The Bead Shop in Nottingham

2011-10-17T07:44:00.000-07:00

This Sunday Spinsters Emporium & Merrimaking are hosting The Craft Off! A night of competitive crafting with live music, drinking and dancing! The theme is Jungle so think rain forests, giant snakes, birds of paradise, tigers, man eating flowers, sunshine gods, totem poles, tarzan, monkeys.....

All craft materials are provided and no skills necessary, just your imagination and team spirit! There are a lot of awesome prizes up for grabs including Spinsters Emporium goodies, Merrimaking hoods, homebaked cakes and club night tickets!

So what more could you want? Get yourselves to the Malt Cross this Sunday for 7pm (or earlier to get the best seats!) and join in the fun!

Tickets are £5 for folk, or £4 with student card and you can buy them online either from Spinsters Emporium or Merrimaking.

To keep upto date with The Craft Off you can also join the facebook group!

xx

Felt Beads

2011-10-04T07:20:00.001-07:00

Felt Beads
When most people think of felting, it conjures up soggy and soapy images and a long wet process, before you get your finished product. It certainly put me off making felt beads on a regular basis. However after picking up a rather useful book in a second hand book shop all about felting I was inspired, the book talked about the different methods and processes & one thing that stood out to me was DRY (or needle) felting – no more getting soggy & pruny fingers!

This wonderful process is regularly used to add detail to larger wet felted items, such as flower detail on to a bag or eyes and facial features on to felted toys. Reading on, I wondered whether this process could be adapted for felt bead making. The best way I thought to find that out was giving it a go & IT WORKED! Admittedly the first few beads I made were vastly different sizes, but practice makes perfect & I cracked it! Here are some basic steps for making felt beads & some useful tips...

Stuff you need
Natural fiber (Merino roving is ideal)
Felting needle (very sharp – be careful)
Foam pad (thick upholstery foam is perfect)
A sharp metal skewer (or a knitting needle –for making a hole)

1. Pull out small chunks of fiber from the end of larger batch. Create several small piles all of a similar size (this helps to ensure your beads will all be approximately the same size! If you want to be really precise, you can weigh the fiber, 1g-1.5g is ideal.)

2. Pick up a length of your fiber and roll it up tightly in your fingers, creating a compact roll, keep hold of it firmly. Use further bits of fiber to wrap around the rolled up piece in opposite directions.

3. Once the bead is approximately the size you want (or a little larger, as it will shrink slightly), start felting; place your bead on a foam pad (I’ve used upholstery foam), gradually start working all over the surface of the bead with a felting needle, short repetitive stabbing action is the best way to get started.

Take extra care not to stab your fingers. The best way to avoid this is by holding the bead carefully at the edges & only stabbing the bead in the centre, away from your fingers - but keep moving the bead around to ensure you felt the whole bead evenly. Unfortunately it does seem inevitable that you will prick your finger (I seem to prick my finger every other bead I make - it’ll make you jump, but it’s not too bad).

4. Continue felting your bead until it is round and starting to feel compact. Roll the bead in your hands, this will help eliminate the holes created by the needle and also highlight any areas of loose fibers that may need more work.

5. Once your bead is nice and firm and you are happy with the way your bead looks make a hole through the centre with a metal skewer.

Your beads are ready to be used in any way you choose. I like to make long necklaces on cord, with spaced out beads, kept in place by a small knot either side.
Thanks for reading, Steph.

(Steph has designed a beginners felt bead kit around these instructions - available here)

Polymer Clay Tutorial - Spiral Cane

2011-09-01T03:30:00.000-07:00

We’re excited to be stocking a new range of Premo! polymer clay, therefore we thought we’d show you how to make a basic cane which can be sliced in order to decorate beads. The spiral cane is a simple cane that is ideal for beginners and for this you will need the following materials:

Tissue blades
2 packs of Sculpey/Premo! clay in contrasting colours
Acrylic Rolling Pin

1. Always condition the clay well before use, this ensures that it is soft and not too brittle, making it easier to work with. Do this by working the clay in your hands; the warmth of your hands combined with rolling and folding makes it much more pliable. Roll out two sheets of clay approximately 1-2mm thick. It helps if these are rolled so that the sheets are long and narrow and each should be rolled to approximately the same size.

2. Place one sheet on top of the other and gently roll over to remove any trapped air and ensure that the two sheets are adhered together.

3. Before you begin rolling cut one edge straight and trim down the sides slightly if needed. Roll tightly to avoid trapping any air.

4. Continue rolling, keeping the edges straight. Just before you roll the last part cut the edge straight. Use your fingers and gently roll to make the seam more secure.

