Lockdown Shifts, Jewellery Trends for Summer & Measuring Beads
12th April 2020
Hope you’re all surviving the crisis. It’s tough. Stay safe inside!
We’re hoping bead fairs will resume early summer – for bookings so far, click 2020 Bead Fairs.
The new MrBead shop is coming along fast – should go live by end of April. It’s aimed for a hassle-free shopping experience. With more inspiring content and new features to help visitors.
Happy Easter. Don’t eat eggs – make jewellery!
Content:
Lockdown Shifts
Jewellery Trends Summer 2020
15-Years of MrBead Newsletters
Measuring Beads
2020 Bead Fairs
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Lockdown Shifts
Many changes during these hard times will continue when everything is back to normal. Some shops, pubs and services will remain closed for ever. However, lots of trends will benefit everyone.
Working from home is so convenient. I’ve always enjoyed going strait from shower to keyboard, and have no problem avoiding distractions. I bet, after all this trouble, many won’t go back to commuting.
Delivery companies are booming. I ordered my first fish & chips online last week from Just Eat – I was amazed at the ease, and they arrived piping hot. Made me think about wasting all that time driving and waiting.
There is a home craft boom emerging. Ladies are getting bored and find crafting allows them to ‘escape’.
Needlework and beading is therapeutic because it’s a great distraction – when you’re making something you can’t focus on anything else. Those who want to start, can buy everything online, where all the help and YouTube videos are available for free.
More people will discover new technology. If beaders’ can’t get to a show, they will learn to order online.
My 86-year-old mother’s always online. Don’t be frightened using your card on the internet – all sites are secure these days (look for https on the website’s address at checkout, the ‘S’ means it’s secure).
Jewellery Trends Summer 2020
It’s hard to find trends during these times of limitation – but it does look like statement necklaces and big chokers will be in this summer. Theresa May Specials are still popular!
When the lockdown ends, and it will be a gradual unwind, but people will be keen to let themselves go with a sense of freedom.
This means, wild colours and designs – anything flamboyant. Especially for summer. Although many will be short of cash, I think jewellery buyers will still be keen. They’ll want to ‘reward’ themselves for being locked up!
Chunky earrings and bracelets will still be in, along with chain jewellery. At the few bead shows we’re exhibited at this year, chains were going fast. They must be hot!
See our frame beads which are great for big bold earrings and the bright bold colour of our calsilca beads.
15-Years of MrBead Newsletters
2005 to 2020 
The MrBead Newsletter started April 2005, so April 2020 is the 15th full year of publication. To see the past newsletters click here. I hope some of these will inspire you to make more jewellery.
I’m always short for ideas of what to write about – so if you have any ideas, or would like to be featured (with a link back to your own website), just email me at my usual email address, thanks, Nigel. I thank you all for comments and appreciation.
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MEASURING BEADS
I sometimes receive letters telling me our 8mm beads are not 8mm. Some people say our 4mm beads look bigger on the picture! Others insist we’ve sent them the wrong size of pearls because most are smaller than we say.
However, you can’t tell the size of beads from photographs, and some new beaders are not familiar with the sizes.
Size of beads can either be exact or approximate depending on the type of bead. Simple round bead sizes should be exact: 4mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm etc. Although chip beads, being naturally different sizes, will not be exactly the size quoted in the sale – some will be longer, but most will be shorter. Same with pearls.
Bead sellers usually quote the largest size in the strand, this is especially true with natural pearls. Under 25% of the pearls in a strand may be the full size quoted.
Nuggets, again being natural, will all be different to an average size listed in the sale. Strings of beads are usually 16-inches (400mm) long. Although pearls are normally sold in 15-inch strings and chips in 32-inch strings.
A Choker necklace is 16-inches long, a Princess necklace 18-inches, a Matinee necklace 24-inches, Opera necklace 32-inches, and a Mala necklace of 108-beads can be of any length. A bracelet is usually 7-inches and an anklet 9-inches.
To purchase the bead measure in the picture click MrBead.co.uk or MrBead.com
20% Off Anything From MrBead
To get the discount off anything in our online stores, Key EGGS at checkout now, as offer ends Thursday 16th April 2020. Use at MrBead.co.uk or MrBead.com, but can’t be used with any other discount.
Early 2020 Bead Fairs
All shows cancelled until at least the end of May. We hope to start again with Norwich Bead Fair on Sunday 14th June and Sunday 5th July at Cornish Bead Fair.
Shows booked this year, click 2020 Bead Fairs.
See our beads at MrBead.co.uk or MrBead.com
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