Project submissions

 I have a question that I don't see answered anywhere on the Beadwork site regarding project submissions.  Does a contributor get paid for the project?  I would love to submit some projects but as someone trying to make a living as a bead artist and teacher I can't afford to give up my rights to sell my patterns in my kits for 18 months without monetary compensation.

 Mikki-- if they accept your design, YES you do get paid for them. I don't know how much, but there you go.

Lois

 I do believe you get paid but it's not very much. You probably do better on your kits, in my personal opinion.

Maybe someone here has submitted and been accepted previously can tell you better or just contact the editor of Beadwork and ask if they have a base price for projects.

Good Luck!

You don't have to give up your rights to the project or selling it as a kit just to submit it to a magazine.  Lots of magazine projects have full kits available from the designers so you certainly could as well.  It's not a lot of money for being published but anything's better than nothing and it's definitely good exposure.

Yes, you do get paid, but the exposure is worth way more than the monetary compensation!  I try to put together kits for my projects so that they are available on my Etsy and ArtFire shops when the project comes out in the magazines.  And I had some of the tear sheets from the magazines mounted and I display them in my booth when selling at farmers markets and craft shows - people like to see that you've been published!

Good luck!

-Jen

 Thanks guys.

I've been trying to weigh it all out.....I know the exposure is fabulous, I just worried with teaching....I have a couple of new locations where I have to have kits because there is no bead store close and no restrictions on selling.  Much better because my students LOVE my kits.   I guess if I have the bead kits available when the magazine comes out and they have a link that may well be very good.  Ok...I guess I'll give it a shot...I have a couple of designs I think may be well recieved.

OK....that's the second main project for next week....the first is putting all my kits into a catalogue which I need for the new gigs.

Thanks again guys...you're always so encouraging and you haven't steered me wrong yet!

Hi Mikki,

I don't know how much beadwork pays, but I can tell you that stringing pays $60 for a 1 page necklace design with instructions, and step by step beads paid a little more than that the one time I had a piece published there. Bracelets and earrings in stringing pay only $15, but you don't have to write instructions.

I don't do bead weaving, but I'm guessing that with bead weaving patterns, since you have to do diagrams, etc, and the project is more than one page, it probably pays more than stringing. My guess would be in the $150 range. You can email them and ask. I'm sure they will tell you.

Other non-interweave publications are all over the map on the pay scale. Bead style pays $75 per page (most projects are 2 pages). Simply Beads (now sadly out of business) paid anywhere between $75-$150 depending on the complexity of the project, and Bead trends is the worst--it pays nothing except a $20 gift card (usually to fire mountian gems) and 2 copies of the magazine. They do, however, have excellent photography, and are a monthly publication, so you have more chances to get your name out there and showcase your piece. Still, I save my best pieces for stringing and bead trends gets my B-list. I wish they would learn that offering better compensation will attract better designs.

Basically, you don't publish for the money. You publish for the exposure. (and of course, bragging rights.) The check is just a nice perk.

Good luck!

Erin

 Thanks Erin...that's great info.

I'm going to give it a shot and send something in this week.  Being a bead weaver I guess I'm looking at Beadwork or Bead & Button.

I liked the idea that I could sell the bead kits without the instructions when the magazine hits the stands...that would definitely boost things.

Well, for sure let us know when we can expect to see you in print!  I'm sure it will happen eventually.

JSmaz:

Well, for sure let us know when we can expect to see you in print!  I'm sure it will happen eventually.

 Ummm....anytime now...lol.  I think my colorwork challenge piece is in the new Step-by-Step, I did Beadwork's "The Challenge" and my piece "Twin Roses" is in the next issue. Plus there's something else coming out before Christmas.

But I haven't actually submitted a project yet.  One of the projects I'm thinking of submitting is the pattern for "Twin Roses".  I was really happy with how that came out....and Melinda says it looks great in the magazine...I know when I photographed it I couldn't believe how photogenic it is...by far one of my best designs. I don't know what happens to the Challenge pieces, whether I get it back, I hope so because I had a heck of a time parting with it...lol!  It took me almost two weeks to be able to put it in the mail.   Maybe if I submit the project they'll send it back so I can work from it rather than just the photos I have and the practice stuff.    Anyway, Beadwork can challenge me anytime, I had a blast and it stretched me as a designer...working with things I don't normally work with.

Mikki335:

my colorwork challenge piece is in the new Step-by-Step

I just got out my new SBSB and checked out your color challenge winner. Its gorgeous! I do wish they had shown the whole piece on all of those color challenge winners. I would have liked to have seen more of all of them.

I don't get beadwork, so I can't look at twin roses :-(

Publications always return your pieces after they are through with them. Usually not until the issue comes out, though.

Erin

 Ooooo....thanks Erin.   I've been trolling the newstands for the new issue of Step-by-Step and have yet to find it.  I'm glad to know my piece is actually in it...YAY!  Now if I can find a copy I have a frame waiting for my first printed piece...eeek.

Good to know they return the pieces....I had such a hard time parting with that one...lol.  Once the publication comes out I'll post a pic of Twin Roses for you :)

 Ok....I submitted something.

Actually I submitted my Beadwork Challenge piece, "Twin Roses"  as a project.  So now I guess I just cross my fingers...right?

Mikki335:

I'm glad to know my piece is actually in it...YAY!  Now if I can find a copy I have a frame waiting for my first printed piece...eeek.

I was wondering if that was you Mikki! Congrats!

Good luck on the twin roses you submitted as well!

 Best of luck with the submission! I have been a bead publication addict for the best part of the past three years and although the fees are nice, they are only a small part of the benefits of appearing in a beading magazine. I love the whole process (apart from glitches like getting the row numbering mixed up and then having to sort it out in the proofs) - there is nothing like the thrill of seeing your own beadwork in print, and in my experience so far all bead magazines are staffed by lovely helpful people who are great to work with. And when someone takes one of your projects and makes a unique and beautiful version of it, or takes the design in a direction you'd never imagined, that is a wonderful feeling too!