Merry Christmas!

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

We're all full of the Christmas spirit (not to mention a fair few mince pies....) and, before we get ready to shut the shop for Christmas, we'd like to send an extra special Merry Christmas! to all of our lovely customers.

We'll be be back open from 12pm - 3pm on 28th, 29th and 30th December, before returning to business as usual on 3 January 2011 where we'll be back with a whole load of brand new beading and metal clay classes!

Wishing you all a fantastic Christmas and exciting start to 2011!

Love,

The girls from the Little Bead Shop xxx

One to One Classes at the Little Bead Shop

Is there something you would like to learn how to make but have no idea where to start?

As well as offering a comprehensive range of beading and Art Clay classes, the Little Bead Shop also offers tailored one to one tuition. So whether you want to learn the basics or try your hand at something more advanced, our experienced teachers can show you the ropes!Our one to one beading sessions lessons cost £20 and hour and include the findings required to make your piece. Please note, the cost of your beads is not included.

Our own Emma Baird will take the one to one sessions in Art Clay. Qualified as a Senior instructor, Emma is the only provider of the Art Clay Certification in Scotland. Her work has been recognised internationally and she is a featured artist on the prestigious Metal Clay Guru website and is regularly featured in national magazines such as Bead and Making Jewellery with over 30 publications so far. And in 2011 her work will be published in several books!
One to one sessions with Emma cost £25 an hour and exclude metal clay.

These classes would make a perfect Christmas present. To book a session or arrange for us to make up a voucher, please pop in to the shop, contact us via our website or call us on 0131 228 5058.

If you would like to be taught a specific beading or Art Clay project, please let us know - if not we are happy to advise you on suitable projects according to your needs and experience.

Love,

The girls at the Little Bead Shop x

Stuck for ideas for Christmas pressies?

Are you stuck for ideas for Christmas pressies for your nearest and dearest? Well, the Little Bead Shop might be able to help you out!

We offer gift vouchers, for any amount, which are redeemable against everything in our lovely little shop, as well as all our classes, including metal clay!

A perfect present for the handmade craft enthusiasts in your life. And, even better, there's no expiry date so the vouchers can be used at the most suitable time for you!

For more information. pop in to see us, visit our website or call us on 0131 228 5058 :)

Love,

The girls at the Little Bead Shop x

Beady Stocking Fillers!

Christmas is fast approaching and if you're looking for a crafty stocking filler for someone special, we might just have the answer!

We've got a lovely range of beady goodie bags in the shop just for Christmas - perfect for keeping big kids and wee kids alike occupied for an hour or two.

We've also got a whole range of craft kits coming soon, so we'll keep you posted!

Love,

The girls at The Little Bead Shop x

Get ready for Christmas with The Little Bead Shop: Christmas Present Making Class: Sunday 12 December

The season to be jolly is coming ever closer, so to get you into the festive spirit, The Little Bead Shop is running a special Christmas present making class on Sunday 12 December.

Come along and sit by our roaring log fire for some mulled wine, mince pies and make some pressies. The class costs £45 and will run from 11am - 4pm. Findings are included but beads will need to be purchased separately.

To book your place pop in to see us, visit our website or call us on 0131 228 5058.

Love,

The girls from The Little Bead Shop x

One to One Classes at the Little Bead Shop

Is there something you would like to learn how to make but have no idea where to start?

As well as offering a comprehensive range of beading and Art Clay classes, the Little Bead Shop also offers tailored one to one tuition. So whether you want to learn the basics or try your hand at something more advanced, our experienced teachers can show you the ropes!

Our one to one beading sessions lessons cost £20 and hour and include the findings required to make your piece. Please note, the cost of your beads is not included.

Our own Emma Baird will take the one to one sessions in Art Clay. Qualified as a Senior instructor, Emma is the only provider of the Art Clay Certification in Scotland. Her work has been recognised internationally and she is a featured artist on the prestigious Metal Clay Guru website and is regularly featured in national magazines such as Bead and Making Jewellery with over 30 publications so far. And in 2011 her work will be published in several books!

One to one sessions with Emma cost £25 an hour and exclude metal clay.

To book a session, please pop in to the shop, contact us via our website or call us on 0131 228 5058.

If you would like to be taught a specific beading or Art Clay project, please let us know - if not we are happy to advise you on suitable projects according to your needs and experience.

