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I want to make a fly screen type curtain to use up a huge number of wine corks we have. I'd like to intersperse the corks with coloured beads and I have a vague memory of lovely coloured beads we used to make at school with some sort of dough. These were painted and varnished. I think they would be just the job with the corks. Does anyone have a "recipe" for making the beads please?

Don't have the recipe, but you're talking salt dough here - hard as a rock and lasts forever.

Here's a recipe... to make it last though you will need to varnish them... oh and don't forget to put holes in them before you bake

SALT DOUGH RECIPE:
2 cups of Plain Flour
1 cup of table salt
1 cup of water

OPTIONAL
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil (makes it a little easier to knead)
1 tablespoon of wallpaper paste (gives the mixture more elasticity)
1 tablespoon of lemon juice (makes the finished product harder)

METHOD
Put plain flour, salt and any, or all, of the optional ingredients into a mixing bowl and gradually add the water, mixing to soft dough. This should be neither too sticky, in which case add more flour, nor too dry, in which case add more water. When mixed remove from the bowl, place on a flat surface and knead for 10 minutes to help create a smooth texture. If possible it is best to let the dough stand for approximately twenty minutes before beginning a project. Unused dough can be stored in the fridge, in an airtight container or cling film, for up to a week. Children always love making models, and as long as you don’t add wallpaper paste all of the ingredients are natural. So if they are tempted to put it in their mouths, all it will do is taste incredibly salty.

DRYING
The drying of your work can either be done naturally in the open air, or it can be baked in an oven. However it is not recommended that you have your oven hotter than 100C (200F/Gas Mark 1/4) as this can cause unsightly bubbles and cracks in your pastry. Personally, I tend to start at 50C and after 30 minutes increase to 100C. The drying time needed for each piece varies according to size and thickness, When your model is dry, turn off the oven and leave it inside to cool down.

For a varnish, if you google "homemade waterproof glue" you'll get plenty of recipes. That way it should help protect your beads from any splashes/rain depending on where you're hanging the curtain.