Greetings from the Bead Doctor

Hello lovely people. Traditionally, June is the month for weddings. I think that your wedding day should be as personal as possible. After all, unless you are the Queen, when else do you get a day that is all about you? Handmade accessories reflect your style. They give a glimpse into what you are about. A hand crafted tiara will be the crowning glory to any wedding dress. It also makes a beautiful memento of your special day. Happy beading!

Win this project!

Beads Unlimited are giving away all the materials needed to make my Pastel Shades Tiara project to one lucky beader. To be in with a chance of winning: We want you to tell us what special accessory you would make for a bride or bridesmaid-to-be in the comments box below. The competition closes on Sunday 16th June 2013.

Materials

To add all the materials needed for this jewellery making project, simply click the button below to add it to your basket. Or, if you are just short of one or two bits, click on the individual items.

You will also need:

Craft multi pliers (CRMT) – Not Included

The post Bead Doctor Tutorial – Pastel Shades Tiara appeared first on Bead Barmy.

Whether you are a jewellery maker, crafter a potential jewellery customer you will find useful advice in my articles on how to buy and sell on Facebook .

Written in the stars

The ease and low cost of setting up a Facebook page for selling products direct to the public has seen a massive increase in the online retail of all sorts of products,  particularly smaller craft items made at home. The popularity of jewellery making, means that new businesses in this sector are appearing on Facebook daily.

Within any competitive market, there will be the stars. These are the talented artisans who lovingly design original work. Then there are the star struck. These are the makers who try to make a quick buck with items thrown together with little thought or originality.

So, let me lead you through the minefield with my first piece of advice in my Facebook checklist:

Who is the person behind the page?

The person behind the page?

Facebook can be a faceless place when it comes to business pages. If the seller has not completed the About tab properly or created a Note with details of the page owner, you really have no idea who you are buying from. Personally, I would not buy from a page where I cannot easily find out all or most of the following:

• The identity of the individual behind the business
• How to contact them outside of Facebook via email or a physical location
• Some background about the business and products.
• Testimonials from previous customers
• Their policy on returning faulty or unsatisfactory goods. It is set down in distance selling legislation that any online business selling goods must provide a returns policy and address. Facebook is no exception.

Look out for Facebook Matters: All that glitters is not gold – Part 2 next week.

About the author

Helen Bowen is a member of the Guild of Jewellery Designers and a Self-Representing Artist in Jewellery Designer (SRAJD). She is owner/creator of Ring O’ Roses – Original Jewellery by Helen Bowen and writer of the ‘A Pocketful of Posies’ blog. From her home in Warwickshire, she designs and makes beautiful individual pieces with a strong reference to nature and a real eye for colour and detail. She works on commission but also creates for general sale.

The post Facebook Matters: All that Glitters is not Gold appeared first on Bead Barmy.

There are so many categories to nominate us in the Make Jewellery Awards 2013. Here are a few reminders of why you love us!

Your favourite jewellery making blog

Your favourite jewellery making blog

Since we began Bead Barmy, in 2009, we have aimed for informative, interesting and fun posts. Our readership is growing every day. Our following is loyal. Here are a few reasons why.

• Fantastic giveaways and competitions
• Tutorials from the experts
• Reader’s stories and a lot of fun!

Please nominate Bead Barmy as your favourite jewellery making blog.

Your number one bead shop

Your number one bead shop

Beads Unlimited is one of the most respected names in the world of beading. Top quality service has been provided by expert staff for over twenty seven years. Here are a few reasons why you love us:

• Beading bliss since 1986
• Legendary prices, variety and service
• Lovely staff

Please nominate Beads Unlimited in any of the following categories: Best UK supplier ~ Best overall bead brand ~ Best for jewellery kits ~ Best jewellery making website ~ Best supplier for tools

Nominate the Bead Doctor

And also….

Let us not forget our lovely retail outlet, The Brighton Bead Shop. Regular classes are hosted on the premises by Jane Lievens. Please vote for The Brighton Bead Shop in the category for Best workshop provider. 

Last but not least, there is even a place for you to support our very own Bead Doctor. Please vote for Gemma Reilly in the Favourite Make Jewellery designer category.

Please Nominate Us Now!

The post Make Jewellery Awards 2013 – Nominate Us! appeared first on Bead Barmy.

