Thought I’d pop in a quick mid-week post today. One of the best parts of making jewellery is getting new stones or beads to work with (probably, somewhere after seeing something you imagine come into being after lots of tries, mistakes and hard work, and having a something new and unique to wear, but definitely “Top 3”!). So I thought I’d share my new bead delivery!
Finding Good Online Suppliers
I recently found a new supplier on the Internet, Burhouse Ltd. They’re based in Yorkshire, so I will probably have the opportunity to visit at some point in the future. At least when this latest Covid lockdown ends…
Actually, finding stones and beads online turned into a bit of a nightmare, as I really had no idea which suppliers were reputable and which were not. I did try a few out of the back of the book I’ve been working from, “Wire Jewelry Masterclass”, but quite a few seemed to be based out of the US or EU. Well, since Brexit completed in December, anything ordered from the EU seems to whack on a massive tax import charge, and similarly from the US. So, I’ve spent some time looking for some more UK-based suppliers.
This is actually my second time ordering from Burhouse Ltd, and I’m not disappointed. Everything was well packaged and secure, no breakages that I could spot.
What’s in the Box?
All of the beads came on strands of 40cm, and my order consisted of:
- 14mm turquoise Fossil Beads, in light and dark blue (28 beads)
- 6mm White Agate with Heavy Veining (69 beads)
- 4mm Lapis Lazuli, grade “B” (93 beads)
- 4mm Rhondonite (91 beads)
- 3mm Blue Lace Agate (126 beads)
At this point in my learning journey, I’ll be honest… I’m buying stones and beads based on their colour (and cost!). I haven’t really ventured into better grade stones yet, as I know my jewellery quality is so-so. But over time, I’m planning to learn more about the stones, their properties and cultural significance. For now, you’ll have to bear with me as I just like making things that look pretty to me!
A Sneak Preview
And because I really couldn’t contain my excitement, I made a quick ring (I thought it would be quick… it really wasn’t – full post here). I think the colours do work quite well together. What do you think?
In addition to the beads, I also bought some Parawire – this is a new brand for me. I’ve seen a few posts online about Parawire, particularly the non-tarnish version.
Although copper is very affordable for practising (I’m still not brave enough to get into silver for wire wrapping yet!), I am worried about the tarnish and also whether it makes your skin green when you wear it. That said, we’re just heading into spring, here in the UK, so the weather is warming up and I’ve been wearing my new makes for a week or two… no Hulks here yet! So, I’ll keep you posted on the non-tarnish wire and what effects this has on the jewellery!
Right, so that’s me signing off for now!
Oh wait… I forgot… in honour of my two children who love watching children’s toy unboxing videos, I made an “unboxing beads” video over on my YouTube channel. Feel free to check it out!
[…] are 4mm lapis lazuli and the central bead is a 6mm white agate (you may recognise these from my Unboxing post) – I think the colours work quite well together and I’m glad I chose […]