Yikes- is it really that long since I've blogged- that's what becomes of overwhelming yourself. Even worse that means it's that long since I've beaded.

I kept hoping every day I'd get a chance to do some but no luck, so I delayed coming here as I had no photo to go with anything I wrote.

Fortunately today the postman came with two copies (different editions) of my new book so not only do I have something to photograph I'm leaping around the room with joy!

I'd forgotten just how much I'd crammed into the book (at one point it was going to change to 300 tips... but the name fit the other books in the range so it stayed)

I have been exceedingly busy finishing off the last edition of Bead, rushing along with the new one as it's always hard at this time of year with people going away and radically re-decorating and clearing out my house.

Add to that training for roller derby, teaching and general life there's no time for beading- not that I can really get to my beads at the moment anyway!

And of course one of my other top projects at the moment is writing up all the instructions for my latest geometric pieces.

These are taking a long time as I'm altering the diagrams and how I do them so that they can be printed in black and white and show my beading differently hopefully it will all work to make the instructions a lot clearer- it's just a slower process but I'm almost there. I believe (and hope) that they'll all be done in the next 2 weeks at the most.

As soon as they're ready a newsletter will go out with discount code so sign up asap to be sure of getting that.

On top of all that I have also been judging the British Bead Awards which has been an amzing experience- and we're still in the middle of it.

Since I first started beading I always knew there was a wealth of beading and jewellery talent in Britain that wasn't being shown anywhere. I was always so frustrated that there was nowhere to showcase that work and support those who were doing it.

This frustration led me to set up my other websites: Beadelicious and Beading In London to provide links and information.

But, little did I know that one day I would end up as the editor of the Uk (and Europe's!) biggest beading magazine and ensuring that talent was shown would be a part of my job- and an absolute honour.

Some of the entries in the competition have obviously taken people many months to make, whereas others look like they were conjured up in minutes or hours using magic.

Each is different and wonderful in its own way. I think myself and the other judges are going to have a hard time narrowing down our choices for final judging in person.

If you entered then thank you, not only for putting in the time to make your word and enter, but also for helping to show that you don't always need precious metals and stones to make fabulous work and you don't need paint and an easel to make art.

Now wish me luck as I try to make my choices!