Growing girl

My, haven’t you grown!

When this little guinea pig visited The Brighton Bead Shop, she was only 3 days old. Her owner, Kerry Bolton, popped back with her last week to show us how she is thriving and, my, hasn’t she grown! Kerry also had the important job of choosing a name for our new, favourite visitor from the many entries you sent in.

Guinea pig is named and famed!

We loved all your ideas, whether funny ( Moose Legs made us laugh in particular), clever or cute. Being an observant bunch, you may already have guessed what Kerry went for. From now on our furry friend will be known as (cue drum roll) Shamballa!

What’s in a name?

Shamballa’s first visit

Kerry told us she chose Shamballa as reminded her of the jewellery making class she was taking when she first bought her to visit. So, congratulations to Claire who posted on the 26th March. A bumper mix of animal style beads will be in the post very soon! Thanks to all of you who entered. we had great fun reading your ideas and hope you enjoyed it too!

Win more beads

Fancy your chances at winning more lovely beads from Beads Unlimited? Take a look now and see if you can bag yourself a Make it Mystical jewellery project.

The post Guinea Pig Competition – The Winning Name! appeared first on Bead Barmy.

Greetings from the Bead Doctor

My inspiration from the film, Labyrinth

When Making Jewellery magazine asked me to design a project based on my favourite film, I knew just what I wanted to do. Since I was a child, I have always loved the 1986 film Labyrinth. Conveniently for me, the heroine, Sarah (Jennifer Connelly), wears a stunning necklace in the ballroom scene.

For my jewellery making project I chose shimmering moon beads and silver foil glass beads. These both really sparkle under the lights on the dance floor.

It really is a stroke of luck that I love Labyrinth so much. What on earth would I have done if my favourite film was Taxi Driver?

Giving it away

Beads Unlimited are giving away all the materials needed to make my Make it Mystical project to one lucky beader.

To be in with a chance of winning all you need to do is tell us what film inspired jewellery you would make in the comments box below. The competition closes on Sunday 26th May 2013.

Materials

To add all the materials needed for this jewellery making project, simply click the button below to add it to your basket. Or, if you are just short of one or two bits, click on the individual items.

You will also need:

Craft multi pliers (CRMT) – Not Included

The post Bead Doctor Tutorial – Make it Mystical appeared first on Bead Barmy.

We had such an overwhelming number of entries, our gallery is even more jam packed than usual! Even then we couldn’t include all the designs we wanted to. The standard of work was fabulous.

Congratulations

This month, our Reader’s Gallery award goes to Neena Shilvock. Her gorgeous mix of wirework and bead stringing won us over. Congratulations Neena, your £10 Beads Unlimited gift voucher will be winging it’s way to your inbox very soon.

The Gallery

What’s next?

Our next reader’s gallery will be entitled ‘Flower Power’. If you would like a chance to be featured, please upload your designs (fitting with the theme) to our Facebook page or email them to creative@beadsunlimited.co.uk. Many of you will be showcased and one lucky beader will win a £10 Beads Unlimited online gift voucher. Please post your images by 19th May 2013. If you have a website that you would like mentioning, please tell us when you post your design. All we ask is a link back on your page to Beads Unlimited.

Get the Blues

If you are feeling in a blue mood, please take a look at the hundreds of blue beads and threads at Beads Unlimited.

The post Reader’s Gallery – We got the Blues appeared first on Bead Barmy.

In the stars

I have been bead weaving for about seven years. It began when I was asked to work out how to make wire and bead stars for a Christmas Craft evening at our church. New to beading, making the challenge come to fruition was both frustrating and exhilarating. Prior to the evening, friends showed me how to make dangly earrings, and a glass bead necklace. I was hooked!

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Discovering Bead Weaving

A bead weaving class caught my eye. Here was something that was challenging and ever evolving. Could I do this? I discovered a far greater passion for jewellery making through bead weaving than most other forms. I joined a beading group and entered one of their competitions called ‘Indian Summer’. I grew up in Africa so had no idea what this meant! For inspiration I looked on-line and at a book called ‘Shaped Beadwork’ by Diane Fitzgerald. I submitted my entry and won! The demand was so high for me to teach the technique to my fellow beaders, I was asked to become a tutor at my local bead shop. My journey into teaching bead weaving began.

