Gift Jewellery, Mother’s Day & All About Coral Beads

To see the web version of this newsletter with photos click https://www.beadnewsletter.co.uk/mid-february-2022

See us this weekend at Harrogate Gem ‘n’ Bead Fair 19th-20th February, followed by Kempton Park in London on 5th-6th March.

For the full list booked so far click 2022 Bead Fairs. New MrBead Shop: https://mrbeadshop.com

Content:
Gift Jewellery – Inspiration From Tenerife
Mother’s Day
All About Coral Beads
Fossil Coral Beads
2022 Bead Fairs
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15% OFF ALL FROM MRBEAD!

Enjoy the new shop with 15% off anything with no minimum order. This is £15 off £100 worth of beads – the more you spend: the more you save! Only once per customer.

Shipping is free too on UK orders over £30 – under this UK P&P is just £2.50. International shipping from £5.

Can only be used at the NEW shop & not with any other coupon. To get the discount Key GIFT at checkout now, as offer ends Friday 25th February 2022. Use at https://mrbeadshop.com

GIFT JEWELLERY – INSPIRATION FROM TENERIFE

Early December MiMi and I spent a week in Tenerife. We were lucky to get away, but the covid tests cost more than the flights! As usual in Europe, many shop windows display hand crafted semi precious bead jewellery. Thought I’d show you some of the pictures for inspiration. In Tenerife, most are sold to tourists.

However, if you live in a major city, on the coast, or near a holiday area, you too can tap into this very-lucrative market. Jewellery is ideal for the traveller because:

MOTHER’S DAY

When Is Mother’s Day?
Mother’s Day 2022 in the UK is Sunday 27th March. In the US it’s Sunday 8th May.

British History
During the 1600’s, England celebrated “Mothering Sunday” on the 4th Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period leading up to Easter). Then, many of the England’s poor worked as servants for the wealthy. As most were employed far from their homes, the servants would live at the houses of their employers. On Mothering Sunday the servants had the day off and encouraged to return home and spend the day with their mothers.

Mothering Sunday Around the World
In the United States Mother’s Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe as a day dedicated to peace. Until 1914 when Ana Jarvis, with the help of the church, persuaded President Woodrow Wilson to make the second Sunday of May a national holiday in honor of the anniversary of her mother’s death.

However, many countries celebrate Mother’s Day at different times throughout the year – except Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, and Belgium who also celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May.

Best Present for Mum, Daughters & the Ladies in Your Life
What do you give to Mother? She longs for something special, but already has everything. The gifts that mean the most, are the ones that have memories attached to them. Mother’s say that every time they receive something special from their children, they remember the exact circumstances for the gift. And one of the most cherished gifts has got to be a charm bracelet.

What would mother like on her special day? Beads of course! Make a special necklace or bracelet as a gift for your mother and mother-in-law this year – or purchase one already made.

Jewellery is always appreciated, and gains sentimental value with age allowing Mother to always remember who it came from. Pearls are great, but any pink or warm-coloured stone jewellery would be appreciated!

See Our Ready Made Jewellery

CORAL, THE GEMSTONE FROM THE SEA!

Coral is a natural water-related bead that will sex-up your summer jewellery!

What Is Coral
Coral is not a true gemstone, but a product of marine life – the outer skeleton of sea polyps, made of calcium carbonate. However, it’s been used as a gem since prehistoric times.

History
Coral is one of the seven treasures in Buddhist scriptures – and has long been a strong talisman protecting against evil spirits and hurricanes. It’s also said to reduce blood flow, help anemia, and is thought to give wisdom and prevent madness!

Coral For Jewellery
Many coral beads are quite rustic, with the original shape of the coral branches. Perfect for creating ethnic jewellery. But since they are also porous and soft, they can be colour enhanced and carved into lovely shapes, allowing them to fit nicely in higher-end designs too.

Coral usually ranges from white to red, and it grows in branches that look like underwater trees. Red, pink, and white corals are usually dense, while sponge and blue corals have small air pockets and interesting spotted patterns. Most coral for jewellery comes from the China Sea off Japan and Taiwan. Coral reefs in the South Pacific like the Great Barrier Reef grow a different species.

The price of coral remains low only because of stockpiles from up to 30-years ago. However, due to over-harvesting and environmental damage, coral is becoming rarer, and natural red coral is very expensive. Most red coral sold today has been dyed. It’s quite easy to tell this on bold red coral beads, but the pink and blue corals are often colour enhanced as well.

Click to see our many Coral Beads

FOSSIL CORAL BEADS

What Are Fossil Coral Beads?
Fossil coral, or agatized coral, is an alternative to coral if you like your beads to be more subtle. This is ancient coral that has been replaced by agate so slowly that the flower-like patterns of the original coral remained intact.

Though it will not make a bold statement like the red corals, fossil corals have their own charm. They are mostly beige; but the greyish flower patterns may have subtle hints of pink, blue, and other colours.

How Are They Made?
Fossil coral beads are created from stones containing fossils of creatures that lived millions of years ago. The fossilized rock is then pulverized and formed into the bead shape, ready for polishing, drilling, and making into jewellery.

Pattern
They are especially cut to reveal unusual and interesting surface features, and then dyed brilliant colours making dramatic eye-catching jewellery. Rich burnt red and vivid polished purple are particularly spectacular.

Fossil coral’s striking pattern is determined by the species of coral that became fossilized. A common fossil coral is made from crinoids stems. These look like flowers, but were really tiny animals – the lines radiating out to form circles are where their spines were attached. These beads are thought to accelerate positive changes by energising the entire aura.

Click to see Our Fossil Beads

2022 BEAD FAIRS SO FAR

We’ve booked 28 fairs so far this year – with at least 3 more yet to plan. Our first is Harrogate Gem ‘n’ Bead Fair this weekend, 19th-20th February, followed by Kempton Park Gem ‘n’ Bead in London on 5th-6th March.

This year we’ll be holding more of our own shows, at new locations requested by customers. If you feel there isn’t any bead fairs near you, let me know and I’ll consider your request.

For the full list click 2022 Bead Fairs

15% OFF ALL FROM MRBEAD!

Enjoy the new shop with 15% off anything with no minimum order. This is £15 off £100 worth of beads – the more you spend: the more you save! Only once per customer.

Shipping is free too on UK orders over £30 – under this UK P&P is just £2.50. International shipping from £5.

Can only be used at the NEW shop & not with any other coupon. To get the discount Key GIFT at checkout now, as offer ends Friday 25th February 2022. Use at https://mrbeadshop.com.

OUR NEW MRBEAD SHOP: HTTPS://MRBEADSHOP.COM

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