A busy day yesterday with lots of paper and computer work to catch up on and then an emergency dash to my local bead shop.

My sister's wedding is fast approaching and she's just asked me to make her wedding jewellery. I have no idea why she even thought about going elsewhere first. Doesn't she know who I am?!?!? Isn't she aware that I can surely master any jewellery making project?!?!?

I guess she was worried I would spend six months making her a huge seed bead thing and she didn't want to have to say no to wearing it.

Fortunately for her I just don't have the time to make a big lime and pink star necklace and instead it will be subtle and bridal. That's not something I normally do but needs must. Seeing as the whole thing will take less than 5 minutes I think I can just about work in plain white and crystal for that length of time and manage to resist the urge to begin embellishing it with rainbow seed beads.

I'll keep what I make under wraps until after the big day but keep your expectations low, simple and pearly.

Whilst at the shop I also stocked up on bits for the essential bridesmaids' gifts as well as ribbon and blue thread for stitching what apparently all the best brides now have: a handmade wedding dress label. This is not a custom I have ever heard of before and I am a hopeless embroiderer but it will be a joy to make something so personal for her. I like the idea of something personal and handmade being her 'something blue'. I already gave her a vintage silver charm for her 'something old' but making this by hand will give me a chance to sew in lots of love and best wishes that I hope will help carry the two of them through their lives.

When I got back from the shop a package arrived containing wax carving tools which I have bought in preparation for doing some carving and also for a wax sculpture course I have booked onto in a couple of weeks time.

I am eager to do some carving, but seeing the tools and wax has definitely made me lose my nerve and I've convinced myself I don't know what to do. I guess they'll stay wrapped up until I use them on my course.

Today I was out of the house at 5.15am to get the train down to Gillingham to teach at StitchnCraft Beads. I taught here once before and so was looking to coming back. The shop itself is lovely and welcoming with a great clasroom and big range of beads and supplies to have a little browse through...

After class the day was still sunny so Lynn Firth, the owner, took me into Shaftesbury itself to look around. Last time I taught here it was pouring with rain so there was no sight-seeing so it was nice to get to see it. Lynn took me to Gold Hill which is a place many of us in the UK have grown up knowing from the famous Hovis Ad. Neither of us were wearing sensible shoes so we gave walking up the cobbly hill a miss!

Then it was a short walk to see some more amazing views (Shaftesbury is 219 metres above sea level) before heading home for dinner and talking late into the evening putting the world to rights.