Sorry it's taken me so long to reply - been stuck in bed with the 'flu for a week so although I've had plenty of time to read my latest issue I've been unable to get to the computer to stick my two pennyworth in! (I have already taken the survey although I was of course far too British and polite to nominate my own project as my favourite!)
OK, some things I didn't like: the new Contents layout (I can see why you've done it that way and it fits more info in, but I loved that old full-page project mosaic!); the banishment of 'Seeds' to the end next to the techniques (no, no, no, it's at the heart of what Beadwork is all about, it should be right up at the front!); the fact that there are now TWO 'Cool' departments (but maybe that's just my age talking); the new layout for the main project photos is too busy with insets etc. (preferred the old layout, techniques at the top, title and blurb at the bottom, nice big clean simple photo in between, perfect).
However, there were lots of things I did like: the new byline on the cover for starters, I'm all for being inspired and passionate; the Stitch Index is a great idea; bolder and clearer type for the instructions (someone put a lot of thought into this to improve its readability without actually making it larger); clearer headings and subheadings in the projects (and I love the way they're still painstakingly colour-matched to the photos and illustrations); and captions to the illustrations (and they're still those fabulous hand-drawn illustrations, please don't EVER change to computerized ones)!
And you know what I really, REALLY like? The fact that you haven't thrown the baby out with the bathwater and changed lots of stuff just for the sake of change. I was very worried that a redesign might mean losing some of that Beadwork.... whatever-it-is that keeps me coming back for more... but I needn't have worried at all, it's still essentially the same magazine and it still radiates that enthusiasm and love of the craft that got me hooked on it in the first place. Looking at it carefully with a view to answering the title question has made me appreciate all over again just how much care and attention to detail goes into every aspect of every issue! (But then, would one expect any less from editors and staff who are also beaders?)
So I guess in my long-winded way that counts as a Yes!