Bead Style, but I personally don't like any of their designs. Totally lame compared to the creative stuff in Stringing.

Erin

 I do get Stringing already.  I just liked the look and feel of SBS Beads, if that even makes sense. LOL  As I said I will wait and see.  If Leslie is comfortable with the new product, I am sure that it is worth the benefit of a try. 

As far as Bead Style goes, I am totally with you on that.  When I was first getting into beading I got a subscription to them.  The more I learned and expanded my vision, the less I enjoyed their magazine.  I don't really care for their designs myself.  To me that is half the fun of just opening a magazine or book about jewelry and beading, just looking at the designs.  I may never even try them, but it sure is fun to look!

Heidi

I completely agree with everything you said. I did the same thing--subscribed to bead style when I was just starting out, and appreciated the step by step photos which helped me learn, but when my subscription ran out, I did not renew. Often I would go through their whole magazine and not see one project I liked. I much prefer the style of the projects in the interweave publications.

I also subscribe to both stringing and SBSB. One thing I liked about SBSB was that many of the projects were in that "crossover" zone that you don't find in any other magazine. Some projects with stringing, some projects with wire, some multi-media, combinations of multiple techniques, etc.

My work often doesn't fit neatly into 1 category--it has stringing and wire together-- too much wire work to be considered a stringing project, but not enough wire work to be considered a true wire project. Plus sometimes some hand-made beads/focals using multi media, chain maille, etc. mixed in. The only thing I don't do is bead weaving, so I liked SBSB beacuse it didn't focus all in one area. A good fit for those of us with beading A.D.D.

Erin