Summer To Autumn Jewellery & September’s Gemstone
5th September 2026
See us this Sunday, 6th Sept at Essex Bead Fair, Marks Tey Village Hall, CO6 1EJ – just off the A12 near Colchester . Then the following Sunday at the New Forest Bead Fair, Brockenhurst Village Hall. Both free entry & refreshments!
MrBead Shop: https://mrbeadshop.com. For all shows this year, click Bead Fairs 2026
Content:
Upcoming Bead Fairs
From Summer to Autumn Jewellery
Bead Fair Reports
Sapphire & Chalcedony For September
Enjoy a Bead Fair Soon
2026 Bead Fairs
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15% Off All From MrBead
Enjoy 15% off anything with no minimum order. Shipping is free too on UK orders over £45. International shipping from US$13.
Can only be used at the NEW shop & not with any other coupon. To get the discount Key AUTUMN at checkout now, as offer ends Friday 11th Sept 2026. Use at https://mrbeadshop.com.
Upcoming Bead Fairs – All Free Entry & Refreshments!
This Sunday 6th Sept – Essex Bead Fair
At Marks Tey Village Hall, CO6 1EJ – just off the A12 near Colchester – 10am to 3:30pm. Many exhibitors selling all types of beads – organised by Totally Beads. Free entry & refreshments. Details at Essex Bead Fair.
New Forest Bead Fair on Sunday 13th Sept
At Brockenhurst Village Hall. Semi precious by MrBead, seed beads & findings by Southampton Bead Shop and other traders. Close to Southampton and Bournemouth – or if you’re coming from north or London, it’s just 20-minutes from M27 at exit 1, and follow the A337 through Lyndhurst.
Enjoy a day out visiting us at this charming old-world village in the heart of the New Forest. Brockenhurst is bustling with old pubs and restaurants, yet offers spectacular views with ponies and donkeys wondering free.
Details at New Forest Bead Fair.
Beads Up North Craft Fair – Sunday 20th Sept
At Haydock Racecourse WA12 0HQ – between Manchester and Liverpool. Just off M6 J26. The largest gathering of beaders in the UK.
Many bead & craft exhibitors and full refreshments in two halls. Order discounted tickets online now at: Beads Up North Tickets. A bumper show, not to be missed!
For Full Details Click: BeadsUpNorth.co.uk.
From Summer to Autumn Jewellery Making
Meteorological autumn starts 1st September, and
astronomical autumn from 23st September in the UK. Either way: it’s time to get new beads!
As summer slowly gives way to autumn, it’s the perfect time to refresh your jewellery designs with warmer, richer colours.
• Change the colours: Move from bright summer shades to warm autumn tones such as golden, amber, rust, burgundy, brown and deep purple.
• Use semi-precious beads: Try citrine, carnelian, smoky quartz, jasper and amethyst to bring natural autumn colours into your designs.
• Mix sizes and textures: Combine larger semi-precious beads with tiny seed beads for extra detail and interest.
• Keep costs down: Seed beads can add colour and texture without significantly increasing the cost of a jewellery design.
• Think ahead: Autumn is the ideal time to start making for craft fairs, Christmas gifts and the busy jewellery-buying season.
• Take inspiration from nature: Look to falling leaves, berries, warm sunlight and autumn landscapes for your next colour palette.
A new season brings a new reason to bead!
For our huge range of semi precious beads, click Semi Precious Beads or Choose Beads By Colour. All about autumn beads, click here.
Berwick-Upon-Tweed Bead Fair
A fantastic show – best Berwick ever! Many visitors from afar: all good buyers! We’ll be back in summer 2027.
Scottish Bead Fair
Super busy as usual with visitors from the Highlands and all over Western Scotland. Crowded from start to finish. We love it in Scotland and look forward to returning next year. After the show we headed to Oban for the seafood. Shame about the rain this year though!
Penrith Bead Fair
Another busy show up north, with many seed beaders, as well as semi precious customers. Helped by the local beading group and Southampton Bead Shop. Beautiful new hall with air conditioning. Before the show we stayed a couple of days in Cockermouth: it’s always good to be in the Lake District.
SEPTEMBER’S GEMSTONE
Sapphire is the birthstone for September, and is chemically and structurally the same as ruby, an aluminum oxide. However, where rubies are only red, sapphires come in every color but red: blue, golden yellow, reddish-orange, or violet.
Generally sapphire is too expensive for most crafters, so a great alternative for September is blue chalcedony – which can look similar at a fraction of the cost. Chalcedony is a very fine-grained variety of quartz with a waxy luster with a compact fibrous structure.
ALTERNATE GEMSTONE FOR SEPTEMBER: CHALCEDONY
Natural chalcedony is usually grayish blue and sometimes with hints of pink, however it can be colour enhanced to light blue. It’s said chalcedony was used as a sacred stone by the Native Americas, promoting stability within the ceremonial activities of the tribe.
Chalcedony is thought to balance emotions, and bring vitality, stamina, endurance, kindness, charity and friendliness. It also supposedly alleviates hostilities, irritability and melancholy.
Click For Our Chalcedony Beads
Enjoy a Bead Fair Soon
Bead shows are great fun. You’ll love them! Bring a trolley, as beads get heavy. Take some cash, as a few venues have a weak signal for card payments. Talk to the vendors and other visitors to inspire new design ideas. Make a note of what you paid for beads, and keep exhibitors’ business cards and leaflets.
2026 Bead Fairs
We have booked 30 shows so far for 2026:
Sunday 6th September: Essex Bead Fair, Marks Tey Village Hall, CO6 1EJ
Sunday 13th September: New Forest Bead Fair, Brockenhurst Village Hall, SO42 7RY
Sunday 20th September: Beads Up North Craft Fair, Haydock Racecourse, Newton-Lee-Willows WA12 0HQ
Saturday 3rd October: Swindon Bead Fair, Purton Village Hall, 70 Station Road, Purton SN5 4AJ
Sunday 4th October: London Luton Bead Fair, Stockwood Hotel, Luton LU1 3SS
Sunday 18th October: Cambridge Bead Fair, Harston Village Hall, Harston CB22 7PX
Click For All Bookings: 2026 Bead Fairs
15% Off All From MrBead
Enjoy 15% off anything with no minimum order. Shipping is free too on UK orders over £45. International shipping from US$13.
Can only be used at the NEW shop & not with any other coupon. To get the discount Key AUTUMN at checkout now, as offer ends Friday 11th Sept 2026. Use at https://mrbeadshop.com.
MrBead Newsletter:
20 Years of Beading Newsletters 2005 to 2025. See all at Old MrBead Newsletters.
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