5. Roll the cane upon the work surface to reduce it down, always keep your hands moving along the length to keep it the same diameter.

6. Once you are happy with the size you can begin slicing. It’s often a good idea to cut your cane in half so that you can reduce one half smaller than the other.

7. To slice the cane ready for applying to your beads it is best to allow the cane to cool slightly. You can speed this up by placing your cane in the fridge/freezer for a short period. The thinner the slice the better the result as the clay will spread less when being applied to your bead. As you cut each slice rotate your cane slightly to prevent distortion.

8. Make a round bead by rolling a piece of clay between the palms of your hand in a circular motion. To make sure each bead is an equal size you can roll out a larger sheet of clay and use the same size cutter for each bead or roll a log and cut equal lengths each time.

9. Now you’re ready to apply the slices to your bead, simply cover it with as many slices as you need. Press each slice very gently to make it stick. Roll in your palms until there are no more ridges along the cane edges. Allow to settle for a short time before piercing to make a hole.

10. The beads are now ready to bake, following the manufacturer's instructions!

Craft Fair Tips and Advice!

2011-08-03T03:58:00.000-07:00

Here at the beadshop, we have had more and more customers ask us for advice on craft fairs, so we have put our heads together to think of our top tips and advice for those just starting out or thinking about taking part in a fair. Craft fairs are an awesome way to get feedback about your work, meet fellow crafters and become part of an ever growing community. It is also a good way to help fund your hobby!

Before booking a craft fair, do some research! The best way to do this is visit local craft fairs, especially if they are run by the same organization that you hope to work with. Not only will you get a feel for the range of work shown, but you can also see the people it attracts which will help you when it comes to deciding what stock to bring. It is always helpful to ask questions! Most stall holders will be more than happy to chat to you about their experiences within craft fairs!

Once you have decided on the right fair for you, there are several things to look into to make the most of your space;

one - Check how much space you will be allocated and what is included in the price you are paying for a stall. Sometimes tables and chairs are an added extra so a couple of camping chairs are a good investment as standing up all day can be quite tiring! Once you know the dimensions of your space you can start to plan. Have a practice run beforehand and photograph your layout as a reference on the day.

two - Some venues will provide covers for tables but some will not, so it’s worth taking your own. Neutral will always be best to show off your designs. Avoid anything with too much of a pattern as this can detract from your work. There is a reason you see a lot of velvet and crushed velvet on tables at craft fairs, it doesn’t crease and has a great non-slip property!

three - Professional display stands can be quite expensive so think creatively. Vases, tiles, mug trees and even branches can all work well to show off your pieces. Just placing your pieces on a flat table top doesn’t make the most of your space and isn’t very inspiring so ‘build’ height into your layout try putting upturned boxed under the cloth to add different layers.

four - Take a mirror along as people will appreciate being able to see what suits them.

five - Price everything clearly. Not everyone likes to ask, and if you are busy talking to another customer, at least people can already see prices and carry on browsing. Make sure signs are easy to read and that spelling and grammar are correct!

six - Carry a range of prices. A customer may love your products but may be on a limited budget. Jess always has badges featuring artwork starting at £1.

seven - Always take business cards and/or flyers. Often people will think ‘that would be perfect for…’ and want to buy items nearer birthdays, Christmas or other occasions.

eight - Try and take pieces to make/finish/package. Not only is it better to look busy (rather than reading a magazine etc) but it also provides a talking point to customers. We have often found that if people can see you involved with your work, they feel more inclined to start a conversation about it.

nine - Don't forget bags! Think about how customers will take away their purchases. A necklace would look more impressive in a jewellery box rather than just placed into a bag. However if you sell items already packaged then a bag would work fine.

ten - Stay positive! Although it can be disappointing if a fair is quiet, or mostly window shoppers, don't be disheartened! Keep smiling and promote a good attitude as it will attract people and give them a much nicer lasting impression!

We hope you find these tips helpful and inspiring! If you have any suggestions on other topics you would like to see us cover, then please let us know!

Lincoln Bead Fair

2011-07-06T03:55:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, Jess, Dave and Richard packed up the van and travelled to Lincoln to take part in the Lincoln Bead Fair. Although not as busy as expected, there were a fair amount of visitors which included brand new beaders and familiar faces! Due to the lovely weather, I think most people were tempted by picnics and days out, plus the Waddington Air Show was also on that weekend.

Our next bead fair is 11th September at Best Western Stoke-on-Trent Moat House Hotel, and you can see all the bead fairs that we are attending here.