Love,

The girls at the Little Bead Shop x

Festive Frolics at the Little Bead Shop: Monday 8 November

We've all got festive fever down at the Little bead shop and, with that in mind, would like to invite you to our extra special Christmas present making classes!

Come along for mulled wine, mince pies and some festive frolics where we'll show you how to make earrings, necklaces and bracelets as Christmas presents for your nearest and dearest.

Our Christmas classes will be on Monday 8 November 6pm-9pm (cost £25) and Sunday 12 December 1pm-4pm (cost £45). Both classes exclude the cost of your beads.

We look forward to seeing you for some festive cheer!

Love,

The girls from the Little Bead Shop x

Your Chance to win a Handbag Charm Kit Designed by Jeanette Sloan!

Last week we told you all about the fantastic handbag charm kit, designed by Jeanette Sloan, exclusive to the Little Bead Shop - and now we're delighted to offer you the chance to win one in our fantastic Pretty Pampered Pooches competition!

To enter, just post a picture of your dog wearing a fantastic bit of bling to our Facebook fan page and the best dressed pooch will win!

If you need any inspiration, here's a pic of Beau, Gil's dog, looking extremely regal!

The closing date is Friday 12 November - we can't wait to see your pics!

Love,

The girls at the Little Bead Shop x

Exclusive to the Little Bead Shop: Flowery Bag Charms by Jeanette Sloan

The Little Bead Shop is delighted to announce that we are now stocking Flowery Bag Charm Kits custom designed by our favourite textile artist Jeanette Sloan.


Each kit contains all the materials you need to make these beautiful knitted handbag charms* and make a fantastic crafty and creative present for any occassion - and at £12 per kit, would be just perfect for Christmas!

We have a limited supply of these wonderful kits in stock, so please pop in to see us or phone us on 0131 228 5058 if you would like to reserve one!

Love,

The girls at The Little Bead Shop x





*Please note, knitting needles are not included.

Children's Beading Parties at the Little Bead Shop

Looking for a creative and fun way for your child to spend their birthday? Well look no further!

Our children's parties are an ideal and fun way for your little ones to have some fun.

All parties are held in our lovely shop allowing you to leave your children to safely enjoy themselves.

Our parties are suitable for children from ages six and upwards. We find that groups of no more than eight work best.

Each party project is decided upon after discussion with you and your child. If she is unsure which project to choose then we will happily give you some advice on the kind of projects suitable for your child's age.

Our parties cost £12 per child and last approximately one hour. All children will leave with their completed project and their own beady goodie bag.

For more information or to book a date, please pop into the shop to see us, call us on 0131 228 5058, or visit our website.

Love,

The girls at the Little Bead Shop x

Our Emma is in a book :)

We are very proud!! The lovely and talented Emma Baird features in the pages of a brand new book all about Lampwork.

Creative Lampwork includes everything you need to know about lampwork, from the history of the craft, to safety and materials, to various bead shapes and decorative techniques. The author, Joan Gordon, formerly Editor of Making Jewellery magazine, has gathered together 14 accomplished glassmakers from around the world to guide you safely through each technique and project, and Emma is one of them :) She has two projects in the new book, one of which takes you through all the steps to make this lampwork Bead Ring.

Emma's studio is located right here at The Little Bead Shop and she is always happy for people to watch when she is on her torch. It really is fascinating to watch.

The book isnt available yet - but will be soon!! Congratulations Emma!!!!

New Class! Stunning Swarovski Crystal Bracelet: Thursday 16 September 1pm - 3pm

Being a bead shop, there's nothing we like more than a being able to bring a bit of sparkle to our customers, and you don't get much sparklier than this stunning swarovski crystal bracelet.

Here we will teach you the bead weaving techniques to make this beautiful bracelet. Once you know this technique, the sky's the limit!

The class runs from 1pm-3pm on Thursday 16 September and is suitable for beginners.

Cost £15 excluding cost of beads.

Pop in to see us, visit our website or call us on 0131 228 50508 to book your place!

Love,

The girls at the Little Bead Shop

New Class! Embellished Peyote Stitch Bracelet: Saturday 20 November 10am-12.30pm

We're all big fans of bead weaving at the Little Bead Shop and we're delighted to be able to bring you this brand new embellished peyote stitch bracelet class!

In the class, suitable for beginners, we'll teach you how to make this gorgeous peyote stitch bracelet and how to add embellishments to make it truly unique.

