Bead Fair Report, Shell & Wooden Beads
5th June 2021
Bead fairs are back! Our next show is today, Saturday 5th June at Luton Bead Fair and next day, Sunday 6th at Essex MrBead Fair. Bookings so far at Beads Fairs 2021.
New MrBead Shop: https://mrbeadshop.com
Content:
Bead Fair Report
Abalone Beads
Shell Beads
Wooden Beads
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Our New MrBead Shop: https://mrbeadshop.com
15% Off All From MrBead
Enjoy the new shop with 15% off anything with no minimum order. This is £15 off £100 worth of beads – the more you spend: the more you save! Only once per customer.
Shipping is free too on UK orders over £30 – under this UK P&P is just £2.50. International shipping from £5.
Can only be used at the NEW shop & not with any other coupon. To get the discount Key SHELL at checkout now, as offer ends Friday 11th June 2021. Use at https://mrbeadshop.com.
Norwich Bead Fair Report
The other Sunday at Norwich was our first show for 8-months. Very hard work as we were all out of form – it’s always like that after a gap. Usually we can setup just about in 3-hours, but this time we struggled, and MiMi was still laying beads out well past opening time.
The show went similar to the few we managed between lockdowns last year: not so many visitors, but all who attended spent well.
Number at any one time in this small hall were limited to 20 at a time. However, this wasn’t a problem as visitors spaced themselves out with arrivals throughout the day, rather than a massive surge on opening. We had a lot of new visitors, but some of our regulars were missing.
However Luton today, and Essex tomorrow will be easier. Because we’re had a test run and both halls are easy to load and unload.
Good news for Gem n Bead fans: Sam & Pete have confirmed more shows. We’re added Newton Abbot and another Kempton Gem n Bead to our exhibiting list.
See all our shows so far booked: 2021 Bead Fairs
Shell Beads
Shell Jewellery Is Back In Fashion!
History Of Shell Jewellery
Sells have been collected for thousands of years, with desirability leading to their trade. If you’re at a seaside staycation in the UK, go down the beach early!
Different technology has turned shell into many uses, apart from jewellery. Today, they’re dyed every colour in the bead box – creating attractive jewellery at affordable prices. Shells make natural, versatile jewellery.
Beach combing is a lot of fun and the main source of shells. However, they can also be found in old shell necklaces and trinkets from charity shops (already drilled), and even restaurants.
Types Of Shells
All types of shells can be made into jewellery and other things, like wind chimes. Cockle shells can be drilled and threaded together to make a necklace. Even ordinary green mussel shells can look great when sanded and polished.
Drilling Shells
Whatever you’re making, drilling holes into your shell is a necessary but tricky part of the process. A small electric drill with tiny drill bits is ideal to make holes. However, you can also make a perfect hole with a thumbtack, a needle, or even scissors. Drill slowly and carefully for accuracy and to avoid brakeage.
Other Tools
Use a mask and goggles when sanding shells, and a small file to smooth edges. For tiny shells a pair of tweezers is useful for positioning. If you want to colour the shell, use ink containing shellac – this is waterproof when dry.
What Is Mother Of Pearl?
These are pearl shells. The shining, playful, reflected light of mother-of-pearl has attracted attention since ancient times.
The mollusk forms mother-of-pearl as a protective shell. Like the pearl it’s a secretion of the mantle, composed of alternate layers of calcium carbonate and conchiolin. Among the chief sources are pearl oysters from the tropical seas.
Click To See Our Shell Beads
All Our Pearl Beads
Abalone Beads
Abalone are marine snails, sometimes called the “Ears Of The Sea”. Chinese pay a high price to eat abalone flesh – but it’s the shells that are used for jewellery. The shimmer of abalone shell draws attention is so attractive.
Abalone shell has a spiral structure, with several open respiratory pores in a row near the shell’s outer edge. The thick inner layer of the shell is composed of mother-of-pearl which give the colour.
Abalone shell connects you to the energy of the ocean, reminding us to be loving and gentle with our loved ones. Said to bring natural shielding and tranquility.
Abalone is expensive because demand is high, and there’s a limit on divers’ how much they can harvest. See our abalone beads at one of our bead fairs.
ADVANTAGES OF USING WOODEN BEADS
Wood beads go back over 6,000 years, but have recently been ignored.
However, they are now becoming popular again, because in 2019 ethnical jewellery is in and everyone appreciates natural. Wooden beads are also very cost-effective and flexible – making your jewellery easier to sell.
Some like wood because the beads are lightweight or have larger holes – making it easy to thread different materials like wire or string. Customer’s are always asking me for large-hole beads, but most semi-precious beads will fall apart if they had a big hole.
Wood also allows larger beads for bulky designs that would be too heavy otherwise, especially for earrings.
Others are attracted to the wood’s grain, bright hand-painted designs, or the perfume of sandlewood for Buddhist Mala necklaces. Wooden beads are crafted from ironwood, walnut, olive, bamboo, ebony, pear, apple, and rose.
Obviously ideal for necklaces and bracelets, but and are also light enough to sew onto garments and bags – and cheap enough for children to experiment with jewellery making. Don’t overlook wooden beads.
Wooden bracelets are designed for regular wear. Like in yoga classes to enrich meditation, and friendship bracelets. These were individually customized wooden beads on elastic cord, to create lasting bonds between mates.
Now there is a new trend for men to wear wooden, attracted by their naturalness and ease during sports.
They’re also ideal for hair accessories, such as the beginning or end of braids. Other uses are at the end of the string of light pulls or ceiling fan switches.
Click To See All Our Wooden Beads
Bead Fairs Confirmed On
Please come to visit us and see our beads ‘in the flesh’! All shows will be socially distanced and a limit to the numbers in the hall at any one time.
Saturday 5th June 11am-4pm – Luton Bead Fair, The Stockwood Hotel, Luton LU1 3SS – 1/2-hour up the M1 from London.
Sunday 6th June 11am-4pm: Essex MrBead Bead Fair, Great Bromley Village Hall, Gt Bromley, Colchester CO7 7JA.
Sunday 4th July 10.30am-4pm: Cornish Probus Bead Fair, Probus Village Hall, Probus TR2 4NB.
Weekend 10th-11th July 10am-4pm: Lyndhurst Gem n Bead Fair, Lyndhurst Community Centre, Lyndhurst SO43 7NY.
Sunday 18th July 11am-4pm: Norwich Bead Fair, The George Best Western Hotel, Norwich NR2 2DA
Full List of All 19 Bead Fairs Booked So Fair at: Bead Beads 2021
15% Off All From MrBead
Enjoy the new shop with 15% off anything with no minimum order. This is £15 off £100 worth of beads – the more you spend: the more you save! Only once per customer.
Shipping is free too on UK orders over £30 – under this UK P&P is just £2.50. International shipping from £5.
Can only be used at the NEW shop & not with any other coupon. To get the discount Key SHELL at checkout now, as offer ends Friday 11th June 2021. Use at https://mrbeadshop.com.