Most excitingly this November sees the return of The Nottingham Bead & Craft Show! The show will include many traders selling beading supplies, yarn and felting materials. Local artists/crafters/jewellery makers will be supplying gifts and handmade crafts just in time for those unique stocking fillers for Christmas.

Royal Wedding Fever!

2011-04-22T04:50:00.001-07:00

As the royal wedding takes over almost everything and everywhere, we are no different. It’s been a great excuse to have a patriotic, English garden themed window display in the shop & have a go at creating some Union Jack inspired beading.

Everywhere you look you can’t help but see Union Jacks and bunting, there have been some brilliant displays and photos that have caught my eye including this image I saw on my lunch in the Metro newspaper – Regent Street lined with Union Jacks in preparation for the big day; not only is it patriotic but it also has a touch of grey mist which just adds to the Britishness of the whole anticipated occasion.

We have fully got into the spirit of the event and created our own British Royal Wedding display, we love all things tea & cake related at The Bead Shop so had to add a cake stand too.

I have taken inspiration from the abundance of Union Jacks around and created a miniature beaded flag, it really is quite dinky and could be used in a number of creative ways.

I have used a basic square stitch to weave this small Union Jack with size 11 Miyuki delicas to give it a neat finish.
Here’s a list of ingredients;
size 11 Miyuki delicas DB200 opaque white
size 11 Miyuki delicas DB723 opaque dark cranberry
size 11 Miyuki delicas DB726 opaque dark blue
I used 0.15mm Wildfire in frost, but any beading thread you are happy using is fine with a size 10 beading needle.
Follow the steps, carefully watching for colour changes on the chart.

Step 1.Cut a manageable length of thread, add the first row of bead using a needle following the chart. Add the first bead of the next row and anchor through the last bead of first row, in a loop.

Step2. Thread back though the first bead on the second row and pull your thread tight, and thread on the second bead of the second row.

Step 3. Secure this bead by looping through the second to last bead of the first row and back through the new bead again. Keep your tension tight all the time.

Step 4. Carry on adding beads to the second row in the same way, anchoring the beads to the corresponding bead in the first row. Start the third row and continue in the same way. If you need to add any more thread, weave the end of your thread back and forth through a few rows & cut off the excess then add a new piece, securing in the same way, weaving through a few rows.

Step 5. Once you have completed the Union Jack, weave the ends of the thread back through 2 or 3 rows before trimming off any excess.

Step 6. Your Union Jack is complete and ready to use however you choose.

You could turn your Union Jack into many items including a small decorative flag with the addition of some wire, or why not create a loop with extra beads to hang on a keyring, or go all extravagant and create your very own fascinator to wear on the day.Happy beading!
Steph x

Springtime treats!

2011-04-06T06:37:00.000-07:00

Awww, the weather is slowly getting nicer, which means The Bead Shop is full of excitement for spring and easter (yey for chocolate!)!

First of all we have this delightful WHiTe BiRd CaGe NeCkLaCE by Josephines, the colour scheme is dreamy and has a lovely vintage feel!

Josephines have both a folksy shop and blog!

Jil makes adorable items by printing on fabric! This rabbit brooch would look awesome all the year round...a rabbit is for life, not just for easter! ;)

You can find more of her work in her folksy shop, or catch up on her blog!

Heroine Industries have created this bright and cheerful Super Kitsch and Cute Bunny Cameo Necklace, perfect for adding colour and cuteness to your outfit!

You can find lots of kitsch treats in their shop and blog!

Lupin Handmade have this gorgeous Lilac Flower, felt headband for sale! The turquoise detail really pops against the lilac felt! This would be perfect garden party/picnic wear!

Find this and other treats in their shop and her blog is a lovely read, including book reviews and tutorials!
xx

The World of Tattered Rose...

2011-03-02T04:57:00.000-08:00

As I'm sure many of our regular customers will now know, Rachel Bland has worked at The Bead Shop for quite a while now. As well as being a regular and popular workshop tutor, she also creates beautiful jewellery. Over the years many of her designs have been featured in popular jewellery magazines for The Bead Shop, and plenty of her creations have been sold in the shop.

Here at The Bead Shop, we have always done our bit to promote local artists who produce quality handmade items, and so after she had branched out in to designing with Stampbord, we decided to stock the range that Rachel produced under her business name of Tattered Rose. Have a look at the gorgeous one-of-a-kind pendants we currently have available to buy right here! As you will see, Rachel also produces lovely handmade felt beads too.

Now it seems that Rachel's designs are catching more than just our local customers eyes. Recently we were very proud to learn that Tattered Rose had bagged a two page spread in her local Derbyshire magazine!

