About
Snapdragon Beads is primarily based in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire (At least, that’s where the beads are 
). If you are in the UK and would like to arrange a visit to see some pieces in the flesh or to pick out the exact beads for a commissioned piece, please feel free to email me, and we can arrange a mutually convienent time. Additionally you could also arrange a bead party where you and your friends will have the pick of pieces which have not been seen yet by anyone outside of my husband and our cat.
For obvious reasons I do not wish to publish my telephone number on the website. However if you haveone of my cards then feel free to call.
Helen, who is based in Dublin, Ireland, constitues the Irish branch of Snapdragon Beads. (Where, as yet, most of the sales are.) Since I am originally from Dublin, and I started in beading while still at home, the majority of the fairs at which we appear are in the Dublin area. I have a large number of repeat sales, generally in the form of commissions, from the sales in Ireland, and Helen coordinates these. She also hosts bead parties, where the new pieces which I send over to her are available for sale, generally before they appear at a craft fair.
A list of the fairs and exhibits in which we will have a stand (both in Ireland and England) will be maintained on this site.
To get in touch with me via email click here.
To get in touch with Helen via email click here.
Why a Dragon?
Often depicted in Oriental art, Dragons in the East were honoured as demi-gods since they were seen as the providers of the all important rain. Sometimes they are depicted holding a pearl in their claws or mouth, which represents a “Pearl of Wisdom”.
Dragons in Western Cultures are thought of as the embodiment of avarice: they are collectors and hoarders of treasure, usually gold.
Our dragon is one of the former, a Korean Dragon scuttling about with his pearl, although I suspect he has some Western tenencies and has been raiding my pearl tray for pretty beads.
Why the Name?
Previously, I called myself ‘The Price of Manhattan’ owing to the story that the island had been bought for roughly 24 dollars worth of beads.
About 3 to 4 years ago, while sitting at a stall in a marquee in a very cold and marshy field and in dire need of cheering up I decided that a kookier name was needed. ‘WungleBump’ and others of that ilk were vetoed by my mother and my fiance. My mother suggested ‘Grave Goods’. Finally, I decided on Snapdragon Beads, partly because I am fond of dragons of all shapes, sizes and ethnic orgins and partially because I have fond memories of wandering around my late grandmother’s garden squishing her Snapdragon flowers to see them open.
