Beaded Spiders, Autumn & Halloween Beads
17th October 2026
See us this Sunday at the Cambridge Bead Fair, Harston Village Hall CB22 7PX, 11am to 4pm – Near M11 J11. Free Entry & Refreshments!
MrBead Shop: https://mrbeadshop.com. For all shows this year, click Bead Fairs 2026
Content:
Postage Increase
Upcoming Bead Fairs
Making Beaded Spiders
Bead Fair Reports
Making Autumn Jewellery
Halloween Jewellery
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 CAMBRIDGE at checkout now, as offer ends Friday 23rd October 2026. Use at https://mrbeadshop.com.
Postage Increase
Once again Royal Mail have increased there prices this October – on top of a spring increase.
Actual postage is more than we charge as beads go as small parcel or large letter. However, we have only increased our P&P to £4.99 – and continue free on orders in the UK over £45. International shipping remains the same.
Upcoming Bead Fairs – All Free Entry & Refreshments!
Cambridge Bead Fair – Sunday 18th October
This Sunday at Village Hall CB22 7PX – Easy to reach – Harston is under 20-minutes from the centre of Cambridge, and only 10-minutes from M11 J11. Free parking. The latest semi precious beads & pearls by MrBead, seed beads & findings by Southampton Bead Shop & other traders. Free Entry & refreshments! For full details Click Here.
Norwich Bead Fair – Sunday 25th October
At the George Best Western Hotel, off Newmarket Road, Norwich NR2 2DA. The latest semi precious 
beads & pearls by MrBead & ready-made jewellery designed by The Bead Queen (great for Christmas presents!). Free entry & refreshments!
Limited parking at hotel, but just 10-mins walk from City Centre. Combine with a day out in the fine City of Norwich (all shops open Sunday). If hotel full, use ECP Parking, Bignold School NR2 2SP – and walk back along Newmarket Road. For full details Click Here.
Windsor Bead Fair – Sunday 1st November
At Old Windsor Memorial Hall, Straight Road, Old Windsor SL4 2RN. Close to M25 Exit 13 (follow signs to A30 to Egham) & M4 Exit 6 (towards Windsor). Free parking. Visit us, then combine with a day out around Windsor, the Castle & an early-evening meal there. Or enjoy a carvery at the Toby, right opposite the hall. Free admission and free refreshments to early visitors! Loads of free parking. For full details click Here.
Beaded Spiders
The Beaded Spider: The Unexpected New Trend Taking the Beading World by Storm!
There’s a new creature crawling into the world of jewellery making – and it has eight legs! Beaded spiders. What started as a quirky craft has spread across social media, craft communities and Halloween projects. Once you see how they’re made, it’s easy to understand why.
Why spiders?
Spiders aren’t obvious for beading – but from a jewellery maker’s point of view, they’re perfect. Eight legs give you eight opportunities to use beads, while the body provides a focal point for a large feature bead. Add some wire, bead caps, crystals and spacers – and suddenly ordinary beads become little creature.
The beauty is there’s no single correct way to make one. A spider can be tiny enough for a pendant or brooch, or large enough to hang as a decoration. Plus, because the design is based around separate legs, it lends itself well to using different beads from your existing stash.
From simple craft to spectacular jewellery
The basic technique is very accessible. Wire forms the structure, while beads create the legs and body. Different gauges of wire can be used for the structure and finer decorative work.
A typical design might combine:
• Faceted glass beads
• Seed beads
• Crystal beads
• Gemstone beads
• Metal spacer beads
• Bead caps
• Decorative wire
• Chain and jump rings
An important aspect of the trend is that the beads themselves become the personality of the spider. Use black and gunmetal beads and you get something dramatic and gothic. Try silver, crystal and pale grey and the result can look elegant. Gemstones create something completely different again.
The bigger the imagination, the better
One reason these spiders are so addictive is that they’re incredibly customisable. Experiment with different gemstone bodies, unusual colour combinations and different leg shapes. Spiders made with tiger’s-eye, agate, amethyst, lava stone and other gemstones. It doesn’t stop at spiders either. Once you’ve worked out how to construct an eight-legged creature – the same basic idea can be adapted into scorpions, insects, beetles and other creepy-crawlies!
A trend with history
Interestingly, beaded spiders aren’t new. Beaders have been making them for years. Spiders have always ben associated with Christmas, Halloween or gothic jewellery. What’s different now is the visibility of the idea, expanded through social media.
Why beads are particularly good for spiders
For bead lovers, perhaps the best thing about this trend is the opportunity it gives you to mix materials.
