As regular readers will be aware, we have been keeping a beady eye on dedicated marathon runner and Bead Barmy follower  Steve Smith (see Making A Run For It).

We are supporting Steve in the 2010 London Marathon, where he will be running in aid of Diabetes UK. Steve has taken a well-deserved break from training to send us the following update:

The next four weeks see our long runs extending close to full marathon distance. We don’t need to do the full 26.2 miles, but we will do a run of 22-23 miles before the end of the month but it should be run at slower than our marathon pace so that we are on our feet for approximately the same time. Our weekly mileage is also on the up.  It was over 40 miles last week and will be over 50 miles by the time we see this month out.

With the longer runs we have to think about hydration and nutrition. It’s impossible to carry all the fluids we should be taking on board, but we do our best.  During our 17 mile run this week we were working out how many wine gums we might need – the answer was too many! If we wanted to replace all the calories we would use up on the day we would need to eat around 135 of them.  However, it’s the carbohydrate intake that is more important. To take sufficient carbohydrate we would need to eat between 150 and 240!

At a lace event Heather and I were attending recently I was talking to one lady, who had made a donation, about one of the runs I had done that week. It involved running 300m up a steep hill and jogging back down as a recovery and repeating it 12 times.  She commented that she didn’t think we would encounter many steep hills on the London Marathon; and she’s right. In fact I believe that the steepest incline is when we run across Tower Bridge, although running up the underpass onto the Embankment always feels steeper, but that may be because it’s after around 20 miles.

The most unkind incline however, is after the finish line!  Every runner has a timing chip attached to their shoe.  As it can take 20-30 minutes for everyone to cross the starting line the chip records the exact time you cross the starting and finishing lines.  After the finish they need to remove the chip. To do this, they make you climb up a ramp so that the volunteers can cut them off. To add insult to injury they are sitting on chairs!!

The Unstoppable Steve!

We feel exhausted just reading about all this running-about. The unstoppable Steve entered a half-marathon as a preparatory race this weekend and we are looking forward to hearing how he fared. We are sure that you, like us, will be following his progress with awe, so we will be sure to keep you posted.

The unstoppable Steve!

If you would like to take a look, Steve has his own web page with regular updates on his training and a place to make donations.

The Diabetes UK registered charity number is 215199.

Bead groups are springing up all over the country. Pooling ideas, perfecting their craft, entering competitions, drinking tea and meeting friends – you name it, they are doing it!

No two groups are the same

When we started this feature on beading groups it was primarily so that eager beaders could find out about their local circles and be inspired to participate. We hadn’t realised what a diverse bunch you are! No two groups are the same – the range goes from full-on structured classes to stringing pearls with one hand whilst holding a cup of coffee in the other.

We have now decided that this should be a regular feature, as new bead groups are popping up all the time and their stories are fascinating. The reasons for starting, the wonderful creations and the activities that go on are all worthy of at least a paragraph or two!

Prizes to be had…

So impressed are we by the beading groups we’ve encountered, that we have decided to give Beads Unlimited Gift Vouchers to the ones who really catch our eye. If you’d like to see your group’s name up in lights and be in with a chance of acquiring some goodies, please contact jo@beadsunlimited.co.uk and blow your own trumpet. Full details are at the end of this blog.

This month a £50 Beads Unlimited online gift voucher will be given to Horsham U3A Beading Group for their enthusiasm in all things bead-related! We would love to see what the group makes with their spoils.

Horsham U3A Beading Group

Some of the Horsham U3A beaders

The first in our series is the Horsham U3A Beading Group run by Jennifer Airs.

Jennifer is an avid beader who has regular projects in both national and international beading magazines such as Bead, Bead and Button and the Beadworkers Guild Journal.

She also has slots on Bead TV, a great internet subscription channel crammed to the gills with beading video tutorials, where you may also have seen our very own resident tutor Jane Leivens.

Jennifer has expert technique and a charming style. When we first spoke to her we were unaware of U3A and what is does and were eager to find out more.

The University Of The 3rd Age

This is a worldwide organisation that started in France.

U3As are self-help, self-managed lifelong learning co-operatives for older people no longer in full time work, providing opportunities for their members to share learning experiences in a wide range of interest groups and to pursue learning not for qualifications, but for fun – The University of The 3rd Age UK website

Jennifer told us:

You don’t have to be over 60. I joined in my mid 50s after a severe illness resulting in my early retirement on medical grounds. There are about 750 U3As in the UK with a total of about 230,000 members. My local one in Horsham has over 800 members and a very wide range of “groups” covering 58 areas including art, computing, languages, music, games etc.