The class runs from 10am-12.30pm on Saturday 20 November.

Cost: £25 including beads.

Pop in to see us, visit our website or call us on 0131 228 50508 to book your place!

Love,

The girls at the Little Bead Shop x

New Class! Sparkling Swarovski Christmas Ring: Saturday 20th November 1pm - 3pm

The nights are getting longer and it's definitely getting to the time of year when we all feel the need for a little bit of sparkle. And what better way to add a bit of bling to any occasion than with this stunning sparkly swarovski crystal ring?

In this brand new class, suitable for beginners, we will teach you the bead weaving techniques to make this beautiful glittering Christmas ring.

The class runs on Saturday 20 November 1-3pm. Cost: £25 including your crystals.

Pop in to see us, visit our website or call us on 0131 228 5058 to book your place!

Love,

The girls at the Little Bead Shop x

New Class: Funky Wire Work Necklace: Tuesday 2 November 6.30 - 8.30pm

We've all gone a bit wire crazy over at the Little Bead Shop these days, so we thought we'd share the love with this brand new wire work class!

In this lesson you will learn to combine wire loops with beads to create this fun and striking necklace.

The class runs from 6.30 - 8.30pm and is suitable for beginners.

Cost: £15 excluding beads.

Please pop in to see us, visit our website or call us on 0131 228 5058 to book your place!

Love,

The girls at the Little Bead Shop x

New Class! Wire Crochet Necklace: Saturday 23 October 1pm-3pm

Have you always wanted to know how to make beautiful crochet necklaces but weren't sure where to start? Well, this could be the class for you!

In this brand new class we will teach you how to make this gorgeous beaded wire crochet necklace. Suitable for beginners, no experience in crocheting is necessary.

The class is on Saturday 23 October and will run from 1pm-3pm.

Cost: £15 and includes findings and loan of tools.

Please note, beads are not included.

Pop in to see us, visit our website or call us on 0131 228 5058 to book your place!

Love,

The girls at the Little Bead Shop x

Scottish Bead Fair - Sunday 22 August!

It's that time of year again and we're all looking forward to taking the Little Bead Shop down to the Scottish Bead Fair in Perth on Sunday 22 August!

We'll have our usual fine array of sparkly goodies on offer as well as some brand new jewellery kits and, for all those of you who follow us on Facebook, twitter or on this blog, you'll get a fantastic 10% off any beads you buy* - just tell us which site you follow us on when you come to make your purchase!

This year our very own award winning metal clay and lamp work artist Emma Baird will be doing a free demonstration on art clay. This year, she'll be showing you how to make one of her famous lamp work bead rings as featured in Making Jewellery magazine.

So remember to pop over and say hello to Deanne, Emma, Gil and Helen (who will no doubt be bedecked in their traditional glittery Bead Fair finery!)

Look forward to seeing you all on Sunday!

Love,

the girls from the Little Bead Shop x


*Please note that this lovely special discount applies only to our beautiful beads. Metal clay, tools, products and findings are not included.

NEW CLASS! Polymer Clay Cane Making - Saturday 7 August 11am - 4pm

We've done it again! The girls at the Little Bead Shop are delighted to introduce yet another fantastic new class!

In this class, suitable for beginners, you'll learn how to design and create your own unique, colourful polymer canes with your own intricate designs which you will then be shown how to form into beads to make your very own jewellery.

At the end of the day you will leave with several made up polymer clay canes for your future jewellery creations and one finished bracelet.

The class is being held on Saturday 7 August from 11am-4pm.

Cost: £65 which includes four packets of polymer clay and loan of tools.

For more information and to book your place, pop in to see us at the shop, visit our website or call us on 0131 228 5058.

Love,

The girls at the Little Bead Shop x

NEW CLASS! Dichroic Glass Fusing: Sunday 1 August: 11am-4pm

We are thrilled to offer you this new course in dichroic glass fusing - but beware.... it's addictive! In this class you will learn how to make beautiful pendants and cabochons. The colours are wonderful and the results fantastic!

You'll learn how to cut the glass as well as how to execute "full" and "tack" fusing. We promise you won't be disappointed.

This class is suitable for complete beginners and you'll take home three finished pendants.

Fee: £85 which includes tuition, all materials and loan of tools.

For more information or to book your place, pop in to see us, visit our website or call us on 0131 228 5058.

Love,

The girls at the Little Bead Shop x

Just for Father's Day - Silver Fingerprint Jewellery 10% Discount Special Offer!

