Giveaway

I cannot recall the last time I did a giveaway so I reckon that means one is long overdue.

The prize is this strand of lonelies. They're just leftovers and colour experiments; all are first quality beads.

If you'd like a shot at winning the beads all you have to do is comment on this post. I know, I know – leaving blog comments is long and arduous compared to liking and tagging on Instagram but it's only a few more clicks/taps and key strokes.

Please read the following before commenting:

• You'll need to give me a name in your blog comment for me to add you to the draw. If you're using a Google account to comment your name will show up but if your comment is anonymous I won't include it in the draw unless you've given me a name as part of your comment. You can use a real name, initials or something made up. Comments along the lines of "Would love to win, Jane B" or "Please enter my name in the draw - Mrs Tiggywinkle" are great. 

• I manually approve comments so don't be alarmed if your comment doesn't show up for a little while.

• Anyone anywhere can enter.

• I'll draw a winner on 22nd September and I'll announce who that winner is here on my blog so you'll need to check back to see if it's you. I'll then ask you to email me so I can get a delivery address from you.

Good luck!

I'm thoroughly enjoying blogging again in this quiet corner of the internet – I feel like Ruth Goodman going back in time to live in a Stuart era farmhouse or something – and I really appreciate you joining me here. That's kind of why I'm doing this giveaway – it's a thank you for taking the time to come over here and partake in olden days technology all because I'm a moaning, contrary grump who is eschewing the noisy world of Instagram. I'm guessing about four people will enter this draw so your chances of winning the beads will be pretty high. 

If you're new to my blog, or if you've not been here for a while, hello! If you're viewing this on a desktop or a tablet you will see a sidebar on the right. (If you're looking at my blog on a smartphone, scroll right down to the bottom and tap 'view web version' to see the sidebar.) In that sidebar is a list of of my 'how to' blog posts, a link to all my Creation is Messy testing posts, my blog archive, and a very small list of blogs that I follow. Are you a blogger too? If so, give me a shout.

Prize Draw

Time for a prize draw, I think ...

Up for grabs this time is this little set of flowery beads in coffee and mauve. Some of the beads are shiny and some have been etched to a velvety finish.

To be in with a chance of winning the beads all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post. Please leave a full name, a Twitter username or a website link in your comment so that I can easily contact you if you're the winner.

The giveaway is open to anyone anywhere in the world but it's only one entry per person.

On Sunday 2nd June I'll draw a name at random from the comments and that person will be the winner of the beads.

(You might also want to sign up to my mailing list to be informed of any future giveaways, along with bead news, special offers and the like.)

Good luck!

Prize Draw Winner

I just set the random number thing generator to pick a number betwixt 1 and 41 and that number was 22. Counting down the comments list I make the winner Janine of Cherished Trinkets. Hurrahwooyay!

Thanks to all who entered and also for your lovely comments. I'll sort another giveaway in the next couple of days so stay tuned.

Bead Giveaway

I've made lots and lots of flowery beads this past couple of weeks and as such I have quite a few spares floating about. I thought I'd give some of them away in a little prize draw.

If you fancy having a go at winning this strand of six 13mm flower beads in turquoise and yellow, all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post. Please leave a full name, a Twitter username or a website link in your comment so that I can easily contact you if you're the winner.

The giveaway is open to anyone anywhere in the whole entire universe but it's only one entry per person.

On Wednesday 22nd May I'll draw a name at random from the comments and that person will be the winner of the beads.

(You might also want to sign up to my mailing list to be informed of any future giveaways, along with bead news, special offers and the like.)

Good luck!

'Green Goblin' and Prize Draw Winner

When Chris saw these lime green and orchid pink beads he said they reminded him of the Green Goblin from the Spider-Man comics and yes, he's right, look:

The pink spacers are enamelled; not my usual dusting of enamel but a total two-coat covering. This set of 'Green Goblin' beads is available right now in my bead shop.

Now, to prize draw shenanigans. 

There were thirty-seven entries so I used a random number generator which chose ...