After receiving such a good response to her beautiful designs, the company that actually makes Stampbord in Austin, Texas, asked Rachel to create a step-by-step guide to using it! It is now featured on their blog, and can be viewed here. This is the necklace she created -

Below you will see the stunning necklace that won Rachel the accolade of Beads & Beyond Jewellery Maker of The Year 2010- as voted for by the public! We were all massively proud of Rachel - the competition was fierce but Rachel's Meadow Dreams necklace topped them all.

Other magazine appearances include a more recent Beads & Beyond article in the March issue, available here. Rachel was interviewed for the Meet & Greet section, and it is definitely worth a read!

With the growing popularity of Tattered Rose, we are sure that Rachel will be appearing in many more magazines and at plenty of craft fairs. Her blog shows how she is now delving in to the beautiful world of bridal adornments, as well as keeping up with her Stampbord and cardmaking. Keep an eye on her work - and also our handmade pages for any further one-of-a-kind creations too!

We wish Rachel and Tattered Rose every success with designing beautiful creations for the future - we will proudly keep you updated!

Rae x

Love is in the shops!

2011-02-10T09:15:00.000-08:00

As Valentines day approaches we've been inspired by all manner of love themed treats!

First of all is this delightful wonderland inspired necklace by Magic Alice;

Then we found these unique earrings by TataniaRosa! These are perfect for those who like their accessories to stand out from the crowd,

If you would like to find out more, then you can keep upto date with her blog!

Poppy Sparkles is a name we often see on our twitter, and we were amazed by her selection of lovely jewellery! This necklace is our favourite though!

Check out her blog for more valentine related ideas!

Of course, no Valentines day would be complete without a card! This hand cut beauty is amazing! Not too soppy and pretty to look at! Although the mind boggles at Storeyshop's steady hand!

Her sweet blog is full of inspiration and nice photos!

Well, hopefully these have got you in the mood (for shopping!) Hope you all have a lovely Valentines day!

Much Love!

Punch Fun..!

2011-02-01T02:04:00.001-08:00

It’s always exciting when new products arrive at The Bead Shop. There are lots of ooo’s and ah’s before the fight for who gets to try out said product commences! I was lucky enough to be the chosen one for testing out the new Letter and Number Punch Set and I couldn’t wait to get stuck in!

I have some knowledge of metal work from my time at college but this was a while ago (ahem!). I had a look through a great book Stamped Metal Jewelry by Lisa Niven Kelly for any hints or tips. This is a fabulous book and has step by step picture to guide you through the process so it’s great for beginners but also has more advanced projects that you can progress onto.

When I’m making my own jewellery, I love to use text in my creations so I already had a million ideas buzzing through my head.

I set up my stall; stamps, steel block, chasing hammer and any flat metal objects that I could get my hands on! I started by just getting a feel for the stamps and the pressure needed (as the book suggests). It requires a steady hand and an even strike with the hammer. Too little pressure and the impression is faint, too much and you get the edge of the stamp on your work as well. I would highly recommend practicing before you go on to use any special shapes or charms.

To make sure that your chosen word or phrase will fit onto the space you have available, it’s a good idea to draw around your chosen base on to some thick paper and press the stamps into the paper; this will give you a rough idea of how much room you have. If you want to stamp a sentence, write it out on some scrap paper, work out which is the middle letter and stamp each letter out from there.

There are some great ideas for enhancing the letters once you have stamped them. Using Liver of Sulphur, the boiled egg method, permanent pen or my personal favourite; acrylic paint. By applying the paint directly to the piece and wiping off the excess, the paint will stay inside the stamped impression. Appli Glue is great for this (dark colours work best on metal) and we currently have some amazing colours in the sale!

If hammering isn’t your thing there are other uses for the stamps. By pressing the stamps into polymer clay you can get a great effect. It also means there are many colours to choose from, once baked the acrylic paint method will add depth to the stamped letters.

Seal with Sculpey Glaze to finish. A little messy but a great effect!

Below are the finished pieces I put together. They are themed necklaces. I chose words and charms that work together to create a wearable 'story'. I had great fun testing this set and I still have lots of ideas I want to try! It’s great for making personalised jewellery and charms which seem to be very popular at the moment.

Rachel

Beads and Beyond; Jewellery maker of the Year 2011

2011-01-05T01:59:00.000-08:00

The January issue of Beads and Beyond showcases the winners of their Jewellery Maker of the year 2011 competition. Excitingly, our very own Rachel Bland is the winner of the Mixed Media category! Her Meadow Dreams necklace is fabulous and incorporates her own stampbord design pendants alongside Trinity Brass components, creating a beautiful mellow piece.

