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Bead
Resolutions, Garnet Beads & 2015 Bead
Planner
Have
a great New Year's Eve! Scroll down, or click one of the links below on the html version to go to a
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New Year Bead Resolutions
Garnet - January's Gemstone
Old MrBead Newsletters
Free 2015 Printable Planner
New Year Sale - 20% off Everything!
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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?
Think
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.
Now!
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.
List
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.
Organize
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 colour 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!
Use our monthly 2015 planner to organize your beading schedule - click here
What Is Garnet?
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
colour from daylight to artificial light.
The word “Garnet” derives from the Latin “granum” meaning "grain”. Describing the typically rounded shape of the gemstone and also reminds of pomegranate seeds. Some rare garnets even change colour 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 jewellery 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 jewellery 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.
Travellers’ 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
colour of a sun-drenched Indian summer. Deep green garnets are the rarest and
therefore expensive. Emerald green and colourless garnet is next rarest,
followed by pure red.
Almost 10-Years of MrBead Newsletters!
April 2015 is the 10th full year of the MrBead newsletters, and I thank you all for such enthusiastic comments and appreciation. To see the past newsletters click here, or the complete archive here.
To see all the original old newsletters click here
or the complete archive here.
For your free MrBead 2015 Planner click here
This planner
will help you organize your beading projects and craft fairs in 2015.
Each month is on an A4 page with boxes per day - Print it out and write your schedule and bookings
in the date boxes.
In green is the gemstone of the month to help you
plan ahead.
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.
Offer valid until Friday 2nd January 2015 only - so act now! Only for use in our store at the checkout and not valid with any other offers or eBay.
To go to our MrBead store click
mrbead.com or
MrBead.co.uk
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