We all know it's Father's day this Sunday and the girls at the Little Bead Shop are delighted to tell you that, just for this weekend, we are offering a fantastic 10% discount on silver fingerprint jewellery!

By using a combination of traditional silversmithing techniques and Art Clay Silver (often referred to as metal clay) we can capture a fingerprint directly into fine silver. What better gift for a dad than his child's fingerprint cast into a beautiful pair of cuff links or a charm for a necklace? It makes a perfect, truly personal gift.

Pushed for time? If you pop in before 2pm on Saturday you can get your beautiful personalised gift the very same day!

Arranging your silver fingerprint jewellery is easy - just pop in to see us or call us on 0131 228 5058 and tell us your requirements.

Love,

The girls at the Little Bead Shop

Children's Classes: Beautiful Beaded Ribbon Necklace: Saturday 10 July and Saturday 31st July

This amazing class will show budding young jewellery designers how to make beautiful necklaces using organza ribbon and sparkly beads.

Helen will take you through this three strand necklace project and show you how to use ribbon crimps for a professional finish and how to knot ribbon to suspend beads!

The classes cost £10 and are running:


Saturday 10 July 11am-12.30pm
Saturday 31st July 11am-12.30pm


This class is suitable for children ages 10 and above and all materials are provided. There are only six places per class so book soon to avoid disappointment!

Remember to pop in to see us, visit our website or give us a call on 0131 228 5058 if you would like any more information.

Love,


The girls at the Little Bead Shop x

Children's Charm Bracelet Class: Tuesday 6th July and Tuesday 27th July

In this brilliant class, Helen will show you how to turn any beads you like into lovely charms, which you will then turn into a beautiful spangly gold or silver plated charm bracelet!

You will be shown how to use pliers properly, and the correct way to do a wrapped loop, an indispensable technique for any budding jewellery designer.

This class is suitable for ages 8 and above, with a maximum of 6 places and costs £12.50, inclusive of all materials.

These great classes are running:

Tuesday 6th July 11am-12.30pm

Tuesday 27th July 11am-12.30pm

Book now as places are limited!

Remember to pop in to see us, visit our website or call us on 0131 228 5058 if you would like more information.

Love,

The girls at the Little Bead Shop x

Children's classes: Fimo Food Making: Thursday 24th June and Thursday 22 July!

Yum yum! Delicious looking treats made into charms? This is your chance to let our very own Zoe show you how to make gorgeous cupcakes like the ones above and turn them into jewellery!

This class lasts for two hours and is suitable for ages 10 and above. Places are limited so book soon!

The classes are on:

Thursday 24 June 11am-1pm

Thursday 22 July 2pm-4pm


The class costs £12.50. The price includes all materials, but bring an apron or old T-shirt as it might get messy!


Give us a ring on 0131 228 5058, visit our website or pop in to see us for more information.


Love,



The girls at the Little Bead Shop x

Just for Father's Day - silver fingerprint jewellery

Father's Day is fast approaching and with 20th June just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about presents. And we all know that getting presents for dads can be a bit tricky sometimes!

And, lets face it, there aren't that many holidays where we get to spoil our dads. So why not treat him to a really special gift?

By using a combination of traditional silversmithing techniques and Art Clay Silver (often referred to as metal clay) we can capture a fingerprint directly into fine silver. Our on site artists are fully qualified in Art Clay Silver so we can guarantee that everything is finished to a high standard.

And what would make a better, more personal gift for dad than a loved one's fingerprints cast into a pair of fine silver cuff links. Or a link in a bracelet or even a necklace?

Arranging your silver fingerprint jewellery is easy. Simply call us or pop in to see us and tell us your requirements.

Now you can "drop in" on a Saturday between 2pm - 5pm to have your, or your child's prints taken. Come along at the beginning of the session and your jewellery will be ready for you by the end of the day!

Please call us on 0131 228 5058, pop in to see us, or visit our website for more information.

Love,

The girls at the Little Bead Shop x

Beginners Bead Stringing - Monday 31 May

At the Little Bead Shop, we know that there's nothing more satisfying than the first time you make a piece of jewellery, apart from of course having someone compliment you on something you've made yourself!

The easiest way to learn how to make jewellery is to start making it - and once you've mastered a few basic techniques, the sky's the limit!

