Permanent IBW ambassadors

I am very happy to be an ambassador for International Beading Week.

I first started stitching beads together many years ago (over twenty five, which is rather scary) and have been talking and writing about beadwork ever since.  I love to introduce people to the craft and to encourage them to try it for themselves.  That moment when a struggling beader suddenly understands a new stitch, when the penny drops, is so satisfying and there are smiles to share.  And that is what International Beading Week is for – to enable the whole community to come together and share the joy and pleasure which beadwork can bring both to the practitioner and to the person who delights in the finished work.

I look forward to seeing many people during the course of the Drop-in sessions which the Guild will be hosting during the course of the week.  I don’t want to miss any of them!

 

I felt very honoured to be chosen as an ambassador for The Beadworkers Guild. I am the designer and co-owner of ThreadABead.com.  For the last 15 years I have been busy designing and beading whatever weird and wonderful ideas my imagination can think of and sharing them with the beading community.  It has taken me on an unexpected journey into professional beading, and I have met some wonderful people along the way.  ThreadABead is the culmination of my admiration for the versatility of the Delica bead, using simple basic stitches such as Peyote and Brick.

I passionately believe beading should be fun, and that reflects in my work which tends to be non-jewellery items such as ornaments, boxes, even houses, fairgrounds and trains.  I like to bead a wide variety of designs and I always encourage anyone no matter their ability, to bead what they love rather what they think they can do and be surprised by what you can achieve.

Whether you are a beader who loves to get out and about beading with others or like me, by yourself in front of the TV, the Guild provides all the information and inspiration a beader needs for delving into this wonderful world.  International beading week grows year on year and it has become a special time for all beaders to get together and share in the joy of beading.  Of course, after this past year of challenges where beading has become such an important lifeline for so many, now more than ever, we should embrace our wonderful craft and ensure that others can also share in our adventure.  I am so delighted that I can be a part of that for The Beadworkers Guild this year.

ThreadABead ⛄🧵
contact@threadabead.com

I am so excited to have been asked to be a permanent ambassador for IBW. This means I get to talk even more about my favourite subject - BEADING!

I took my first beading class in 1999; I was in a room filled with like-minded souls, having fun, sharing ideas and inspirations - it felt like an extended family. Wherever I am, at whatever bead show, I still feel as if I'm surrounded by sisters, grans and aunties - we are a wonderful community!

For as long as I can, I will continue to bead, design and teach, and most importantly, spread the word about this amazing craft. We must keep it alive and continue to explore its beautiful, infinite potential, and with IBW we have the perfect opportunity to make some real beady noise!

Website: www.beadschool.co.uk

Chloe is a UK-based designer who creates vibrant and whimsical beadwoven designs in a riot of colours. As an experienced jewellery designer, Chloe is a Guest Designer on the JewelleryMaker shopping channel and was previously editor of popular publication Bead & Jewellery magazine. She has been teaching her colourful projects for more than 10 years and regularly teaches beading workshops at craft shops and arts venues around the UK and beyond - as well as virtually from her home studio. She sells her beadwork tutorials through her brand Pinkhot Jewellery.

For more beading patterns, kits and workshop dates visit www.pinkhot.co.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pinkhotjewellery

Instagram: @pinkhot_uk

Twitter: Pinkhot_uk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnuLAwATZiPfJH1uFM2THIQ

I am honoured to join the team of permanent ambassadors for International Bead Week.  After injuring and losing use of both of my hands for over three years, I began beading when a friend recommended I try it as part of my hand rehabilitation therapy.  Once started I was hooked.  Being an ambassador is a wonderful way for me to not only support the beading community, but also introduce people who have never beaded before to a world I am so passionate about".

Cliff is an off-the-loom seed bead weaver known for creating non-traditional jewellery shapes and pushing the boundaries of colour exploration.  In all of his pieces, Cliff integrates over 30 years of study in multiple fields, including graphic design, painting, as well as apprenticeships with several medicine men and women, exploring sacred geometry and chromotherapy. For further information about Cliff and his work please visit his website.

Website: http://www.cssfineart.com

Webstore: https://shop.cssfineart.com

Beading is my passion: my hobby and my work at the same time. It is part of every one of my days. It fulfils me and brings me new friendships. Being a permanent ambassador of the International Beading Week is an honour and happiness. I hope you will join me in learning this wonderful art!

www.thestorytellingjeweller.com

I've tried a variety of different crafts but nothing really resonated until I discovered bead weaving. Without the Beadworkers Guild I don't think I would have progressed much past simple stringing, my eyes were truly opened to the immense potential in beadwork.

