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Our Staff

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Meet Our Staff

Ann Dee Allen, Editor As editor of Bead&Button, I have the pleasure of working with the staff, publisher, contributors, beading artists, and Kalmbach Publishing designers to create the content and look of the magazine and Web site. Feedback from readers and site users is invaluable to me as I plan future issues of the magazine and new Web site content. I also work on strategy and branding for the magazine with other partners at Kalmbach. As the oldest and most respected bead-stitching magazine in the world, Bead&Button brings widespread attention to beaded jewelry and art, and I'm honored to help further that effort. Of course, a great side benefit is taking part in the annual Bead&Button Show, the largest retail bead show on earth!

Julia Gerlach, Managing Editor When I joined the Kalmbach Books Department in 2002, I had no idea I would soon be editing books and booklets in the beading category. When that became apparent, I spent countless nights immersing myself in the craft, learning the stitches and techniques one at a time. Luckily for me, I discovered I enjoy beading and have an affinity for it. When there was an opening at Bead&Button in 2005, I threw my hat in the ring and got the job. I find beading to be completely absorbing and I love the challenge of trying to figure out how to translate an idea into a finished project. Though I majored in music in college, I find that these days my musical activities are mostly limited to whistling in the hallways here at work and singing silly songs with my six-year-old daughter. Other than beading, my main hobby is gardening. I like to start my annuals from seed, so in January I start poring over seed catalogs, picking out new species and varieties to grow.

Anna Elizabeth Draeger, Associate Editor I have been designing beaded jewelry and accessories for 17 years. When I first discovered crystals in a bead shop in Woodstock, I fell in love with their vibrant color and fire. Crystals can be used with many types of seed beads, semi precious stones and even other crystals to make variations of casual to classic jewelry, which is why they are a primary focus in most of my designs today. I started to work at a local bead shop to support my hobby; this also allowed me to teach design classes. I freelanced for Bead&Button until a position became available. I am now an associate editor at the magazine. I also still teach classes and sell my designs. I love what I do and am fortunate to be able to work in a field that supports my creative interests.

Tea Benduhn, Associate Editor I came to beading by way of sewing. When I was five years old, I started teaching myself to stitch and watching my grandma work with textiles. She taught me how to crochet and knit, and I learned various forms of needlework over the years. Using all kinds of needles and thread became a lifelong hobby, so branching into beading was a natural extension for me. My bead stash increased significantly after I joined Kalmbach Books in 2005 and started working with a few of the beading titles. I've been working my hobby into my career ever since. Beading is similar to my other passion: editing. In both pursuits, you get to work with very tiny things (beads or letters and punctuation) that can be arranged in endless combinations. It takes creativity as well as logistics to make the most of those patterns. I've been writing for almost as long as I've been crafting, and I began my editorial career in 1999. After receiving my MFA in creative writing from Emerson College, I published a novel. Since then I have written and published dozens of articles and 20 nonfiction books for kids.

Lesley Weiss, Assistant Editor I was introduced the world of jewelry making when I came to work for Kalmbach Books in 2003. I was lucky enough to be involved when the beading and craft book lines launched, so I had the opportunity to work on a wide range of jewelry making and craft titles. It didn't take me long to get hooked on beading. Projects featuring gemstones and pearls are my favorites, and I love the way seed bead stitching allows me to use my analytical, puzzle-solving skills and indulge my creative side at the same time. I also like to knit. My other passion is literature. I read just about anything I can get my hands on, especially fiction, and my large collection of books is slowly taking over my apartment. I started out as an English major in college, and am now finishing my MFA in creative writing. I'm very excited to be a part of the staff at Bead&Button and to learn more beading techniques from our talented contributors.

Stacy Hillmer, Copy Editor I first discovered beading books and magazines when I worked at the public library in Waukesha, Wis. So many people were checking out beading titles that I knew there was something special about this hobby! Now I'm learning about beading as the copy editor for Bead&Button and BeadStyle. Fortunately for our readers, I've been writing and editing for quite some time. I had several children's stories published as a teenager, and the process of turning a manuscript into a published piece has fascinated me ever since. I have written and edited for two Milwaukee-area magazines, and am finishing my master's degree in professional writing. When I'm not playing with words, I am playing the piano, scrapbooking, decorating cakes, or relaxing in my hometown of Waukesha.

Lora Groszkiewicz, Editorial Assistant I joined Bead&Button in November of 2000. My job started at 25 hours a week but quickly increased as the magazine and the Bead&Button Show grew. I like to think of myself as the hub of the office, taking care of all the phone calls and e-mails we receive. I also log in article proposals and send out contracts. My favorite part of the job is handling Bead Dreams. Seeing photos of pieces created by artists from all over the world is one thing, but I am in total awe when I actually get to see and touch the pieces in person.