We're pleased to be able to tell you that we are running a Beginners Bead Stringing Class on Monday 31 May 6.30-8.30 pm. Perfect for beginners, this class will teach you the basics from how to use crimps and tigertail, different types of threads and when to use them as well as teaching you about the different types of finishes available.

By the end of the class you will have made a beautiful necklace or bracelet of your own design and leave with the techniques to make the kind of jewellery you've always wanted to!

The class runs from 6.30-8.30pm and costs £15 which includes findings, excludes beads.

For more information, please pop in to see us, give us a call on 0131 228 5058 or visit our website .

Love,

The girls at the Little Bead Shop x

Comprehensive Introduction to Metal Clay - Sunday 23 May

We have another one of our fantastic full day introductory classes coming up on Sunday 23 May and we just had to tell you all about it!

This comprehensive class takes you through the basics in the three frequently used types of Art Clay Silver: lump form, syringe and paste. It's suitable for total beginners but may also appeal to those of you who have been to our evening ring making or Magic of Art Clay evening classes.

Some examples of the beautiful pieces you could make on the day are pictured above.

In the morning our qualified, professional instructors will give you a thorough grounding in the basics and show you how to make pendants, earrings and charms.

In the afternoon, we will teach you all about shrinkage in metal clay and how to make your very own silver ring, how to make decorative, personalised embellishments using syringe and how to use paste to make your very own, beautiful silver leaf!

The class runs from 11am - 5.30pm (with a break for lunch) and is £130 which includes your materials for the day (20g Art Clay Silver, 10g Paste, use of syringe type and loan of tools).

For more information, please visit our website, pop in to see us at the shop, or call us on 0131 228 5058!

Love,

the girls at the Little Bead Shop x

Parties at the Little Bead Shop

We love a good party at the Little Bead Shop. Yesterday we had a little girl's beading party in the shop and I thought I'd share some of the pictures with you!

This is one of several beautiful pieces made by the birthday girl herself!

Parties can be held in our shop, where they are fully supervised, or in your on home. We hold parties for children ages six and up and each party project is decided on after discussion with you and your child. We're also happy to advise you on the most appropriate projects for your child's age if you're unsure.

As well as leaving with a piece of jewellery that they made at the party, everyone also gets a complimentary beady goody bag!

Please call in to see us, give us a ring on 0131 228 5058, or visit our website for more information.

Love,

the girls at the Little Bead Shop x

Metal clay at the Little Bead Shop

One of the things that makes the Little Bead Shop so special is the range of classes we provide and the level of expertise of our staff.

We share our premises with Art Clay Scotland, and provide a whole range of art clay silver classes from beginners to advanced master classes . Courses are run by Emma Baird, and taught by our team of qualified staff.

Not only that, but we also teach silver smithing techniques to bring a whole new dimension to your art clay silver and beaded jewellery. All our staff already have strong silver smithing experience, with Helen about to start her final year of her silver smithing and jewellery design design degree and Deanne is due to begin hers this September.

The level of experience of our staff makes us unique and you can be confident that we can provide you with the best possible advice and teach you to a high, professional standard. For more information about the metal clay and silver smithing classes available from the Little Bead Shop, please pop in to see us, visit our website or call us on 0131 228 50508.

Love,

the girls at the Little Bead Shop x

Dazzling czech glass dagger beads: some design ideas

We've been having a bit of a love affair with czech glass dagger beads as of late and thought we'd share some of our designs with you to get you inspired!

So, why do we love dagger beads so much? Well, not only are they beautiful (the colours really are amazing so pop in and see our displays to get the full idea!) their unusual shape adds a really interesting dimension to your jewellery designs which you just don't get with round beads.

Not only that, but they can also add a lot of movement to your jewellery, which is particularly eye-catching in necklaces and bracelets. So, what's not to love?

We hope this post has given you some ideas about how to use dagger beads and we'd love to see some of your designs so send them to us!

Love,

the girls at the Little Bead Shop x

An update on our lovely new shop

Well, what a week it's been. We've moved, we're merrily unpacking and are all totally in love with our fantastic new shop!

We've still got a fair bit of reorganising to do (and shelves to put up!) but we're all feeling rather impressed by how much we've got done in such a short space of time.

If you would like to see some pics of how the decorating is going, have a look at our pictures on Facebook

We've been running our classes as normal throughout (you may have seen us sitting at our lovely new beading table in the shop window if you've been strolling through Bruntsfield lately), and I just had to share this beautiful tiara that one of our students made at the weekend!

