Only available from Bead Stores – Out 9th April – Pre-order your copy today… Click here

After conducting extensive research throughout 2009, Practical Publishing are launching Creative Beads & Jewellery directly from feedback received from jewellery and beading experts. Each edition will be packed full of great projects and tutorials that you want to see. The content is designed to keep you inspired with innovative designs and step by step guides to help you recreate them and being circulated exclusively through jewellery and bead retailers means you can visit your local retailer for advice on the products needed to complete each project.

ISSUE 1 LAUNCH DATE: 9TH APRIL 2010

FEATURING:
·          Glass beads
·         Beadlings article – how to make flowers using seed beads and applications for the finished product
·         Shop supplied projects – these pages include all manor of jewellery projects incorporating polymer clay, charm bracelets, glass beads, PMC, Swarovski crystals and aluminium beads.
·         Introducing the Seed Bead Spinner and how to use it.
·         Project using Memory Wire and how to make the most of it.
·         The tools of the trade/bead glossary/techniques/findings
·         Masterclass on PMC
·         Introduction to paper beads – how to create them plus projects incorporating them.
·         Chain Maille – how to do it and what to use it for
·         Wirework article – Spider’s Web feature – how to create it and what to use it for
·         Using Stampbord to create jewellery
·         Quick tricks with readymade beads and wire and how to create unique items on a budget
·         Polymer clay – how to use it plus jewellery making ideas

New crystal colours are Fern Green and Provence Lavender and the new pearl colour is Lavender. They are absolutely gorgeous. We’ll have images really soon and will get them posted for you to see.

Jewellery Workshop in progress

We’ve just relased our jewellery workshop schedule for Bristol and Bath with dates up to July 2010.

Book your place today.

Click here to view all jewellery classes

Wire Sculpture Tiara Kit

Brand new tiara kit featuring CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements. We have created a wire sculpture tiara and a matching necklace and earrings with step-by-step photo instructions. Be the first to get your hands on this kit. Just launched today!

Click here to buy this tiara kit

Nadia Sawalha presents as two amateur cooks go head-to-head to see if they’ve got what it takes to create a restaurant in their own homes for one night only – and make a profit. On Episode 3, where Jane and Amanda appear, it’s a Chinese-tasting menu versus British-with-a-Malaysian twist as two amateur cooks from Bristol see if they’ve got what it takes to pull off an Instant Restaurant, and make a profit. Edgar Thoemmes wants his Szechuan menu to be as authentic as possible while Kim Willis is hoping her Malaysian flavours will do the trick. But what will their diners make of it all?

“We were totally ourselves and had such a giggle as you’ll see if you watch. It was a great night out and we all said how great it would be if more restaurants had such a friendly feel, where guests from different tables chatted to each other in a relaxed environment. We were really glad that Kim was our cook after seeing some of the others”

Watch it on BBC iPlayer by clicking the link below.

http://bbc.co.uk/i/qyvb1/

Retail Sales Assistant – Part time – 16 hours per week – £6.00 per hour

Are you passionate about craft with retail experience and excellent customer service skills? If so this could be the opportunity to you.

We would like to hear from you if you are motivated, self-disciplined, have retail experience, willing to learn new skills or already have skills in jewellery making or general crafts.

The vacant role is based in our Bath shop at 5 Saville Row, Bath, BA1 2QP, adjacent to the Assembly Rooms.

We operate a fun, friendly, straight-talking, hard working environment. If you would like to find our more, please send us your CV with a covering letter to Jane Purdy and Amanda Pickstock, Shiney Company, 4.11 – 4.12 Paintworks, Bath Road, Arnos Vale, Bristol, BS4 3EH. Tel: 0117 300 9800. Email: sales@shineyrocks.co.uk.

A bolt of genius...

Not only do these fabulous clasps work great on funky, chunky jewellery designs, but Jane recently discovered that they make fabulous chain links too. Link them together as part of a necklace design and you will instantly create a chic, unique designer piece. Each clasp costs just £1.50 and you can buy them from www.shineyrocks.co.uk Click on the links for each colour metal to take you to the product.

Silver Plated Click to buy

Black Plated Click to buy

Gold Plated Click to buy

Are you into Steampunk jewellery? It is really taking off here in the UK. Would love to hear about your designs and what components you like to use in yours…

Check out Margot’s website – link below…

http://margotpottertheimpatientcrafter.blogspot.com/2010/02/steampunk-style-design-reveal.html

Wire Work Necklace with Turquoise AB Crystal Rounds

Project: Helix Rhapsody

Create Shiney Company’s wirework necklace using 1mm and 0.8mm silver plated wire combined with CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements.

