february-2020

Year of The Rat & Amethyst Beads

25th January 2020

鼠年   Today is start of the new Chinese Year of the Rat! For 25-years MrBead was based in Hong Kong, so although we’re British, we have Chinese roots!

Mr & Mrs Bead Buying BeadsWe’re just returned from a huge buying trip there – bringing you hundreds of kilograms of new beads.

Some will appear in the online store soon, and many will be available in Harrogate next month.

Bead shows booked so far next year, click 2020 Bead Fairs. First of 2020: Harrogate Gem n Bead 22nd-23rd February.

Content:
Chinese Year of The Rat 2020
Amethyst For February
How To Make an Amethyst Necklace
Free 2020 Year Planner
Early 2020 Bead Fairs
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£5 or US$6  Off Anything From MrBead

To get the discount off anything in our online stores, Key AMETHYST at checkout now, as offer ends Friday 31st January 2020. Use at MrBead.co.uk or MrBead.com, but can’t be used with any other discount.

鼠年  Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Happy Chinese Year Of The Rat 2020

Chinese New Year 2020The new Year of the Rat starts 25th January 2020. Each animal in the Chinese zodiac is divided into elements with slightly different characteristics – this Yang Year is a Metal Rat.

A blessed year of new beginnings. Metal Rats are strong, reliable, and can change unlucky events into fortune.

If you are a Rat
Unlike the West, in China, the rat is respected, and considered courageous and enterprising.

People born this year are alert, curious, clever, tactful, imaginative, thrifty and able to grasp opportunities; making brilliant businessmen. They work with logic and cool emotion, are easy going, sociable, broad-minded, adapt well to their environment, but are timid and stubborn.

Rat people will have normal luck in 2020, but some may experience a lot of challenge, and single rats’ have a chance to fall in love. However, watch your health – a balanced diet and regular exercise always benefit rats. Wait for another year before big decisions, and avoid speculative investments.

Best partners are an ox, monkey or dragon – least harmonious with a horse, goat or rabbit. Best jobs: manager, entrepreneur, broadcaster, writer, musician, artist, author, doctor, lawyer, teacher or in finance.

Predictions for this Year of the Rat
Year of the Rat 2020Rat years are linked to material resources, luxury, and wealth. You will feel freer, so take advantage of opportunity for success.

Happy Valley New Year 2020The rat is first in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac, so it’s a good time to be ambitious, evolve and start new. The best moment to change is early in 2020. Creative energy will help achieve your wishes. The rat loves freedom, so help yourself, rather than worrying about others.

Natural disasters like earthquakes and floods are probable in the Southern and Western parts of the world.

Despite efforts for global stability and more females in power, fear and anxiety will bring pessimism to financial markets. However, industries belonging to the Fire Element, like energy, restaurants, and entertainment, can expect prosperity – as will real estate, mining, technology and banking.

Rat Years
If you were born during these dates, then you are a Rat: 05/02/24 to 23/01/25, 24/01/36 to 10/02/37, 10/02/48 to 28/01/49, 28/01/60 to 14/02/61, 15/02/72 to 02/02/73, 02/02/84 to 19/02/85, 10/02/96 to 06/02/97, 06/02/08 to 25/01/09, 25/01/20 to 11/02/21, 11/02/32 to 30/01/33.

Famous Rat People
Buddy Holly, Churchill, George Washington, Hugh Grant, Isaac Newton, Jimmy Carter, John F. Kennedy, Mark Zuckerberg, Marlon Brando, Mozart, Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Tiger Woods, William Shakespeare.

Rat Likes
Lucky Colours: gold, blue, green. Numbers: 2, 3. Gemstone: Garnet. Western zodiac equivalent: Sagittarius.

For a lucky Chinese jade pendant of your Chinese zodiac animal click OnlineOriental

Amethyst For February
The Royal Purple Pope Stone

What is Amethyst?
Amethyst is the gemstone for February, and for those born under the zodiac of Pisces.

Also called the Royal Purple Pope Stone, the purple variety of quartz. If it wasn’t so abundant, amethyst would be very expensive.

amethyst beadIts name comes from the Greek, meaning not drunken. Perhaps due to a belief that amethyst would sober the effects of alcohol. However, I find this doesn’t work!

amethyst beadsamethyst beadsamethyst beadsAmethyst is always purple, but comes in shades of pale lilac to deep purple. Deeper colours are more valuable – milky amethyst is the cheapest.

Amethyst is mined in South American, but the best in Africa. Very dark amethyst, mostly in small sizes, also comes from Australia.

Mythology
According to Greek mythology, Dionysus, the God of Intoxication was angered by an insult from a mere mortal and swore revenge on the next mortal that crossed his path, creating fierce tigers to carry out his wish.

Along came unsuspecting Amethyst, a beautiful young maiden on her way to pay tribute to the goddess Diana. Diana turned Amethyst into a statue of pure crystalline quartz to protect her from the brutal claws. Dionysus wept tears of wine at the sight of the beautiful statue. The god’s tears stained the quartz purple, creating the gem we know today!

