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PUBLISHER'S MESSAGE:


Since the dawn of time, in civilizations all over the earth, man has been adorning himself with beads. And as man's tools and technology developed, so too he created beads to reflect how he saw himself in relation to the world. Animal claws, teeth, seeds and shells gave way to carved bone and wood, stone, clay, and metal. In later times, glass and crystal, and then acrylic, lucite, and plastic made the scene, and now there are millions of beads available. But the bead industry never stops bringing new products onto the market!

It is plain that beads occupy a deep and special place in the human soul, and that they are not a fad but a permanent part of all of the world's cultures. I am not a beader myself (yet), but in the course of producing this magazine, I have been exposed to beaders and bead stores. I am constantly and happily surprised by the thread of contentment and goodness that I find running through this industry. One bead store owner said to me that when she comes to work, she is "encased in a bubble of joy".

This joy, and this satisfaction that surely relates to the fundamental place of beads in our DNA, is what I want to bring to as many people as possible through the medium of this magazine.

In Canada, we are unique in that just about all of the world's nationalities make their homes here. This diverse cultural input is manifested in our cuisine, our art, our comedy and drama, our music, and, of course, our clothing and jewellery design.
Each issue of this magazine will look at beading in a different culture. This feature will be called "World on a String", and will in future issues look at parts of India, China, Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. We thought it appropriate, though, to start with one of our First Nations. The Iroquois Native Arts Council has been kind enough to assist us in the preparation of this article, and we are grateful for their help.

Finally, I would like to thank all the wonderful advertisers who believed in our magazine and came on board with us on faith. Their magnanimous gesture shows how great their commitment is to building the bead industry in this country. It is our sincere hope that all you beader readers will thank them for making this magazine possible by supporting them.

Pat Frazier

EDITOR'S MESSAGE:


I am honoured and thrilled to have been asked to edit this wonderful and overdue magazine.

Bead suppliers in Canada have been labouring for a long time under the yoke of overwhelming competition from internet and mail-order suppliers in other countries. Existing magazines promote this competition, and this has had a negative effect on the variety and cost of beading supplies available in Canada.

It is my hope that we can address the needs and dreams of our Canadian beaders and bead suppliers, and foster the industry here at home.

Your local bead store not only sells beads – they supply encouragement, knowledge, and practical help. True creative growth comes from sharing ideas and building on insights gained from collaboration and communication with other designers. This is a commodity not available from mail-order bead sellers and mass merchandisers. Try spending a little time at a bead store. Get to know the staff and other customers, and you will be amazed at the quantum leaps you will achieve in your own work.

Alison Savage