Congratulations Rachel, we're all so proud of you!

The Nottingham Bead and Craft Show 2010!

2010-12-01T01:54:00.001-08:00

On Saturday 20th November we organised the very first Nottingham Bead and Craft Show, and it was a resounding success! It was lovely to both see our regular supporters and meet so many new lovely customers, including people from Swansea, Dublin and Finland!

We had local artists including HanMade Beads, Nettynot, Tattered Rose and Stitches and Stars!

We also had a fantastic selection of traders, artists and shops providing a wide range of tempting items!

Knit Nottingham had a great selection of yarn and also taught the Basic Crochet workshop!

Guzzi Sue spinning with knit nottingham.

Nostalgia Beads who have the best range of Bead-weaving kits and are so friendly to talk to.

The Knitting Academyhad beautiful, exclusive yarns, including a delightful sparkly purple that Hana brought!

Buffy's Beads brought a beautiful selection of Semi-precious beads and clearly enjoyed themselves!

There was also a Swarvoski showcase including designs from our very own Helen and Rachel!

We also had delicious cupcakes from Alison's Bakery, but alas, these sold so quickly that we couldn't get a photo of the stall! However, we did catch Ana and Phoebe enjoying their cupcakes! (Hana treated all members of The Bead Shop staff to a cupcake!)

The day was so successful that we have already started planning the show for next year! Saturday 19th November 2011 is the date to put in your diary, and as we plan to make it bigger and better than last year, it might be wise to start saving now!
xx

We love Shrink Plastic!

2010-11-05T03:34:00.000-07:00

Here at the Bead Shop we love to dabble with new mediums and techniques. Recently we have started stocking shrink plastic which is so versatile! And if you see Lisa's previous post, you can see we've fallen in love with this product!

To celebrate expanding our range to include black and clear shrink plastic, here are a few artists who have really inspired us!

Cuppa Tea And Cake has a fantastic range of tea cup badges, perfect for our tea loving selves!

Oh Badgers features lovely badges of animals including this fox, I love the detail!

orange bird studio has made this sweet birdy badge! I love how happy the bird looks!

She also makes cute handmade buttons and her blog is here if you want to see more!

Hmm, I'm feeling inspired now!
xx

Lisa's Shrink Plastic Addiction!

2010-10-29T08:19:00.000-07:00

The Bead Shop is somewhere that I have wanted to work at for a long time, and so when a vacancy came up I applied straight away. I was very happy to be offered the job, and so I left my bar job and entered the beading world.

Before getting my previous job, I graduated from Nottingham Trent University, where I specialised in mould making and casting with resin. Whilst this was always a technique that I loved, I soon spotted a new favourite once I began working here at The Bead Shop – shrink plastic!

I immediately saw the potential of working with this new medium, and rushed out straight away to buy a pack of permanent markers to get designing!

I love this Cityscape necklace...

I have found that shrink plastic has really unleashed my inner child – I remember shrinking crisp packets when I was younger – but whilst reminiscent of that, this technique clearly offers far more scope! I was surprised by the amount of detail you can achieve with shrink plastic, whether through using printed designs or hand drawn ones.

So far I have created many pieces, and find it brilliant that I can bring my love of drawing in to my jewellery making. It is amazing to be able to wear my doodles, and it’s also a cheap way to satisfy my creative cravings.

As I have found myself so encouraged recently, I have been on a mission to do one creative thing every day, and with Halloween fast approaching I decided to draw inspiration from the fantastic Bead Shop window display and design some spooky pieces like the bat. (Shown below).

Although the Ghostbusters necklace isn’t very scary, I do love it. As I wanted it to look authentic, I found it useful to trace the image on to the plastic. I wasn’t convinced that I would be able to freehand draw the circle otherwise!

Out of the shrink plastic pieces I have created so far, I think my favourite has to be the Meg & Mog necklace. I took the image from the front cover of one of the books I used to read at primary school. I almost ended up choosing the cover of The Funny Bones book, but I think that will be one I attempt for next Halloween.

I really love working with shrink plastic, and have really been inspired by its many possibilities. I think I’ve managed some pretty fun necklaces so far, I hope you like them too!

Lisa x

National Knitting Week!

2010-10-11T04:05:00.000-07:00

Exciting times as it's National Knitting Week! Here's a message from Knit in Notts!

Yes! It’s that time of year again National Knitting Week, what better time to get those knitting needles back out & get the winter knits started!