We think this is a fabulous idea and much needed in an age when communities can be less social.

Group goings-on

Embellished bracelet by group leader, Jennifer Airs, from an exhibition at The Capitol in Horsham

Along with Anne Davies, Jennifer runs various beading groups for U3A members. The group members follow Jennifer’s designs to avoid any copyright issues.

People come to her as beginners for a year and then move on to more advanced classes that work on more complex projects. So it is quite a structured circle with something for everyone.

Recently Jennifer has taught both of her current beginner groups their second ladder stitch project, an embellished bracelet that originally appeared in issue 9 of Bead magazine. The picture insert opposite shows a close up detail of a version made for an exhibition she had at The Capitol in Horsham last Summer.

When you look at the apparent complexity of the design, it just goes to show what relative novices can achieve with expert teaching. She has also been teaching her advanced group a garter bracelet she originally had published in The Beadworkers Guild Journal. It involves no less than three different stitches – ladder, herringbone and ogalala.

Shrewd operators

Jennifer’s advanced beaders have been trying their hands at this lovely garter bracelet

Group costs are kept to a minimum by meeting in each other’s homes and by informal bead swaps. This is another great reason for having like-minded beady friends. More often than not, when you reach the end of  a project, you will have beads surplus to your requirements. What a great way to put them to use by passing them on, rather than let them languish at the bottom of your beading box until your next clear out!

Jennifer’s enthusiasm for her beading certainly rubs off, as most members make additional pieces at home, both for themselves and for friends. Jennifer says:

Beading improves dexterity, concentration and spatial awareness. Members find the class mentally stretching and enjoyable.

How do I join?

If you would like more information on  the Horsham U3A Bead Group, please contact Jennifer Airs on 01403 790830 or jenniferairs@aol.com

Blow your own trumpet!

If you run or belong to a bead group and would like to appear on our blog please contact jo@beadsunlimited.co.uk

We would like a bit of background info – how the group began, what you do, any competitions you enter, plus two or three pictures including one of your group in action! Pictures should be good quality jpegs and no bigger than 5mb.

We welcome any entries – whether you’re a team of two chatting about your latest purchases or a well-oiled beading machine with a cast of thousands! A Beads Unlimited Gift Voucher could be winging its way to you for your efforts.

The not-to be-missed trade fair in the crafters’ calender is upon us again!

Craft Hobby & Stitches Trade Show
Sunday 21st – Tuesday 23rd February 2010
Opening times:
Sun/Mon 9am – 6pm
Tues 9am – 4.30pm

NEC Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, B40 1NT
Hall 12, stand J01

Sterling Effort!

We are always interested to know when any of our Bead Barmy followers or Beads Unlimited customers do something out of the ordinary even if it’s not bead related! This is especially true when it’s for a good cause and involves sterling effort. Steve Smith contacted us recently to let us know he is running in the 2010 London Marathon. We had sponsored both him and his wife Heather back in 2003 when they were running to support Spinal Research. This year, he is going it alone as Heather has a hip injury.

Steve will be running in aid of Diabetes UK. He has a particular interest in this particular charity as both his Mother and Father suffered from Type 2 Diabetes. We believe that this is a worthy cause and, frankly, rather him than us when it comes to running! So the least we can do is make a donation and broadcast his endeavours to a wider audience.

Keep On Running

Steve gave us a rundown of his training so far:

The miles are building up now, as are the days of training – 5 days a week. Being self employed I’m able to run at times when many others are at work. It just means I have to work later in the evening but it’s still a big commitment as the very long runs can take up to three and a half hours. Last Thursday Pauline, my training partner, and I did 15 miles and tomorrow we have a 16 mile run planned.

For both of us it will be our eighth marathon (not all in London). Our finishing times are similar, however, Pauline will be sixty at the time of the race (unfortunately I’m not that far behind) and she gets a ‘good for age’ place in view of her sub-4 hour time. I’ve had an excellent response to my email. The donations do help and I try to remember them when running the race especially when the going gets tough around miles 1- 26! No seriously, around miles 19-20.

