Rona’s Beads Afloat

My name is Rona Hawes. My dream was to come back to living on boats. I was born on a 40ft boat on the Lea and spent about 8 years of my childhood living on narrow boats. After moving onto our 10ft wide beam boat ‘Unfazed’, last year, I applied for and received my Traders licence in March.

I’m a qualified gemmologist with many years of experience in the jewellery trade. This lead to learning how to professionally rethread pearls and beads. My jewellery business was already established when we moved onto the boat, with pieces in some galleries around the country and I was really keen to enjoy selling on our travels. On board in my 2nd bedroom, I design and hand make a range of gemstone bead and pearl necklaces, bracelets and earrings with unusual silver clasps and spacer beads.

Both my partner and I love the added bonus of the social aspect of trading with questions and interest in both the jewellery and boat. Well, we also have a Fazer 1000 motorbike in the bow foot well, posing lots of questions! My partner Alan, is a very practical man who loves a challenge. He’s helped to make my display, awning for the rainy days and to generally make it all possible!

We’re continual cruisers with no set plans, but I try to blog on my website with our whereabouts. We’ve just completed a very successful floating market in the Paddington Basin which also focused us on a destination! At the time of writing we’re travelling up the river Lea through Broxbourne (where I was born) to Hertford and back to the Thames, to be on the Kennet and Avon for the end of the year.

Please find me on my web site.www.ronasbeadsaboard.co.uk. Also on Facebook. Rona’s Beads Aboard