Wow- can you believe it- today is my tenth anniversary of beginning beading.

Who knew all those years ago when I began my first piece of seed bead work that those little things would soon take over my life. I certainly didn't, and I think if someone tried to tell me just how important they would become to me, I would never have believe them.

So, 3 books, 24 issues of a magazine, over 700 blog posts, a few awards and just one or two samples and many beading disasters hidden away out of sight (I'm not even going to think about the one or two kilos of beads I've managed to accumulate...) I am so glad I got started with it all.

If you've ever been to one of my classes you've probably heard all about how I got started, but I've never told the story here so here goes...

I remember getting a necklace-making kit attached to a birthday card when I was around 12 – and loving it. I also remember visiting a bead shop a couple of times in my teens and buying some beads ,which I strung on cotton thread. However, it wasn’t until February 2001 that I really caught the beading bug.

I had been doing lots of arts and crafts and as I worked nearby I frequently went into the London Bead Co (and still do- I was there a few days ago stocking up on some essentials).

But, I was so baffled by sizes, choices, instructions, etc. that I didn’t know where to start and usually just bought another stitching kit rather than the beads I wanted. I mean – what on earth did 10g of size 11 seed beads mean? What were Delicas? Nymo? Back then I couldn’t find any magazines to help me and didn’t have the access to the Internet most of us have now.

Then I visited a cross-stitch fair with one of my sisters (who didn't do any crafts) and came across a stand with Daphne Ashby and Jackie Woolsey selling their book "Why Not Make a Beaded Amulet Purse" as a kit.

I was amazed; here was what I had been looking for – someone else had worked out what beads I needed and added in the thread and needle – perfect!

I went to buy it and my sister refused to let me – she said I did too many hobbies already and the kit was ugly.

But I wasn't going to let that put me off, I wanted until she went to the loo and sneaked back and bought it in secret!

As soon as I got home I began to make my purse and that was it – I was addicted. 10 years on and look where those little beads have got me – good job I ignored my sister!

I haven't looked back and even though there are times when I don't get to bead much it has always been a part of my life whether it has been writing about it, drawing diagrams, running beading websites or teaching classes it is part of my day, every day- and I love it and am so glad I got involved.

Since beginning beading it has taken me around the country, and the world, and I have met some of my best friends, none of whom I would ever have met in other circumstances.

I can really say finding those little seed beads this day ten years ago truly changed my life!

But back to the main topic- beading.

I am continuing with my bangle experiments and am now playing around with part two of my aim. Not only did I want a set of bangles, using large crystals, which fitted together, I also wanted to be able to scale the size right down using differently sized beads but exactly the same bead and row count etc.

I am pleased to say that so far my sample using size 11 and 8 seeds (instead of 8s and 6s) and 4mm fire-polished beads (rather than the 8mm crystals) seems to be working perfectly.

Of course I won't know for absolutle certain that it all works well until I have made two comlete bangles and see them worn together, so I still have a bit of work to do.

Wish me luck and here's to another ten years of beading!

P.S. Sorry to all those of you who missed out on getting hold of one of my new kits. The instructions will be available from April so make sure you sign up to my newsletter to find out when and get the discount code.