September 22nd, 2009
Some of our pandora beads which have been unavailable are now back in stock. Pop in for a good look at all the ways they can be used in your jewellery making.
Pandora Beads and Swarovski Charms
Here we have made charms out of Swarovski crystal to hang off the snake bracelet among the charms and diamante beads.
There are lots of other ways to be creative with our beads to make your bracelet special and unique to you.
Tags: Beads, pandora beads
Posted in Beads, Pandora Style Beads | No Comments »
September 17th, 2009
While we are not having too much trouble with the post, we want to make sure that everyone gets their lovely beads for jewellery making projects on time. We are therefore providing courier service as an option for your delivery, so if you need something urgently you may consider choosing it as an alternative.  We are subsidising the cost to help you out and so the charge for most of mainland Britain is a very reasonable £6.99. Orders need to be in by 11am to get collected on the same day.
Sadly Highlands & Islands, Northern Islands and The channel Islands cost more. Do call us if you have any queries about delivery, the number is 0845 6430713 (local rate call)Â Cathie
Tags: bead delivery, Beads, beads by courier
Posted in General & Admin | No Comments »
September 16th, 2009
…..Oooops, one of my customers has pointed out that our new acrylic beads that I mentioned below in my last post were showing as OUT of stock. That was a website glitch. They are now available for ordering. Sorry about that folks.
Raspberry Ripple Vinyl Bead
Tags: Acrylic beads, Beads, jewellery making
Posted in Beads | No Comments »
September 14th, 2009
We love these huge acrylic discoid beads. They are fab for funky designs in your jewellery making.
Big Acrylic Beads
Use a bunch of them on some coloured thong or interweave them with smaller beads on a flexible bead stringing wire to make a layered effect floating necklace.
One works effectively as a pendant with a tassel of tiny beads hanging beneath it, or try making a keyring you can’t lose with one of our swivel clips!
Another colour available is a gorgeous high gloss chinese red.
Tags: Acrylic beads, Beads, Large beads, Vinyl beads
Posted in Beads | No Comments »
September 11th, 2009
To help anyone who wants to learn how to make earrings without buying loads of separate packs of findings and different beads we have provided an easy earring making pack!
Nine Pairs of Earrings to make
All the beads, findings and instructions that you need to make nine pretty pairs of earrings are included.
You will of course need jewellery making tools, namely round nosed pliers, flat or chain nosed pliers and wire cutters.
The earrings include designs in Swarovski crystal, cloissonne and foiled glass.
Tags: Beads, jewellery making, making earrings
Posted in Jewellery kits, jewellery making | No Comments »
September 10th, 2009
If you make and sell jewellery I am sure that you find the demand for silver outweighs gold by a significant amount. In my case more than 100 to 1 but we have started to find more and more customers wanting gold plated findings as well as the silver ones.
Why not take a look at your bead boxes to see what you have that will go well with either antique gold or the standard gold plating.
Cloissonne Hearts
I have just been trying cloissonne beads with the antiqued finish headpins and earwires and it looks fab!
We will shortly be increasing the styles of GP chain available on the site, I’ll pop a notice on here when that happens.
It is so easy to get stuck in a jewellery making rut. Have a go with gold and see what you come up with.
Tags: Beads, cloissonne, Gold palted findings, jewellery making
Posted in jewellery making | No Comments »
September 8th, 2009
If you are making a special bracelet for a friend’s birthday don’t forget to add something to mark it out as special and a bit different. Make a charm from a favourite bead, hang it on a jump ring and thread it on along with the ready made beads. Perhaps add a gift box charm to celebrate the event.
Gift box charm bead
It is very easy to make jewellery using pandora style beads and snake chains, but that in no way diminishes the pleasure a cute and thoughtfully designed bracelet will bring. Look at our complete range of charm bracelet beads for inspiration
Tags: Beads, charms, jewellery making, pandora beads
Posted in jewellery making | No Comments »
September 5th, 2009
Here is an idea for all those little trays & boxes of beads hanging around from your jewellery making projects that you can’t seem to find a use for. Turn them into beaded wristbands using a variety of stringing materials. You could combine cotton thong and ribbon, or try multiple strings of silk cord or coloured beading wire. I have used leather in this purple beaded bracelet which I have knotted and finished with a couple of thong clamps and a cute ladybird bead on the end of the fastening.
Tags: Beads, jewellery making, wristband
Posted in Jewellery kits, jewellery making | No Comments »
September 3rd, 2009
Here is a fantasic recent piece of archaeolgy about beads from centuries ago.
Shell beads newly unearthed from four sites in Morocco confirm early humans were consistently wearing and making jewellery as early as 80,000 years ago.
A team of researchers recovered 25 marine shell beads dating back to around 70,000 to 85,000 years ago from sites in Morocco, as part of a European Science Foundation EUROCORES programme ‘Origin of Man. The shells have man-made holes through the centre and some show signs of pigment and prolonged wear, suggesting they were worn as jewellery.
“Either people went to sea and collected them, or more likely marine shell beads helped create and maintain exchange networks between coastal and inland peoples. This shows well-structured human culture that attributed meaning to these things,” said Francesco d’Errico, lead author and director of research.
For the full paper on ancient beads, jewellery making and trading look at the cordis news site.
For our up to date shell beads in bright fuchsia as well as more natural finishes look on our “shell beads page”
Bright Pink Shell Discs
Tags: Beads, jewellery making, shell beads
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
September 2nd, 2009
Steampunk jewellery is increasingly popular with many keen beaders making jewellery at home. It is based on antique brass chains and jewellery findings combined with vintage style beads and occasionally old watch parts. 
We have just launched a new range of stampings and beads for the vintage look in jewellery making. Combine them with our antique chains and findings, mix in some dark pearls, a vintage locket and a few cloissonne beads for the full effect.
The filigree stampings resembling snowflakes and flowers are perfect for adding a delicate lacework look to earrings and chokers. Use them as links in necklaces or as charms on bracelets. Add an antique clasp and you are well on the way to creating jewellery making’s hottest look of the moment.
Tags: bead jewellery, Beads, brass stampings, charm bracelet, jewellery making
Posted in jewellery making | No Comments »