Everyone is welcome to pop along & join us, it really doesn’t matter if you are a complete novice, an expert or never knitted before (there’ll be some one on hand to get you started)!

Yesterday saw the start of the week with a tasty roast dinner at The Orange Tree, however there are plenty more events planned for the rest of the week!

Tuesday 12th Oct we will be in our usual spot of Lee Rosy’s for knitting, tea & of course cake from 5.30pm!

Wednesday 13th Oct we’re off to Fade & the hard to find Cafe on Mansfield road from 6pm. We’ll be making the little hats you see on Innocent smoothie bottles in aid of Age Concern – don’t worry if you don’t have needles or yarn to hand, we’ll be bringing plenty along with us.

We’ll be ending the week on Friday 15th Oct in The Lincolnshire Poacher with a pub knit and games courtesy of Knit Nottingham (Nottingham’s new knitting shop, on Mansfield road).

So what are you waiting for!
xx

Sneak Peek: Projects

2010-09-08T01:47:00.000-07:00

Hello!
This post gives you a sneak peek of all our upcoming magazine projects!
First of all we have Sophie's project debut!

This wonderfully bright Autumnal Jewellery set showcases both the filigree and murano glass elements perfectly! This project can be found in issue 20 of Making Jewellery magazine.

Phoebe also has her first project being published!

The playful design shows off Phoebe’s love for funky fun designs and bright colours. This Project can be found in issue 7 of Creative Beads & Jewellery.

Steph is one of our more experienced designers, and with this project decided to test her own skills...

This subtle colour pallet was a little bit of a challenge as pale shades are not her usual cup of tea, but it works well with the strong wire structure creating the cuff. This Project can be found in issue 7 of Creative Beads & Jewellery.

Rae is also a new designer and has created this classic project

This striking necklace incorporates a handmade wire toggle clasp with a selection of semi-precious beads. Rae has taken to wire work, like a duck to water. This Project can be found in issue 7 of Creative Beads & Jewellery.

Helen has created the perfect necklace for any special occasion!

With the amazing disco ball effect, you would be the life and soul of the party! Helen has a great talent for knowing what colours and textures work brilliantly together. This Project can be found in issue 19 of Make Jewellery Magazine.

Rachel seems to be waiting for winter with this beautiful necklace!

The necklace showcases Rachel’s style using unusual links, the crystals emulate the sharp and jagged contours of icicles. This project can be found in issue 21 of Making Jewellery magazine.

I've been busy making this resin star pendant and beaded chain necklace which show cases beads from our Gutermann range.

Look out for this project in issue 39 of Beads & Beyond magazines to see how well it does in their top 20 ‘Sapphire & Steel Necklaces’.

As you can see, we've all been very busy! For more project previews you can always check our flickr. Here we will post all our project photos!

Resin Tutorial: Unlock my Heart Pendant!

2010-08-18T01:32:00.000-07:00

Hello! Today's post shows you how to make a resin pendant by embedding items! As resin supplies are one of many new products at the Bead Shop, what better time to try this new medium!

First of all, choose your mould and items that you wish to embed. Most items can be embedded within resin, however some items need a little work before they can be mixed with resin. Paper needs to be sealed with either a varnish or pva glue. To be extra safe I scan paper into my computer and then print it onto glossy photo paper. This means I can keep the orignal safe and once dry can be used without sealing! Flowers and insects need to be dried out before adding as resin will not mix with any moisture. Candy sprinkles and hundreds and thousands are really popular within resin work at the moment, and look really effective!

Make sure the room is well ventilated and that you've covered your workspace with newspaper!

Wearing rubber gloves and a face mask, make the resin following the manufacturer’s instructions. Pour the resin from as low as possible and stir slowly to minimise any bubbles!

Pour a thin layer of resin into the mould. Depending on the mould you may want to coat it with a thin layer of vaseline to act as a mould release! I find that using a plastic spoon will help ensure you don’t over fill the mould and give you more control over the resin. Leave to set for 8 hours.

When the resin has partially set, position the item you want to embed facedown, being careful not to trap air between the item and the resin.

Make a second batch of resin and add a small pinch of pigment dye. More dye can be added for bolder shades. Start with a really small amount, the pigment goes far and it is much easier to add more then take away! The pigments also blend together well. I used Flamingo Pink (which is a really strong pink) and Pearl White to create this colour, so as you can see, the shades you can create are endless!

Slowly pour the mixture into the mould and leave to dry.

When fully cured, pop the resin out of the mould and sand any rough edges.

