Beadworkers Guild Activities

In the following sections you will find information on the events and publications organised by the Guild.

Books

The Guild has published three books in their 'Introduction to Beadwork' series, as well as two booklets for complete beginners.

Beadworkers Guild Challenge

Each year members are invited to enter the Challenge, a themed competition that is judged at the event in May. The current theme is 'Let's Celebrate' and all abilities are welcome.

Cascade Days

For those who are unable to attend the Regional Day, the Guild will come to you.

In May each year the Beadworkers Guild organise a major beading event. In alternate years we organise the largest event of it's kind in the UK, The Great British Bead Show (GBBS), which in recent years has been held in Daventry. This event begins on Thursday with a Masterclass from our guest tutor, on Friday we have a number of workshops and in the evening a lecture by our guest tutor. Saturday more workshops followed by our Annual General Meeting in the evening. Sunday we have a few half day workshops and the opportunity to shop until you drop at our Bead Bazaar, a chance to stock up from a variety of beading suppliers. The next GBBS is in May 2009 in Daventry.

Journal

Our Journal is issued four times a year it is a full colour publication packed with information, projects, news, book reviews, product reviews, classes and members groups. We also have a diary page to show what's on and where. Our members can't wait for their Journal to come through the letterbox. Back issues are also available to purchase please contact us for news of special offers.

Regional Day

In May of each year when we are not hosting The Great British Bead Show, we organise a Regional Day. Our Regional days are organised in a different part of the UK each time. A group beading day is held on Saturday, our AGM takes place on the Saturday evenine and the Bead Bazaar on Sunday.

The Regional Day has a theme to inspire our members. In 2006 our theme was Inspiration from India and samples of fans, headresses, netted panels and many more artifacts were on display, the Guild trustees, make a number of samples which are also on display to show what is achievable. During the remainder of 2006 and for the whole of 2007 the concept was taken forward with our Cascade Days which continue the theme from the Regional Day and the Guild provide the same experience to smaller groups around the UK. See Cascade Days for further detials.

The Regional Day 2008 was held in Surrey with a Victorian and Edwardian theme, which will carry forward into 2008/9 Cascade Days. Our next Regional Day in May 2010 will be somewhere in Scotland.