October 31st, 2011
We are getting excited here waiting for the delivery of our next shipment of lovely glass beads!
The beads are due in tomorrow, and we cannot wait to get the boxes off the pallet and have a good old rummage around  inside at all the new jewellery making goodies we ordered around 5 months ago! I ordered them but I cannot remember every design of  bead that  we went for. I know that there are a load of lovely lampwork beads with unusual designs and some cute little glass pip beads. We’ve got the traditional baroque type wedding cake beads too with their applied garland of golden glass strands and dots of colour. There should be some dichroic glass pendant beads in the delivery too.
Anyway some of the girls who work here are ready to pick out their favourites and take them home to their bead boards and craft studios. I’ll get them on the site as soon as I can. The great news is that they will be really good value!
Many of them should be available in wholesale beads packs in the next few weeks!
Happy Halloween fellow beaders!
Tags: Beads, glass beads, wholesale beads
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October 22nd, 2011
I’m starting to think about Stocking fillers and tree presents. . . . . I know Christmas is still a couple of months away but I might as well use my jewellery making time to add to my stash of gifts. If I make jewellery that I like I can always keep it for myself 
I’m starting with bracelets this year, mostly because I like making them but also they are really popular and they can use up lots of odd beads in different shapes, sizes and colours especially if you go for the vintage look which is so fashionable still.
For a pretty handmade vintage beaded bracelet you will need some jewellery making chain, black or copper plated works well and a handful of headpins and spacer-beads. Next you need to choose all your beads and pendants. I like a real good mix of colours and materials to include filligree beads, glass beads, stampings, pendants and pearls. You may prefer to stick to a colourway such as goden browns and autumnal shades in an assortment of bead types, include some swarovski for a bit of sparkle and maybe a special clasp to finish the piece in style.
Bracelets such as these also sell well at  fairs and markets. Make a nice collection of them,  pop them in  pretty boxes with a little “handmade by me” label and you should have a successful day at the craft fair.
Tags: Beads, charm bracelet, jewellery making
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October 20th, 2011
Jewellery fashions  come and go with seasonal speed, but buying pricey ready-made jewellery from shops, stores and markets can cost you  a small fortune. By making your own jewellery you could save your cash, always be bang on trend and have plenty of bead presents for friends and family!
If you’re looking to cut down on costs even further make your own beaded jewellery which is guaranteed to remain fashionable forever or at least let’s say timeless, you just can’t go wrong with glass or freshwater pearl beaded jewellery.
Pearl beads are the epitome of classic style, and the surefire thing about creating jewellery using these beads is  that they look stunning with nearly  every outfit.
Cream, white and silver glass pearl beads come in a variety of sizes- so you could opt for small beads to make delicately pretty pieces, or larger beads to make a bolder style statement. Swarovski crystal pearls cost slightly more but the quality is faultless. We sell them in a large range of sizes and colours.
So stock up on a few pearls, either glass or freshwater, some beads to put with them, a few basic tools and stringing  materials, and you will be well on the way to conjuring up some stylish pieces of handmade jewellery . You will of course need some findings and clasps to finish your pieces with.
Tags: Beads, pearls
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October 3rd, 2011
Little bits of curly coloured or silver wire make pretty connectors between beads in your jewellery designs. You can make them using a thing-ma-jig! It’s a solid Aluminium Jig with pegs which you position in the base and then use them to form shapes with the artistic wire! You need to create a template to wrap wire around to make curvy link Our jigs come with sample patterns, comprehensive instructions and a blank template.
Choose from our selection of Artistic Wires to use with the jig.
We sell a beginners jig kit and a deluxe version. Take your poick and enhance your beady designs.
Tags: artistic wire, Beads, jewellery making
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October 1st, 2011
It’s a new month so how about trying out some new beads. It’s easy to get stuck in a groove with your jewellery making, as you reach for the same beads and spacers. So how about trying something new and bringing a bit of variety to your jewellery making. If you love to use a certain colour pallette, maybe brown glass beads and cream pearls go for a brighter bead collection. Try some of our vibrant acrylic beads maybe. If you design with small beads try out one or two larger pendant bead pieces. Make a necklace long if you normally stick to chokers or how about a bunch of bright beady bracelets if you love to wield your pliers only for earrings! You don’t have to wear them yourself, give them as gifts or even sell them on your jewellery stall. Trying something new will improve your design skills and turn you into a more versatile jewellery maker. So go on have a bash, you can always cut it up and start again! Happy jewellery making beady friends.
Tags: Beads, jewellery making
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September 9th, 2011
It seems as though Autumn is on its way, so we are going to brighten up our days with some new pieces of jewellery made from our latest collection of  beads. We have been adding all sorts of beads to the store over the summer in time for all of you busy jewellery making fanatics to get new beads in your bead boxes and get busy with the pliers. Latest additions include some really lovely glass blown beads in new colourways and shapes, oval beads, heart beads and big fat round but lightweight glass beads.
Tags: Beads, glass beads, jewellery making
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June 3rd, 2011
We are adding so many new beads at the moment it’s difficult to keep up!
Pretty Foiled Millifiore glass beads
There are new foiled beads, heart shaped and round beads, see the pretty ones on the left!
We will continue to add lots of beads over the next weeks so keep popping by for a look for all your jewellery making  inspiration.
Tags: Beads, jewellery making
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March 31st, 2011
We are stocking up om new millifiore beads in many shapes and sizes.
Millifiore disc beads
These 12mm disc beads come in a variety of colours and prices start at only £1.80 a string.
These beads make pretty charms for vintage style bracelets and necklets.
Tags: Beads, bluestreak beads, millifiore beads
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March 2nd, 2011
Large wooden beads are really handy when making the current big beaded necklaces. They are light, realtively cheap, bright colourful beads.
Wooden carved beads!
These new beads that we have just got in stock come in a variety of colours and patterns. Try them with glass beads or large plastic beads for a fresh look in a spring beady necklace.
The beads are 18mm across
happy beading
cathie
Tags: Beads, jewellery making
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February 28th, 2011
With the birds singing their heads off most evenings we’ve added some charms with a birdy theme for early spring, use them with aother beads and charms for necklace and bracelet making.
Bird and cage antique style charm
The one illustrated here is a bird and cage set in Antique Gold Finish
The little cage has a loop on top, and the bird has one at the back. They look really pretty with a few added beads on a suede thong or string of seed beads.
A bonus is the FREE chain they come with measuring 70cm.
We have key charms, hearts and others in the antique gold and silver fiinishes. From £2.50 per set.
There are filigree earrings too and lots more new beads to come.
Tags: Beads, charms
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