A Date for your Diary

The Big Bead Show - 6th April 2013 - Sandown Race Course, Surrey

The Big Bead Show is a bi-annual event that is definitely not to be missed!  This is an opportunity to buy jewellery-making supplies from a variety of well-known suppliers (often at much lower prices).............and all from under one roof.  Whatever you require, you are likely to find it at this show!

I visit this event at least once a year (twice if possible) and I have never been disappointed.  Last year I took my Mum with me for the very first time and it took twice as long to go round because she was amazed by the beautiful items available and wanted to visit every stall (and she doesn't even make jewellery)!

Apart from the opportunity to purchase supplies, there are also a number of demonstrations taking place throughout the day and it is a great place to meet other like-minded souls and swap stories, experience, knowledge, etc.

Here a taster of what's going on at the 6th April show.

Exhibitors

ALUISA BEADS
ANITA'S BEADS
BARBIE CAMPBELL COLE
BAROQUE BEADS
BEAD BARN (THE)
BEAD MAGAZINE
BEAD SPIDER
BEAD TV
BEADBUYER
BEADOGRAPHY
BEADS UNLIMITED
BEADS WITH A TWIST
BEADSERVICE
BEADTIME LTD
BEADWORKERS GUILD
BIJOUX BY ME
BO HULLEY
BOUNDLESS BEADS
CHRYSTAL ROSE DESIGN CRAFTS
CJ BEADERS LTD
CLASPIT.CO
COOKSON PRECIOUS METALS
DESIGNER CABOCHONS
DIZZY DI
DOBEADOO
G J BEADS
GEMSTONE BOUTIQUE
GEOMFIX
ILONA BIGGINS
JAX JEWELLERY LTD
JEANETTE'S LAMPWORK BEADS
JENCEL
KINGFISHER BEADS LTD
LONDON JEWELLERY SCHOOL
LONDON JEWELLERY SUPPLIES
MAXIMUM MAGNETIC HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS
MINERVA BEADS AND CRAFTS
MONTY'S BEADS
MOON BEADS
OAK TREE CRAFTS
PALMER METALS LTD
PURPLE BEECH DESIGNS
PURPLE MOON BEADS
SARAH DOWNTON CONTEMPORARY GLASS BEADS
SPELLBOUND BEADS
STITCHNCRAFT BEAD STUDIO
SURREY JEWELLERY SCHOOL
TANZEE DESIGNS
THE BEAD MERCHANT
THE CRAFT KIT COMPANY LTD
THE EASTBOURNE BEAD COMPANY
THE PMC STUDIO LTD
THE SOUTHAMPTON BEAD SHOP
TOTALLY BEADS
TWINKLE PIECES

Workshops

Viking Knit	Polymer Clay
Anna LindellTime: 10.30 - 11.30pm Location: Champagne Bar Buy NowView Details	Bonnie McGoughTime: Noon - 1pm Time: 1.30pm - 2.30pm Location: Brasserie, Zone A Buy NowView Details

Earrings for Beginners	Steampunk Glass bracelet
Chloe MenageTime: 10.30am - 11.30am Location: Brasserie, Zone B Buy NowView Details	Jema HewittTime: Noon - 1pm Time: 1.30pm - 2.30pm Time: 3pm - 4pm Location: Sandown View, Zone A Buy NowView Details

French beading	Wirework Rings
Katie DeanTime: Noon - 1pm Time: 1.30pm - 2.30pm Location: Brasserie, Zone B Buy NowView Details	Linda JonesTime: 10.30am - 11.30am Location: Sandown View, Zone A Buy NowView Details

Chandelier style earrings	Fashion Necklace
London Jewellery SchoolTime: 3pm - 4pm Location: Champagne Bar Buy NowView Details	London Jewellery SchoolTime: 1.30pm - 2.30pm Location: Champagne Bar Buy NowView Details

Trio Triangles	Everyday Sparkle Ring
Liz ThorntonTime: 3pm - 4pm Location: Brasserie, Zone B Buy NowView Details	Sian NolanTime: Noon - 1pm Time: 1.30pm - 2.30pm Location: Sandown View, Zone B Buy NowView Details

