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Picture from the previous regional day

Beading Festival

Inspirational theme

‘Charles Rennie Mackintosh & Margaret Macdonald’

 

Friday 11th & Saturday 12th May 2012

at Staverton Park Hotel, Staverton, Daventry. NN11 6JT

The Beading Festival is an event that happens every two years, alternating with The Great British Bead Show, and is organised by the Beadworkers Guild. Our aim is to provide a forum in which members can socialise and bead together, so extending their beading knowledge whilst enjoying themselves. We also hope to introduce beadwork to a wider audience by hosting a Bead Bazaar open to all.

Event information

The Saturday Bead In

The main feature of the Festival is a ‘Bead In” on Saturday. In this, we all bead together in the same room to a common theme.

Source materials are provided, from which we obtain ideas, colour combinations, patterns or even subject matter to inspire us to create something new. There are beaded samples available, too, created by the trustees and other members. They are based on the chosen theme to help demonstrate how the process of using a specific source can generate ideas and lead to new designs. We hope these will inspire participants and spark their creative thinking.

We provide handouts for the benefit of all, though they are of particular use to newcomers or those who need a little help to get started. They include techniques used in a selection of the samples on display, along with one or two of the sample projects kindly donated by the designers.

Trustees and experienced volunteers are on hand throughout the day to help and give guidance, advice and encouragement.

New for 2012, workshops on Friday!

Colour and design are two areas people are always asking for help with. Members’ feedback from previous events usually includes a plea for more time to bead, too. So this year we decided to enhance our ‘Bead In’ with some preparatory workshops based on colour and design.

We have engaged Claire Crouchley and Grace Skill to conduct the colour workshops and Sylvia Fairhurst and Stephney Hornblow to conduct the design workshops. The tutors will each offer their personal approach to these areas. See their tutor profiles below.

Friday workshop & Saturday Bead In - £105
or
Saturday Bead In only - £45
Both fees include am/pm refreshments and a hot/cold three course buffet lunch.

Sunday Bead Bazaar

The final day of the Festival, which is open to the public, is our Bead Bazaar. A host of invited traders tempt everyone with all kinds of beads, books and storage. Entry to the Bead Bazaar is FREE to Guild members.

Timetable

On Friday

The new ‘Design’ & ‘Colour’ classes run 9am-4pm. In the evening we all have chance to relax and mingle in the bar and over dinner.

On Saturday

Our Bead In begins at 9am and finishes at 4pm. After a brief introduction and overview of the day, participants are free to select their own beading path. As described above, a handout including a selection of techniques and designs is provided and there is help at hand for all who need it.

During the day participants may view and vote for their favourite Challenge piece. The Beadworkers Guild AGM takes place after dinner to round off the day and the results of the Challenge are announced.

On Sunday we shop!!!

Our Bead Bazaar is open from 10am – 4pm. Entry fee also includes access to our beadwork exhibition which remains open until 2pm.

We hope you find this an exciting prospect, we certainly do.

Numbers will be limited due to the hotel’s capacity and fire regulations.

If you would like to join us, book now to avoid disappointment. Click here to download the booking form as a PDF.

See you there

Sylvia Fairhurst
Event organiser

Here are some comments from members who attended our Festival (Regional day) in 2010:

“48 hour day plus 48 hours of energy, please for next event. Brilliant”
“Just keep up the good work.”
“Very well organized, well done to all.”
“A lot of work has gone into the display and Welcome packs and guide notes.”
“More hours in a day please.”
“Organization of event excellent.”
“1 more day, please!”

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