... number sixteen. I counted sixteen comments down the comments list and the winner is Jo Thoday. Well done, Jo! Please email me with your address and I'll get your blue beads in the post to you.

It's been a lovely couple of days. The local cherry trees are in full bloom and they really are an amazing sight. I like to stand underneath them and look up at all the branches laden with pretty white blossoms and they look so beautiful against the clear blue sky.

Last year I stopped when I was walking past the cherry trees and picked one of the cherries. It looked delicious and I popped the whole thing in my mouth, bit into it and URGH! It was the sourest, most bitter cherry in the whole world ever and I had to spit it into the piece of paper I had in my pocket which I soon realised was my shopping list. So that was annoying and I shan't be sampling the cherries again this year.

But still, pretty blossoms.

That's enough waffle from me. Enjoy your Friday night!

Prize Draw Survey

I’ve made a little bead survey as I’d like to get your bead opinions on a couple of things. There are only four multiple choice questions and a feedback section but I would really appreciate it if you could take a couple of minutes to complete the survey.

The survey is aimed at people who buy lampwork beads.

Each completed survey I receive will be entered into a draw to win the set of cocoa and turquoise beads pictured above.

If you'd like to take part, please email me with the subject ‘SURVEY’ and I will email you a link to the survey. The survey is hosted by SurveyMonkey and is very quick and easy to complete.

The survey will close at 19:00 on Friday 22^nd March and then I will draw a winner at random from all completed entries.

I am now awarding myself the prize of a cup of Earl Grey for Most Uses Of The Word 'Survey' In A Single Blog Post. Yay me!

Have a great Friday evening,

Prize Draw: Bead-On-A-Key

I can't believe how quickly this year is whooshing by - it's been ages since I last did a prize draw so I thought I'd better arrange a giveaway.

The prize is this bead-on-a-key.  It would look great threaded on a long chain or length of ribbon or if you don't fancy wearing it you could just keep it as a twiddly ornament thing.  

The bead is periwinkle blue dusted with purple enamel and decorated with white spots.  It moves up and down and spins round and round the antique Victorian key.

The key is 60mm long.

If you'd like to be in with a chance of winning this key bead all you need to do is enter my prize draw. The rules of the giveaway are as follows :

♦ The draw is open to anyone anywhere in the world.

♦ It's one entry per person.

♦ To enter the draw you need to leave a comment on this blog post.  No email entries this time, I'm afraid, but please bear in mind that you do not need a Blogger account to comment on this here blog.

♦ When you comment please leave a name of some kind, be it your actual one, a nickname or your blog user name - just something rather than an anonymous comment. If you have a popular name please leave some kind of initials. Last time I had lots of Kates and Helens enter and that got a bit confusing! Something like 'Laura S' would be great.

♦ Entries need to be in by 7.00pm (UK time) on Friday 8th July when I will pick the winner using a random number generator.

♦ I'd really appreciate it if you could mention and link to this prize draw on Twitter, Facebook or your blog.  You don't have to and you don't get an extra entry BUT you will receive a virtual handshake or hug from me (or both if you like) if you're kind enough to do so.  (Tell you what, I'll even throw in a cyber-kiss-on-the-cheek if you want one!)

I hope that all makes sense.

Good luck!

'Candy Cupcake' Bracelet Winner

Apologies for my lateness with this.  I went to London to see my little sister yesterday and I got in at about ten o'clock last night, had some dinner and basically forgot to do the draw.

But I'm here now! I've just used Random.org to pick a commenter between 1 and 132 and the winner is .....

..... who, by my reckoning, is Alison AKA theotheralig.  Hurrah for Alison! Please email me your address and I'll get the 'Candy Cupcake' bracelet in the post to you.

Thank you to everybody who entered the draw.  I'll do another one soon so do stay tuned.

Have a great weekend!

'Candy Cupcake' Bracelet Giveaway

Do you remember those edible elasticated bracelets that were made of pastel-coloured sweets?  Well, this bracelet reminds me of one of those but it's probably best not to eat this one as doing so could cause some dental damage.