New dates for our tiara workshops will soon be on our website so we'll keep you posted!

Love,

the girls from the Little Bead Shop x

PS. As alway happens during any move, something has to go wrong, and unfortunately we've been having some problems with our phone line this week. We're hoping to get this sorted out asap, but if you would like to speak to us, you can reach us in the mean time on 07593768127 or email us via our website.

The fabulous new shop is officially open!

Well folks, after a long hard week of packing and painting, the Little Bead Shop is now open for business at the new shop at 120 Bruntsfield Place!

Not only does our new shop boast some rather stunning chandeliers, but we now have a dedicated classroom. Details of all our new classes will be coming soon so watch our website for more information.

Remember to stop by and say hello!

Love, the girls at the Little Bead Shop x

Big news update: New shop opening 21 April!

Hello everyone!

We can now confirm that as of 21 April, the Little Bead Shop will have moved a few doors along the street to 120 Bruntsfield Place, currently the premises of Cafe Crepe!

Those of you who have popped in to see us already know that we're already packing up and getting things organised for the move. Although we are possibly just a little bit messier than normal (ahem), everything is business as usual.

We'll keep you all posted on how the move is going :)

Love,

the girls at the Little Bead Shop x

Big News!

We are moving! :)
Some of you may have seen the 'To Let' sign on the front of our wee shop, but don't worry, we're only going down the road! Our new shop has a lovely back room, which we are going to turn into a little dedicated classroom. Our classes are now so popular, this will let us run them during the day as well as in the evening!
The front will display all of our lovely beads, tools and Art Clay. We have some awesome ideas up our sleeve too and we are so excited about it! The official opening date is still to be announced, but expect it around the 20th of April!
We will still be on beautiful Bruntsfield Place so come and visit us! We will be back with more details soon, happy Easter!
Love from the Little Bead Shop girls x

New Class! Comprehensive Beginners Beading on Saturday 8 May 10:30 - 3:30pm

As you've probably guessed from the title of this post, we have yet another fantastic new class running at the Little Bead Shop.

Our very own lovely Helen Chalmers will be running a comprehensive, five hour introduction to the the basics of beading. This great class will teach you all the basics and more including crimping, stringing and wrapped wire loops - the techniques needed to make gorgeous pieces such as the beautiful czech glass necklace and swarovski crystal wrapped loop bracelet above!

We will also give you lots of inspiration for your pieces as well as colour matching, an essential for any beading newbie!

The class costs £45 and includes all wire and findings. Beads are not included so why not come along a bit earlier before the class or pop in a few days before hand to pick your beads?

Just pop into see us, visit our website www.thelittlebeadshop.co.uk or call us on 0131 228 5058 to book your place!

Love,

the girls at the Little Bead Shop x

New class dates: wrapped loop charm bracelet: 30 March and 8 April

Hello everyone!

I'm delighted to be able to tell you that we have some new dates set for our wrapped loop charm bracelet classes!

In this class, we will teach you one of the fundamental jewellery techniques - the wrapped loop. This technique is a staple of wire working and being able to make these simple wrapped loops from wire or headpins will add a whole new element to your designs.

Using this technique in the class will allow you to make a beautiful charm bracelet like the one above. If you've been to one of our art clay classes, why not bring along some of your silver charms to add to your design? Seriously, once you know this technique - the sky's the limit!

The class, which is suitable for all levels, costs £15 and includes silver plated chain and headpins. Beads are not included.

The classes run 6.30 - 8.30pm on Tuesday 30 March and Thursday 8 April.

Pop in to book your place or call us on 0131 228 5058!

Love,

the girls at the Little Bead Shop

New class: enchanted amethyst swarovski bracelet: Tuesday 13 April

Hello everyone,

We're all excited to announce that the Little Bead Shop has a whole host of new classes coming up over the next few months.

We'll be running a class on how to make this beautiful enchanted amethyst swarovski bracelet on Tuesday 13 April 6.30 - 8.30pm.

In the class, which is suitable for all levels of experience, you'll learn about the art of needlework and bead weaving and we'll teach you how to create this stunning bracelet.

The basic stitches you learn will set you well on your way to mastering all kinds of other exciting weaving patterns.

The class costs £37 including all the swarovski crystals and findings you need to make your beautiful bracelet!

Pop into the shop to see us or call us on 0131 228 5058 to reserve your place!

