I have been beading for over fifteen years and my beadwork is bound up with my health. You will know this story if you have followed my blog before.
I started beading after becoming seriously ill and I have found the beadwork consistently therapeutic. Beading has also given me a creative outlet and I think this is a healthy thing for anyone. I have come to know a lot of other beaders and I realise that many of us are suffering from difficult health conditions.
So, although I wanted to write mostly about my beading adventures, I have also talked more personally. I think we can all support each other. Sometimes it is comforting just to know that you’re not the only one who is struggling. So, I’ve shared some of my struggles and doubts on here. Since I believe it’s important to speak out, I thought I had better start by setting an example!
I hope you enjoy reading about my general beading adventures in this part of the blog.
If you’re wondering how to start French beading, then you’ve come to just the right place. I’m going to just briefly tell you what French beading is (in case you don’t already know). Then I’ll explain what materials you need to get started. I will also be including links to beginner patterns and other helpful…
Full disclosure here: I’ve been trying to do more with my Etsy store. (That story is for another post). But in that process, I discovered something really interesting. If you’re a buyer on Etsy, do you know how to get Etsy discount codes? If you’re a seller on Etsy, do you know how to set…
Are you wondering how to make beaded boxes? Perhaps you have seen a design you would like to try and you’re wondering whether you will be able to manage it. Or maybe you have aspirations to design your own. Well, let me talk you through the process. What are beaded boxes? If you’re going to…
Around this time last year, I was asked to make a beaded Nativity set for Jewellery Maker TV. Now, I had great fun doing this. JMTV sold the project as a complete kit and it seemed to be well received. Normally, I don’t revisit themes. But on this occasion, I felt I need to come…
Beaded Christmas ornament kits – well any bead kits really – are such a great idea. Let me tell you why… Then, I will introduce some new beaded Christmas ornament kits that I’ve just released this year. 4 reasons why beading kits are a great idea Well, it’s obvious isn’t it? They give you everything…
Are you running a stall at a craft fair this Christmas? Or, do you sell beadwork to raise money for charity? Well, let’s face it, the jewellery market is pretty crowded. So, Christmas ornaments are a very good alternative. But do you know how to make beaded Christmas ornaments that are easy to sell? Well,…
I apologise for using the ‘C’ word so early! …But you’ll thank me for it when you hear about this brilliant Beaded Christmas Competition. For starters, September really is the perfect month for starting to make your new beaded Christmas ornaments. There’s still time to do this at a relaxed pace, while the nights are…
Have you been enjoying some down-time and relaxation – maybe a vacation – over the summer? Perhaps you’re ready to get back to your beading mat now. So, here are some more beading project ideas that you may have missed while you were away. That in-between time… Here we are at the end of August.…
Could this be another crazy scheme? We (that’s you, my customers, and me) are about to find out. Over the next three months, I’m trialling free bead shipping worldwide on orders over £30. What will I be assessing during this trial? Basically, just one thing… will an offer like this bankrupt my business?! What will…
I’m not quite sure where the idea of ‘Christmas in July’ originates. So, I thought I’d take a look… And you can always rely on Wikipedia for a good answer!! So, for those of you who like a bit of trivia, take your pick… Could the original idea be from the 1940 film of that…
