The Bead Shop

Cameos have so many wonderful uses, we just can’t get enough of them here at The Bead Shop. They provide the ideal vintage inspired touch to create beautiful pieces with an heirloom feel. Of course, seasoned experts can always challenge themselves with intricately weaved seed beads and multi-strand necklaces: there is a project waiting for all skill sets and beading niches! But, with so many cameos and mounts to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. I find the easiest way to begin is to pick... Read More

Today I want to show you a few different ideas of how to use jewellery findings when making jewellery. I decided to use the small hoop earring component and S Hook with our new glitter faux suede, as I’ve been itching to use it ever since I saw it! Using three lengths of the glitter faux suede. To start, I folded the suede ends over to create a loop. Then, with the 0.6mm (22 gauge) non tarnish craft wire, I made a few wraps to seal the loops and repeated this on the... Read More

Inspired By Czech Glass Beads Depth of Colour It’s getting warmer and the nights are getting lighter, our long awaited summer is on its way. We are starting to change our wardrobes, ditching the jeans and jumpers in favour of vest tops and flowing skirts. This calls for a change is accessories also! So it’s time to put your fabulous jewellery ideas into fruition. I wanted to create a necklace that is bold in style but had a fairly neutral pallet that would complement shorts and a t-shirt as well... Read More

Earring components come in all shapes, colours and sizes but there is one in particular from our range here at the Bead Shop that I wanted to experiment with, and that is the hoop! This technique requires a few essential tools that can be fairly costly and wire work can be quite complex at times whereas these hoop components are the exact opposite. The hoops are super easy to use and you can create luxurious fashionable earrings in minuets and within a budget. I have had immense fun playing around... Read More

Here at the Bead Shop we have been slightly overwhelmed by the versatility of this soft natural material and have been really excited to share ideas with our wonderful beading community. 5mm Leather cord is one of the latest editions to our stringing materials range and can be found in a variety of distressed textures as well as more classic finishes of shiny Black and Brown. Sizing Bracelets can be a tricky business, so try not to glue anything into place until you are 100% happy with your sizing. As... Read More

If you have an old handbag that’s starting to look a little worn, or one that was bought as a present that you’ve never really been that keen on, you can easily give your bag a whole new look with buttons and beads. If your handbag is made of a cotton or canvas type material, you can sew almost any type of button or bead on without too much difficulty. If it is leather, faux leather or plastic, it is a little more tricky – but certainly not impossible. Pearl beads... Read More

Mother’s Day is fast approaching and what better way to show the mums in our lives how much they mean to us and thank them for being there for us than with a beautiful handmade jewellery? We showcase a few of our delightful beads and findings to get you inspired to lavish your very own bespoke gifts on your mum on Sunday March 30th! Create a personalised keepsake to really treasure this Mothering Sunday, using one of our pretty locket pendants as your base. Our Swarovski Elements and Pearls in... Read More

jewellery fashion trends This spring you can see a number of different contrasting jewellery fashion trends appearing, over the next few blog posts I will be breaking them down! One of my personal favourites is the mix of Synthetic Earth and Spiritual Nomad’s. Synthetic earth fuses textural and geographical patterns with hints of bold solid colour, creating a new elemental style. The contrast of these two techniques inspired by post-industrial recycling creates a fresh, contemporary textile approach. [su_row][su_column size=”1/3″] [/su_column] [su_column size=”1/3″] [/su_column] [su_column size=”1/3″] [/su_column][/su_row] Spiritual Nomad engages geometric... Read More