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The Bead Shop

10/08/2011

Designer Interview – Laura Binding

1. How and why did you start making jewellery? About 5 and half years ago a temp started at my office and she made jewellery, until then i had never even thought about making it and when she showed me some simple steps, i realised how easy it was and how much i loved it! that was it! i was hooked! i did an intermediate class at a local bead shop, met some lovely people, picked up some lovely tips and then just took it from there! 2. What would... Read More

Important Benefits Of Having Your Own Jewellery Website

If you feel confident in doing so, you could create your own website to showcase and sell your handmade jewellery, or hire a web developer to build one for you. This route gives you greater control over the site’s design and appearance but means you will have to work harder in raising its profile and promoting it through well-written product descriptions and search engine optimised text for beads and jewellery findings – without which your website will not be found easily by your potential customers searching for beads or handmade... Read More

Explore Various Ways of Selling Your Jewellery

One of the greatest delights of making your own jewellery is that someone else likes it enough to want to buy it from you! Over the next few weeks we will explore various ways of selling your jewellery and identify what promotional tools can help you to sell well. Until the arrival of the internet, craft fairs were the main option for jewellery makers.Usually taking place in hotels, schools or village halls, the craft fairs are often arranged by a promoter who have a list of regular attendees. The main... Read More

08/07/2011

How to make…Antique Chain Beaded Necklace Kit

Place each of these set of beads in order shown on 2 eyepins and make a loop on each. [half] 1x 6mm Vintage Gold pearl, 1x 10mm Emerald soft touch, 1x 6mm Vintage Gold pearl, 1x 6mm Vintage Gold 1x 4mm golden shadow, 1x 12mm Glass Discs Teal , 1x 4mm golden shadow, 1x 6mm Vintage Gold pearl, 1x 8mm Antique Brass , 1x 6mm Vintage Gold pearl, 1x 4mm Indian Sapphire, 1x 6mm Vintage Gold pearl, 1x 4mm Indian sapphire, [/half] [half_last] [/half_last]   Attach each section in the... Read More

06/07/2011

How to make…Antique Brass Feather Charm Bracelet

, Place the beads below on 4 headpins, in the order shown and then turn a loop on each to finish. 1x  4mm Swarovski Indian sapphire 1x  Emerald soft touch bead 1x  4mm Indian sapphire , Place the beads below on 5 headpins, in the order and then turn a loop on each to finish 1x  Swarovski pearl 1x Gold spacer bead 1x Golden shadow 4mm Swarovski Thread on a jump ring to all 9 headpins you have made, and attach them along the bracelet. , Open a jump ring,... Read More

14/06/2011

Jewellery Maker Interview – Dalia Vainorius

How and why did you start making jewellery? By accident really. I went to a Knitting and Stitching show at the NEC Birmingham many years ago and saw some bead kits for amulet purses. I bought a few and made one on the train home. Was hooked ever since. I started making my own jewellery when I wanted something different that I knew no one else would have. My friends liked my work so I made pieces for them, and so it went on! What would you say keeps you... Read More

Top 5 Essential Jewellery Making Tools

As with any task, having the right tools for jewellery making makes it so much easier to manage, so we have put together our top 5 essential tools that we think you need while making jewellery. 5 Wire Cutters Essential for cutting craft wire, headpins and eyepins to size. Their hard diagonal edge blades let you trim wire in neatly and closely. Flat Nose For making sharp angles in soft wire, and because they grip well, use them to straighten kinked pins and wires. Their wide jaws securely close fixings such... Read More

25/05/2011

How To Make…Mystic Black Charm Bracelet

Cut two small lengths of chain approx 8cm and 6cm, place the longer chain on the second link of the bracelet in from the end with a thick jump ring and the other end onto the 8th link and place on the shorter chain to the 3rd link and the 7th link.  [toggle title=” Technique: Open A Jump Jing “]  [half] [/half] [half_last]  With your left hand hold the jump ring steady using one of the flat nose pliers. Now using another pair of flat nose pliers, with your right hand,... Read More

11/05/2011

How To Make…Steampunk Bracelet

Using  3 of the headpins place on a red rose with 6mm crystal ab satin and turn a loop, add on another 3 headpins the yellow fimo flower and 6mm Swarovski vintage gold pearl, turn a loop.  Place 4 light siam bicones and 4mm pearl on 4 headpins, 4 lime and 4 fireopal, all with 4mm pearls, make a wrapped loop on all of the head pins.  Open a jump ring attach the red fimo flower and put it on a link on the toggle bracelet, attach all the red flowers in this way... Read More

11/05/2011

Designer Interview – Suzanne Allison

[half] [/half] [half_last] [/half_last] When and how did you start making jewellery? Who is your favourite designer? What cant you live without when making jewellery? What advice would you give to someone getting into jewellery making? What makes you smile the most when making jewellery? What advice would you give to someone thinking of setting up a business to sell their jewellery? Finally, what jewellery do your customers love the most? and anything you would like to add? [half][/half] [half_last][/half_last] [half] [/half] [half_last] [/half_last]

Customers Handmade Jewellery

These gorgeous handmade India opal white with pink, yellow and blue flowers glass beads have been reviewed by one of our customers Sarah Pether: “I made a lovely bracelet on elastic using cream pearls in between. Will make a great accessory for summer outfits!” Sarah has also sent in pictures of the bracelet she made using these beads, also in the aqua colour.