Anyway, I'm giving this 'Candy Cupcake' bracelet away in my prize draw. It's made with my own lampwork glass beads - pale candy pink and white spacers and a matching cupcake bead.  The bracelet measures approximately seven and a half inches long (that's about 190mm) and all the silver you see is sterling.

Close-up of the cupcake bead

If you'd like to be in with a chance of winning this bracelet all you need to do is enter my prize draw. The rules of the giveaway are are as follows :

♦ The draw is open to anyone anywhere in the world.

♦ It's one entry per person.

♦ To enter the draw you need to leave a comment on this blog post.  No email entries this time, I'm afraid, but please bear in mind that you do not need a Blogger account to comment on this here blog.

♦ When you comment please leave a name of some kind, be it your actual one, a nickname or your blog user name - just something rather than an anonymous comment. If you have a popular name please leave some kind of initials. Last time I had lots of Sues and Sarahs enter and that got a bit confusing! Something like 'Laura S' would be great.

♦ Entries need to be in by 7.00pm (UK time) on Friday 25th February when I will pick the winner using a random number generator.

♦ I'd really appreciate it if you could mention and link to this prize draw on Twitter, Facebook or your blog.  You don't have to and you don't get an extra entry BUT you will receive a virtual handshake or hug from me (or both if you like) if you're kind enough to do so.  (Tell you what, I'll even throw in a cyber-kiss-on-the-cheek if you want one!)

I hope that all makes sense.

Oooh look - it's all old school here!

If you're new to my blog, hello and welcome! I do bead giveaways both large and small quite regularly so please add yourself as a follower or subscribe to my blog using the links over on the right hand side - that way you won't miss out on any future free bead opportunities!  You can also keep track of any future giveaways by following me on Twitter or Facebook.

I think that's about all.  Let the draw commence!

Good luck everybody!

Winter Prize Draw Winners

I've just drawn the winners of my Winter Prize Draw.  I assigned each of the comments a number between 1 and 115 and I used Random.Org to choose the numbers :

Comment number 75 and the winner of the first prize is Frau Putz.

Comment number 39 and second place is Sue.

Comment number 7 and third place is Laura B from Blue Eyed Night Owl.

Congratulations you three!  Please email me with your addresses, and Sue and Laura please let me know if you'd like 'Sugar' or 'Snow' beads.

A big thank you to everyone who entered the draw!  I shall do another one in the New Year.

Have a great Saturday night!

Winter Prize Draw

Well, hello!  I do hope you're keeping well and warm wherever you may be.

I think a prize draw is long overdue.

How do you fancy winning some wintry beads?  I've got three prizes up for grabs.

First prize is at the top of this post - a set of my 'Winter Mix' beads.  This is a strand of four 'Snow', four 'Sugar' and ten 'White Shimmer' beads.

And whoever wins second and third prize can choose between a strand of six 'Snow' or six 'Sugar' beads :


'Snow' Beads



'Sugar' Beads

If you'd like to be in with a chance of winning these beads all you need to do is enter my prize draw. The rules of the giveaway are are as follows :

♦ The draw is open to anyone anywhere in the world.

♦ It's one entry per person.

♦ To enter the draw you need to leave a comment on this blog post.  No email entries this time, I'm afraid but please bear in mind that you do not need a Blogger account to comment on this here blog.

♦ When you comment please leave a name of some kind, be it your actual one, a nickname or your blog user name - just something rather than an anonymous comment. If you have a popular name please leave some kind of initials. Last time I had lots of Loris and Kellys enter and that got a bit confusing! Something like 'Laura S' would be great.

♦ Entries need to be in by 7.00pm (UK time) on Saturday 11th December when I will pick the winners using a random number generator.

I hope that all makes sense.

If you're new to my blog, hello and welcome! I do bead giveaways both large and small quite regularly so please add yourself as a follower or subscribe to my blog using the links over on the right hand side - that way you won't miss out on any future free bead opportunities!

