Our Spring Bead Fairs 2014

It’s great fun doing these bead shows and MiMi enjoys them too.  It gets us around and it’s good to speak to customers after being 'locked-away‘ in a little room in China.  We love chatting to our regulars and it's very sociable meeting the same exhibitors' at each show. In 7-weeks we drove over 3,000-miles around Britain.  Many times up north, where there appears to be more beaders, but also more rain. In Norwich it really is sunny most of the time!

I wish we could have stayed in the UK longer – I love it light so late.  In Hong Kong in the summer it gets dark fast at 7pm and in the winter around 6pm.  There is very little twilight.  And the weather this time of year in Southern China is too hot with too much rain. Next year we may stay all summer long in the UK and do a lot more bead shows.  I haven’t spent all summer in Europe for over 20-years – and jokes about the weather don’t put me off at all.  You can’t drown culture. We'll be back in Hong Kong from 8th July to 5th September.

Beads Up North! – 27^th April
As usual, Gordon done a great job organising and attracting many people. There is lots of light in this beautiful location in Haydock Race Course, close to the M6 motorway.  Beautiful day and very warm for the time of year. Picture above left.

 

Doncaster Bead Fair - 4th May
A new one for us. Great hall with a large catchment area. Picture above right.



Norwich MrBead Show – 11th May
Very busy as usual, and surprisingly so as there was another bead fair nearby at Newmarket.  We had 5 tables and were again supported by the excellent hand-crafted jewellery designs by The Bead Queen.  As other years, some visitors travelled a long way to see us at this beautiful venue in such a fine city. Picture above left.

Luton MrBead Bead Show – 11^th May
A little quiet at Luton, but we always do very well with some visitors travelled further than 60-miles! Nice light venue and easy to reach being just 5-minutes off M1 junction 10, only 1/2-hour from London. Picture above right,

North East Bead Fair – 18^th May
I didn’t realise Newcastle was so far north until I worked out it was 4-hours fast drive from Luton – so we never arrived at the Travel Lodge until 10pm!  After the show, MiMi and I stayed in a Glasgow Travel Lodge on our way to Oban and Loch Lomond for a few days holiday. Always great being in Scotland!

Cheshire Bead Fair – 1st June
This long-standing show was a good bead fair as always at Nantwich – with many people and good takings. Thanks to Sharon & Mark of Silver Orchid, this fair continues.

Kempton Park Gem 'n' Bead fair - 7th-8th June


Fantastic venue attracting visitors from all around London. Grand place just off the M25. Lots of people, but as usual a little slow on the last day.  Picture above right is Nigel with Michael from Bead Buyer, after the show!

See where we will be in our autumn UK bead fairs: here             top

Ruby – July’s Birthstone        

Like a perfect red rose, the Ruby's rich colour speaks of love and passion.  July's birthstone is among the most highly prized of gems throughout history. The Ruby was considered to have magical powers, and was worn by royalty as a talisman against evil.  It was thought to grow darker when danger was imminent, and to return to its original colour once safe.

 

The word Ruby comes from the Latin "ruber," meaning red.  Ruby is the hardest mineral after diamond, a variety of the mineral Corundum, and is found as crystals within metamorphic rock.  It comes in a variety of colours, and is called a sapphire in any colour except red.  Rubies range in hue from an orangey red to a purplish red, but the most prized gems are a true red.  Large rubies are very rare and valuable.  The most beautiful crystals are thought to be from Burma, but they are also found in many other countries.

Rubies were thought to represent heat and power.  Ancient tribes used the gem as bullets for blowguns, and it was said that a ruby would boil water instantly.  Ground to powder, this crystal was used as a cure for indigestion - and it has been said that the ruby's red glow comes from an internal flame that cannot be extinguished, making a gift of this stone symbolic of everlasting love.  And if worn on the left hand, ancient lore has it that the ruby will bring good fortune to its wearer.     

July's Alternate Gemstone - Onyx

The Romans, Italians and Hebrew all have a different gemstone for July - Onyx.

Onyx is a term used for several stones. It has been dyed since ancient time, with the popular pure black variety, being dyed microcrystalline quartz. Its natural colour is usually brown, white or grey. And onyx used in architecture isn't a form of quartz at all, but a type of limestone marble. Onyx is very similar to agate. With straight bands of brown, white or black, where agate has curved bands of many colours.

Although regarded as protective, onyx has a reputation as a stone of discord. Onyx was worn to cool the ardors of love, probably because it helps to balance the mind and emotions. Not only avoided by lovers, but also at night, as it provoked nightmares. However, it does improve concentration and devotion, hence many onyx rosaries. Onyx is a strength-giving stone, aiding confidence and useful for athletes or people under stress. Its energy is a mental tonic and can help you cope with fears and worries, making you feel in harmony with your surroundings.

To see our onyx click MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk                             top

See Our Summer Bead Category at MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk

Free Shipping!
Sample our beads with Free Shipping in the MrBead bead store, just key in JULY at the checkout and click "Redeem Coupon".

Offer  valid until Friday 4th July 2014 only - so act now! Only for use in our store at the checkout and not valid with any other offers.

To see all our beads at MrBead click MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk

 

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