Teardrop & Magical Moonstone Beads
4th May 2024
See Us Next Weekend. Saturday 11th May at London Luton Bead Fair, and Sunday 12th May at the New Forest Bead Fair. Then the following Sunday 19th May, at the Cornish Bead Fair, Probus.
MrBead Shop: https://mrbeadshop.com. For bead fairs booked so far click Bead Fairs 2024.
Content:
Two Great Bead Fairs
Teardrop Beads
Magical Moonstone For May Jewellery
Beads Up North Report
2024 Bead Fairs
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15% Off All From MrBead
Enjoy 15% off anything with no minimum order. Shipping is free too on UK orders over £40. International shipping from £8.
Can only be used at the NEW shop & not with any other coupon. To get the discount Key MOONSTONE at checkout now, as offer ends Thursday 9th May. Use at https://mrbeadshop.com.
Orders Delayed Between Luton, New Forest & Cornish Bead Fairs
While we take a few days break in Cornwall. We can’t work 7-day weeks all the time! We’ll have a cottage on the coast for a few days, and will be camping for a few too.
Two Great Bead Fairs Next Weekend
London Luton Bead Fair
Most visitors to our Luton show, nip up the M1 from North London – it’s only 20-mins to J10, and the venue is just down the hill from the motorway. Limited parking at venue, but car park next door. For details click: Luton Bead Fair. Saturday 11th May – 11am to 4pm.
New Forest Bead Fair
A very popular show at a beautiful location at the largest village in the New Forest. Animals everywhere! MrBead will have the latest semi precious beads & pearls – along with Southampton Bead Shop with crystals & findings, plus other traders. For details click: New Forest Bead Fair. Sunday 12th May – 11am to 4pm.
Teardrop & Briolette Beads – The Jewellery Designer’s Friend!
Graceful teardrop beads are a timeless and versatile option cherished by artisans. They resemble delicate droplets of water, and are a stable in every jewellery-makers toolkit.
Elegant Aesthetic Appeal
Teardrop beads add gracefulness to your piece. Their smooth, streamlined contours mimic the organic shape of a teardrop – a sense of fluidity and delicacy. Whether used as focal points or accents, they create a touch of sophistication and refinement into necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.
Versatility in Design
One of the advantages of teardrops is their versatility. Available in various sizes, colours, and materials like glass, crystal, gemstone, and acrylic, they offer endless possibilities. Whether you’re aiming for a classic, vintage-inspired look – or a contemporary, avant-garde style.
Enhanced Movement and Drape
The elongated shape of teardrop beads creates jewellery with movement and drape. Like dangling earrings or cascading necklaces, they sway gracefully with the wearer’s movements, creating a mesmerizing visual effect. Their fluidity adds an element of dynamic energy, drawing attention to the intricacies of the design.
Focal Point and Emphasis
Teardrops serve as striking focal points. Whether used singly or clustered together for added impact, they create interest. Their distinctive shape and lustrous appearance are ideal for highlighting specific elements of a design. Whether it’s a vibrant gemstone, a shimmering crystal, or a captivating pendant.
Subtle Symbolism
Teardrop beads also hold subtle symbolism that adds depth and meaning. The teardrop shape is associated with love, compassion, and resilience – giving the jewellery layers of significance.
Ease of Incorporation
Despite their intricate appearance, teardrops are remarkably easy to incorporate into jewellery. Whether strung together on wire, threaded onto cord, or incorporated into wire-wrapped designs. Their versatility and ease of use make them an ideal choice for jewellery makers of all skill levels.
Use More Teardrops! To See Our Many teardrops, click Teardrop Beads.
Beads Up North Report
As always Haydock was packed – although very-slightly down on September. All went very well – expect the huge car park was full. I wondered if I overdone the marketing – but it appeared another event at the racecourse were using our spaces! Soon sorted. For a short video of the show click Beads Up North.
Top pictures: queues on open, beading workshop & the food hall. We’ll be back Sunday 22nd September 2024. Full details at BeadsUpNorth.co.uk. If you live North of Watford or South of Newcastle: it’s a must!
Magical Moonstone: May’s Gemstone
Moonstone’s feature is its magical ‘play of light’, once thought to be caused by the moon. The translucent stone softens light shining through it to give a pearly glow, changing on the angle viewed.