Good luck everybody!

Lonelies Winner

Cor blimey!  That was one huge marathon name-writing, paper-cutting and folding-up-paper session!  There were a whopping two hundred and twenty names in the drawing for the Lonelies beads.

Chris has just drawn a winner from the salad bowl (yes, salad bowl) and that lucky person is Sarah Barnett of PrestoBeads!

Well done, Sarah.  I shall get your beads in the post on Monday.

Big thanks to everyone who entered, tweeted and blogged about the draw.  I shall do another one next month when there will be second and third prizes up for grabs too. 

Bead Giveaway

Time for a prize draw, methinks!

Up for grabs this time is a bunch of my Lonelies.  There are twenty seven beads here - thirteen decorated ones and fourteen spacers.  The beads range from 9mm to 13mm diameter.

My 'Lonelies' are experiments, one-offs and leftovers from sets. All of the beads are first quality and I know a lot of you like to use them for pendants, charms, bookmarks, phone dangles and the like.

If you'd like to be in with a chance of winning these beads all you need to do is enter my prize draw. The rules of the giveaway are are as follows :

♦ The draw is open to anyone anywhere in the world.

♦ It's one entry per person BUT if you have a blog and/or Twitter account and you blog/tweet about and link to this prize draw post I will enter your name twice. Bonus! If you'd like to mention me in any tweets my Twitter ID is beadsbylaura.

♦ To enter the draw you need to leave a comment on this blog post or email me at prizedraw@beadsbylaura.co.uk

♦ If you've blogged/tweeted about this draw please say that you've done so in your comment or email and I will do the two name thing.

♦ If you're entering with a blog comment please leave a name of some kind, be it your actual one, a nickname or your blog user name - just something rather than an anonymous comment.  If you have a popular name please leave some kind of initials.  Last time I had lots of Lynnes and Sues enter and that got a bit confusing!  Something like 'Laura S' would be great.

♦ Entries need to be in by 7.00pm (UK time) on Saturday 18th September.

Phew!  I hope that all makes sense.

If you're new to my blog, hello and welcome!  I do bead giveaways both large and small on an almost monthly basis so please add yourself as a follower or subscribe to my blog using the links over on the right hand side - that way you won't miss out on any future free bead opportunities!

Good luck everybody!

Winner

I bought this cute red and white polka dot bowl and matching spoon ages ago and it has been sat in the kitchen windowsill ever since we moved in.

I've just put all the names of everyone who entered the prize draw in the bowl (I knew that I would find a use for it!) mixed it up with the spoon and asked my glamorous assistant Chris to draw a winner and that lucky person is Lorraine at Fairly Girly. Well done to you! Please email me your name and address and I'll get your Nugget beads in the post to you.

Big thanks to all who entered, blogged and tweeted about the draw. I shall do another one soon!

Have a good night, everybody.

'Rainy Day'

These beads were made on a drizzly, overcast day. The sky was pale grey with little patches of blue peeping through the clouds.

I liked the colours and decided to make a polka dotty set using them.

I'll be drawing the winner of the prize draw tonight so if you haven't entered yet do click here to put your name in the hat.

Have a good Wednesday!

Win these nuggety lovelies!

Let's do something cheerful.

Let's have a giveaway!

Do you fancy having a go at winning this set of ten gleaming nugget beads? These tactile lovelies are made in beautiful jewel tones of blue, green and purple and they contain fine silver droplets that give the beads a bit of glimmer. They measure about 12mm in diameter.
If you'd like to be in with a chance of winning this strand of beads all you need to do is enter my prize draw. The rules of the giveaway are are as follows :

~ The draw is open to anyone anywhere in the world.

~ It's one entry per person BUT if you have a blog and/or Twitter account and you blog/tweet about and link to this prize draw post I will enter your name twice. Bonus! If you'd like to mention me in any tweets my Twitter ID is beadsbylaura.

