About the Guild

The Beadworkers Guild was formed in 1999.  It is a Registered Charity with a small Board of Trustees, all of whom are volunteers. Almost all of the Guild's activities are undertaken by volunteers.

Aims

The aims of the Guild are to support the exchange of ideas and knowledge among beadworkers and to promote beadwork to the general public. It does this through a series of events, activities and publications. 

These include The Great British Bead Show (GBBS), the Beading Festival and associated Bead In days, Workshops, an annual Challenge and a range of Community Projects. 

The publications include a quarterly Journal, a series of three "Introduction to Beadwork" books and two smaller booklets on "Beading Basics".  More recently we have launched The Wonderful World of Beadwork, the Mini People book, and a series of beaded bead patterns. 

As part of the education programme, there is also a series of Stitch Workbooks.  These are available as free downloads to members to improve beading skills and confidence, with an assessment option. 

To help promote beadwork to the general public, we mount a display of members’ work at craft and bead shows all round the UK. A different colour theme is set for the display each year, so it is always visually powerful and fresh. While at these shows we encourage people to try beadwork for themselves and, hopefully, join the Guild.  Shows we attend are listed in the Diary. 

We also organise occasional larger-scale exhibitions.  The two most recent were in 2012 and 2009, images from which can be seen in the Exhibitions Gallery.     

Why not join us?

As a member of the Beadworkers Guild you receive:

• A copy of the Journal four times a year, with articles, projects, book reviews and details of forthcoming exhibitions and shows, events and suppliers.

• An email newsletter updating information in between Journals.

• Access to the Members’ Area of the website which enables free downloads of beading patterns, basic stitch instructions and pattern paper enabling you to draft your own designs..  

• A discount when you purchase any of our books from us.

• Priority access to workshops organised by the Beadworkers Guild.

• Free entry to the Bead Bazaar organised as part of our event in May.

 Registered Charity No. 1119734