Down the Rabbit Hole: International Beading Week 2021

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So, will you join me on a trip down the rabbit hole to celebrate International Beading Week 2021?

If you say ‘yes’, then you could be…

  • winning a £50 coupon to spend on either my Beadflowers website or my Etsy store
  • enjoying HUGE discounts on beading patterns every day
  • having a little fun with some competitions
  • taking the challenge to reveal a £10 coupon to use on patterns on the Beadflowers website or Etsy store

Does that sound good?

Follow Katie Dean down the rabbit hole for International Beading Week 2021

How do you take part?

This whole adventure is inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. So, each day, I will be revealing another section of Wonderland for you to enjoy. You may find a competition. You will definitely find some bargain beading patterns. And you will have fun.

All you have to do is come back to this page every day during IBW2021 and click on the link to enjoy that day’s adventure. You will find the days listed below, so keep reading…

The link for each adventure won’t be activated until the day arrives, but once it has opened, you will be able to view it all week. However, some of the bargains and competitions are only going to be available for one day. So, you’ll want to make sure you stay up to date so you don’t miss any of them.

How do you enter the £50 prize draw?

That will be revealed when you get down the rabbit hole. So, look out for your instructions on day 1…when it opens!

How you can you get your £10 beading pattern coupon?

I have set up a special coupon code that anyone can use to take £10 off beading patterns here on the Beadflowers website OR in my Etsy store.

But, I’m not just going to give you the code… No, you have to reveal it in by taking a challenge.

I will be challenging you to get a set of beading patterns, each of which contains one part of your coupon code. Each of these patterns will be going on sale during IBW2021 and each of them is available on both this website and in my Etsy store.

Good luck…and enjoy thinking about what you will spend your £10 coupon on!

How does the Bee Hotel fit into all of this?

You may also have seen that I’m running a special bead along to celebrate IBW2021. In case you missed them, you can find all my other plans in this blog post.

Well, that special bead along is the (beaded) Bee Hotel. So, what has that got to do with Alice in Wonderland?

In chapter 2 of Lewis Carroll’s famous book, Alice is so confused by her experiences that she decides to test whether she is still Alice. She tries to recite a well-known rhyme that was often taught to Victorian children.

This poem was actually composed by a man called Isaac Watts, in 1715. It is entitled, ‘Against Idleness and Mischief’ and it is intended to be a lesson. Inspired by the saying, ‘the Devil finds work for idle hands’, the poem extols the virtue of hard work using the example of bees.

It begins:

How doth the little busy bee

Improve each shining hour?

And gather honey all the day

From every opening flower!

However, instead of recalling the correct poem, Alice finds herself reciting something rather different…

How doth the little crocodile

Improve his shining tail

And pour the waters of the Nile

On every golden scale.

How cheerfully he seems to grin

How neatly spreads his claws

And welcomes little fishes in

With gently smiling jaws

Lewis Carroll was famous for writing nonsense verse and parodying existing poems. This has become one of his best-known parodies…in fact it’s probably better known than the original poem now!

So, that is what links the bee hotel to this event. And remember, you’ve only got until 1st August to register on the Bee Hotel… After that, it will be closing forever and I will NOT be releasing a pattern. So, don’t miss it!

The bee hotel Work in progress, Katie Dean, Beadflowers

 

Come down the rabbit hole

So, this is where the fun begins…

Each of the images below will link to your daily adventure down the rabbit hole. But remember, the links will only open on the named day (and don’t forget, I am in the UK, so may be on a different time zone to you).

Every new adventure will offer you an opportunity to grab some bargains, have some fun and try a competition or two. But don’t be like the White Rabbit… If you’re late and miss a day, you may miss out on that adventure!

(Just a note…if you are doing this on an ipad or smartphone and are having technical issues, it is most likely because of your device. So, please switch to another device, or possibly just try a different web browser. This will work best on a computer or laptop).

Day 1 – 24th July

Follow the (beaded) rabbit down the rabbit hole. When this day opens, you can click on the photo to go down the rabbit hole.

Down the rabbit hole IBW2021 day 1, Katie Dean, Beadflowers

When Alice gets there, she finds herself in a hallway full of doors…where will they lead?

You’ll have to go on the adventure to find out!

Day 2 – 25th July

When today’s adventure begins (on 25th July 2021), you will be able to click on the image below to take part…

IBW2021 day 2, Katie Dean, Beadflowers

It turns out that Wonderland is a rather confusing place. Nothing is as it seems…not even the nursery rhymes Alice thought she knew so well. How much confusion will you experience? Only one way to find out…make sure you don’t miss out on today’s adventure!

Day 3 – 26th July

When this adventure opens, you can click on the image below to find out where it takes you…

IBW2021 day 3, Katie Dean, Beadflowers

Talking caterpillars, food and drink that makes you change size, magic mushrooms… What’s in store for you today? Click here to find out!

Day 4 – 27th July

Are you ready for another adventure? When the portal into Wonderland opens for today, you’ll be able to click on the image below to go down the rabbit hole again…

IBW2021 day 4, Katie Dean, Beadflowers

Now, is it a cat without a grin, or a grin without a cat…? Will today’s adventure give you the answer? Find out by taking a trip to Wonderland!

Day 5 – 28th July

Are you ready for some fun today…? Find out which sweet treats are on offer for you by clicking on the image when today’s adventure begins…

Down the rabbit hole IBW2021 day 5, Katie Dean, Beadflowers

Tea anyone? Perhaps a morsel of cake? What would you have chosen to eat at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party? Well, you can decide as you take part in today’s little adventure…

Day 6 – 29th July

Where will you be going today? Only one way to find out… If you’ve got to the right date, you’ll be able to click on the image below and open your adventure…

Down the rabbit hole IBW2021 day 6, Katie Dean, Beadflowers

Have you ever planted the wrong flowers in your garden? I bet you never thought of painting them to correct the problem…or did you? Just what madness will you find yourself wrapped in today?

Day 7 – 30th July

How about a game? Today could be your chance to win big… So, when it dawns, make sure you click on the image below to find out what is in store…

Down the rabbit hole IBW2021 day 7, Katie Dean, Beadflowers

Have you ever played crazy golf? What about crazy croquet…? This could be your chance to try! So, don’t miss out on today’s special adventure!

Day 8 – 31st July

Nearly at the end of our travels through Wonderland. Could it be time for a little breather…? Only one way to find out – click on the image below to access the last adventure for July…when the day arrives!

Down the rabbit hole IBW2021 day 8, Katie Dean, Beadflowers

Settle back for a story, perhaps a chance to learn something new… See what is on offer for your delectation and delight today!

Day 9 – 1st August

Not only is this your final trip to Wonderland, it’s also your last chance to sign up to the Bee Hotel. So, if you want the beading fun to continue, you’d better make sure you’re on that beadalong!

And, this last image will take you to your final day in Wonderland.

Down the rabbit hole day 9

Nothing is at it seems. But that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop here…

So, please enjoy your last day in Wonderland. And then, I hope to be greeting you inside the Bee Hotel for a lot more adventures. If you’re not enrolled yet, this is your very last chance to do it here.