Bead Barmy Steve Goes The Extra Mile

Steve runs countrywide

Steve doesn’t restrict himself to the London Marathon, he runs countrywide. The left hand photo in the insert shows him on the 2008 Great North Run which he’s done seven times! The next picture is from a local 10 mile race in Thornborough where he came second in his age category. The last two are from the 2007 London Marathon.

We wonder where Steve finds the time and energy. Does he have extra hours in his day? On top of all this running around he is also part of a long established family business. Winslow Bobbins has been in existence for thirty seven years making and supplying bobbins to lacemakers all over the world. We took a look at their website and were thrilled by The History of Winslow Bobbins. It’s fantastic to read about traditional skills being kept alive and so successfully!

The Race Is On!

The London Marathon takes place on Sunday 25th April 2010 at 9am. Steve’s running number is 6975. He says that he doubts we’ll be able to pick him out on TV as he won’t be anywhere near the front. We’re still going to be watching and cheering him on from the comfort of our armchairs even if we can’t actually spot him!

As some of you may know, Beads Unlimited’s retail outlet, The Brighton Bead Shop give 10% of their takings to a chosen charity on the last Saturday of every month. On Saturday April 24th the charity will be for Diabetes UK to tie in with Steve’s run.

If you would like to take a look, Steve has his own web page with regular updates on his training and a place to make donations.

We wish Steve the best of luck and will keep you updated with his progress on this post.

The Diabetes UK registered charity number is 215199.

There’s a beading accident waiting to happen on every trip! In this sorry tale of bead and travelling woes, names have been changed to protect the foolish…

Guilty Pleasures

Now I for one have taken guilty pleasure from hanging a bauble from every dangly bit and draping myself from head to foot in jewels but there is a time and a place – weddings, bar mitzvahs etc. However, sometimes minimalism is the only way to go. Actually, it’s not so much about the wearing but more specifically the packing and transporting of beads and the glorious creations we make with them.

Two glaring examples of beads and their part in our downfall spring to mind. Both involve the annual pilgrimage of my friends and I to Glastonbury Festival and the frankly ridiculous things that we do!

A Sharp Intake of Breath

Not a little black dress in sight!

The first comes from someone I’ve been mates with for thirty four years. Sal and I have been to Glastonbury together every year it’s been on since 1989, so it’s fair to say she is a veteran of the festival. You can translate this as ’someone who really should know better’.

A couple of years ago Sal travelled all the way from the West of Ireland to my house in Brighton to prepare for our trip. God alone knows how she managed to come that far as the weight allowance on the flight is equivalent to a bag of feathers! Anyway, she arrived on my doorstep cussing about the enormous weight she was carrying and how she was never going to make it through the weekend, blah blah blah.

“Empty your rucksack, there must be something non-essential” I said, trying to take control of the situation as I had visions of me giving a back-strained Sal piggybacks around the site. Out it all came, sleeping bag, tent, and loo roll – fair enough, all items relatively essential! Three pairs of jeans (questionable), then fourteen vest tops. I hope you are all taking a sharp intake of breath out there in cyber-land.

“When on earth are you going to find use for fourteen vest tops in five days in a field?” I squeaked slightly hysterically. Sal conceded that this was in fact a tad excessive and we pared them down to five – one for each day.

This, however, was only the beginning. The main culprit was yet to be released from the bulging tardis. Out came a bag the size of a small baby containing enough necklaces, bracelets and other bodily adornments to stock a branch of Claires Accessories several times over. In a field in Somerset where you’re more likely to be sporting a cagoule and wellies than a little black dress and strappy sandals, there really isn’t much opportunity to wear more than one or two items of jewellery let alone a bagful.

Added to this, the dismantling of your attire late at night or in the early hours in a cramped two-man tent is arduous enough without adding to the torture. Potential Glastonbury virgins, read and learn. Sal had as much of a pain free festival as anyone can have, when traipsing across fields for five days, after realising her folly and taking only the essentials.

The Beaded-Trousered Philanthropist

I bought this at Glastonbury!

Unlike my next companion, who actually made it on to site with near disastrous consequences. Chloe had visited the festival several times but not for a while due to work commitments and lack of money. However, this particular year she had scraped together both the readies and a cunning plan. She decided she would make loads of jewellery to take onsite to flog and supplement her good time.

I had my reservations. The main one being that I’d rather starve for the duration to save money than waste a second of precious time on anything close to resembling work. Chloe, ever the optimist, said it would be fun and help contribute to the vibe! Just lay your blanket and your wares on the ground in a nice spot. Chat to the revellers, spread some more good cheer and offload the odd pendant while you’re at it. When she put it that way it didn’t sound too bad really.

