Beading Away the Winter Blues & Amethyst Beads
1st February 2026
See us at our first show of the year – 21st-22nd February at Harrogate Gem n Bead Fair. Big show with many exhibitors.
We’ll be in the 2nd hall with lots of our new beads recently imported.
MrBead Shop: https://mrbeadshop.com. For all shows this year, click Bead Fairs 2026
Content:
Beading Away the Winter Blues!
Amethyst For February
Mr & Mrs Beads Polish Trip
2026 Monthly Beady Planner
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 SNOW at checkout now, as offer ends Friday 6th February 2026. Use at https://mrbeadshop.com.
Beading Away the Winter Blues!
Winter has a way of slowing everything. Short days, grey skies and long evenings can quietly drain our energy. A simple antidote is making beaded jewellery with semi-precious stones. The perfect time to make jewellery.
Working with beads is naturally calming. The gentle, repetitive motion of threading, sorting and designing helps quiet the mind. Like meditation. It draws your focus away from screens and worries – replacing them with colour, texture and a sense of flow. Even a short beading session can leave you feeling relaxed and grounded.
Semi-precious beads add an extra layer of comfort. Stones like amethyst, garnet, or quartz bring warmth and depth during the colder months. Many people enjoy their association with balance, energy and calm – and choosing stones by colour makes the process personal and intuitive.
Best of all, beading creates something tangible and beautiful at a time of year when we crave small joys. Finishing a bracelet or necklace gives a sense of achievement – and wearing or gifting it enhances that positive feeling.
This winter, strings of beads, a warm drink and a little creativity might be all you need to lift your mood. One bead at a time!
Choose Beads By Stone
Choose Beads By Colour
AMETHYST FOR FEBRUARY
THE ROYAL PURPLE POPE STONE
What is Amethyst?
Amethyst is the gemstone for February, and for those born under the zodiac of Pisces. Also called the Royal Purple Pope Stone, the purple variety of quartz. If it wasn’t so abundant, amethyst would be very expensive.
Its name comes from the Greek, meaning not drunken. Perhaps due to a belief that amethyst would sober the effects of alcohol. However, I find this doesn’t work!
Amethyst is always purple, but comes in shades of pale lilac to deep purple. Deeper colours are more valuable – milky amethyst is the cheapest.
Amethyst is mined in South American, but the best is from Africa. Very dark amethyst, mostly in small sizes, also comes from Australia.
Mythology
According to Greek mythology, Dionysus, the God of Intoxication was angered by an insult from a mere mortal and swore revenge on the next mortal that crossed his path.
Along came unsuspecting Amethyst, a beautiful young maiden on her way to pay tribute to the goddess Diana. Diana turned Amethyst into a statue of pure crystalline quartz to protect her from the brutal claws. Dionysus wept tears of wine at the sight of the beautiful statue. The god’s tears stained the quartz purple, creating the gem we know today!
The Church & Crown
Purple has long been considered a royal colour, featured in the British Crown Jewels and with ancient Egyptian royalty. Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that “amethyst could dissipate evil thoughts and accelerate intelligence”.
Because amethyst was believed to encourage celibacy and symbolize piety, it was very important to the Church in the middle ages. Amethyst is still the stone of bishops’. Even in Tibet, amethyst is considered sacred to the Buddha.
Benefits
Amethyst’s sobering and calming qualities is why it’s considered to have the power to purify and bring peace.
It’s also believed to boost low energy, mind, body and spirit. Amethyst is especially useful to calm overworked minds as it brings mental strength, stability, and reduces negativity.
Amethyst also supports all that is transitional. Especially death and rebirth – providing peace of mind when a loved one passes.
In yoga, amethyst aids the 6th Chakra, the Third Eye, center of the body’s spiritual power. Because amethyst heightens awareness, both spiritual and psychic – increasing intuition and transition from a normal state of consciousness to a deeper awareness.
Amethyst Jewellery Design
Amethyst jewellery sells well because it has never gone out of fashion. In fact new-agers have made it more popular than ever.
It’s dark royal colour oozes style. Amethyst goes well with silver, crystal and other subtle colours. Design matching necklaces, bracelets, and earrings to match. However, don’t overpower with too much amethyst – add lots of spacers and findings to balance.
Click For Our Amethyst Beads
Mr & Mrs Beads Polish Trip
Just after New Year, MiMi and I visited Poland. With three-days in Krakow and three in Zakopane. Zakopane was a lot of fun this time of year: lots of snow, people and activities. The highlight of our trip was an evening sleigh ride (they’re traditionally at night). However, it was so dark we couldn’t take any photos – but the BBQ and drinks after were amazing fun!
2026 MONTHLY BEADING PLANNER
Planning your year is essential. Essential to success in all your life – personal, work, and business! Without planning nothing happens. No pleasure, no money, no fun and no rest.
TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE 2026 BEAD PLANNER IN PDF FORMAT CLICK: 2026 BEADING PLANNER
Then save to your Desktop so you can easily find it. This planner will help you organize your beading projects and craft fairs in 2026.
Print it out and write your schedule and bookings in the date boxes. It lists the gemstone of the month and 2026 bead fairs to help you plan ahead.
The planner comes in PDF format which is the most popular for e-books because it can be read using ANY computer or operating system. Over 99% of computers have a PDF reader installed, but if you need one the Abode Reader is free here.
2026 Bead Fairs
Bookings So Far
Weekend 21st-22nd February: Harrogate Gem n Bead Fair, Great Yorkshire Showground
Sun 22nd March: East Sussex Bead Fair, Alfriston
Sun 29th March: Norwich Bead Fair, George Hotel
Sun 12th April: Cambridge Bead Fair, Harston Village Hall
Sun 19th April: Beads Up North, Haydock Racecourse
Sun 26th April: Windsor Bead Fair, Old Windsor Memorial Hall
Sat 16th May: New Forest Bead Fair, Brockenhurst Village Hall
Sun 17th May: Devon Bead Fair, Stockland Village Hall EX14 9EF
Sat 23rd May: Cornish Bead Fair, Probus Village Hall
Sat 6th June: London Kent Bead Fair, Farningham Village Hall
Sat 27th June: London Luton Bead Fair, Stockwood Hotel
Sun 28th June: Worcester Bead Fair, Omersley Village Hall
Weekend 25th-26th July: London Gem n Bead Fair, Kempton Park Racecourse
Sun 13th Sept: New Forest Bead Fair, Brockenhurst Village Hall
Sun 20th Sept: Beads Up North, Haydock Racecourse
Sun 1st November: Windsor Bead Fair, Old Windsor Memorial Hall
Sun 1st November: Windsor Bead Fair, Old Windsor Memorial Hall
Click For Bookings So Far: 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 SNOW at checkout now, as offer ends Friday 6th February 2026. Use at https://mrbeadshop.com.
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