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100% recycled plastic beads – fun & quick jewellery examples

100% recycled plastic beads - Jewellery Examples

We’re really excited to start stocking these beautiful 100% recycled plastic beads. Available both in our Nottingham Bead Shop and online on our website. We really love them, not only do they make use of otherwise discarded plastic (they’re all made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic). But also the use of different plastics together have … Read more

Re-creating a favourite necklace – see the end results

Leila's Finished Necklace - Re-creating a favourite necklace

Last week one of our customers Leila joined me for a 1-2-1 session to start re-creating a favourite necklace. Leila’s already a keen beader and makes stunning brick stitch and fringed earrings (a technique learnt in another 1-2-1 session last year). She also has a keen eye for beadwork and has picked up some gorgeous … Read more

The Bead Shop Teams creative inspiration using our Rubberised Acrylic Beads

Beaded Sunflower Necklace - The Bead Shop Teams creative inspiration using our Rubberised Acrylic Beads

When you work in a bead shop you can’t help but get excited about new products & the endless possibilities with them. It was no different when our new Rubberised Acrylic bead range arrived last week. So as everyone’s creative cogs whirred into action I thought I’d share our creative inspiration on using our Rubberised … Read more

What is Paracord and what you can you do with it?

fishtail knotted bracelet

You may well have heard of Paracord, without really knowing what it is and what you can do with it. As the name suggests, it is used to make parachutes. Made from Nylon, it is very strong and durable. It is created from several fine cords, with a woven cover, it gives it extra strength … Read more

Mix it up – Christmas Jewellery and Decorations

Mix it up - Christmas Jewellery and Decorations

Believe it or not, our Christmas Czech glass mix is popular ALL year round. It is often used in our introduction to jewellery making workshop, to create earrings and bracelets. Collectively all the beads make a lovely festive mix with greens, reds, golds, creamy pearls and silver shades. When you pick out the individual beads … Read more

Autumnal vibes – here’s some great crafts for a cosy night in

Felt Fox Kit

September signifies so much for me. Back to school vibes, Autumn (my favourite season) cosy evenings on the sofa crafting. Decorating my house with autumnal foliage. Planning my hand made gifts for Christmas and of course Halloween. There’s something so fun about crafting and decorating your home for Halloween and Autumn. I’m no expert but … Read more

Threads for Beading and Stringing

Collection of threads - Blog post Threads for Beading and Stringing

Have you ever wondered what the best thing to string beads on is? Or which thread to start bead-weaving with? We will go through the different types of stringing materials and beading threads and what jewellery making techniques they can be used for. Beading Wires for Jewellery Making Beadalon, Soft Flex, and Soft Touch are … Read more

How I approach designing with 2 hole beads

Original Ginko Bead Design - The Bead Shop Nottingham

I’m often asked, particularly when I’m teaching workshops “How do you come up with your designs”. So I thought you may find it interesting to find out how I approach designing with 2 hole beads. Which is exactly what I’ve been doing recently. We have just added the lovely 2 hole Ginko beads and 2 … Read more

Beading on a loom

Beading on a Jewel Loom

Beading on a loom is a great place to start beadwork. It’s how I first played with beads, with a bead loom kit I was given as a child. A familiar story with many I have spoken to in workshops too. I thought it would be useful to collect together all our resources to help … Read more

How to make a reusable Snowflake decoration

Snowflake decoration

I love snowflakes, they’re a natural phenomenon, each one unique and sparkly and their shape lends themselves so well to loads recreating it lots of different crafts. You can see our Swarovski snowflake kits here. One simple and effective way to create a reusable snowflake decorations is to use a snowflake wire form.Produced by Beadsmith, … Read more

Kids Craft Ideas for Half Term

Halloween jewellery making

With plans disrupted this half term and many of us spending yet more time at home, we have gathered together some kids craft ideas for the school holidays! With Halloween parties and trick or treating off the cards, it doesn’t mean you can’t make some spooky Halloween decorations. This pre-printed Halloween Shrink Plastic sheet comes … Read more

Top Tips From My First Time Using Polymer Clay

Tiny Twister Lolly - polymer clay

Hi, I’m Eloise! The newbie here at The Bead Shop. You may have seen me on our Instagram or in store recently. I’ve recently really got into making items from Sculpey clay. So I thought I’d share some top tips from my first time using polymer clay.