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The Business Side of things

I never seriously considered making a business out of jewellery making. However, I love teaching. After our local bead shop sadly closed down, I began running a monthly project from home. I am a qualified teacher, but this year, decided to stop for a while. So, with more time on my hands, I began my facebook page, mainly to say

This is what I have taught before. This is what I can do. This is what I would like to teach anyone who would like to learn.

The future

I have done one fair, making beaded angels alongside work for sale. I used leaflets to advertise that I do classes and birthday parties. Many were taken. I hope to see some new business from this. I recently launched my website www.beadnweave.co.uk.

I am considering doing the odd jewellery party, but need to build up some stock first! I hope to continue sharing my experiences with others, being inspired by them, and inspiring others in return. The joy and pleasure my customers express when happy with my creations, will always give me pleasure.

Fancy giving bead weaving a go?

You can find all the useful items you need to get started in bead weaving at Beads Unlimited. Rocailles, thread, beading needles, bead mat, snippers

If you are interested in bead weaving on the loom, there is also a great instruction booklet available.

And of course, now you know where to find a good teacher!

The post Hobby to Business: Teaching Bead Weaving appeared first on Bead Barmy.

We can never resist a bit of glitz and glitter and it seems that neither can you. Your red carpet reader’s gallery entries are bursting with glamour!

Congratulations

This month, our Reader’s Gallery award goes to Leanna Benjamin. Her beautiful necklace has just the right mix of opulence and style. Congratulations Leanna, your £10 Beads Unlimited gift voucher will be winging it’s way to your inbox very soon.

What’s next?

Our next reader’s gallery will be entitled ‘We Got the Blues’. If you would like a chance to be featured, please upload your designs (fitting with the theme) to our Facebook page or email them to creative@beadsunlimited.co.uk. Many of you will be showcased and one lucky beader will win a £10 Beads Unlimited online gift voucher. Please post your images by 21st April 2013.

If you have a website that you would like mentioning, please tell us when you post your design. All we ask is a link back on your page to Beads Unlimited.

The post Reader’s Gallery – Red Carpet appeared first on Bead Barmy.

Greetings from The Bead Doctor

Adapt and survive!

Hello all! I think we are all feeling the pinch at the moment, so I am starting a new series of projects for under a tenner. This money saving tutorial is a great way to keep your beading hobby alive whilst keeping a tight hold on your purse strings. My monochrome necklace clocks in at just £7.95 when you buy all materials from Beads Unlimited. Adapt and survive everybody!

Save Pounds

A £ sign circled in green and pink indicates a tutorial for under a tenner. It means you are good to go and in the pink!

Giving it away

Look for the green pound!

For a chance to win the Make it Monochrome necklace we asked you to send us your money saving tips. We had some great ones – thank you. The winner is Jo Dube who posted on the 8th April. Yes, you are right Jo, it is always worth entering competitions. You might just win!

Materials

To add all the materials needed for my classic monochrome project, simply click the button below to add it to your basket. Or, if you are just short of one or two bits, click on the individual items.*

You will also need:

Craft multi pliers (CRMT) – Not Included

The post Bead Doctor Tutorial – Classic Monochrome appeared first on Bead Barmy.

Guinea pigs are bred & shown to a breed standard like a dog or cat. There are more than 100 different breeds of guinea pig. This little guinea pig is a girl. She is doing well at present but needs feeding every 2 hours.  At the moment she comes everywhere with me. Visiting Guildford hospital, dinner at friends, training with Age Concern UK and attending beading classes at the Brighton Bead Shop!

Name that Guinea Pig

This lovely little lady does not have a name yet and that is where you come in. We are calling here Little Guinea for now. We know you find furry creatures as irresistible as us so we thought you would enjoy a naming competition. The person who chooses the winning name will win a lovely selection of animal beads from Beads Unlimited.

How to enter:

• Write your guinea pig name idea in the box below and the reasons why you have chosen it.
• Entries must be in by midnight on Sunday 28^th April 2013
• The winner will then be chosen by Kerry.
• The winner will be notified by email and asked for a postal address, so we can send your prize.

The post Name the Guinea Pig and Win Animal Beads! appeared first on Bead Barmy.