~ To enter you need to leave a comment on this blog post. If you've blogged/tweeted about this draw please say that you've done so in your comment and I will do the two name thing.

~ Please leave a name of some kind, be it your actual one, a nickname or your blog username - just something rather than an anonymous comment.

~ Entries need to be in by 7.00pm (UK time) on Wednesday 18th August.

~ All entries need to be made by commenting as opposed to emailing me. Commenting is really simple and you don't need a Blogger account to do so. Just leave your name in your comment and check back on Wednesday to see if you've won!

I hope that all makes sense. Good luck everybody!

And the winner is .....

Congratulations to Lauren who was drawn as the winner of the Lonelies beads!

This was my largest prize draw ever! I spent a long time typing all the names out, cutting them up and folding them. Then I stuck them in a bowl and mixed them with the same action I use for making pastry. Then my independent adjudicator (my Dad) gave the names another stir and drew one at random. Well done, Lauren! I shall get your beads off to you just as soon as I have your address.

Many thanks to all who entered the draw. I'll do another one soon so do stay tuned.

Lonelies Prize Draw

I haven't done a prize draw for yonks! While I was washing up yesterday my eyes fell upon my Lonelies Jar and I thought that it was about time all the beads inside it got a new home.

My 'Lonelies' beads are all first quality. They are experiments, one-offs and leftovers from sets. This particular strand is 300mm long (12") and contains 41 beads - 20 patterned and decorated ones and 21 spacers. That's a lot of jewellery-making potential right there!

If you'd like to be in with a chance of winning this strand all you need to do is enter my prize draw. Regular prize draw entrants do read on as I've changed the prize draw rules ever-so-slightly. They are are as follows :

~ The draw is open to anyone anywhere in the world.

~ It's one entry per person BUT if you have a blog and you blog about and link to this prize draw post I will enter your name twice. Bonus!

~ To enter you need to leave a comment on this blog post. If you've blogged about this draw please say that you've done so in your comment and I will do the two name thing.

~ Please leave a name of some kind, be it your actual one, a nickname or your blog username - just something rather than an anonymous comment.

~ Entries need to be in by 7.00pm (UK time) on Friday 4th June.

~ All entries need to be made by commenting as opposed to emailing me. Commenting is really simple and you don't need a Blogger account to do so. Just leave your name in your comment and check back on 4th June to see if you've won!

I hope that all makes sense. Good luck everybody!

The Big Prize Draw Winners

I've just drawn three numbers using www.random.org and I've counted down through the comments (all 172 of them!) and I've got Dad to double check and the winners are :

Random Number 104 JC wins Prize One

Zuleykha's four flower beads, my mushroom dangle and one of Lyn's cupcake MiniZs.

Random Number 162 Kelly wins Prize Two
Janine's Alice necklace, one of Lyn's cupcake MiniZs and my scrollwork dangle.

Random Number 31 Jessica wins Prize Three

Joy's pack of Art Clay Silver, my cupcake dangle and Lyn's dotty MiniZ.

Well done to the winners! Your prizes will be on their way to you this week.

Massive thanks to all of The Big Prize Draw sponsors and also to everyone who took part. The next draw will take place at the start of April.

'Claret'

I have no clear glass and it's been that way since before Christmas. There seems to be some sort of shortage of Vetrofond clear.

This lack of clear glass is bad but it's also good. It's bad because every time I sit at the torch I realise how much I rely on plain clear glass for encasing and suchlike but it's good because it's making me use other transparent colours instead.

If I hadn't played about with various transparents yesterday I wouldn't have come up with these 'Claret' beads. They're decorated with fine lavender stringerwork and the beads have been etched to a velvety matt finish.

Huge thanks to everyone for your Big Prize Draw entries and for all the fab comments you've left. Also, greetings to all new followers and to lurkers that have de-lurked! If you're a lurker that's fine, I don't mind - I lurk on some blogs too, but please don't be afraid to post comments and say hello. I've been looking through the draw entries and I've discovered lots of new blogs - there really are some great people in Blogland!