'Fireworks' (The Monthly Challenge)

On the 1st of each month we'll be posting a challenge theme to inspire your jewellery making - whether you're a seed beader, stringer, metal clay worker, kumihimo lover or an all round beadaholic! 

With winter fast approaching and the cold nights drawing in, its easy to get drawn into a darker mood. So we thought with bonfire night on our doorsteps, we'd add a bit of colour to our monthly challenge and make this month 'Fireworks'! So we want to see the bright, vibrant colours of a rocket squealing through the sky, a spinning Catherine wheel or beautiful golden sparklers. We want to see your designs that have been inspired by fireworks. Designs must be made especially for the challenge.

Images taken from google images

Does It Have To Be My Own Design? 

Not at all. We are happy for you to use designs from books, magazines or tutorials - or include elements inspired by other designers. However, we do ask that you remember to credit the designers when sending us your entries. 

Do You Accept Entries From Outside The UK? 

The Bead Shop Liverpool mails internationally so, yes, we are happy to except entries from outside the UK! 

When's The Deadline For Entries? 

The deadline for entries is the 25th of November 2013. Entries received after the 25th November will not be counted. We'll be sharing all entries on the blog - and announcing the winner - on the 28th November 2013. 

And How Do I Enter? 

Please send an e-mail to info@thebeadshopliverpool.co.uk and include your name, e-mail address, details of your design and, of course, a photograph!

'October'! monthly challenge projects and a winner!!

So what an October we've had. Mile high winds and rain! But on my way in to the Bead Shop today the sun is shining, the leaves are falling in that beautiful browny/red colour and the air is crisp. It's Halloween and i hope you all have your sweets ready for the lovely little trick or treater's that come around dressed as ghouls and goblins. 

So here are the lovely entries from this month's challenge that make us think of everything that October encompases. Entrants were welcome to interpret the 'October' theme in any way that they liked. It's now time for us to share our entries and, of course, announce the winner of the £15 voucher code for The Bead Shop Liverpool. 

Ana

"I associate the month of October with leaves changing colours and falling from trees, so I chose a pattern by Viktoria Szabo (VikisBeadingTutorial) called Leaf of Olwen for beading a pair of elegant earrings."

Sue

Poppy Brooch in beautiful reds and greens.

Deb

Beaded bead earrings using Swarovski pearls and crystal in Autumn colours.

Asri

Fun Polymer clay pumpkin earrings. Tutorial by http://www.cookonstrike.com/

Ev

"My necklace of blue an gold tiger's eye with frosted yellow and dark maroon top drilled flowers and gold seed beads is 18" long and has hoop earrings to go with it...to me, these colors represent the fading gold of autumn leaves and the blue gray of the sky, with the few bright an sunny days that we sometimes see before winter arrives represented by the bright gold of the seed beads

All the entries are absolutely stunning and we are so happy you all took part. The winner was chosen at random! and, at the top of the list is....

Deb! Congratulations! Deb, please e-mail us at info@thebeadshopliverpool.co.uk, so that we can send your your voucher code!

'October' (The Monthly Challenge)

On the 1st of each month we'll be posting a challenge theme to inspire your jewellery making - whether you're a seed beader, stringer, metal clay worker, kumihimo lover or an all round beadaholic! 

With so much going on in October we decided to let the challenge be just that, 'October'. So whether you're inspired by the scary but fun Halloween, kicking the beautiful brown/red leaves falling from the trees in welly boots or the clocks going back and giving us that extra hour in bed, we want to see your designs that have been inspired by October. Designs must be made especially for the challenge.

Pictures taken from Google images

Does It Have To Be My Own Design? 

Not at all. We are happy for you to use designs from books, magazines or tutorials - or include elements inspired by other designers. However, we do ask that you remember to credit the designers when sending us your entries. 

Do You Accept Entries From Outside The UK? 

The Bead Shop Liverpool mails internationally so, yes, we are happy to except entries from outside the UK! 

When's The Deadline For Entries? 

The deadline for entries is the 25th of October 2013. Entries received after the 25th October will not be counted. We'll be sharing all entries on the blog - and announcing the winner - on the 28th October 2013. 

And How Do I Enter? 

Please send an e-mail to info@thebeadshopliverpool.co.uk and include your name, e-mail address, details of your design and, of course, a photograph!

Indian Summer {The Monthly Challenge}

On the 1st of each month we'll be posting a challenge theme to inspire your jewellery making - whether you're a seed beader, stringer, metal clay worker, kumihimo lover or an all round beadaholic! 

Here at The Bead Shop Liverpool we're hoping that we'll have a bit of an autumnal heat-wave! Who doesn't want the sunshine to continue? So, with that in mind, this month we'd like you to create something inspired by the idea of The Indian Summer. You're welcome to interpret the theme in any way that you choose, but your creations must be made especially for the challenge.

At the end of the month, we'll be sharing everyone's entries here on the blog and choosing one winner at random to receive a £15 voucher code for The Bead Shop Liverpool's new website.

