Looking forward to hearing from you.

We’ve managed to source these fairtrade baskets from Uganda - here’s a couple of pics of them awaiting dispatch and a pic of the wonderful Oliva making them. We’re getting 30 so we may even be able to sell some of them to you if you insist.

Oliva making our new baskets

Our baskets awaiting dispatch.

Our new basket looking lovely!

This summer, we are very proud to have added a beginners PMC (precious metal clay) workshop.  I am looking forward to doing this workshop too!  Take, what seems like, a tiny piece of clay and make beautiful pendants, then fire them so the clay burns away leaving you with 99.9% pure silver.  We have lots of examples of what you can make in the shop, it really is an exciting course!

An example of what you can make using pmc

We have tried to concentrate more on using other techniques to make jewellery, therefore we now have a Knitted and Crocheted Beads class and well as Funky Fabric Jewellery, so you can instantly incorporate your new skills into your jewellery making.

Full detail of all the workshops is on the Workshops page of the website.  We hoope you can come to a class..or 2!

Mattie xx

Bunyip workshops for the summer months

If you’d like more details of any of the classes, or to book your place, ring the shop on 01392 437377 during opening hours.

This range of classes is a new venture for us, and one we hope you’ll enjoy and appreciate.  Do let us know what you think, and what else you’d like to see offered.

Our stall at the Contemporary Craft Fair

We’ve just had a great weekend at the Contemporary Craft Fair in Bovey Tracey, Devon.  We had the most beautiful weather which meant we were kept good and busy by all the lovely people that wanted to buy our beads and buttons! 

If you’ve never been to the fair, then you’ll have to make it a priority for next year, it really is the most amazing collection of talent that I’ve ever seen.  Hundreds of wonderful stalls of jewellery, pictures, bags, homeware, clothes and so much more.  It really does blow your mind, so much inspiration that you leave with your brain buzzing with ideas.

Bunyip’s other big news is the arrival of Bunyip Baby No.2.  Esme was born 10 weeks ago and is a bouncy bonny baby who is already wow-ing our lovely customers in the shop, what more could you ask for in a shop…beads, buttons and a baby!

Talking of expanding, my little family is growing.  I am 5 months pregnant with our 2nd baby which is wonderful news for Bunyip’s Saturday staff in about 15 years time!  This means that I will disappear around March 2010, but my superb team will be perfectly able to deal with all your bead related needs!

Right what have I been up to?  Well, we’re had projects in both Make and Making Jewellery over the year.  Both of these designs, the Vintage Glamour Necklace and Button and Donut Necklace, are available on the website, as a kit or ready-made necklace.  I really enjoy doing the projects for these magazines, it’s nice working to a brief rather than just doing what I like, though it is a bit stressful getting all the information and pictures in on time, as well as the kit designed and on the web by publication date.  I always try to make each project a kit too, so it’s easy for you to buy the project as one piece rather than having to buy each bit separately.  Do let me know what you think of the kits, as we are very happy to make any improvements needed.

We are currently putting together a much wider workshop programme for our new workshop space, which is just around the corner from our Exeter shop.  We will be having workshops taught by many different teachers, including many different crafts and basicly I can’t wait.  We are working our socks off to have this all in place by January, so watch this space.

I have so much more to tell you about, but have to whizz off to the shop now, as it’s Christmas and busy busy busy.  I promise to write more as soon as I find the time.

We look forward to seeing you all soon, ont’ web or in person!    Mattie

If you haven’t seen, it matches our new-look shop, which is also looking very smart with lots of fantastic things to see.  The newest being our Bridal section.  This new range includes sparkly glass, beautiful pearls and some of our favourite vintage beads, along with speciality Bridal jewellery books, tiara bases and 2 new kits especially for the Bridal section.  One is a lovely tiara while the other is a freshwater pearl necklace.  We think it’s a great idea to have a section dedicated to this most special of jewellery.  We are also holding Bridal workshops on 23rd April and 28th May (bridal tiaras), 28th April (bridal beginners) and 21st May (bridal next steps), for full details see the workshops page. 

We have a new beginners and intermediate workshop programme too.  Beginners classes are on 7th April, 5th May and 2nd June.  Intermediate classes are on 21st April, 19th May and 16th June.  Our next Make n Take is on Thurs 2nd April from 5-8pm.  Full details of all these workshops are on the workshops page!

We are working towards the dreaded stock take, but that means we’ll have lots of new stock in April, the button section is getting a good revamp so come and see us when we’ve stopped counting for all your buttoning needs!

It’s lovely to feel spring in the air, I hope it means everyone will want to start a new project and help us keep the credit crunch at bay.

Let me the first to wish you Happy Easter!

Mattie

A very Merry Christmas from all of us at Bunyip Beads & Buttons.

We are very happy to announce that our ‘re-fit’ is finally complete.  We have a beautiful new sign, which is displaying our new logo perfectly.  It’s really only a slight change in logo but we feel it’s much more us, more arty-crafty!  The new window displays were designed by the same designer so the windows look amazing too!  We have a new lick of paint inside (a nice green rather than that harsh yellow), a new carpet, bit of a move about with the shop fit which makes the shop look bigger, though we’ve actually lost a little bit of space and amazing new lights which make the whole shopping experience easier!

It’s been huge amounts of work but worth it as the shop looks much more together.  We’ve improved the ranges too, added lots and got rid of the things that just didn’t work.  We will be having a jolly good clear out for the January Sale, so look out for our wonderful Colour Sale.

We have lots of workshops coming up too, the Christmas Decorations workshop is in a few weeks time and we’ll have a fresh lot of Beginners, Intermediate and Craft Club for the New Year.  We are still hoping to have a much bigger and better Workshop space in the New Year (along with an office for me, hurrah!), I’ll keep you posted.  Please ring the shop 01392 437377 if you’d like to book on to a class, or to get more information.

We are open on Sundays until Christmas and we’ll be open until 8pm on Thursdays so that’s lots of extra time for all your Christmas beading needs!

We will be re-vamping the website in the New Year to fit in with our ‘new look’, you’ll still be able to buy all your old favourites but I’m sure we’ll add lots of new items too!

Here’s to a wonderful 2009, and i hope the dreaded credit crunch doesn’t diminish your beading needs.

Mattie

Stock take is only about 3 weeks away which means lots of hard work for us all in the run up to the big count on a Sunday while we’re closed.  Then lots of work for me putting all the figures together.  It’s all quite fun really and a good excuse for a grand tidy and sort.  The best bit though, is that we can put out lots of lovely new stock after we’ve finished.  So I would head into the shop at the beginning of April to see what new things you can unearth!

Our classes are doing really well at the moment.  So well that Cat has added another Beginners class a month and a NEW button jewellery class.  Please see former posts for full details and/ or ring the shop for any further information or booking on 01392 437377.

I am back at work on Fridays and Saturdays which is great and I’d love to see you!  But if you can’t make it on those days, my super team of Cat and Ginny will be available to help.

We hope you have a super Easter and can’t wait to see you in Bunyip.

Mattie