The sun is still shining and I escape London for the day to head to Towcester and the annual Flame-Off event.

This is my first time of attending as I have variously  been working, unwell, or stuck in France due to a ferry strike, previous years, so I was looking forward to it.

It wasn't all fun and games of course- I was there for serious business! My role for the day was as one of the judges for the GBUK jewellery competition. This was my third time being a judge but it proved to be just as nerve-wracking and hard work as on the other occasions.

Myself and the two other judges had 32 entries to look at and evaluate and it was, as always, a treat to be able to handle, discuss and examine the work.

As on previous occasions, I found judging to be hard, especially when it came to choosing winners. When you are faced with different works, of equal standards, it is hard not be swayed by personal choices in colour and styles so having your other judges to discuss the work with is a huge bonus. 

In the end it often comes down to extremely fine detail and something as small as a sharp piece of wire, a loose piece of thread or something not sitting quite right can make all the difference. When there is so little difference between potential winners, it's the small facts which become important. I just need to remember all of that when I submit my own work as competition entries!

After a few hours of judging, my time was my own and I wandered around the stalls that were there, treating myself to some "ready to adorn with lampwork" spoons and a bead release stirrer from Mango Beads. I won't need mine to stir bead release but I thought it would be nice as a cocktail stirrer!

I then wandered upstairs to watch some demonstrations and sat mesmerised as first Julie Fountain of Lush Lampwork (whose beads I love and have previously bought) showed us how she makes her heart beads and matching buttons and then Michi Suzuki made one of her blown beads covered with intricate swirls.

I have never tried lampwork, mainly because I am convinced I would be awful at it, and watching the demos just served to strengthen that conviction!

After the demos I treated myself to a great skull brooch from Caitlyn Hyde and watched the charity auction (where I managed to restrain myself from bidding on a lampwork class with Julie- just). Then it was homebound to tuck myself up in bed for a good nights sleep ready for a hopefully sunny weekend.