Still busy beading and today we continue with triangles before tackling squares and my Geometric Stars.

Everyone is working hard and even I get my beads out to play around for a while.

I have written about Pat Trott on my blog before (and here when I write about her teaching me to thread a needle- sometime I have never forgotten and can never thank her enough for). I am really pleased to see her today as she is the 'artist in residence' here at Missenden for the day. Put simply she sits in a room surrounded by her beautiful work and we all traipse in when we want to chat, fawn over her work and be given lessons in embroidery. Pat is a dear friend, a talented lady and a wonderful teacher. I wish I had the time to do a week-long course with her and learn some of what she has to offer. I would need at least that long to finish anything and as I know I wouldn't do it at home I would want to feel I got somewhere!

One of the perks of being a teacher is getting to meet all your students. I love getting to know everyone over the time we spend together, see what they create and hear their stories. This week I discover that one lady, amongst many other things and talents, has studied Aura Soma and Colour Therapy. As these are subjects I have been very interested in recently I am delighted to be able to talk to her about it. It is such a vast area and I am a bit lost as to where to start investigating, but look forward to learning more from the books she has lent me.

As I sit here in the beautiful countryside, spending time with like-minded people, it is easy to pretend the outside world doesn't exist. With the riots in London, and over the UK, this week I am especially glad not to be able to sit watching the news, worrying and thinking. Such wanton, mindless destruction seems a life-time away from me here and I plan on trying to keep that mindset for as long as possible.