Moonstone brings luck, positive energy and confidence – aiding spirituality and intuition. Natural moonstone is expensive, so opalite is common today. Opalite moonstone gives even more shimmer. Its soft, milky appearance is calming and mesmerizing, demanding attention on a summer night.
All moonstone is translucent, and softens the light shining through it to give a pearly moon-like glow which appears different whenever the stone changes position. This shimmering affect is caused by light being refracted inside the stone.
Colours
Moonstone comes in colourless, white, grey, and subtle yellow, but always has a blue or white sheen. Rainbow moonstone is colourless with a blue sheen and a rainbow-like array of colours.
Moonstone Folklore
Much mystery surrounds this stone. In India it’s considered sacred to lovers, and is also known as a “dream stone” bringing beautiful dreams.
In Arab countries women sew moonstone into their garment as a symbol of fertility. It was also believed to protect seafarers. During full-moon, moonstone is very powerful for reconciling love – and as the moon decreases, is said to allow one to foretell the future.
A feminine stone for female issues and the inner-child, but also used by men who want to reach their feminine side. Moonstone brings confidence, calms the emotions, and aids spirituality, intuition, and clairvoyance.
Also thought to protect against fever, fluid-retention and urinary problems. Its soft shine supports the emotional and dreamy side of a person. Wearing moonstone will also increase your sensitivity for others.
Natural Moonstone
Classical moonstone from Sri Lanka shimmers pale blue and is expensive. Moonstone from India has a cloud-like plays of light on beige, brown or green, backgrounds – and some have a cat’s eye or a multi-rayed star.
Uncut moonstone is dull and lacks the play of light. This is brought out by the cutter’s skills, who must locate the stone’s axis. Classical moonstones are always cut as cabochons.
Value
The more intense the colour, size and transparency, the more valuable is the gem. Top quality fine blue moonstone shows an incredible “three-dimensional” depth of colour, which you will see clearly only when tilting. These are rare and expensive. Brighter coloured Indian moonstone is cheaper, so is opalite moonstone.
Opalite Moonstone
Opalite moonstone is a type of glass with similar metaphysical properties to genuine moonstone. A powerful healing stone and more affordable and durable than natural moonstone. It’s also available in more shapes and sizes, and is less likely to chip, making more practicable jewellery. Opalite moonstone is most common today. A new synthetic stone with even more blue shimmer than genuine moonstone.
Against a light background, it appears milky white, shimmering golden faint lilac-blue and other colours. Beside a darker background, it changes to a bright icy blue with the highlights altering to intense oranges and reds. The stone practically glows on its own, drawing attention.
Opalite moonstone adds a romantic feminine allure to your jewellery, always looking refreshingly cool – ideal for summer. Its pastel glow is soft and captivating, complimenting other light-coloured stones like lilac amethyst, blue chalcedony, and rose quartz.
It also loves to compete with wild bright colours like reds and turquoise. This flamboyance makes opalite ideal to wear during a night out on the town.
Looking After Moonstone
All moonstone is fragile. However, a jeweller can polish a dulled moonstone back to its original glory.
We have over 43 different opalite moonstones – to see at Moonstone Beads
2024 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
Saturday 11th May: London Bead Fair, Castle Street, Luton LU1 3SS
Sunday 12th May: New Forest Bead Fair, Brockenhurst Village Hall, Highwood Road, Brockenhurst SO42 7RY
Sunday 19th May: Cornish Bead Fair, Probus Village Hall, Barn Court, Probus TR2 4NB
Sunday 8th June: Kent Bead Fair, Farningham Village Hall, High Street, Farningham DA4 0DE
Sunday 16th June: Cheshire Bead Fair, Goodwill Hall, Wrexham Road. Faddiley, Nantwich CW5 8HY
Saturday 22nd June: Lincoln Bead Fair, North Kyme Village Hall, Vacherie Lane, North Kyme LN4 4DL
Sunday 23rd June: Essex Bead Fair, Great Bromley Village Hall, Parsons Hill, Gt Bromley CO7 7JA
For the shows booked so far next year, click: 2024 Bead Fairs. Many More To Follow!
15% Off All From MrBead
Enjoy 15% off anything with no minimum order. Shipping is free too on UK orders over £40. International shipping from £8.
Can only be used at the NEW shop & not with any other coupon. To get the discount Key MOONSTONE at checkout now, as offer ends Thursday 9th May. Use at https://mrbeadshop.com.
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