National Beading Week July 25th-August 2nd

 Thanks to a brilliant initiative by The Beadworkers Guild, we are getting ready to celebrate our first ever National Beading week here in the UK. It's a simple and wonderful new way to share the bead love and encourage the curious to come and find out more.

Bead groups up and down the country are planning bead events, parties and open days. Our LBS (Local Bead Shops), are hosting some inspiring drop in sessions and events with visiting artists. Groups are busy beading flags for bunting and there is even a plan to do some bead bombing with beaded chains.
To find out what's happening, download the free patterns and find your nearest LBS check out the National Beading Week website.

Meanwhile the Ambassadors for the event are busy spreading the word.  Jean Power has an ingenious mystery project you can join in and bead.  Patty McCourt launched a competition to bezel a NBW cabochon, and Kerrie Slade has spread the word in her Bead & Button blog . As a result our National is going International!

I'll be dropping in to the Stitch'n'craft picnic on August 1st to spend the day talking (and probably, definitely buying) beads, and being amazed by the entries to their annual beading competition too.

This cute ring pattern is my contribution to the fun, it only takes a few seed beads and a 6mm accent bead, so it's perfect if you have new beaders curious to have a go.

You can download the free pdf here. You are welcome to use the design for groups and NBW events too. Happy National Beading Week everyone!