Imagine a spider with:
- Body: a large druzy or gemstone bead
- Head: a smaller faceted crystal
- Legs: bugle beads and seed beads
- Joints: silver bead caps
- Highlights: Swarovski-style crystals
- Finishing: a delicate silver chain
The age of the beaded spider may just be beginning. 🕷️
Swindon Bead Fair
The swindon show was booming – our best there yet! Many visitors and good sales all day long. People came from as far as Bristol.
London Luton Bead Fair
This was a bumper Luton show! As usual, many visitors ventured up the M1 from London. One interesting visitor who follows us on social media, especially flew to London to see us. Tamba, (pictured with MiMi) from The Gambia, West Africa. A beautiful lady particularly interested in unpolished semi-precious stones. Tamba just loves big beads and wants to make a book with her original designed jewellery. Maybe in the future we’ll visit her in Gambia.
Beads for Autumn Jewellery
Autumn bead jewellery is all about warm, earthy tones and textures that reflect the season’s richness. These stones capture the moody tones of autumn:
Autumn Jasper
Popular for its swirling patterns in browns, greens, oranges, and tan shades—perfect mirror of fall foliage.
Click to see our Jasper Beads
Banded Agate
Features earthy stripes in brown tones. Often dyed to enhance autumnal appeal.
Click to see all our Agate Beads
Smoky Quartz
Offers subtle taupe-brown tones with golden highlights—durable, versatile, and sophisticated.
Click to see our Smoky Quartz beads
Citrine
Radiant and bright, this golden-yellow gem brings warmth and sparkle—great for statement pieces.
Click to see our Citrine Beads
Fire Agate
Flaming oranges and reds bring vibrant flair and are trending for Autumn 2025 design. Best used in protected settings due to moderate hardness.
Click to see our Fire Agate Beads
Peridot
Olive-green sparkle with a golden touch—soft yet eye-catching, ideal for autumn palettes.
Click to see our Peridot Beads
Green Quartz
Green Quartz: Lighter, fresh luminous green—balances neutrals beautifully.
Click to see our Quartz Beads
Tourmaline
Tourmaline: Rich reddish-browns and earthy greens for energy and depth.
Click to see our Tourmaline Beads
Amethyst – Mulberry Hue
Amethyst: Regal purple adds drama and pairs well with sparkling accents.
Click to see our Amethyst Beads
Amber
Fossil resin with golden warmth and organic inclusions—iconic and timeless fall gem.
Click to see our Amber Beads
Spook Up Your Style: Crafting Halloween Jewellery
Halloween is the perfect opportunity to add some eerie elegance to your ensemble. Try your hand at creating unique, Halloween-inspired jewellery.
Choose stones that align with a spooky, mysterious atmosphere. Like black onyx, obsidian, garnet, amethyst, labradorite, lava, and hematite. These gems come in various shapes, sizes, and finishes, allowing you to create a diverse range of jewellery.
Design Ideas
1. Bewitching Bracelets: Craft a stylish yet eerie bracelet by combining black onyx beads with tiny, silver spider charms. Add some red garnet beads for a pop of colour reminiscent of blood drops.
2. Mystical Necklaces: Create a captivating pendant necklace featuring a labradorite stone that shimmers with enchanting blue and green hues. Accentuate it with silver moon and star charms for a celestial touch.
3. Haunted Earrings: Design hauntingly beautiful earrings with dangling obsidian teardrop beads and bat-shaped charms. These will add a mysterious allure to your Halloween look.
4. Witchy Rings: Craft a statement ring using a large amethyst or hematite bead as the centerpiece. Surround it with smaller obsidian or onyx beads for a gothic vibe.
Crafting Steps
1. Design Your Piece: Sketch your design on paper or use a bead design board to lay out your desired pattern.
2. String Your Beads: Thread semi-precious beads onto the wire or cord according to your design. Be sure to secure the ends with crimp beads and clasps.
3. Add Charms and Accents: Incorporate Halloween-themed charms, pendants, or spacers between your beads to enhance the spooky vibe.
4. Finishing Touches: Trim any excess wire or cord, and use pliers to close jump rings securely.
Skull Beads
Skull beads are ideal for Halloween, and students have been hanging them on their rucksacks all year. Skulls remind that we all have to die. Skulls show that life is not permanent and are a symbol that we are all flirting with death.
Click To See Our Many Skull 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
Last Bead Fairs of 2026:
Sunday 18th October: Cambridge Bead Fair, Harston Village Hall, Harston CB22 7PX
Sunday 25th October: Norwich Bead Fair, George Best Western Hotel, Norwich NR2 2DA.
Sunday 1st November: Windsor Bead Fair, Old Windsor Memoral Hall, Straight Road SL4 2RN.
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 CAMBRIDGE at checkout now, as offer ends Friday 23rd October 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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