Fish Tasseling kit	Hair decoration
SpellboundTime: 10.30am - 11.30am Location: Brasserie, Zone A Buy NowView Details	SpellboundTime: 3pm - 4pm Location: Brasserie, Zone A Buy NowView Details

Silver shell pendant	Chainmaille
Sue HeaserTime: 11am - 1pm Time: 2pm - 4pm Location: Sports Bar Buy NowView Details	Surrey Jewellery SchoolTime: 10.30am - 11.30am Time: 3pm - 4pm Location: Sandown View, Zone B Buy NowView Details

Sponsors this year are:

Beads Unlimited
Beads Direct
STAEDTLER FIMO
London Jewellery School
Surrey Jewellery School
The Spellbound Bead Company

 

I will buying my tickets very soon (including one for Mum)...............hope to see you there!

Kate x

Inspired By Nature

Has anyone noticed?......................we have only just hit February but the mornings are getting slightly lighter, the afternoons slightly longer and we even had some sunshine today.......even if it was still bitterly cold!  Spring will soon be upon us.  

Earlier this evening I was browsing on Folksy and couldn't help noticing the amount of new items with a 'nature' theme.  This got me thinking that maybe its not just me who is feeling the first joys of spring......if a little early!  So in tribute to new lambs frolicking in green pastures, here are some of Folksy's nature-inspired listings at their best.

Unusual Origami Flowers with an A - Z - £20.00
My Idle Hands

Mosaic Wall Plaque Autumn Leaves - £33.00
Funky Mosaics

Steel Standing Stone II - £95.00
Down To Earth

                 

              Real Daisy Blue Necklace High Domed Resin - £16.50
Wishes On The Win

               
                 

                Amongst The Trees Cuff - Narrow - £27.95
          Claire Gent

Autumn Nature Squirrel Ribbon Bookmark - £9.25
Made 4 Your Books

Altered Nature Journal - £7.00
Cosmic Handmade

Deer Brooch - £12.00
Art You Wear

Hope you have enjoyed looking at these beautiful items and I have offered a little spring-time inspiration to you too!

Kate x

I made my first sale on Folksy!!!

I have been making jewellery for years, but as I have said before, I am quite new to selling my jewellery.  In recent months I have made quite a few face-to-face sales, but I've never been all that successful in the on-line market place.

In an attempt to reach a wider market, I tried a few of the old favourites in the past, but alas without much success.  I'm not sure if this was because the sites I chose were too well established and already over-loaded with jewellery, or whether I had got it totally wrong and my shop was not appealing enough.  Not being one to fall at the first hurdle, I decided to give Folksy a go and I set up my shop towards the end of 2012, expecting to have to wait at least 3 months before anyone would notice me.  Ta-Da (leaping around with excitement).......I made my first sale last week.............only a month later!  While this may seem insignificant to the more seasoned crafter, as a relative newbie, I am over-joyed!

This first sale has spurred me on and I have all sorts of new ideas racing through my head.  At the first opportunity I added a few more items to my Folksy shop, but this has led to me thinking of greater things..............branding, marketing ploys, craft fairs, trying new jewellery making techniques.  As a result, I have developed a continuing all-consuming search for further inspiration.

With my over-enthusiasm, as you can imagine my head is like a ball of spaghetti, however I have managed to put together a few useful links below.

Improve your Visibility and Credibility - a useful article by Patricia van den Akker of The Design Trust in Frankly - The Folksy Magazine.

www.craftfairsuk.co.uk - A great place to find craft fairs in your local area.

My Pinterest Board of Craft Show Displays - Ideas for displaying jewellery at craft shows.

www.pandahall.co.uk - A great place for jewellery making supplies at wholesale prices.

www.jewelrymakingdaily.com - For help with inspiration and new techniques.

And to finish off..................here are a couple of new items I added to my Folksy shop today.

'Flowers In My Garden' Bracelet

'Key To My Heart' Pendant

If anyone has any useful tips, articles, techniques, blogs, etc............please feel free to share.

Kate x