Citrine, Bead Fairs & Greek Beads
29th October 2022
This weekend we’re in Devon at Newton Abbot Gem n Bead Fair, TQ12 3AF.
Then 12th-13th November at London Gem n Bead Fair, Kempton Park Racecourse. Click For All Our Bead Fairs at 2022 Bead Fairs.
MrBead Shop: https://mrbeadshop.com
Content:
Bead Fair Reports
Autumn Bead Fairs
Greek Beads
Mr & Mrs Bead’s Downtime
Citrine Beads For November
Yellow Topaz
2022 Bead Fairs
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Bead Fair Reports
Luton Bead Fair
As always, a busy show with many visitors driving the 1/2-hour up the M1 from North London.
No one flew to Luton especially to see us this time, but a couple travelled 2-hours who couldn’t make the following week. We’ll be back in Luton next spring.
New Forest Bead Fair
Our best show ever – really busy with visitors arriving from 2-hours away! We didn’t have a second rest until just before close at 4pm.
This show is so different to Gem n Bead Fairs: where we spend a lot of time reading the paper or chatting to other exhibitors. Looking forward to returning to the New Forest next year. It’s wonderful to see all the animals roaming free!
See the video: New Forest Bead Fair
Norwich Bead Fair
Norwich is always busy too, but this time it was heaving – must have been a record attendance! We’ll be back in Norwich in the spring. Lots of regulars and lots of new visitors too.
Autumn Bead Fairs
Only three bead fairs left this year. Newton Abbot this weekend, then London and Brighton. Details at Bead Fairs 2022. We’ll be back on the road February 2023 after these.
Never buy anything at a bead fair until you’ve walked all around and looked at every stand – don’t be in a rush!
Greek Beads
After Haydock MiMi and I spent a week in Crete. We always like to see what beads and jewellery is on sale wherever we go. For interest and inspiration.
The top pictures above are from Athens Protasis, a jewellery shop in the tourist area of Chania. The first picture are dyed ceramic beads, next shell beads, then a large lave bead bracelet.
Evil Eye Beads
Above picture are Evil Eye necklaces – very popular jewellery in Greece.
It was thought as far back as 5,000-years in many countries, that someone could put a curse on another simply by staring at them with evil forces. Some believe that evil eye beads or amulets could protect them. The other picture are amber necklaces.
For our new 7mm x 4mm Evil Eye beads pictured (much smaller than in the pendant picture), click Evil Eye Beads.
Mr & Mrs Bead’s Down Time – Crete
We hate beach holidays, but we love seafood and being beside the sea. Sam & Pete from Gem n Bead inspired us to visit Crete in Greece. We spend a few days in Chania with it’s famous Venetian harbour. Then drove around the North West of the island, down to Sougia.
Where we took a bus to the top of Samaria George, and walked the 12-miles down to coastal village of Agia Roumeli, and a ferry back to Sougia. The next evening we stayed in Rethimino in the North with very stiff legs! Nice holiday, but bit of a rush allowing just 3-days to prepare for two bead shows right after.
See a short video of us in Chana
Short video of us at Samaria Gorge
CITRINE FOR NOVEMBER
Citrine is an alternative to topaz as the birthstone for November. Sunny and affordable, citrine brightens winter jewellery, blending especially well with the yellow gleam of gold. Yellow is a natural reviver, and citrine focuses the mind bringing a feeling of self-esteem.
In medication it helps re-establish the link between your conscious and subconscious. If you’re feeling down, hold citrine to lift your spirit.
It’s also good at healing the body and communication. Citrine gives warm energy, promotes optimism, and attracts abundance.
Citrine removes negative energy, and in ancient times it was carried as a protection against snake venom and evil thoughts. Known as a “merchants’ stone”, placed in the cash register to acquire and keep wealth.
Citrine corresponds to signs of Gemini, Aries, Libra, and Leo.
Although the darker orange colours of citrine, have generally been the most valued – today people prefer the bright lemony shades which mix better with pastel colours.
Some call citrine topaz quartz – referring to the colour, which is similar to topaz. Since topaz is a separate mineral, this is incorrect.
As long as citrine is protected from prolonged exposure to light or heat, it will last for years, and it never requires cleansing.
See All Our Citrine Beads
YELLOW TOPAZ
Yellow topaz looks very similar to citrine. The Egyptians thought topaz was coloured with the golden glow of the sun god Ra. This made topaz a very powerful amulet that protected the faithful against harm. The Romans associated topaz with Jupiter: also god of the sun.
Topaz sometimes has the amber gold of fine cognac or the blush of a peach and all the beautiful warm browns and oranges. Some rare and exceptional topaz can be pink to sherry red.
Wear topaz only if you wish to be clear-sighted: legend has it that it dispels all enchantment and helps to improve eyesight as well!
The ancient Greeks believed that it increased strength and can make its wearer invisible. Topaz was also said to change colour in the presence of poison. Its mystical curative powers waxed and waned with the phases of the moon: it was said to cure insomnia, asthma, and hemorrhages.
Brown, yellow, orange, sherry, red and pink topaz is found in Brazil and Sri Lanka. Pink topaz is found in Pakistan and Russia. Today we also have blue topaz, which has a blue colour created by irradiation.
In early 1998, a new type of enhanced topaz made its appearance, the surface-enhanced topaz, with colours described as blue to greenish-blue or emerald green. Topaz is a very hard gemstone but it can be split with a single blow – therefore, protect from hard knocks.
See All Our Topaz Beads
Next year we’ll be holding even more of our own shows, at new locations requested by customers. If there isn’t any bead fairs near you, let me know and I’ll consider your request.
Weekend 29th-30th Oct: Newton Abbot Gem n Bead Fair, Newton Abbot Racecourse, Kingsteignton, Devon TQ12 3AF
Weekend 12th-13th November: London Gem n Bead Fair, Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, London TW16 5AQ
Weekend 19th-20th November: Brighton Gem n Bead Fair, Brighton Racecourse BN2 9XZ.
For the full list click 2022 Bead Fairs
Beads Up North Booked For Sunday 23rd April 2023 – Get It In ya Diaries!
Full details at: https://www.beadsupnorth.co.uk
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Can only be used at the NEW shop & not with any other coupon. To get the discount Key DEVON at checkout now, as offer ends Friday 4th November 2022. Use at https://mrbeadshop.com.