Secure the pendant in a G clamp, protecting the pendant either side with tissue. Using a hand drill, drill a hole for the bail. If you've created a shape with a domed side, like the heart, drill it flat side up to make it easier, otherwise the drill could slip and scratch the pendant!

Add a bail to the pendant and add to chain/thread/whatever takes your fancy!

And there you go! I'd love to see what you make, so if you do decide to have a go, please add your photos to our facebook page or flickr group!

Jess
xx

Life at The Bead Shop by a Newbie...

2010-07-30T03:34:00.000-07:00

As has been said to me on many occasions, for a lot of you The Bead Shop would be an amazing place to work. As the (almost) newest member of The Bead Shop’s staff, I decided that my first blog entry on here should be to introduce myself and describe my somewhat swift entry in to the world of beading!

Before working here, my beading knowledge consisted of sewing beads on to canvas, and stringing together basic elastic bracelets for my cousins. Although I had been shopping at The Bead Shop since its days in West End Arcade, my venture with beads had been limited to how I could incorporate them in to my artwork, and how in my teenage days I could fit them on to my shoelaces to be a little more ‘individual’! Having studied, lived and breathed art and painting for so long, I was far more caught up in ways to enhance and embellish my work with beads than how to create jewellery.

The picture belows shows the beginnings of my next project. It's just a background for now, and is certainly a work in progress!

Finding the life of a self-employed artist too solitary, I decided to supplement my canvas habit with retail work. Finding a job where I already used the product I would be selling was just an added benefit! And so I applied to The Bead Shop, already knowing that the staff and environment there were both very welcoming.

Firstly, anyone who thinks that retail work is an easy job, has clearly never worked within it before! Since my days of needing part-time weekend work for extra pocket money, I have been involved in retail in one way or another. It can be long hours; surrounded by often thankless customers; a never ending run of tidying, replenishing and straightening stock; and as for a full weekend off work... don’t even think about it! But as I have discovered over the years, if you can find a workplace that compliments you, it can be a very rewarding job.

This new venture turned out to be a rewarding one for me. From day one, I have found The Bead Shop to be the most enjoyable place I have ever worked at. With its myriad of amazing employees and brilliant customers, the constant behind-the-scenes mad rush of getting things ready for bead fairs/ new websites/ mail-orders/ workshops, the regular introduction of new stock items (most of which I’ve never heard of before!), and the continual job of helping customers with beading related queries, life at The Bead Shop is certainly eventful!

I began working here in January of this year, and immediately felt like I had finally found an employer who I would be happy working with. Many of our customers don’t realise how many staff members actually work here. With our shop, wholesale department, mail-order department, workshops, bead fairs, website, and regular magazine & press appearances we are a very busy company! From the beginning I found everyone to be very welcoming, happy to teach a newbie, and more than happy in their jobs. It made a refreshing change to work somewhere where the general consensus was that of contentment rather than a frenzied rush to the door at home time every night!

And so, settling in to my new environment, I began the task of learning all about beads, jewellery making, and the many new products that I had been introduced to. Little did I know how involved the beading world is!

Since I had only a basic knowledge of this new world, I began to learn about all of the different types of beads. Discovering that beads weren’t simply beads, I set about learning all the differences! I discovered pony beads, delicas, Xilions, seed beads, rivolis, and all of the other varied names and types of beads that I never knew existed! But I was eager to learn, and so after only a week I had the chance to sit in on a Japanese bead weaving workshop with one of our tutors; Machiko. As one of the more intense workshops, I admit to finding it a little challenging; not least because I had never woven beads together before in any shape other than one long string! But I stuck at it, and was very proud of the necklace I produced.

And so began a new hobby for me. I now scour charity shops for second hand jewellery to rework in to more modern styles. I have been given enough jewellery making tools and equipment to set up a small shop, and have beads spilling out of so many jars and boxes at home that my boyfriend fears they’re taking over. But as I’m sure many of you know, it’s addictive!

Through everything I have experimented with so far, I have found wirework and chainmail to be my favourite techniques. I have a semi-precious necklace with handmade wire findings that I created being featured in a magazine article by The Bead Shop, and so that has inspired me once again to see what new creations I can come up with. However since I admire the polymer clay, dichroic glass and resin designs made by my workmates so much, I may be experimenting with my own take on them in the not too distant future!

With our regularly updated window displays, I have been given the chance to contribute to many different styles. I have created nautical themed bracelets, tribal inspired necklaces, pirate earrings, Japanese hair slides and wire wrapped pendants. And since January I have had a go at most techniques in some form or another; whether for my own curiosity, a gift for a family member, or our shop window.