The Church & Crown
Purple has long been considered a royal colour, featured in the British Crown Jewels and a favorite of ancient Egyptian royalty. Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that “amethyst could dissipate evil thoughts and accelerate intelligence”.

amethyst beadsBecause amethyst was believed to encourage celibacy and symbolize piety, it was very important in the ornamentation of churches in the middle ages. Amethyst is still the stone of bishops’ who often wear amethyst rings. Even in Tibet, amethyst is considered sacred to the Buddha.

Benefits
amethyst beadsAmethyst’s sobering and calming qualities is why it’s considered to have the power to purify and bring peace.

It’s also believed to boost lower energies higher, and heal at all levels of mind, body and spirit. Amethyst is especially useful to calm overworked minds as it brings mental strength, stability, and vigor, and reduces negativity.

Amethyst also supports all that is transitional. Especially death and rebirth – providing peace of mind when a loved one is lost. As an elixir, amethyst can help toothache, bone and joint discomforts and problems with the stomach and digestion. It has also been known taken for blood disease and balance blood sugar.

amethyst braceletIn yoga, amethyst aids the 6th Chakra, the Third Eye, center of the body’s spiritual power. Because amethyst heightens awareness, both spiritual and psychic – increasing intuition and psychic development and transition from a normal state of consciousness to a deeper awareness.

Amethyst Jewellery Design
amethyst braceletAmethyst jewellery sells well because it has never gone out of fashion. In fact new-agers have made it more popular than ever.

It’s dark royal colour oozes style. Amethyst goes well with silver, clear crystal and other subtle colours. If you make hand-crafted jewellery; design matching necklaces, bracelets, and earrings to offer more choice to your customers. Don’t overpower your design with too much of the gemstone – add lots of silver spacers and findings to balance.

To see our amethyst beads click: MrBead.co.uk or MrBead.com

How to make an Amethyst Necklace

making amethyst necklaceThese are the steps of MiMi making an amethyst necklace using our amethyst nuggets and fancy drop beads (numbers are as pictures).

Note the crystal rondelle beads and gold stardust used as spacers.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
amethyst necklace
10.

1)Get all materials ready: nylon wire, crimping beads & 5mm stardust gold spacers, crystal rondelle beads, crimping pliers, wire cutter, catches, all beads.
2)Slide 2mm crimp bead onto wire and insert wire into eye on clasp
3)Loop and connect crimp bead.
4 & 5) Crimp attached to eye on clasp, and squeezing crimp bead closed.
6 & 7) Thread the beads into the wire.
8) Repeat steps 2 to 5 to secure the other end of the necklace.
9) Cutting off excess wire
10)Finished.

2020 Monthly Bead Planner


If you haven’t already, download your free 2020 bead planner in PDF format click: 2020 Beading Planner

Then save to your Desktop so you can easily find it. This planner will help you organize your beading projects and craft fairs in 2020.

Print it out and write your schedule and bookings in the date boxes. It lists the gemstone of the month to help you plan ahead.

The planner comes in PDF format which is the most popular for e-books because it can be read using ANY computer or operating system. Over 99% of computers have a PDF reader installed, but if you need one the Abode Reader is free here.

Use our monthly 2020 bead planner to organize your beading schedule – click here.

£5 or US$6  Off Anything From MrBead

To get the discount off anything in our online stores, Key AMETHYST at checkout now, as offer ends Friday 31st January 2020. Use at MrBead.co.uk or MrBead.com, but can’t be used with any other discount.

Early 2020 Bead Fairs

  • Sat & Sun 22nd-23rd Feb: Harrogate Gem n Bead Fair, Pavillions of Harrogate, Great Yorkshire Showground, HG2 8NZ. Full details here.
  • Sat & Sun 29th Feb-1st March: Kempton Park Gem n Bead Fair, Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, London TW16 5AQ. Full details here.
  • Sunday 8th March: Norwich Bead Fair, The George Best Western Hotel, Arlington Lane, Newmarket Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR2 2DA. Full details here.
  • Sat & Sun 14th-15th March, Brighton Gem n Bead Fair, Brighton Racecourse, Freshfield Road, Brighton, East Sussex BN2 9XZ. Full details here.
  • Sat & Sat 21st & 22nd March, Cheltenham Gem ‘n’ Bead Fair, Cheltenham Racecourse, Evesham Rd, Cheltenham GL50 4SH. Full details here.

Shows booked so far next year, click 2020 Bead Fairs.

BEADS UP NORTH!

Beads-Up-North-LogoDiscounted online tickets for Beads Up North! On Sunday 26th April 2020, at Haydock Racecourse, will be on sale end of January. A show not to be be missed, combined with Lace & Textiles. We have space for a few new exhibitors, for details click the Exhibit tab on the Beads Up North site linked below.

Full details at Beads Up North!

See our beads at MrBead.co.uk or MrBead.com

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April 2020 is the 15th full year of the MrBead newsletters, and I thank you all for such enthusiastic comments and appreciation. To see the past newsletters click here.

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