Saturday, March 31, 2007

Fit to Print Review: Stringing Magazine Spring 2007

The latest issue of Stringing Magazine is out on bookshelves now! It's the spring issue, and I think the spring theme is very apparent with this magazine full of refreshing and lively designs. As you may have heard, Stringing is now going to be published four times a year, instead of its previous two. That is twice the opportunity for its beady inspiration! You can now subscribe to it, which is also new, so you never miss an issue.

It has some great features like book reviews and handy tips and tricks. The website also has free online exclusive projects. The projects in Stringing are in the intermediate range, and most have great visual complexity and incorporate exquisite art beads and unusual stringing materials and techniques. The projects don't use complicated beadworking techniques, but rather focus on innovative stringing and wirework solutions with the finest materials. The majority of the magazine is necklaces, each with detailed step by step techniques. There are several pages full of bracelet and earring designs as well: an excellent display of eye candy!

I think my favorite new feature is the "beads to buy" spread in the back of the magazine. It is a hand picked, artfully presented display of new and unusual beads and findings on the market right now, chosen to represent a theme. This month's theme was "birds of a feather". In fact, we at Art Bead Scene love this theme idea so much, we are assembling our own similar theme of different beads, which we will post soon, so keep an eye out.

So if you are looking to be inspired, I highly recommend the spring issue of Stringing.

2 comments:

Sarebear said...

I susbscribed, and I love this issue! I blogged about the last one, last fall, that I was disappointed with.

I really love that theme of beads/bits&bobs/findings etc. part, esp. since I've been LOOKING for some swallow/sparrow type charms and beads!

melanie brooks said...

Oh good! Come back tomorrow and we will have some fun things to show you!