The Little Bead Shop and Art Clay Scotland are teaching at the Edinburgh Bead Fair 8th May!

The Little Bead Shop and Art Clay Scotland are delighted to be able to tell you that we're teaching at the Edinburgh Bead Fair on 8th May!

Here is our fantastic list of classes!

Right Angle Weave Bracelet - 11:30 - 1:00

With just Seed beads and thread you will create this beautiful banglein whatever colours take your fancy! You will learn how to stitch right-angle weave, a very versatile stitch that can be used to make silky fabrics or self-supporting structures. You may not finish the whole bangle in this class but will be given with complete instructions and materials to complete it after class! Some experience of working with seed beads will be helpful not essential.

Swarovski Crystal Bracelet - 1:30 - 3:00

Simple clean lines are often the best. Using Swarovski Crystals, you will create this fabulous sparkly bracelet. Once you know how, you can make this bracelet in a range of different sizes by simply changing the size of the crystals. This one uses 6mm Bicones. Most students should finish this bracelet in class, even total beginners!

Beginners - 3:30 - 5:00
This is an ideal introduction to the basics in beading. If you really don't know your crimps from your tiger tail, then this this class is for you. Covering the basics in bead stringing from the different types of threads available, and when to use them, to the different types of finishes available. You'll make a bracelet or necklace with the emphasis being on your own creativity! But don't worry - there are plenty of design examples on hand to help get those creative cogs turning.

Chainmaille - 11:30 - 1:00

This is an ideal introduction to chainmaille for a beginner. The lovely loose weave is perfect for a bracelet and adding seed beads to the outside rings gives it that extra “something”. Choose to make in either sterling rings or silver plated. You’ll complete most of this bracelet in the class and will be given a set of instructions to take away with you.

Magical Silver Clay - 1:30 - 3:00

This is a fantastic opportunity to try your hand at Silver Clay. You don’t need any experience to attend this workshop and you’ll make a pendant or charms. Learn the basic techniques including: handling the clay, shaping and forming it, pre-finishing, firing times and temperature, finishing and polishing. 7g of clay is provided. Pieces will be fired after the class and be ready for collection at the end of the day.


Starburst Pendant 3:30 - 5:00

Learn how to make this beautiful swarvoski pendant. Using a beading needle and thread you will first encase your 16mm swavoski rivoli using a circular peyote stitch and size 11 toho seed beads. You will continue the pendant with 3mm swaroski bicones and the 11 tohos. When finished, your piece can be used as either an pendant or brooch. Full instructions will be given so you will be able to continue making more at home.

ALL CLASSES JUST £12!!

To book simply call The Little Bead Shop/Art Clay Scotland - 0131 228 5058.

Full payment is required to secure a place.

Swarovski and czech dagger bead flower: Saturday 5 March: 1pm - 4pm:

Spring is finally in the air and to celebrate, we thought we'd share this lovely new class with all our favourite customers!

Made from czech glass dagger beads, seed beads, swarvoski crystals and a 22mm rivoli you can make this beautiful, glittering daisy which can then be made into a pendant, brooch or even a pin.

The class uses bead weaving techniques which are suitable for complete beginners and will run on Saturday 5 March from 1pm until 4pm

Price £30 includes tuition, all threads, findings and your beads.

To book your place or for more information, please pop in to see us, visit our website or call us on 0131 228 5058!

Love,

The girls from The Little Bead Shop x

Full Day Bridal Workshop: Saturday 9 April: 10am - 4pm

Calling all blushing brides and beautiful bridesmaids!

The Little Bead Shop is delighted to be able to tell you that we will be running a full day bridal jewellery workshop on Saturday 9th April from 10am until 4pm.

In the morning we'll show you how to make a beautiful tiara and in the afternoon you can make a stunning piece of jewellery, such as a necklace, bracelet or pair of earrings to match.

This amazing class costs £55. This excludes the cost of your beads but includes all tuition and use of tools. Within this cost, you also receive a £5 voucher to put towards the cost of any beads you buy on the day.

Book now to avoid disappointment!

For more information about the class, please pop in to see us or call us on 0131 228 5058.

Love,

The girls at 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.

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

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

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.

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