Making Inexpensive Pearl Jewellery, Ruby & Other July Stones
29th June 2024
See us tomorrow at the Norwich Bead Fair, The George Best Western Hotel, NR2 2DA, 11am to 4pm. A busy show, with ready-made designs by The Bead Queen.
Then Saturday 6th July at Worcester Bead Fair in the beautiful village of Omersley, Omersley Village Hall, WR9 0DY. Both shows free entry & refreshments!
MrBead Shop: https://mrbeadshop.com. For bead fairs booked so far click Bead Fairs 2024.
Content:
Orders Delayed
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Crafting Inexpensive Jewellery With Pearls
Don’t Sell Pearl Cheap
Bead Fair Report
Ruby For July
Onyx – July’s Alternate Stone
Summer Bead Fairs
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Can only be used at the NEW shop & not with any other coupon. To get the discount Key NORWICH at checkout now, as offer ends Friday 5th July 2024. Use at https://mrbeadshop.com.
Orders Delayed 9th to 17th July
While we take our summer break in Sardinia. Most of this month we’ve been working 7-day weeks. With five bead fairs, restocking, marketing and online.
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If only I could put myself up – too busy doing bead fairs! Everything’s topsy turvy, we need major change, and I’ve never paid so much tax.
Crafting Inexpensive Jewellery With Pearls
Pearls have always been a symbol of elegance and sophistication – associated with high-end jewellery. Prices have also gone up 4-times in the past few years. However, with resourcefulness, you can incorporate pearls into stunning, affordable designs without breaking the bank.
Choosing the Right Pearls
Lower costs while maintaining quality, with freshwater cultured pearls, rather than saltwater. Available in various sizes and colours, providing versatility for designs. Synthetic glass pearls are excellent for budget-friendly projects – mimicking natural pearls at a fraction of the cost.
Essential Tools and Materials
- Pliers
- Round-nose pliers
- Flat-nose pliers
- Wire cutters
- Beading Wire and Thread
Findings, like clasps, jump rings, ear wires, and other components that hold your jewellery together
Simple Pearl Necklace
Creating a classic pearl necklace is straightforward. Materials needed: cultured pearls, beading wire, a clasp, and crimp beads.
1. Measure the desired length of the necklace and cut the beading wire accordingly.
2. String the pearls onto the wire, leaving a small space at each end.
3. Attach a crimp bead to one end, thread the wire through the clasp, loop it back through the crimp bead, and secure it by squeezing the crimp bead with pliers.
4. Repeat the process on the other end of the necklace.
5. Trim any excess wire and ensure all components are secure.
Pearl Earrings
Pearl earrings are a quick and stylish project. Materials needed: Two pearls, headpins, ear wires, and pliers.
1. Slide a pearl onto a headpin.
2. Using round-nose pliers, create a small loop at the top of the headpin to secure the pearl.
3. Attach the loop to an ear wire.
4. Repeat for the second earring.
Pearl Bracelets
A pearl bracelet is a lovely complement to your necklace and earrings. Materials needed: Pearls, elastic cord, and glue.
1. Measure the elastic cord to fit your wrist comfortably, leaving extra length for tying.
2. String the pearls onto the cord.
3. Once the desired length is reached, tie the ends of the cord together securely.
4. Add a drop of glue to the knot for extra security and trim any excess cord.
Make Your Pearls Go Further
To keep costs down, spread your pearls out using cheaper beads, spacers and other findings in-between. Especially with a necklace, that could use a lot of pearl beads. Pearl earrings are good, as they only use one pearl bead each.
Combining Pearls with Other Materials
Mixing pearls with semi-precious stones, glass beads, or metal accents saves money and creates stunning pieces. Experiment with different combinations to achieve a unique look. Like: a pearl and leather necklace to create a rustic yet chic look. Or pearl and crystal earrings, that adds affordable sparkle to the design.
DIY Kits and Online Tutorials
If you’re new to jewellery making, consider starting with a kit with step-by-step instructions. Online tutorials and videos can also guide you through techniques and projects.
To See Our Many Pearls, Click Pearl Beads
Don’t Sell Pearl Cheap!
Everyone expects pearl jewellery to be expensive. Even mother-of-pearl has gone up – don’t undervalue it. This advert from a popular UK newspaper sells a mother-of-pearl necklace (without a clasp) for £79 + an extra £25 for the bracelet & £19 more for earrings. Supposedly at a discount!
