I've had an amazing couple of years writing for About.com Beadwork, and the time has come for me to move on to other projects. I'm so glad to have met so many awesome, inspiring beaders along the way, and I look forward to keeping in touch with everyone -- and continuing to explore the art of beadwork -- long into the future. In 2013 I encourage you to keep on beading, getting better at what you do and discovering more of your hidden talents! Always feel free to keep in touch; just search for "Chris Franchetti Michaels" online to find out what I'm up to.

Chris

Earlier this week I got a surprise in the mail from the publisher of Bead & Button magazine, which I've subscribed to for years. It's a DVD in the Design with Style DVD video series. Photos show screen shots of bead stringing, chain mail, beadweaving, and wire work being performed on the cover.

The little flier that came with the DVD explains that this is a "preview" being sent out to magazine subscribers. You can also subscribe to have a different DVD in the series delivered by mail every two to three months.

Also included in the package was a slip of paper with instructions for returning the preview DVD if I didn't want it. My first thought was, if I didn't order this, why do I need to go through the hassle of returning it? So I looked for the fine print and, sure enough, I found it: the DVD does not need to be returned.

If you also received a copy, don't worry -- according to Bead & Button, they are not automatically subscribing people to the series with a requirement to opt out.

By the same token, if you'd like to receive more DVDs, you do in fact need to take action to subscribe. Look for the little order form included with preview.

I haven't found time to watch my preview DVD just yet. If you've watched it, please share your impression of it in a comment. Do you plan to subscribe to the series? Why or why not?

_{Photo by Chris Franchetti Michaels}

This week I reviewed two beading books published in 2012, both of which would make fantastic gifts for beaders (and items for beaders to add to their wish lists). The first is part of a series called I Can. This one is all about right-angle weave beadweaving, and the diagrams are fantastic. Check it out.

The next book is Jill Wiseman's Beautiful Beaded Ropes. It's part of the more advanced level series called Beadweaving Master Class. If you already know the most popular beadweaving stitches but would like to take their tubular versions to the next level, this may be the book for you. Learn why.

Are there any other beading books you've had your eye on this year and would like to know more about?

_{Photo by Chris Franchetti Michaels}

Connect With About.com Beadwork:

Facebook | Twitter | Forum

This precious cuff bracelet by Judy Pennington is the newest addition to our Beaded Bracelet Design Gallery. This design is a good example of how you can use bead embroidery to enhance pretty background fabric, rather than filling every empty space with beads.

To learn more about bead embroidery with cabochons and other focal pieces, I recommend the book Dimensional Bead Embroidery by Jamie Cloud Eakin. To read the submission guidelines and submit your own design to one of our galleries, click here.

_{Photo courtesy of Judy Pennington}

Also new this week:

Beaded Snowflake Earrings

Connect With About.com Beadwork:

Facebook | Twitter | Forum