Hello and welcome to The Beadworkers Guild
We are a vibrant community of people from all over the world, brought together by our shared passion for beading.
A registered charity, we operate with a small board of trustees, all of whom are volunteers. Our membership includes many highly skilled and talented designers from all over the world, but we all love a beginner to share our knowledge with. We welcome everyone interested in beading.
The process of beading has a rhythm to it which is calming, therapeutic and creative – the perfect recipe for your wellbeing!
Please view our video What we do to see some of the beautiful work our members produce and the variety of activities and opportunities that The Beadworkers Guild have to offer.
History/timeline
The inaugural meeting of The Beadworkers Guild was held on Saturday 8th May 1999 at The Great British Bead Show in Coventry and since then there have been many landmark moments in the Guild's history.
Our History
New book launch – Art Deco Beadwork. A compilation of beadwork designs inspired by our 2018 Art Deco themed Beading Festival.
New bespoke website launched
Mini people bead-along
Keep Busy Beading, free Peyote Ribbons patterns.
BWG on You Tube. The Guild produced a promotional video along with several step-by-step video tutorials.
Online Workshops, tutored projects
Meet, Mingle & Make, a programme of themed events
Drop-in – Monthly, two 2hr sessions held morning and early evening to accommodate our worldwide membership, purely for socialising.
The Guild embraced technology and we held our first online Beading festival event. Due to the international pandemic, we were prevented from holding a gathering. Going online proved extremely popular under the circumstances and we embarked on lots of online gatherings to help those feeling isolated and it allowed us to connect with members and non- members from around the world.
Online beading
First Meet, Mingle & Make – Milton Keynes in November.
Live TV. Trustee Sylvia Fairhurst made her first appearance on live t.v. to demonstrate beadwork and promote The Beadworkers Guild
Exhibition ‘Art Deco’ exhibition at Spellbound Bead Co, Lichfield.
New book launch – ‘Wonderful World of Beadwork’. A compilation of beadwork, from historic Journals was published, in celebration of 20 years of the BWG.
Launch of Gifts Galore booklet.
‘NBW’ rebranded to International Beading Week (IBW).
Launch of All I Want for Christmas booklet.
New book launch – ‘Mini People’. ‘Sugar Plum Fairy & Friends’, a book of mini characters made popular by designer Ann Mockford who kindly donated the patterns to The Beadworkers Guild for publication.
Introduction of Members challenge Mentor Scheme.
Launch of group bunting
Design a Tie for Gordon Competition
Launch of National Beading week (NBW)
BWG badges went on sale
Swarovski Crystal competition – BWG 15th Anniversary -Jess Hayman winner
Exhibition ‘The Magic of Mackintosh in Beads’. Beadwork inspired by the art of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret Macdonald went on display at 72 Derngate, Northampton, the interior of which was designed by Mackintosh.
First Members community project Spring and Autumn quilts
‘Study day’ held in Milton Keynes, an opportunity to study items from the Guild’s collection up close and personal
New book launch – ‘Celebrating Beadwork’. A collection of photographs of many of the Challenge entries over the years to date.
Exhibition In celebration of the Guild’s first ten years, over 150 items of beadwork were displayed at the Northampton Museum & Art Gallery.
BWG 10th Anniversary
First study day held
Exhibition at Warners Textile Gallery, Braintree
BWG became a registered charity
The BWG Collection is acquired from Valerie Campbell-Harding
First Cascade day for Cedar Beaders in Maudsley, Lancs
Launch of BWG website
BWG workshops in Sleaford, Lincs, Cumbria, Blackpool, London, Kent & Suffolk
BWG appoints a new editor for the Journal.
Workshop programme in London and York
First Stitch Workbook launched
New book launch – ‘Necklaces’ published completing the ‘Introduction to Beadwork’ series.
Workshop programme in London and York
Shows Administrator appointed
Workshop programme in London and Manchester
First employee – Membership Administrator appointed
New Book launch – ’Earrings, Brooches, Fringes & Tassels’, was published
Launch of BWG workshop programme in London based on stitch techniques
BWG took on the responsibility of organising The Great British Bead Show (GBBS)
First book – ‘Bracelets’ published, from the ‘Introduction to Beadwork’ series
First ‘Challenge’ competition – ‘The Elements’ exhibited at The Bead Festival, Southampton.
First exhibition ‘Beadwork 2000’ was held at the Knitting and Stitching Show in London and Harrogate.
First Beading Festival in Southampton
First members’ directory published
Journal no 1 published
First members’ directory published
The inaugural meeting of The Beadworkers Guild was held on Saturday 8th May 1999
Bead Festivals
2020 - Online via Zoom - Egypt
2018 - Daventry - Art Deco
2016 - Daventry - The 60’s
2014 - Daventry - Africa
2012 - Daventry - Charles Rennie Macintosh & Margaret MacDonald
2010 - Cumbernauld - Tassels & Trims
2008 - Surrey - Victorian & Edwardian Era
2002 - Bramhall - Cheshire - Spirals
2006 - Durham - Inspiration from India
2004 - Bristol - Frills, Flounces & Fringes
Cascade Days
(These events are replica Bead Festivals, which we took to bead groups and now known as Bead-ins)
2007 Southampton, Hampshire
Knebworth, Hertfordshire
Ashford, Kent
Weymouth, Dorset
Barton Under Needwood, Staffordshire
2006 Mawdesley, Lancashire
Long Melford, Suffolk
Glasgow, Scotland
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Members/Community Projects
2019/20 Flowers
2016/17 Summer & Winter
2013/14 Bugs & Butterflies
2012/13 Postcards Sea & Sand
2011 /12 Spring & Autumn quilts