ShopFront: Crown Jewels in Castle Market sell hundreds of different kinds of beads from the hippy (painted and wooden) to the chi-chi (sparkly glass).

Apart from jewellery and clothing, the shop says their beads are often bought for decorating cushions, lampshades and mirrors.

However pretty the after-affect might be, the thought of stringing dozens of beads and stitching them around the edge of a cushion may at first seem more trouble than it's worth.

But with a bit of time, it's quite an easy and cheap thing to do, as is weaving a rope of beads through a curtain tassel tie back.

Large pieces of shell could be glued on to mirror to make a frame.

Prices from 20 cent to €2 and upwards for hand-made Venetian glass beads.

Crown Jewels, Castle Market, Dublin 2