Happy 2011 from MrBead!  Bead Resolutions, Year Planner, & a Bead Crossword

This month’s theme is January's birthstone garnet + bead resolutions, 2011 year planner and a fun bead crossword puzzle.  Scroll down, or click one of the links below on the html version to go to a certain section. 

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For the MrBead store click MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk

New Year Bead Resolutions
Garnet - January's gemstone
Who is MrBead?
Old MrBead Newsletters
Bead Crossword Puzzle
Free 2011 Year Planner
15% off Voucher

New Year Bead Resolutions

New Years is a wonderful time to start something new.  People make resolutions to eat better, exercise more, quit bad habits - but how many of us make resolutions about our beading? What better way to imprint the positive habit of creativity, by enjoying time with our beads and making new projects.  It can help you find time to do a little something creative almost every day. And what could be a better resolution than that?

Now is the time to decide what you'd like to make to start your New Year's beading projects. This can be a large or small project, a necklace or bracelet, an intricate item, even wall hanging.  Or something significant, such as a baby announcement for a new child or grandchild, a wedding announcement in beads, a beaded plaque with a quote that means something important to you or loved ones.

The important thing is not to think I’ll start when “I get around to it” – you must start right away, go for it!  You don't have to have every item you'll need to complete the project to begin. And it doesn’t have to take all day - just set aside an hour or so to get the project started.  As long as you have something to begin. Often you'll find new beads along the way that will fit perfectly with the project.

Make a list of all supplies you need for the project.  Tick off what you already have and order online what’s missing.  Check for beading thread, needles, a loom if it necessary, the pattern, any instructions or tutorials you'll need, a bead board etc. Also, make sure that you have a place to do the beading, any work surface covers, plus somewhere to store the project while you’re not working.  Keep the work in a secure place so it will not be tipped over accidentally or knocked off a shelf.

Plan some time, at least an hour, to get your new beading project underway. Have all the supplies you'll need in one spot so you can sit down and begin beading. If you need a particular book or print-out, be sure to have it ready to use. Mark the place in the book or have instructions from the internet printed out for reference.  If you know you have some of the supplies on hand but that they are "buried", take a few minutes to dig them out and look over.

You don’t want to be put off a new project because the thread is the wrong color or your clippers are too dull.  If you are missing something for your project, you can often substitute it for something else. Use your imagination with what you have. Customizing or changing a published beading pattern is a way to add a bit of "you" to the original designer's creative vision and makes your beading even more special.

Gather all the items you have, even if it's just the beading needle, thread and pattern. If you have none of the other supplies, then at least thread the needle and read through the pattern. You could take time to mark rows on the pattern or to gather tools and look through the beads in your stash to work into the project. Go for it! Once you've taken the first step - the rest, including beads, tools and time to bead, will come easy!                        to top

Who is MrBead?

I was born in 1957, north of London, UK.   At 18 I left art school to work for a newspaper, before establishing a photographic studio.  I grew a mustache to look older!

Bored and in debt from fast cars and holidays, I shut shop and traveled overland to China.  I’ve been there ever since, commuting between Hong Kong and Guangzhou.   I came online in 1997 when Britain lost Hong Kong, and built my first shop there on a 10-inch laptop - the only machine to fit my tiny Mong Kok room. 

Later I moved to the mainland, right above huge bead wholesalers.  Knowing nothing about beads, I brought whatever looked attractive and searched online before listing them on eBay.  From there came MrBead.com, turning over a thousand US dollars a day.  I fly to the UK regularly and extensively around the globe.

Read my new book about selling beads How to Make a Killing Selling Bead Jewelry - to purchase at a discount click for the US Version or the UK Version.  I’m no writer, but penned this book to help other beaders sell their wares.  It’s written in friendly bite-size chunks to digest easily and to motivate.  I hope you can absorb the information easily and make lots of money!

Nigel Mckay
MrBead

Garnet - January's gemstone         

Garnet is January's birthstone, a name given to over ten gemstones with similar chemical structure. Although red occurs most, there are also shades of green, pale to bright yellow and fiery orange garnet.   Some rare garnets even change color from daylight to artificial light.  “Garnet” derives from the Latin “granum” meaning "grain”. Describing the typically rounded shape of the gemstone and also reminds of pomegranate seeds.

Garnet is a name given to over ten gemstones with similar chemical structure. Although red occurs most, there are also shades of green, pale to bright yellow and fiery-orange garnet.   Some rare garnets even change color from daylight to artificial light. 

The name “garnet” derives from the Latin “granum” meaning "grain”. Describing the typically rounded shape of the gemstone and similar to pomegranate seeds. Garnet comes mainly from Africa, but also from India, Russia, central and south America.  

Benefits
Garnet makes good jewelry because it’s very hard, and so resistant to wear.  Garnet is said to symbolize happiness as well as deep and enduring love and friendship.

Garnet has been found in jewelry from ancient Greece, Rome, and dating back to 3100 BC in Egypt.  Oriental warriors made garnet bullets because they believed these would inflict more harm.  Others thought garnet brightened the night because of its high refraction of light - explained Noah’s garnet lantern to steer his Ark. 

Travelers’ wore garnets to protect against evil, poison and wounds.  It was also believed to help depression and prevent nightmares. Red garnet in particular is said to break a fever, stop bleeding and to reduce inflammation.

Modern garnet
Today, garnet is prized for its beauty rather than its magical powers. People like its naturalness, its brilliance, and color of a sun-drenched Indian summer.  Deep green garnets are the rarest and therefore expensive. Emerald green and colorless garnet is next rarest, followed by pure red. 

See garnet beads at MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk

Almost 6-Years of MrBead Newsletters!       

April 2011 marked the 6th full year of the MrBead newsletter, and I thank you all for such enthusiastic comments and appreciation.  Just click below to see the past newsletters:

To see all the old newsletters click here.
to sign-up for the free newsletters click here.

Any suggestions for future newsletters would be appreciated, just email suggestions@mrbead.com

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 2010 MrBead Year Planner

For your free MrBead 2011 Year Planner click here

You will need Adobe reader to open this - but the program is already on 99% of computers and free download from Adobe.  When downloaded, save to your computer and print.

15% Discount Coupon

Start the new year by sampling our beads with 15% off any order from our MrBead bead store, just key in "2011" at the checkout (without the inverted commas) and click "Redeem Coupon".

To go to our MrBead store click mrbead.com or MrBead.co.uk

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