International Beading Week 2025: celebrate with Elysian’s Light!

International Beading Week, organized by the Beadworkers Guild, is the perfect opportunity to celebrate our beloved craft — and help spread the word about it 📣💎 For several years now, I’ve been happy and proud to be one of the permanent ambassadors of International Beading Week 🥰🌍 🗓️ From Saturday 26th July to Sunday 3rd August 2025, the Guild, its ambassadors, and we at Beadingschool will bring you all kinds of surprises — including opportunities to bead together 🧵, gift tutorials 🎁, special offers 💫, and much more! 👉

Keep an eye on the Guild’s and International Beading Week’s websites to stay on top of everything that’s happening! 🔗
Let’s celebrate beading together! 🎉💖

How do beaders celebrate? With beading, of course! And if possible – we bead together! This picture was taken back in 2018, when we celebrated International Beading Week in Amsterdam. 🧵 Beadwork is more than just a craft — it opens the door to a welcoming community where you truly belong 🤝💖. International Beading Week, organized by the Beadworkers Guild, is a wonderful chance to celebrate our shared passion and help introduce it to others 📣💎.

👉 Keep an eye on the Guild’s and International Beading Week’s websites to stay on top of everything that’s happening: 🔗

And if it’s impossible to bead together in real life – let’s bead together virtually!
Every year, we create a new tutorial to join the celebrations during International Beading Week. This time, Zuzi created something truly magical: the Elysian Light tutorial. You can download the tutorial as a gift from the Beadingschool Bead Shop.

But let’s learn first about the inspiration and read Zuzi’s wise words about the necklace!

DOWNLOAD THE TUTORIAL!

CHOOSE ONE OF THE BUNDLES to make sure you have everything you need!
These are the available colors: Seashell Glow, Atlantic Wind, Eternal Glow, Love Affair, Emerald Tide.
All the bundles contain Neumann clasps from Germany and Preciosa Crystals from the Czech Republic.

There is a kind of light that doesn’t come in brilliance or drama.
It arrives softly—like morning mist lifting over a still ocean.
No crashing waves. No sharp edges. Just clarity.

Elysian Light draws from those rare, quiet moments when peace feels earned. Not because life has been easy, but because you’ve made it through. You’ve faced storms and silence, drifted far from shore, and still found something true in yourself that could not be drowned or dimmed.

The piece holds that memory—of golden light after rain, the shimmer on the sea that feels almost holy.

The piece holds that memory—of golden light after rain, the shimmer on the sea that feels almost holy.

Its aqua tones speak of renewal.
The iridescence, of hidden beauty that only appears when viewed from the right angle.
The golden edges—soft and warm—whisper of the sun finally breaking through.

This is not a light that leads you away from yourself.
It leads you back—to center, to stillness, to truth.

It reminds you: the storm did not take you. You are still here. And you shine.

If you’ve enjoyed previous International Beading Week designs, you’re in for a treat—many of them are still available! Visit the “shelf” of the Beadingschool Bead Shop holding our gift tutorials, where you’ll find several beloved pieces from older IBW celebrations. Each one is a gem, created with love to inspire and connect beaders around the world. Whether you missed them the first time or want to bead them again in new colors, they’re waiting for you to explore.

The bundles for Zuzi’s jewel contain the highest quality materials: Neumann clasps from Germany and Preciosa crystals from the Czech Republic. We work closely with both of these historic companies, and we’re so proud of these collaborations! Thanks to this partnership, we’re able to offer you not only stunning designs, but also premium components that bring out the very best in your beadwork. Every element in the Elysian Light bundle has been carefully chosen to ensure that your finished jewel is as enduring and luminous as the story behind it.

Beadweaving isn’t just about the present moment on our bead mats—it’s also deeply connected to the past. There’s something truly magical in that historical touch, in knowing that our craft carries generations of artistry and tradition. Last year, we had the incredible opportunity to visit the Crystal Valley with a professional photographer and videographer—the first beading company ever to do so. It was our way of honoring the heritage behind the materials we use, and investing in the preservation of this beautiful tradition.

Later this week, as part of our International Beading Week celebration, we’ll share a special article featuring exclusive videos and interviews from that journey. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at where our beloved crystals come from, meet the people who keep the legacy alive, and deepen your appreciation for the tiny treasures that bring our beadwork to life. Stay tuned—it’s a story you won’t want to miss!

Moreover, gifts and another big surprise are coming, so make sure to watch #CoffeeTimeWithErika!

Every year, this special livestream during International Beading Week brings our community even closer together. You’ll get sneak peeks, heartfelt stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and of course—more surprises than you expect! Whether you’re a long-time viewer or joining for the first time, it’s the perfect way to connect, get inspired, and celebrate the joy of beading.

So, grab your favorite mug, settle in with your beads, and join us. Let’s celebrate IBW 2025 with creativity, connection, and a few magical moments we’ll always remember. See you there!