When my partner first found The Bead Shop, coming home with a pile of leaflets on workshops and crafty info along with my first pack of polymer clay, I couldn’t have guessed that only months later I would be a member of the lovely team here!

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How to create jewellery with leftover chain

How to create jewellery with leftover chain

Hi Alex here! If you’re anything like us at the bead shop you might have a collection of odd lengths of chain that you have no idea what to do with! I’ve created this blog post to show you how to create jewellery with leftover chain to hopefully inspire you to use utilise the chain you would otherwise throw away. Not only can you help reduce your waste but create beautiful things too.

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Inspiration for how to decorate natural wooden beads

Inspiration for how to decorated natural Wooden Beads

Sometimes being faced with a blank canvas, whether it’s an actual canvas or a bead, can feel a little daunting. So I thought I’d share some inspiration for how to decorate natural wooden beads. Sometimes wanting to find the right colour to go with a particular garment can be enough to spark your inspiration. I have been known to paint my own beads for that very reason.

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Needle felting for the mind

Needle felted Rain bow brooch

Hi, Alex here!
For a while now we’ve been wanting to produce a new needle felting kit to add to our ever growing collection of crafting kits here at The Bead Shop. Steph and Emma are our needle felting experts but we wanted to aim this kit at complete beginners. So for the production of this kit I thought I’d have a go! Needle felting is something I’ve always wanted to try. Inspired by seeing Emma’s adorable needle felted bunny Ralph, I was keen to get involved and I also had a slight ulterior motive… 

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How to make your own Mala Beads

Knotted Mala Bead Necklace

Buddhist prayer beads or malas are a traditional tool used to count the number of times a mantra is recited. They are similar to Catholic rosary beads used in prayer though they tend to have 59 beads and finish in a cross or crucifix. Misbahah are muslim prayer beads, usually in strings of 99 beads.

Mala necklaces consist of 108 beads plus a 109th Guru bead and are used to count the number of times a mantra or breaths are repeated.

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What you need to know about healing crystals

What you need to know about healing crystals

Have you ever wondered about the benefits of healing crystals or which birthstone is associated with each month? Semi-precious gemstones have been used in jewellery and accessories for Millenia. But some people believe semi precious stones and gemstones have specific meanings and uses. Recently there has been a renewed interest in natural crystals and their potential healing qualities. They are thought to help balance energy and enhance wellbeing. Semi-precious gemstone beads can not only be used to make beautiful jewellery, but the stones themselves may have many benefits and properties.

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How to make your own beaded felt bowls

Hi Steph here, I thought I’d show you how to make your own beaded felt bowls! You may have seen these beautiful bowls in our bead shop or on our social media. We launched them for our 20th Birthday party back in January. We wanted an alternative to the plastic tubs that customers use to collect their beads in whilst shopping.

Fun craft projects so you can keep the kids happy!

Kids Crafts from household items - The Bead Shop Nottingham Blog

I was going to be teaching a series of craft workshops for kids during the Easter holidays at Handmade Nottingham. Unfortunately Covid-19 has other ideas so these have been postponed until the Summer holidays. However I thought as everyone is going to have to be creative in keeping their children entertained at home it would be helpful if I shared the projects with you.

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My 20 favourite things to do in Nottingham!

The Bead Shop Hot Chocolate

Hi it’s Hana here, I’ve noticed recently that we’re getting more people coming to visit us from outside Nottingham. I’m not sure if it’s because there are now less bead shops in the UK or because beading and crafting are becoming more popular. Either way we often get asked what else there is to do and see in Nottingham so I thought share some of my favourite places with you.

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