I am Chichester bound today, to begin teaching a wirework projects class. The day is sunny, and I will be in the countryside for the weekend, so my mood is good as I set off.

But, being weighed down by 10 kilos/ 22lbs of wire, a few hundred lampwork beads, fifty plus pair of pliers and all other manner of necessities, travelling in Friday evening rush-hour traffic soon puts a dampner on my mood and I am glad when I get there. Not least so I can put my bag down!

This will be the third year in a row I have taught the class and each year I enjoy the challenge of coming up with new projects (as I have documented recently).

I love visiting Earnley, and teaching here, but as a teacher there is always an element of fear everytime you teach a new class (Will I fit it all in? Will they be bored? What if the instructions are wrong? Will there be enough to fill the time? What if no-one can do the projects? What if no-one likes the projects? What if someone asks me a question I don't know the answer to? What if I have left something essential all those miles away at home? And many more along those lines keep me awake at night)

All that, combined with knowing people have spent their time and money to be with you for three days, adds an extra dimension of worry. So, it is with some trepidation I begin my class, but of course I needn't have worried (will I ever learn that lesson?)

I love teaching, especially wirework, as I know how much I struggled with some elements when I was learning and I enjoy helping others overcome those. I also love getting to see people progress over the day (or days) and go from complete beginners to designing their own projects in such a short space of time.

I also enjoy getting to see the wide variety of variations produced and the first project I began with tonight, a simple scribble brooch, was a good one to start with.

It was designed with many intentions in mind: to simply get people using wire, making turned loops, learning how to safely cut and handle wire, use up some of those lampwork beads we all manage to accumulate and also to get everyone to relax and see they can easily produce something no matter what their previous experience.

The class ended with everyone having made at least one brooch and us all heading off to bed eager to begin again the next day with added confidence and anticipation.