Nevertheless, any sway in my opinion was halted when I met Chloe at the festival gates and she was armed with none other than a shopping trolley filled to the brim with handmade jewellery. Not the sort you trail round the supermarket with, although that would have been hard enough. I’m talking about the ones you used to see many a shopper dragging behind them in the 1970’s. The handy carriers were usually made of canvas, generally in some sort of lurid tartan design, with a handle to pull, all perched on two flimsy, plastic wheels. Perfectly adequate for a trip to the Co-op but not to the Somme!

Listen Up Non-Believers!

A note here to the doubters before I continue. Contrary to modern folklore, torrential downpours don’t happen every time. Ask anybody who’s been more than once (or twice!)

However, this was one of the unfortunate rainy years and many of you will know that the festival is held on a dairy farm. Therefore, with approximately one hundred and fifty thousand people trampling on the already soft ground it takes precisely five minutes to turn into a quagmire.

On this particular year the heavens opened as we took our first steps over the threshold. A few feet in, the aforementioned trolley was caked in sticky mud. Yards in, one of the overworked wheels left itself behind in the sticky mess. We ended up carrying the trolley between us, the mile or so away to our regular camping spot. All of this was, of course, done in the famous Glastonbury spirit helped by the odd alcoholic beverage on the way.

Happily, after that first day the weather did clear and the sun shone for the rest of the festival. Funnily enough though, Chloe decided that she’d rather starve than waste a second of precious time on anything resembling work! Thus proving the point that minimalist packing and bijoux jewellery is the way to go. I rest my ever so small case.

Beading expert, Jane Lievens guides you with clear, simple instructions. Novice or professional? There’s something for you!

Our tutorials are the stepping stones to making your own bespoke mini masterpieces. All videos are suitable for beginners and, for the brave, are open to  interpretation! Choose your own bead colours and styles for a unique finish. 

How to make a Charm Bracelet

Charm bracelets have made a huge comeback . Part of their appeal is that you can use any beads or pendants in any quantity you like.

Pick favourite beads from old jewellery or choose some spanking new ones. Or even mix it up with a bit of both. Chain can be heavy or light depending on the look you’re going for. Learn the basics with our tutorial video. The rest is up to you!

How to make a Rope Daisy Chain

A rope daisy chain has endless style possibilities. Use your favourite colours to create a unique piece of jewellery. Try making an extra long one and knotting it at the bottom for a twenties flapper necklace with a modern twist.

Top Tip! Keep each different colour of rocaille in a separate dish.

How to make a Netted Bracelet

A netted bracelet is a timeless classic and easy to make even if you are a novice. No specialist tools are needed to make this pretty bracelet. We suggest using faceted glass beads as they give a nice sparkly finish.

Top Tip: Start with about 1 metre of elasticity. If you use more it has a tendency to become knotted. You can always add more if needed, simply by knotting a new length to the end of the previous piece

The ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ and ‘wow, you really made that?’ are all very gratifying. It’s the men that are so difficult. I can see all your heads nodding in agreement as I write!

It’s almost that time of year again and, already, I’m having my own ‘nightmare before Christmas’, wracking my brains for original gift ideas. The girls are easy but the men can cause many a sleepless night.

Rock on

A couple of years ago my brother built himself a bar in his house extension. I’m not talking a Del Boy, circa 1970’s style bar with compulsory soda siphon. I mean an all singing, all dancing room with optics, a wine rack and all. My brother loves his rock music and he loves his bar. Problem solved for a while. You can never have too many ACDC coasters right? The bar is looking a bit full now though, as the whole family went mad on pub paraphernalia, so it’s back to square one with him.

Merry Christmas darling

My other half isn’t too bad to sort out. He usually wears his clothes until they’re practically falling off, so a new supply of shirts and socks are always welcome. It’s not the most exciting gift in the world but nevertheless it’s a safe bet. He even likes the odd bit of jewellery in the form of a bootlace tie!

Oh brother!

My brother-in-law is the most difficult. He loves wine but they live part-time in France, so their house in England has the greatest stock of Beaujolais this side of Calais! He loves the Blues too, but has usually downloaded the lost back catalogue of Old Blind Fred or Wild Willie No Shoes before you’ve even heard of them. Dad always likes a diary, but multiple copies have been known to happen and there are only so many anecdotes you can write about your day to day goings on (apparently)!