Be Creative with Vintaj

The Vintaj natural brass range, made in the USA, offers one of our favourite jewellery making selections. The warmth of the brass sets off our coloured beads beautifully, and the range includes wires, chains and fasteners as well as motifs, spacers and mounts – everything you normally use for jewellery making is available in Vintaj natural brass. There is a large assortment of Vintaj motifs to help you create fantastic jewellery designs. You can cluster motifs for dramatic effect: keys and stars, clocks with cogs, leaves with insects, and birds... Read More

21/03/2011
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How to crimp an end loop

Learning how to effectively crimp an end loop is no easy task, especially if the jewellery maker attempts to hurry the task. Using a pair of flat nose pliers, follow each step below in turn without skipping any instruction – doing so would likely result in failure.      

02/03/2011

Jewellery making for beginners

Making your own jewellery is a fantastic way to save money without compromising on looking good. Hand-made items are also the perfect gifts that show you really care, but where do you get started? The Complete Beginners Jewellery Kit contains almost everything you need to begin. It teaches the basics of jewellery making and contains enough beads, charms, wires and fasteners to make several pieces. With full step-by-step instructions, the kit covers everything from turning loops to make earrings to using crimps and end fastenings. It will get your creative... Read More

16/02/2011

How to make…Heart Cluster Pendant

Create these lovely Heart pendants using Czech glass beads, they are simple to make and by adding your own choice of chain or thread, you can make this into a stunning necklace.  [half]  Thread the needle. Knot your beading thread onto the bottom of your heart. Take your needle through the back to the front, you can leave a longer piece through the back and ties into a knot with the long side of the thread. [/half] [half_last] [/half_last] [half]  Thread the needle back through the hole, then pick up... Read More

How To Make…Swarovski Pearl Mesh Brooch

Step 1) Take approx 1m of nylon, thread through the centre hole of the sieve so that approx 7cm protrudes from the back. Thread the other end through a hole next to it and knot the two ends twice at the back, then thread back up through the centre hole. Do not trim the short end; you will need it later to secure the finish. ……. Step 2) Next threads one of the beads i.e. Pearl bicone or Czech followed by a seed bead. Feed the end of the nylon... Read More

13/01/2011

Designer Interview – Janet Sherret

[half] [/half] [half_last] [/half_last] 1. When and how did you start making jewellery? 2. Where do you go for inspiration? 3. Who is your favourite designer? 4. What can’t you live without when making jewellery? 5. What advice would you give to someone getting into jewellery making? [half] [/half] [half_last] [/half_last] 6. What makes you smile the most when making jewellery? 7. What advice would you give to someone thinking of setting up a business to sell their jewellery designs? 8. Finally, what’s your favourite piece of jewellery to make? 9.... Read More

Things to think about when stocking up on new beads

Beading enthusiasts are spoilt for choice when it comes to investing in beautiful new styles of wholesale beads, as they are now available in all manner of stunning designs, which most importantly won’t break the bank. However, in order to make your new bead investments more cost-effective, you should take a little time to bear a few things in mind, as these factors could make all the difference between beads which allow you to create beautiful pieces of jewellery and beads which aren’t of any use to you. One of... Read More

Getting on the right road to creating beautiful jewellery

If you’ve been thinking of making your own stunning pieces of jewellery, and have made it a New Years resolution to create your own pieces rather than simply head to the shops for expensive and generic items, your journey into the world of jewellery making doesn’t have to be an time-consuming and difficult one. When making jewellery for the first time, many people invest in a jewellery making kit, as not only are they are equipped with the basic tools and materials needed to make your own unique pieces, most... Read More

Brushed metal beads- perfect for creating an uber glam look

If you’re the type of girl who just can’t step out of the house without wearing at least one piece of bling during the week let alone the weekend, brushed metal beaded jewellery will be right up your street. It’s fair to say that brushed metal beaded jewellery is one of the most stunning styles available, and the great news is that this type of jewellery doesn’t have to cost the Earth. This means that even if you are really feeling the pinch after Christmas, you really don’t need to... Read More