Useful Beading And Jewellery Making Links
Below you will find website links to bead companies, bead magazines, bead forums, beading societies and other craft resources that we have found useful within the world of beading, whilst also covering arts, crafts, design, history, and textiles.
If you would like to recommend a favourite bead site for our links page, or would like to set-up a reciprocal link with BigBeadLittleBead please E-mail Us or use our Contact Us page. Please bear in mind that when requesting a reciprocal link with our online bead shop, we generally only link exchange to sites that complement the bead categories and contents of our online bead store, as well as our wider interests in the world of arts, crafts, design, history and textiles.
Social Media
Bead Events
Big Bead Show . . . the biggest all beading event in the UK
Beadwork Fairs . . . organisers of bead fairs across the UK
Gem and Bead Shows . . . organisers of bead, gemstone and rock fairs across the UK
Bead Forums
Bead Buddies . . . friendly online forum for beading chat
Frit Happens . . . online forum for glass bead makers, but plenty of general bead chat and information too
UK Beaders . . . welcoming site for information, exchange of ideas, news and events.
Bead Magazines
Bead Magazine . . . the UKs best selling bead magazine
Beads & Beyond Magazine . . . the jewellery making magazine for the creative crafter
Crafts Beautiful Magazine . . . covering all areas of the crafting spectrum
Craft & Design Magazine . . . a vibrant bi-monthly magazine about British Crafts
Craft Focus Magazine . . . a trade magazine focusing on craft retail
Creative Beads & Jewellery . . . provides ideas and inspiration for all levels of jewellery making and beadcrafts
Make Jewellery Magazine . . . full of beautiful jewellery projects and tutorials
Making Jewellery Magazine . . . something for everyone whether you are a beginner looking for simple designs or a more advanced jeweller who wants to learn more indepth techniques
Bead Societies
Bead Society of Great Britain . . . open to those with an appreciation of beads ancient and modern, of all shapes, sizes, materials and colours; their techniques of manufacture, and their application
Beadworkers Guild . . . a focus point for everyone who enjoys beading and learning about beadwork, where the emphasis is on individual creativity, and the sharing of ideas and techniques
Creative Indulgences
Beautiful Beads UK . . . for Pandora style beads and jewellery in sterling silver and silver base metal. Plus a range of beautiful made to order items.
Bella Blue Bespoke . . . sell vintage style jewellery and hair accessories that are handmade in the UK using vintage beads and fabrics
Cherry Obsidia Designs . . . artisan lampwork glass beads sets and focals made by Dee Francis, one of our talented bead suppliers
Chinook Jewelry . . . a maker of beautifully modern and distinctive ceramic beads, pendants and jewellery designs and a talented ‘one of a kind’ supplier of ceramics to Big Bead Little Bead
Continuum Designs . . . artisan polymer clay beads for one of a kind jewellery made by Hazel Ward, one of our talented bead suppliers
Erika Davis Designs . . . handmade designer jewellery using quality materials including Czech glass, crystals, gemstones, polymer clay and textiles. Erika is also one of our talented bead makers
Giggles Animal Gifts . . . cute little polymer clay creatures made of by talented artist Lisa Newman
J-Beads . . . a wholesale supplier, manufacturer and exporter of all kinds of gemstone beads and beaded jewellery. Offering both semi precious and gemstone beads
Jo Verity Designs . . . makes beautiful strongly coloured jewellery featuring semi precious stones, vintage beads and her own unique hand rolled paper beads
Lisa’s Handmade Jewellery . . . beautifully hand crafted jewellery using the finest beads and materials. From exotic glass beads, semi-precious stones, fresh water pearls, to Swarovski crystals
Juzs Jewellery . . . high gloss paper beads, by Justine Earlam one of our soon to be bead suppliers
Maap Studio . . . ceramic and amber jewellery made by Monika Skrzypkowska, one of our talented bead suppliers
My Lovely Beads . . . an online store offering custom jewellery, beaded jewellery, gemstone jewellery, handmade jewellery, handcrafted jewellery, all designed by Zoya Gutina
South Pacific Wholesale . . . thirty four years in the wholesale bead business and holder of the second best bead related web site address going!
The Bead Peddler . . . a wholesale supplier of beads and beading supplies including Czech glass, Indian lampwork, Bali sterling, tools, findings and stringing materials plus a great ‘blowouts’ section!
The Jewellery Boutique . . . add a touch of sparkle with that special piece of jewellery. Supplying costume and fashion accessories, earrings, necklaces, handmade accessories, personalised jewellery and rings
Creative Inspiration
These sites aren’t necessarily bead or jewellery focused, but if you are looking to feel fired up with creativity and have some browsing time on your hands, then take a look at:
Bead Artists . . . online community for bead art
Carrot Box . . . a ring enthusiast, based in Canada, who showcases fantastic modern designs in all sorts of interesting materials
Craft . . . assorted creative ideas
Cutout & Keep . . . some bad, some ugly, but some good ideas here too
HatsnStuff . . . specialising in beautifully handcrafted designer fascinators, hair fascinators and feather fascinator hats
Life of a Creative Procrastinator . . . blog full of craft and sewing tutorials, food and recipes, beautiful products, fashion and vintage
Miriam Haskell . . . handmade costume jewellery. A contemporary of Coco Chanel, Miriam Haskell opened her first boutique shop in 1926
Net-a-Porter . . . high-end jewellery inspiration (or shopping). The images on this site are very clear, so great for looking at finishes and techniques
Polymer Art Archive . . . prepare to abandon any preconceived ideas about polymer clay. Absolutely stunning work
Polymer Clay Daily . . . a blog showcasing all that is fine in polymer clay art
Polymer Clay Tutor . . . extensive information on, plus downloadable ideas for working with polymer clay
Steampunk Workshop . . . this site takes the aesthetic beyond jewellery. The Victorian all-in-one PC made our jaws drop!
UK Handmade . . . a beautifully designed and campaigning online magazine showcasing the very best of handmade in the UK
Webzone1 . . . a fashion blog covering contemporary design and happening trends
Creative Resources
Arts & Crafts Directory . . . a directory dedicated to arts and crafts shopping links
Bead LInks . . . a worldwide directory of bead stores and beading blogs
Bead Directory . . . a worldwide bead directory, great for planning your next holiday location (just don’t tell the family!)
CraftLinks . . . a directory site covering all aspects of crafting, including groups, suppliers and courses
Craft-Search . . . a directory providing suppliers for more craft activities than you can shake the proverbial stick at
Find Beads . . . a portal and information resource for beads and jewellery making
Guide to Beadwork . . . the world’s largest bead store listing?