Why can’t a man be more like a woman?

Unfortunately, none of my nearest and dearest are really jewellery men either. I honestly can’t see any of them emulating Leonardo Di Caprio in The Beach with a bit of hemp twine and shell or bone around their necks! Actually my brother-in-law did try to sport a ‘man necklace’ once and was greeted with screams of ‘get it off!’ by my sister and her friend. Trust me, they weren’t re-enacting a scene from The Full Monty.

So with all this said, I tend to stick my head in the sand and digress from thinking of gift ideas until the last minute. Don’t get me wrong. I absolutely love Christmas. I love baking mince pies just for the festive smell, even though I don’t particularly like the taste. I love decorating the tree with all the old favourite baubles and topping it off with the ‘loo roll’ angel my nephew (now twenty eight) made about twenty years ago. I love having the gang round for a mulled wine evening and foisting the aforementioned mince pies on them. I just wish the men could be a bit more, well, womanly!

A Bone of Contention

Gift vouchers all round!

The Bead Barmy and Beads Unlimited Christmas staff do is usually entertaining too. Last year we had a pub quiz, for which I helped write the questions. We decided to make it Brighton-based with it being our hometown and all. We threw in the odd, random question as well just to pad it out and add to the jollity. I could, however, have skipped the entire quiz bar one teaser to fill the evening with.

The question that proved to be such a bone of contention was ‘Which part of your body can’t you lick?’. The official answer is, apparently, your elbow. However, after a couple of glasses of wine, this sparked plenty of debate. One bright spark piped up with ‘there are loads of parts you can’t lick. What about your eyeballs?’ Contradictory evidence is out there somewhere on YouTube I’m sure! Then, another talented individual disproved the answer altogether by actually licking their elbow. Needless to say, their team won.

Anyway, as I said, I do tend to digress. Oh dear, is that the time already? Gift tokens all round then?

We were all agreed that Reesha Dyers lovely necklace in clusters of golds and reds summed up the season for us.

To the victor, the spoils!

Our Competition Winner

For her hard work and creativity, Reesha won a £50 gift token to spend at Beads Unlimited. This is sure to help replenish her bead box with many more luscious goodies to make more gorgeous items.

To the right is our talented winner sporting more of her handiwork made for her school leavers prom.

A word from our winner

I can’t believe that I won! I am so excited and amazingly chuffed, thank you so so much!!! Reesha Dyer

Thanks to all of you who entered. We hope you had as much fun making your necklaces as we had looking at them.

We will be running more competitions with equally fabulous prizes in the near future. So be sure to keep your beading hands busy and your eyes on the Bead Barmy blog!

Try our just for fun quiz and find out what your beads reveal about you! 

Have you been known to lose your balance once or twice busting a move in your chandelier earrings? Do you believe that anything can be fashioned into jewellery – bottle tops, loo chain, even beads at a push? Is your idea of a good time curling up in your Laura Ashley armchair, fashioning a delicate necklace in glass lamp beads and pearls? Is your motto ‘If it stands still, cover it in cabochons. If it drapes, dangle a bead from it’? See what kind of beader you are with our fun quiz! 

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

A day of blood, beads and mayhem on the South coast of England.

On Halloween 2009 outside Brighton train station, at 3pm precisely, several hundred, blood soaked, entrail trailing, wailing figures grouped together for the annual zombie march, now in its third year. The website had warned to keep small children away as ‘they don’t know the difference’ but my almost three year old son loved it.

A gaggle of zombie Grannies

Brighton being the city it is (full of hip young and old things) made the event look more like a warped fashion parade than the Night of the Living Dead. There really were some marvellous costumes from a group of zombie Grannies to a couple of road workers impaled by a “Give Way” sign. There was even a man dressed, quite randomly, as a giant tomato.

Dawn of the Dead

White shows cosmetically applied blood and ketchup up perfectly!

It all became rather farcical when a steward mistakenly sent fifty stragglers the wrong way through Churchill Square – the main shopping centre. Messy creatures wandered aimlessly amongst bemused shoppers until the steward realised his mistake. The bloody hordes converged and continued their journey to the seafront. I overheard one irate shopper, trying to squeeze past, say “It’s no good Martin, we’ll have to go the other way. This is horrendous!” Horrendous yes, but done with such style!