Happy April!

I usually start by saying how quickly the year is going but I'll skip that this month as I'm sure for many of you it is dragging. So I wish you all well at this time and please know that I'm thinking of all of you for whom this is a very difficult & stressful time for a wide variety of reasons.

Once again I've had so many lovely emails and messages since my last mailing so thank you everyone who has got in touch.
Many have asked about sending my posts onto friends and, just so you know, at the bottom of every newsletter is a 'forward' button which you can use to send onto anyone.
You can also see all my past newsletters here and if you click on any of them you can again find that 'forward' button.

I'm very fortunate that, apart from lots of cancelled classes & travel, my working life has mostly continued as normal (beading deadlines stop for nothing or no-one!) and I'm furiously beading away on projects for 2020-2021 and onwards, and look forward to starting to share them all with you soon.

Excitingly I've just added in some 'virtual classes' so read on to find out more about those coming-up soon and I hope I get to see you there!

This month I'm launching a brand-new CRAW kit having taught this back in February in Florida and boy do I wish we could rewind time to those happy days...
I also have a pattern available on its own for the first time, so plenty to keep your beading fingers happy.

In addition, just as the last 2, this newsletter also brings you more links with things you can find on the Internet to keep you busy at this isolation time.
They cover a wide variety of interests & themes so I hope you find something to please you.

Until my next newsletter, when I'll be launching a very much in-demand box project... I wish you good health, and, of course, lots of happy beading!

Limona Kit

This very-limited intermediate kit will teach you all you need to know about creating stunning & sparkling beaded components which can be used for bracelets, necklaces, pendants or earrings…as your heart desires!

The project uses CRAW to bezel some striking Swarovski crystals, adding extra colour & texture with seed beads and Swarovski Crystal Pearls.

This kit is currently available in 9 different colours but I have no plans to re-stock it so be sure to snap one up soon here.

Adorned Carrier Beads

After a few requests I have launched my Adorned Carrier Bead project as a separate pattern (it was previously just part of my Adorned Peyote Stitch pattern set) and you can find it here.

If you love beading with Carrier Beads, and want to take it up a notch with new sparkling & textured additions, then this pattern is perfect for you!

But, if you've never done any before, and want to dive in then the 15 pages explain 4 different variations as well as how to turn them into finished Carrier Beads and also a finished bracelet.

This pattern is just £5 and is available here.

Don't forget you can get 20% off if you use the 'Pattern Discount Code' which you can find below.

Fun things & beads

There are so many things to see on the internet, or in the beading world, but here are some which have caught my eye recently:

ThreadABead have a great free pattern to bead a Dr or Nurse (check out their other patterns & kits also as they have some absolutely amazing things!)
Joyce Scott is a wonderful artist who uses beads as her medium and you can watch an online interview with her and also search the rest of the MAD Museum website for lots about artists who use beads in their work (you can even find me on there...)
The Cooper Hewitt Museum in New York is one of my favourite places in the world and their website is full of amazing things such as these online exhibitions 'In search of the seed beads' , 'The craft of accessorizing for Chhau dancers', 'Beadwork from Southern Africa', 'The birds and the beads', 'How African beadwork changed the world' and 'Nigerian bracelets and bangles'.
You can also find over 10,000 photos involving beads if you search for beads on their website
The Royal Albert Hall are showing lots of musical performances on their website which you can enjoy at home for free

This last item is a personal favourite of mine as I love this series of films and will definitely be rewatching them all now they're online:
Diana Friedberg has made a series of 5 'World on a string' films all about beads and their history and use.
She has kindly made them all available to watch online and you can find them here:

Part One - THE ETERNAL BEAD
Part Two - THE TINY MIGHTY BEAD
Part Three - THE SACRED BEAD
Part Four - THE TREASURED BEAD
Part Five - A PASSION FOR BEADS

Classes

A lot of my planned classes have been cancelled or postponed, but I have added in some virtual classes via Creative Castle in California (but available to anyone wherever you are).
These classes will be run via 'Zoom' and you'll be sent the instructions in advance and then on the day be able to see me and the other students and still have some live beading fun!
The classes will run from 9am-2pm California time (5pm-10pm UK time) so you can still join in wherever you are in the World (needing to sleep permitting!).
You can see more information about all classes on my website here by date and here by venue (look under 'virtual classes' for these new ones) and also you can book via Creative Castle here

Pattern Discount Code

Simply enter 'newsletter' into the promo code box on my shopping cart (on my website and also now on Etsy) to receive 20% off all individual patterns (not valid on any other kits, books or pattern sets or on any other websites).

Please make sure the discount is applied to your basket total BEFORE you finish checking out. Also ensure you type the code without the quote marks.

You can use more than 1 code at the same time so if you have any others which apply please do use them.

When used on my website the code will give you 50% off Summer 2017 Beadalong, Summer 2018 Secret Beadalong and Summer 2019 Secret Beadalong and 33% off Winter 2017 Secret Beadalong, Winter 2018 Secret Beadalong and Winter 2019 Secret Beadalong

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