With their constantly changing and evolving worlds, jewellery making and beading techniques have become another art form to me, and more than ever I love to include them in some way in my mixed media projects. However, even creating and selling a canvas which I’ve spent many an evening painstakingly embellishing with the tiniest beads available doesn’t come anywhere close to giving my mum a pair of earrings which I’ve learnt how to create from scratch especially for her.

And so my beading journey will continue with new techniques, projects inspired by all of you wonderful customers who are always happy to share ideas, and designs dreamt up during my canvas work. I just hope that my next six months here at The Bead Shop will be just as fun and eventful as the first!

Hope to see you in the shop soon!

Rae

Microwave Dichro Kiln Test!

2010-05-09T12:50:00.000-07:00

Tonight I will be testing the FuseworksTM microwave kiln in the hope that it produces good enough results for us to both stock it and teach workshops using it.

I've been making fused glass pendants for over 3 years now but have only ever worked with bullseye glass and a 'proper' kiln (a Paragon SC2) so it will be very interesting to see how a microwave kiln compares.

I will be testing the Beginner's Fusing Kit which includes the microwave kiln, kiln paper, an assortment of glass, a glass cutter, hot mitts, bails & instructions - I'm intrigued to find out if the kiln works the same with my usual Bullseye glass but those experiments might have to wait till another day.

The kiln has to be pre-fired before it's first use and then left to cool for 30 mins which will give me plenty of time to prepare pieces to fuse. My initial reaction on unpacking the kiln is wow that's tiny (8.5 x 12cm) - I wasn't expecting it to be large but did expect it to be a lot closer to the size of the box than it is! The surface available to fuse on is a 7cm circle but when you take into account a sensible gap the maximum piece you could make would be 5.5 x 3cm or 4.5 x 4.5cm I think. Probably only a maximum of two small pieces at once e.g earrings.

The glass cutter provided is one of the ones that work dry (without cutting oil) - I found this much harder to use than my usual cutter but this could just be a case of what you're used to, also the glass is fairly thick and can't be broken by hand (at least not by me!).

Right kiln paper cut, glass cut, piece assembled; time to fire! My microwave is 800w so 3-4 minute fuse time is recommended (this seems crazy to me as I'm used to programme which takes over 2 hours for the kiln to reach fusing temperature, ~800c, and 5 hours to complete the cycle). After 3 minutes I take a peek - the glass is hot but hasn't fused yet so I try another minute, amazingly after this the piece has fused. I now have to leave the lid on for at least 30 minutes to let it cool down slowly and anneal (vital for durability of the piece without proper annealing a glass is liable to break, not necessarily straight away though it could happen many weeks or even months down the line).

My first attempts are disappointing,

with sharp burred edges. I know a bad workman blames his tools but I can't help feeling that it could be related to the kiln paper, which feels rough like fibre paper so I'm going to try my next piece using Bullseye Thinfire paper. My hunch was right the Thinfire paper made all the difference! However as shown in the photo,

what I thought was a transparent red which I put dichroic glass underneath was a striking opaque - d'oh! I think I'll have a go at a channel pendant next...........

Hmnnn turns out that any glue can cause the glass to shatter in a microwave kiln as it heats up too quickly, which would explain these two sorry affairs!

So now I need to make some nice examples and as i'm already cheating by using thinfire I guess I might as well use nice glass too! (The glass in the kit is quite a good colour selection but is very lacking in the clear department)

In conclusion the microwave kiln works! It's very different to fusing in a kiln and although it's very quick, if you want to make more than 1 piece in an evening, it's very slow (as you have to wait for it to cool down completely before using it again); so is only suitable for making pieces for yourself or as gifts etc. (Personally I'd be wary of selling pieces that weren't kiln annealed anyway). It's also very difficult to control the results and improbable that you'll be able to, if not impossible to achieve consistant pieces. However if you want to start fusing glass and your budget is nearer £100 than £600 then the microwave kiln could be for you.
Hana -x-

The Bead Shop's First Post

2010-05-09T12:13:00.000-07:00

We've been thinking of creating a Bead Shop blog for a while now, so after months of intending to I've finally got round to it! The plan is that this will be in addition to our newsletters - which are more focused on new products, projects and tips and special offers. And to our facebook page which has lots of interaction with our lovely customers and photos of fantastic jewellery made by them along with pieces made by bead shop staff.

This blog will hopefully provide the perfect forum for up to the minute news that might not surface in the shop or online for months! Things like products we are testing - which if we don't like might never see the light of day, ideas for new workshops and sneak previews of new products!