Love,

the girls at the Little Bead Shop

The Little Bead Shop at the Scottish Bead Fair

What can I say, the Little Bead Shop had a brilliant day yesterday at the Scottish Bead Fair.

We want to send a big thank you to all our customers, old and new, who came to see us and who stopped by to say hello.

As ever, we had a gorgeous selection of our favourite beads on offer as well as information about our brand new classes (watch this space!)



Emma from Art Clay Scotland also made a special guest appearance to demonstrate how to use precious metal clay and gave some very handy hints and tips to those who came along to watch.

All in all it was a brilliant day, but now we just need to unpack!

Keep your eyes peeled as we'll soon be updating our website will all our fantastic new classes.


Love,

the girls at the Little Bead Shop

Fingerprint Jewellery Special Offer: The Perfect Gift for Mother's Day

Mums. They work hard. They spend all day running around after us, and more often than not still somehow end up doing our laundry even after we've left home... I think it's fair to say that our mums deserve a little TLC, and with Mother's Day fast approaching on 14 March, we at the Little Bead Shop are here to help you show your appreciation.

In honour of mums everywhere, we are offering a 10% discount on all finger print jewellery ordered by Saturday 13 March.

We can offer you a range of personalised jewellery beyond a charm on a chain. Pair your charms with stunning swarovski crystals, or beautiful freshwater pearls to create a beautiful bracelet or necklace. Choose a texture for the front of your charm and have the fingerprint on the back for a unique reversible pendant, or have a name inscribed for that truly personal touch.

Arranging for your silver fingerprint jewellery is easy. Simply call us on 0131 228 5058 or visit our website for more information.

Mums, we salute you!

The girls at the Little Bead Shop x

The Little Bead Shop is going to Perth Bead Fair 14 March!

It's been all go at the Little Bead Shop over the last week as we prepare for the Perth Bead Fair on 14 March.

Those of you who know us well know that we always like to get our glad rags on for the bead fair, and we've been sorting out our outfits in earnest, not to mention all the gorgeous glittering goodies for the stall itself.

On top of our stunning selection of beads and findings, we'll be coming along with a full stock of metal clay including silver, copper and bronze and a whole host of craft and design magazines including "Bead", "Making Jewellery" and "Bead and Beyond".

Emma Baird, one of the owners of the Little Bead Shop, award winning metal clay and lampwork artist will be doing demonstrations on how to use art clay silver and will also be on the stall, so remember to pop along to see her and say hello and find out more about the exciting metal clays.

We've all been very excited - not only do we get to meet all our lovely customers, but we have a whole range of special offers for everyone who comes to our stall on 14th March including:

• 10% discount off all classes booked on 14 March; and
  
• beautiful pick and mix bags of Indian beads for £2.99!

Keep your eyes peeled as we'll also be announcing more special offers on the big day.

We're all looking forward to seeing you all on Sunday!

Love,

The girls at the Little Bead Shop x

Handover....

Ive been thinking of doing this for months, and after a period of quietness in blog land I thought now would be the perfect time to do it - I'm crossing over to my new Blog on Word Press. if you have been following my blog at all then you can come with me here
My blog will be concerned with my own work, classes, Guest Teachers for Art Clay Scotland, my travels etc....

This blog is going to be looked after by all the girls at the Little Bead Shop (even me occasionally) so the hand over I think is fitting!! There will be plenty of chatter about all the beady things going on, classes, jewellery designs and metal clay too! I'm sure given my lackluster blogging of late it will be a really interesting blog to follow!

SO - - I thought I'd introduce you to two of the girls who will be blogging!!


Helen Chalmers - 23, is a jewellery student at Duncan of Jordanstone in Dundee. At the moment she is starting work towards her degree show and dissertation. She loves to draw, and has just started working in lampworked glass. She is a familiar and friendly face at The Little Bead Shop, holds her Level 1 Qualification in Art Clay Silver and has been published in "Bead Magazine"



Deanne Holden - our newest staff member - jewellery designer Deanne uses a variety of media in my work from sterling and fine silver, copper, bronze and art clay silver. She is, by her own admission, interested in everything odd, and her creative interests include Victoriana, gothic, deco and nouveau. She is obsessed with jewellery and design in all its forms and loves being experimental. Deanne also holds the Art CLay Level 1 Qualification and like Helen has also seen her written articles published in "Bead".