Free-form wire shapes and some crazy coiling, make up this contemporary design. Once you master the art of making the open flat coils you’ll find this necklace quick and easy to make. Why not adapt this style varying the length and trying a different coloured wire. We have opted for Ice Blue 0.71mm for our coil and Erinite Xilion/Bicone beads as connectors in our alternative design. The bracelet simply focuses on the wire and looks great with a toggle clasp. Express your creativity and come up with some wire shapes in your own style. When you are confident with the technique, try it in Sterling Silver for a fine piece of jewellery. This project makes a 26” or 66cms length necklace.

Tools and Materials required…

Snipe Nose Pliers
Round Nose Pliers
Flush Cutters
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Coiling Gizmo
1mm Silver Plated Wire
0.8mm Silver Plated Wire
48 x 8.8mm Silver Plated Jump Rings
12 x Turquoise AB 10mm CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements Rounds Article 5000

Tips from the designers

• Find it hard to slide the coil off the spindle? Unwrap the first few coils and turn the spindle as you pull – it comes off easier!
• To reduce sharp wire on coils, tuck the ends in the round nose pliers.
• Practise on Silver Plated and then make it in Sterling Silver for a fine piece of jewellery.
• When using a toggle clasp, use a small jump ring to attach the toggle bar so that it fits easily through the ring
• Straighten unwanted bends in the wire with nylon jaw pliers

Step 1
Working from a reel of 0.8mm Silver Plated wire and using the smaller spindle on the coiling gizmo, wrap the end of the wire around the handle, to secure. Turn the handle, guiding the wire with the other hand. Create a coil as long as the gizmo allows.

Step 1

Step 2
Remove the spindle and unwrap the wire around the handle. Carefully slide the coil off. If it gets stuck, turn the spindle as you pull. Snip from the reel of wire and trim each end with the flush cutters.

Step 2

Step 3
Cut a 10cm piece of 1mm wire and 1cm section of your coil. Slide the coil onto the 1mm wire and at each end make a flat open coil in opposite directions using the round nose pliers.

Step 3

Step 4
Cut a 15cm piece of 1mm wire and a 2cm section of coil. Make a flat open coil at one end so there is 10cms remaining. Thread on the coil and make a ‘V’ shape in the wire at the base with the round nose pliers.

Step 4

Step 5
Grip the end of the 1mm wire and bend back down towards the base of the ‘V’ to form the heart shape. Trim so there is 1cm protruding and turn a loop at least 5mm diameter. All loops should be this size, in order to get two jump rings through.

Step 5

Step 6
Cut a 10cm piece of 1mm wire and 2cm section of coil. Thread the coil onto the middle of the wire. Bend the coiled section with your fingers and make a ‘U’ shape.

Step 6

Step 7
Grip the 1mm wire where the coiled section ends, 2/3^rd of the way along your round nose pliers and make another ‘U’ shape on each side.  Pinch the bottom together. Trim the ends of the 1mm wire so they line up with the top of the coiled ‘U’ shape and turn a loop on each side.

Step 7

Step 8
Cut a 12cm piece of 1mm wire and a 2cm section of coil. Turn a loop at one end. Thread on the coil and shape to form a gentle curve with your fingers.

Step 8

Step 9
Grip the 1mm wire where the coil ends with the round nose pliers and take the wire around the pliers, changing your grip as you turn to make another loop.

Step 9

Step 10
Make a flat open coil with the remainder of the wire, so that it sits in the curve. For a 66cm/26” over the head necklace, make 3 links of each style.

Step 10

Step 11
With 0.8mm wire, make a wrapped loop on each end of 12 x 10mm Turqouise AB round crystals.

Step 12
Connect a link to a crystal link with 2 x 8.8mm jump rings and alternate between wire links and crystal links. Make sure the flat coils are close enough for you to connect jump rings through two turns of the flat coil, this makes the links more secure.

Step 12

SHOPPING GUIDE All items from Shiney Company Tel: 0117 300 9800  www.shineyrocks.co.uk. 4.11 – 4.12 Paintworks, Bath Road, Bristol, BS4 3EH and 5 Saville Row, Bath, BA1 2QP.

Kits with instructions available for this project £19.95 each.

Swarovski Table Crystals

Decorate the top table on wedding day by scattering CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements table crystals. They come in the pointed back and double sided variety. Perfect for adding sparkle to any special occassion. Purchase Swarovski table crystals from www.shineyrocks.co.uk