It was a beautiful sunny evening at the end of June. The heat had finally eased and smell of BBQs began to waft around the Surf Affinity Camp.  The girls had just got back from a surf session with Ashleigh from the O’Neill Surf Academy and instead of the usual collapse in the deck chairs, the girls cracked open the rose wine and gin and tonics. It was time to get creative with Nalu Beads.

What better than to relax after a long day’s surf whilst knotting away to create some beady surf jewellery delights. The workshop was organised by Lisa Adams from Nalu Beads who thought it would be the best way for the girls to really have an insight into their surf jewellery. The girls at the Surf Affinity camp were staying here in France as part of a lifestyle course in association with the O’Neill Surf Academy.  They were here not only to enjoy the surf lessons with Ashleigh at the beach but also to discover all aspect of the surfing life.  This meant learning to live, eat, sleep and dream like a surfer and how to wind down the hours in-between in creative and sociable ways. Making some surfy style jewellery would be the perfect example.

Nalu Beads was set up by a couple of ocean loving art students Lisa Adams and Kerry Mansfield. The inspiration for their beads comes from the surf and stunning coastline in North Devon. They wanted to offer an alternative to the mass produced, often unethically sourced jewellery sometimes found in seaside retail outlets and instead, make their own surf lifestyle pieces. The inspiration for their surf beads has been taken from the sea and it’s ever changing moods and beauty from season to season. From the shell that they find strewn on the shoreline or in the many shades of turquoise they glimpse in the Atlantic breakers. They describe it as the thrill of being immersed in and at one with nature.

The Surf Affinity girls were thrilled with the beads they had been given from Nalu Beads for the workshop. They could choose beads from Nalu Beads’ four collections including ‘The Breaks’, ‘Retro Betty’, ‘Sticks’ or ‘The Islands’.  Each one of their collectable lampwork beads designed and individually handmade using beautiful Effetre Murano glass. Once they had picked their beads the girls started to twist and twirl their thread following the clear knotting instructions provided to make their bracelets.

Before long the girls were chatting and giggling away at ease, whilst the threads seemed to be weaving themselves. Natalie was the first to finish and fashioned her beads off as a little anklet. Before long all the girls were proudly showing off their pretty new accessories. So many colours and so many personalities shone though the beads, so look out at the beach; these ladies are looking pretty glam.

For more info on Nalu Beads or their workshop, please see www.nalubeads.com or www.surfaffinity.com.