2018 Bead Planner, Resolutions & Garnet Beads

To see the web version of this newsletter with photos click http://www.beadnewsletter.co.uk/january-2018

A very happy and prosperous New Year – make more jewellery in 2018!

We’re soon off to buy you the latest beads in China between January 4th to 18th – so orders will be delayed between these dates.

Our first bead fair of 2018 will be at Harrogate Gem n Bead Fair. For details of our shows booked so far this new year click 2018 Bead Fairs.

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Content:
Free 2018 Monthly Beading Planner
Garnet – January’s Gemstone
Beading Resolutions
MrBead Does Show at a Loss!
Free Shipping
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2018 MONTHLY BEAD PLANNER

To download your free 2018 bead planner in PDF format click: 2018 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 2018. Print it out and write your schedule and bookings in the date boxes. In green is 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.

GARNET – JANUARY’S GEMSTONE

What Is Garnet?
Garnet is January’s birthstone, a name given to over ten gemstones with similar chemical structure. Although red occurs most, there are also shades of green, pale to bright yellow and fiery orange garnet. Some rare garnets even change colour from daylight to artificial light.

The word “Garnet” derives from the Latin “granum” meaning “grain”. Describing the typically rounded shape of the gemstone and also reminds of pomegranate seeds. Some rare garnets even change colour from daylight to artificial light. The name “garnet” derives from the Latin “granum” meaning “grain”.

Benefits
Garnet makes good jewellery because it’s very hard, and so resistant to wear. Garnet is said to symbolize happiness as well as deep and enduring love and friendship. Garnet has been found in jewellery from ancient Greece, Rome, and dating back to 3100 BC in Egypt.

Oriental warriors made garnet bullets because they believed these would inflict more harm. Others thought garnet brightened the night because of its high refraction of light – explained Noah’s garnet lantern to steer his Ark.

Travellers’ wore garnets to protect against evil, poison and wounds. It was also believed to help depression and prevent nightmares. Red garnet in particular is said to break a fever, stop bleeding and to reduce inflammation.

Modern Garnet
Today, garnet is prized for its beauty rather than its magical powers. People like its naturalness, its brilliance, and colour of a sun-drenched Indian summer. Deep green garnets are the rarest and therefore expensive. Emerald green and colourless garnet is next rarest, followed by pure red.

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

Beading Resolutions

New Years is the best time to start something new. People make resolutions to eat better, extra exercise, quit bad habits. In 2018 you should be planning to be more healthy, work harder, sleep more, and make additional money!

How many of us make resolutions about our beading? What better way to imprint the positive habit of creativity, by enjoying time with our beads and making new projects. It can help you find time to do a little something creative almost every day. Make more jewellery!

Think Beading!

Now is the time to decide what you’d like to make to start your New Year’s beading projects. This can be a large or small project, a necklace or bracelet, an intricate item, even wall hanging.

Or something significant, such as a baby announcement for a new child, a wedding announcement in beads, a beaded plaque with a quote that means something important to you or loved ones.

Now!
The important thing is not to think I’ll start when “I get around to it” – you must start right away, go for it! You don’t have to have every item you’ll need to complete the project to begin. And it doesn’t have to take all day – just set aside an hour or so to get the project started. As long as you have something to begin. Often you’ll find new beads along the way that will fit perfectly with the project.

List
Make a list of all supplies you need for the project. Tick off what you already have and order online what’s missing. Check for beading thread, needles, a loom if it necessary, the pattern, any instructions or tutorials you’ll need, a bead board etc. Also, make sure that you have a place to do the beading, any work surface covers, plus somewhere to store the project while you’re not working. Keep the work in a secure place so it will not be tipped over accidentally or knocked off a shelf.

Organize
Plan some time, at least an hour, to get your new beading project underway. Have all the supplies you’ll need in one spot so you can sit down and begin beading. If you need a particular book or print-out, be sure to have it ready to use. Mark the place in the book or have instructions from the internet printed out for reference. If you know you have some of the supplies on hand, take a few minutes to dig them out and look over.

You don’t want to be put off a new project because the thread is the wrong colour or your clippers are too dull. If you are missing something for your project, you can often substitute it for something else. Use your imagination with what you have. Customizing or changing a published beading pattern is a way to add a bit of “you” to the original designer’s creative vision and makes your beading even more special.

Gather all the items you have, even if it’s just the beading needle, thread and pattern. If you have none of the other supplies, then at least thread the needle and read through the pattern. You could take time to mark rows on the pattern or to gather tools and look through the beads in your stash to work into the project. Go for it! Once you’ve taken the first step – the rest, including beads, tools and time to bead, will come easy!

Use our monthly 2018 bead planner to organize your beading schedule – click here

MRBEAD DOES SHOW AT A LOSS!

It had to happen. Over the years we’ve been near a loss, but this was the first time with no profit at all. However, I guess it could be down to lack of experience, as this was our first ‘jewellery craft fair’, as apposed to a wholesale beading event.

We only took about £250 over the two-day event, and the stand cost around £350 for two-tables. John next to us done better with a single table, selling Italian leather handbags and coats.

We had about 50 necklaces MiMi had made from our semi-precious beads and pearls. All looked fantastic in boxes, but perhaps £18 to £49 was too expensive? However, we also sold some bracelets at £5 in the box and other matching necklaces and earrings at just £10 the boxed set.

I put it down to a low turnout through the door. The venue at the centre of Norwich in the Forum looked good, but most visitors only go there for the library or a cup of coffee.

At least we learn’t something and experienced the ‘other side of beading’, from the eyes of our bead wholesale customers’, Now I know what it feels like to sit at a display waiting for visitors! At least we didn’t have a hotel or transport to cover.

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

13-YEARS OF MRBEAD NEWSLETTERS

2005 TO 2018

April 2018 is the 13th 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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