The infinite ways to combine beads of every shape, size & colour to create fun, elegant, simple or complex shapes and pieces holds me captivated, there's no right or wrong just what you enjoy and if that's different from everyone else well that's just fine! I cherish the inspiration I have got from the people I have met over the years and if I can inspire even a fraction of that I will be very content.

It's so exciting that we have a week all of our own shared by so many different nationalities so lets make IBW amazing.

It is a real honour to be a permanent IBW ambassador. I love beading, I love our community and enjoy travelling the world to meet and work with many beaders, it is the magical part of my job.

IBW is such an important event, it’s not just about the free stuff, it’s about getting together to bead, welcoming newcomers, supporting our bead shops and local groups and supporting all the designers who keep us bead inspired with lovely new creations; all of which keeps our amazing global beady community thriving and full of energy.

Make IBW the week you support your nearest bead shop, join a class or group, or buy a pattern you’ve been thinking you’d like to try.

heatherworks@btinternet.com
www.heatherworks.co.uk
follow my blog… https://heatherworks.co.uk/blog/

Cath Thomas - Switzerland

I am proud to be a permanent ambassador for International Beading Week. This special event is all about showing the art of beading to a broader audience, and getting together to celebrate it.

Making our craft better recognised is a subject close to my heart. Together with other members of the Guild, I manage the dedicated Facebook group: "International Beading Week - First week of August every year", to encourage people from all horizons to participate in this week of beading frenzy, to inform about upcoming meetings and share photos and videos of events. Members can also participate in an informal year-long beading challenge.

I love beading. Not only does it save my sanity, but the shared love of the craft connects me to a world of passionate beaders around this planet through social media, and became the foundation of very meaningful friendships.

caththomasdesigns.indiemade.com

I am honored to have been asked to be an International Beading Week Ambassador!  Thank you!

I'm a Professor at the prestigious university for creative careers, the Savannah College of Art and Design. As far as I know, these may be the only beading courses that apply toward a University degree.  I teach design classes in Foundation Studies, Beaded Surfaces and Structures in the Fibers Dept. and Bead Technique for Jewelry in the Jewelry Dept.  It is a delight to witness the cutting edge work in which my students engage

I look forward to getting involved and sharing ideas, collaborating, and working with groups.  During the past couple years I have been honored to work with Kate McKinnon.  This work has connected me to a network of thousands of beaders worldwide.  I see a joyful and vast future for beading and look forward to being a small part of it.

www.norgarddesigns.com

I am delighted to be an IBW Ambassador. I want to encourage the younger generation, and anyone else who wants to get interested in this amazing and rewarding art form, and I am happy to play my part.

I started beading in 2004 and have loved every minute of it! I thoroughly enjoy the entire process of creating a jewellery piece and over the years have tried many different techniques and materials in my creations. I have learnt a lot during all these years and I am happy to say that I am still learning.

I am proud of the hard work the Beadworkers Guild has put into IBW and happy to see its success as it has become a worldwide event. So, come along and join us, have fun beading and support International Beading Week

ETSY: PattysBeadShop (I sell shibori and a few beads)

www.facebook.com/patricia.mccourt

I am honoured to be a permanent ambassador for International Beading Week.

Beads and beading have so much to offer, whether it is respite from illness or a difficult period in life, or just having an opportunity to express your creativity. I see how much happiness people gain from learning to bead. Everyone I know says how relaxing it is and, in this stressful world, that is so important. The sense of achievement you get from learning a new technique or working with a new pattern is something very special.

In its first year (2015) National Beading Week did a fantastic job of spreading the word about beading and everyone who took part had enormous fun and since then it has grown to a worldwide event. With competitions, special offers from beading shops and special beading events, there is so much to enjoy if beading is already your passion and so many ways to discover this wonderful craft.

www.beadflowers.co.uk

As part of the IBW social media team  for several years it’s lovely to be able to show my support as a designer as well by becoming an Ambassador.  Beading along with others is such a pleasure, whether it’s done in person or remotely, and I’m looking forward to seeing the results all of the events and activities the IBW team work so hard behind the scenes to prepare for you every year.

I’ve been beading for over 10 years now, primarily in beadweaving but more and more in bead embroidery, and I’m known for my bead encrusted mixed media works.  Bead embroidery will be my focus as an ambassador as it’s a great access point for existing stitchers to slip sideways into beads, and I’m looking forward to sharing my love of it with you all as well as beading my way through as many activities as I can!

Website:  www.theindecisivebeader.com