Bead Fair Report
Cheshire Bead Fair
We moved this show from Nantwich Civic Hall to Faddiley, 5-miles west. Great new hall and nice to see all the old sellers. However, although busy, not so good for MrBead – Southampton Bead Shop done well though. Buyers only wanted tiny beads, with few large sales. Our worse show for us for a long time!
Lincoln Bead Fair
Despite home-made cakes and air-conditioning this show as quieter than expected. Maybe a little out of the way? However, we’ll be back at this excellent new hall next year.
Essex Bead Fair
Our busiest Essex Show ever – and we’ve been going to to 
Great Bromley for over 8 years. Packed hall from start to finish, with many visitors from East London. Picture is Sheila at Essex with her amazing designed jewellery & crystals – see Saturday 6th July at Worcester Bead Fair.
To see a short video of the show click: Essex Bead Fair
RUBY – JULY’S BIRTHSTONE
Like a perfect red rose, the Ruby’s rich colour speaks of love and passion. July’s birthstone is among the most highly prized of gems throughout history.
Ruby was considered to have magical powers, and worn by royalty as a talisman against evil. It was thought to grow darker when danger was imminent. Ruby is the hardest mineral after diamond.
The word Ruby comes from the Latin “ruber,” meaning red. It comes in hues from an orangey red to a purplish red, but the best are a true red – and is called a sapphire in any colour other than red.
Rubies were thought to represent heat and power. Ancient tribes used the gem as bullets for blowguns, and it was said that a ruby would boil water instantly.
It has been said that the ruby’s red glow comes from an eternal flame, making a gift of this stone symbolic of everlasting love. Powdered ruby was used as a cure for indigestion, and the ancients believed it would bring good fortune.
See our 2mm and 3mm faceted ruby, click Ruby Beads.
July’s Alternate Stone
You can substitute expensive ruby for July jewellery with red garnet beads. These have similar benefits and looks.
However, the Romans, Italians and Hebrew have a different gemstone for July – they used Onyx. Onyx is a term for several stones. It’s been dyed since ancient times, with the popular pure black variety, being dyed microcrystalline quartz. Its natural colour is brown, white or grey.
Onyx used in architecture isn’t a form of quartz at all, but a type of limestone marble. Onyx is very similar to agate. With straight bands of brown, white or black, where agate has curved bands of many colours.
Although regarded as protective, onyx has a reputation as a stone of discord. Onyx was worn to cool the ardors of love, probably because it helps to balance the mind and emotions. Not only avoided by lovers, but also at night, as it provoked nightmares.
However, it does improve concentration and devotion, hence many onyx rosaries.
Onyx is a strength-giving stone, aiding confidence and useful for athletes. Its energy is a mental tonic and can help you cope with fears and worries, making you feel in harmony with your surroundings.
For Our Onyx and Obsidian Beads Click Here.
Summer Bead Fairs
Bead fairs are fun. A good way to lean how to make jewellery chatting with other visitors – and there’s nothing like actually seeing the beads ‘in the flesh’.
See the latest semi precious from our recent shipment. We try to cover all the UK: from Cornwall to Scotland, Wales to Norfolk, London, and all in-between!
Next Bead Fairs 2024
Sunday 30th June: Norwich Bead Fair, George Best Western Hotel, Arlington Lane, Norwich NR2 2DA
Saturday 6th July: Worcester Bead Fair, Omersley Village Hall, Sandys Road, Omersley WR9 0DY
Weekend 27th-8th July: London Gem n Bead Fair, Kempton Park, Staines Road East, London TW16 5AQ
Saturday 10th August: Berwick-Upon-Tweed Bead Fair, Ancroft Village Hall, Ancroft TD15 2T
Sunday 11th August: Scottish Bead Fair, Normandy Hotel, Inchinnan Road, Renfrew, Glasgow PA4 9EJ
Weekend 17th-18th August: Harrogate Gem n Bead Fair, Great Yorkshire Showground HG2 8NZ
For the shows booked so far next year, click: 2024 Bead Fairs.
15% Off All From MrBead
Enjoy 15% off anything with no minimum order. Shipping is free too on UK orders over £35. International shipping from £7.
Can only be used at the NEW shop & not with any other coupon. To get the discount Key NORWICH at checkout now, as offer ends Friday 5th July 2024. Use at https://mrbeadshop.com.
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