December 2018

Autumn Fairs, Xmas & Turquoise Beads
25th November 2018

Order Early For ChritmasMiMi and I are still in Portugal, but will return in a few days to mail MrBead orders – sorry for any delay. 

After working 7-day weeks, we need a break from over 30 bead fairs this year. No more now until Harrogate Gem n Bead next February.

Content:
October Bead Fair Report
Christmas Beads
Turquoise Beads
Tribal Jewellery
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Happy Beading Christmas!

Happy Beading ChristmasFree Shipping From MrBead!

For free UK shipping with no minimum order from our bead store enter TURQUOISE in the box at checkout and click “Redeem Coupon”. Use NOW – as expires Friday 30th November 2018.

No minimum order, but can only for used at MrBead.co.uk and cannot be used with any other discount or eBay.

For overseas customers, use the same code before 1st December for free airmail shipping, but the minimum order is US$20 at MrBead.com.

Autumn Bead Fair Report

We attended three fairs during October:

Norwich MrBead Bead Show: 14th Oct
Norwich Bead Show: October 2018More people than in July and good takings. MiMi and I were knackered after: hard work settling up and taking down half-a-tonne of beads in one day. The hall had recently been refurbished with new carpet and two powerful air conditioners.

The Big Bead Show: 20th Oct
Big Bead Show Queue 2018Big Bead Oct 2018As always this one is in a league of its own: more visitors, more takings, and more exhibitors than any other bead-only fair in the UK!

Very slightly down on the Spring, but still far better than any other bead show. A lot of fun working at with fantastic ‘energy’.

If you’ve never been: make sure you visit next Spring, it’s a must for every beader! Sandown Park Racecourse has easy parking off the M25 or a short walk from Ester Railway Station.

Newton Abbot Gem n Bead Fair: 27th-28th Oct
Newton Abbot Gem n Bead Fair 2018Less visitors than usual, but we still did well.

Also, less exhibitors as the Indian gem sellers were at a rock show in Munich this year – with Newton Abbot a week late because of the Big Bead Show. If the spring Rock n Gem is at Exeter again, we may give this a miss.

After the clocks change it’s very dark for the 6-hour drive back to Norwich, so we stayed the night in B&B at Weymouth and visited Portland Bill the next morning.

Report of the three of our November fairs will be on the next newsletter. Kempton Park was heaving, and Brighton has above usual attendance!

Christmas Beads

Xmas BraceletBeaded jewellery makes great presents. Small and light, so being easily mailed or tucked in a stocking. It’s also personal and easy to remember who the gift came from. You can even hang jewellery on the Christmas tree.

Xmas PresentBoxed necklaces with matching earring sets make great presents and easy to wrap. Offer your customers free gift wrapping and mailing.

For personal gifts buy ready-made jewellery online, requesting your supplier to mail direct with no invoice and a happy Christmas note.

December is the peak retail season, when many stores take one-third of their entire year’s sales. So ensure you make lots of quality necklaces and bracelets well in advance. You can always give away as presents if they don’t all sell.

Turquoise Icicle BeadsTurquoise is the gemstone for December, but pearls make ideal Christmas presents too – try combining the two or mixing pearls with silver. All give an air of sophisticated quality.

To read about pearls and how to make a pearl necklace click here.

Turquoise – December’s GemstoneTurquoise Beads

For selling, turquoise is similar to jade and pearl for the same reasons. Everyone appreciates it, and the gem always looks good however it’s used. Turquoise is the birthstone for December.

What is turquoise?
Turquoise BeadsTurquoise BeadsTurquoise is a soft, opaque gemstone, formed by volcanic rock reacting to copper deposits brought by water. Colour ranges from blue-green, to yellow-green with grey, black or brown veining.

Graduated Purple Turquoise BeadsMost non-green turquoise these days is dyed. Don’t believe otherwise! As genuine turquoise is expensive, reconstituted turquoise is common – crafted from real turquoise chips fused with other stones to cut cost.

History
Turquoise NecklaceTurquoise has been found in 5,000-year-old Egyptian tombs and the Tibetans used it as currency centuries ago.

North Africa and the Middle East hold large deposits, but most turquoise today originates from Burma and is carved in China. Turquoise didn’t reach Europe until the crusades when the name originated, meaning “Turkish stone”.

Benefits
Turquoise BeadsTurquoise BeadsAncient doctors thought turquoise prevented injury and ground it into a powder to cure stomach disorders, internal bleeding, and insect bites.

Turquoise Star BeadsTurquoise has always been used to protect the wearer from danger, attract wealth, and warn as a talisman or good luck charm.

Some believe it will fade when danger or illness is near, or a lover is unfaithful. It’s also said to protect against pollution and strengthen the body.

Starfish NecklaceSee what can be done with starfish beads, by one of our creative customers’.

Looking after
Turquoise Bead BraceletTurquoise is porous, so contact with liquids, oils or even perspiration should be avoided. This is why it’s often impregnated with plastic, colourless oil or wax to improve colour and durability.

Turquoise jewellery should be removed before washing. Untreated turquoise will eventually turn green.

There are many different turquoise in the store, see at: MrBead.co.uk

Tribal Jewellery

Icicle Beads Make Stunning Jewellery

Icicle NecklaceIt may not be cold enough outside for dripping frozen water yet, but icicles are hot! If you want your designs to stand out, use icicle beads.

 

Icicle BeadsThese are also inexpensive as each string will have many because they’re top-drilled and usually thin, so many to the string.

 

Icicle BeadsIcicle BeadsIcicle BeadsGo wild! With a little imagination they can be strung together to dramatic effect – and you can use just one each for earrings too.

MrBead has 20 different icicle beads at MrBead.co.uk or MrBead.com

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