Beading
|  | BeadHive Beads & Crafts
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| They're a team of busy bees at Perth's BeadHive Beads & Crafts. Staffed by fabulously creative jewellery designers, it's an ideal place to visit if you're looking for beading inspiration (it's a favourite online stopover of the Australian Beading team) - and staff will assist you with finding the beads and designs that suit your personality as well as your budget. Getting married? A BeadHive bridal beading party is a great idea - bring along your bridesmaid or mother/mother-of-the-groom and create something beautiful and uniwue for your big day. BeadHive Beads & Crafts stocks a huge range of all your beading favourites, along with imported beads and hard-to-find findings. Classes are held daily at 10pm and on Saturdays at 10pm and 2pm. Classes are just $15 plus the cost of beads you use. Visit the store online at www.beadhive.com.au or at Shop 12, 233 Berrigan Drive, Jandakot, Perth, WA. |
 | Beads Online
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| BEAD LOVERS BEWARE — there’s a new online business to feed your addiction at www.beadsonline.com.au
Beads Online began as a part-time eBay business in 2006 when Judith Jacob wanted an outlet for her bead obsession. For years she’d been creating personalised jewellery as presents for friends and when the 100th person asked where they could get one of Judith’s customised pieces, she finally decided to set up her business.
Aware of the difficult fiscal reality these days, there’s always a great deal on offer such as 10 per cent off a certain line of beads. Judith adds, “The website is really easy to navigate. Customers also love that because we only operate online, prices are comparatively low to other companies.
“The world of bead is great as people always buy beads and accessories. They are a great way to treat yourself and update your look cheaply. Lots of customers also love creating individual presents for loved ones. You have the joy of making it and giving a one-off customised piece you’ll never find anywhere else. I feel like I’m living my dream life. I never imagined that I’d be lucky enough to create my dream job from my love of jewellery.”
Fast facts about Beads Online:
Beads Online is exclusively available on the web and will ship anywhere in the world.
> $3 flat shipping rate.
> Seven-day no-questions-asked return policy.
> Beads Online began as a part-time eBay business in 2006.
> It has fast grown to become Australia’s best family-run bead website.
> Despite the economic downturn, business is up with customers around the world enjoying being able to create their own jewellery and gifts.
> Beads Online warehouse is based in Kingscliff in NSW, just outside of Byron Bay.
> Thousands of beads are on offer, including high-quality stock of crackle glass, Czech fire-polished beads, Czech-glass pearls, rhinestones and pressed-glass beads, Swarovski crystal, and Indian-made beads sourced from Beijing to New York.
> Prices range from $1 for a stand of 50 beads to $13 per bead for top-end beads.
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 | Benjamin’s Crafts
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| THE BENJAMIN’S CRAFTS store in Inglewood, WA, is a true beading hub. With 25 years of bead and craft industry experience, it’s no surprise that this store is a haven for WA beaders, offering a host of classes and workshops ranging from basic stringing to Art Clay Silver lessons.
And the store’s lessons are backed by equally impressive range of bead products — you’ll find the exclusive couture Swarovski crystal ranges, chandelier or sun catcher crystals, metal components, jewellery stones, pearls and pendants, charms, chain by the metre, Beadalon, Soft Flex, Nymo and Griffin Silk, Miyuki and Matsumo beads, Delica seed beads and Preciosa Czech seed beads. And Benjamin’s Crafts’ range of findings is possibly the largest in Australia with all plated components available from raw (unplated) to finishes such as silver, gold, antique brass, black nickel, antique silver and antique copper as well as some nickel-free plated items. Some of the findings are made exclusively for Benjamin’s Crafts customers, so if you’re after something unique the store’s findings must be seen.
Benjamin’s Crafts also launched its website more than 15 years ago and the site has grown with the business, evolving and improving all the time. Orders can be placed securely on the website — it’s so popular and easy to use that even local customers often go online to quickly place their orders and then drop into the shop to pick up their goods — now that’s efficient customer service! You’ll find fantastic offers on products and excellent discounts for retail customers as well as restricted access for special bulk pricing to trade customers.
Visit Benjamin’s Crafts (08) 9370 2132 online at www.benjaminscrafts.com.au or call in to the store at 868 Beaufort Street, Inglewood, WA. The store is open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 5pm and Saturdays 10am to 4pm. |
 | Broome Beads
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BROOME BEADS really is one of Broome’s landmark shops — tourists and locals flock to the store and it’s easy to see why. And, luckily for all Australian Beading readers across Australia and worldwide, the online store is just as impressive — it stocks 150 million beads and findings, has a permanent stock range of 7500 and an enviable collection of antique, rare and unusual beads sourced and hand-picked from around the world. The Broome Beads team takes pride in its firm reputation for stocking items that are distinct while keeping up with current fashion trends in terms of colour and style. Visit the store online at www.broomebeads.com or the drop into the store at shop 4, Johnny Chi Lane, Broome WA (08) 9192 5223. |
 | My Beads
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| New stock has arrived at My Beads store in the pretty bayside suburb of Brighton in North Brisbane. Owner Michelle Lambert specialises in semi-precious stones, soucring unusual and hard-to-find stones and shapes as well as the old favourites.
Limited runs of unique gemstone beads means you'll find stock at My Beads that is not available anywhere else. And because Michelle specialises in semi-precious stones, you'll enjoy the competitive prices, too, with wholesale prices available for everyone.
At My Beads you'll also find an extensive range of freshwater pearls, shell pearls, mother-of-pearl, coral and resin beads - a wonderful natural selection to choose from for those colourful summer projects you have in mind.
If glass beads are what you're after, My Beads has a huge range of quality lampwork beads, Pandora-style beads, silver foil glass beads and crystal beads to add some sparkle to your beadwork.
And there's plenty of silver, too, with antique-silver pewter beads, charms and silver clasps available in a range of themes, from Bali style to nautical looks.
My Bead's new retail store at Shop 1, 130 Nathan Street, Brighton, Qld, (07) 3869 0880, has everything you'll find at its online base at the same low prices. If you're in Brisbane, be sure to pop in and say hi (there's pleanty of parking) to Michelle or visit the beautiful My Beads store online at www.mybeads.com.au
Check our Michelle's latest project made just for Australian Beading readers on page 34 of issue 4.3 - a gorgeous silver and creamy blue lampwork necklace and bracelet set. |
 | WishWare
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| Jewellery designer Louise Jensen’s website and Bunbury, WA, store are an absolute must-see for ambitious beaders. Stocked among the impressive array of beads, crystals, tools and findings you’ll find Louise’s handmade vintage components, many of which have featured in her Australian Beading projects — from connectors made from antique wooden Scrabble game pieces to vintage keys and watch pieces and delicately etched and embossed beads with butterflies, tickets and even bottle tops of yesteryear!
Everything available in-store is also available online and you’re able to order via the internet or over the phone by calling the store on (08) 9721 6566.
Louise is a super-talented beader only too happy to talk beading and answer any queries you may have about beads or beading techniques.
If you’re after something unique, something to make your jewellery go from “that’s great” to “wow”, you simply must visit www.wishwarebeads.com.au — you’ll also find free online video tutorials, celeb-inspired projects and Louise’s daily updated blog — or the Bunbury store at 20 Bourke Street, Bunbury. Phone (08) 9721 6566. |
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