A busy beading day today.

Often an idea will sit brewing in the back of my mind for weeks, months and even years before I put bead to needle and see if I can make it work.

Sometimes the idea doesn't quite work as I envisaged and I need to alter it to get the result I want. But fortunately often I have spent so long thinking it over, beading it in my mind and ironing out any kinks and problems, that by the time I start all goes well. Today was a day when all went well.

First I began began by actually attempting to create a clasp I have wanted to put with my triangles (which I began looking at again in June) since 2006. I have worked this out in my mind so many times but was wary as sometimes you just don't know. Also I wasn't sure of the exact bead-count etc I wanted to use but figured today was as good a day as any to dive in and see if it worked.

For the first few rows it didn'tgo as planned, which I did expect, but when I added in the special twist I had devised in my mind it all began coming together. Phew!

This project is still a work in progress and my prototype needs a lot of work until it looks as I want it to (once I figure out how that is of course).

Feeling elated and encouraged I figured it was time to move onto a new idea which I was about 99.99999% certain would work.

Ever since I first beaded my Geometric Crystal Stars I had harboured the urge to make them double-sided and even hollower than they are (I know what I mean). In my head I had beaded it many, many times and it had all worked fine but those beads can sometimes not do all you expect or want them to. But once again all went well and it worked exactly as I wanted with zero adjustments to be made. Which is just as well as I want to begin teaching this soon!

At lunch time I popped into town and visited a jewelly shop which was much recommended to me. The shop is The Jeweller's Bench and I have to say it was full of covetable items. In fact it was so full I couldn't decide on any one piece and left with nothing, which is no bad thing.

Then it was onto Alphabet Soup where I peruse many nice items including handmade books by Sarah Morpeth including one with crows in and an embroidered cover which I may treat myself to before the week is over.

I was really pleased to see in town a whole shop which seems to be devoted to swimwear. In the window they have swim suits, swimming caps and even an item which was new to me: Swim Shapers. I hope to visit them when they are next open and really wish I could justify buying a fabulous yellow flowery swimcap. Isn't it great that such a specialised shop exists and survives?

Todays artist in residence is Kay Dennis who makes the most incredible stumpwork. I have done a very small amount of stumpwork and was delighted to see a lot of Kay's work in person and also to discover that not only is she a great talent but also a lovely person. She is teaching a class here next week and I would love to be able to do it but London, work and reality are calling me back.