Image SYPhotography via Maharani Weddings.

Does It Have To Be My Own Design? 

Not at all. We are happy for you to use designs from books, magazines or tutorials - or include elements inspired by other designers. However, we do ask that you remember to credit the designers when sending us your entries. 

Do You Accept Entries From Outside The UK? 

The Bead Shop Liverpool mails internationally so, yes, we are happy to except entries from outside the UK! 

When's The Deadline For Entries? 

The deadline for entries is the 25th of September 2013. Entries received after the 25th September will not be counted. We'll be sharing all entries on the blog - and announcing the winner - on the 28th September 2013. 

And How Do I Enter? 

Please send an e-mail to info@thebeadshopliverpool.co.uk and include your name, e-mail address, details of your design and, of course, a photograph!

Fairy Tale Inspired Projects And A Winner! {Monthly Challenge Entries}

For our first Monthly Challenge we asked you to create something inspired by Janie Grohman's beautiful, fairy tale illustration. Entrants were welcome to interpret the Fairy Tale Theme in any way that they liked - and they did! It's now time for us to share our entries and, of course, announce the winner of the £15 voucher code for The Bead Shop Liverpool. 

Carolyn

Carolyn has used some beautiful Swarovski Bicones and Swarovski Cosmic Rings, as well as Tri-Cut Crystals used a spacers. Aren't the colours lovely?

Deb

Deb created her lovely 'Snow Queen' netted necklace using Miyuki 11s in Pearl Ivory Ceylon and a decorative clasp.

Mel

Mel has used a combination of stitches to make her beautiful 'Fairy Tale Vines' Necklace. Inspired by tales of her childhood, Mel immediately thought of the vines that hid princesses away in their towers!

 

Sharon

Sharon's 'Pixie Dust' Pendant has been made with polymer clay, which she has coloured and decorated with acrylics, inks and mica powders. Pretty enough for a princess!

Vicki

Last, but not least, Vicki's 'Fairy Bride Bracelet' was inspired by the iridescent colours of fairy wings and she has combined rich tones of emerald, purple and gold. The bridge itself, leads the fairies to their secret garden. Isn't that such a lovely thought?

We were absolutely thrilled to receive such beautiful entries for our very first challenge and we're very thankful that we had already decided to choose a winner at random! We popped everyone's names into the Random Generator and, at the top of the list is....

Sharon! Congratulations! Sharon, please e-mail us at info@thebeadshopliverpool.co.uk, so that we can send your your voucher code!

A Little Reminder {The Monthly Challenge}

Just a little reminder that the deadline for our Monthly Challenge. Make sure that you send your entries to us by the 25th August! We'll be sharing all entries on the blog - on the 28th August and choosing one winner at random to receive a £15 voucher code for The Bead Shop Liverpool's new website.

By Janie Grohman on Polyvore

This month, we'd like you to create something inspired by Janie Grohman's beautiful fairy tale illustration. You're welcome to interpret the Fairy Tale Theme in any way that you like so, whether you choose to create something worthy of the wicked queen or a sparkling Swarovski encrusted tiara - we want to see it!

Please send an e-mail to info@thebeadshopliverpool.co.uk and include your name, e-mail address, details of your design and, of course, a photograph!

Fairy Tale Inspired {The Monthly Challenge}

Hello! Welcome to The Bead Shop Liverpool blog! We thought about spending some time introducing the staff, telling you what we have planned for the blog and showing off some of our products - and then we thought 'nah, let's just get on with it, shall we?' There's no hanging about here when there's beads to play with! 

So, without further ado, let us introduce you to The Bead Shop Liverpool's monthly challenge. On the 1st of the month we'll be posting a challenge theme to inspire your jewellery making - whether you're a seed beader, stringer, metal clay worker, kumihimo lover or an all round beadaholic!

This month, we'd like you to create something inspired by Janie Grohman's beautiful fairy tale illustration. You're welcome to interpret the Fairy Tale Theme in any way that you like so, whether you choose to create something worthy of the wicked queen or a sparkling Swarovski encrusted tiara - we want to see it! 

At the end of the month, we'll be sharing everyone's entries here on the blog and choosing one winner at random to receive a £15 voucher code for The Bead Shop Liverpool's new website.

By Janie Grohman on Polyvore

Does It Have To Be My Own Design? 

Not at all. We are happy for you to use designs from books, magazines or tutorials - or include elements inspired by other designers. However, we do ask that you remember to credit the designers when sending us your entries. 

Do You Accept Entries From Outside The UK? 

The Bead Shop Liverpool mails internationally so, yes, we are happy to except entries from outside the UK! 

When's The Deadline For Entries? 

The deadline for entries is the 25th of August 2013. Entries received after the 25th August will not be counted. We'll be sharing all entries on the blog - and announcing the winner - on the 28th August 2013. 

And How Do I Enter? 

Please send an e-mail to info@thebeadshopliverpool.co.uk and include your name, e-mail address, details of your design and, of course, a photograph!