Today is my last day in New York and you know what- somehow I managed to not take any photos. I also managed not to yesterday either. So instead I will tell you what I did and show you photos I took on other days.

Yesterday was my final day teaching and the class was my Geometric Crystal Stars. These are an advanced project, and one I haven't taught in a while, so it was nice to give them an airing again and see what colour combinations people created.

After class I went on a hunt to Brooklyn.

Last year I went jewellery shopping with Suzanne Golden and though I bought many beautiful things, I decided not to treat myself to a ring I saw and loved. For some reason I thought I might not wear it much, so didn't want to buy it just in case. I can't tell how you how many times over the year I have wished I had that ring.

This year I was determined to find it and try it on to see if it was as lovely as I remembered it. After a few failed starts, and a few emails and phonecalls, I finally managed to track one down to Old Hollywood and straight after class I jumped on the subway and tried to get there before they closed. I was in luck, not only did I get there in time, but they had the ring, it fitted and I loved it even more than before. I have no idea why I thought I wouldn't wear it. I'm finishing this blog 11 days after I bought the ring and I've worn it every single day since. It's big and gold coloured with a beach scene on it and just catching sight of it on my finger throughout the day seems to inject a blast of sunlight straight into my brain and never fails to make me smile. If you need your own injection of sunshine this winter you can buy the ring here at October Anniversary.

My last day in New York was mainly filled with last minute packing and postcard buying, writing and sending but I did manage to squeeze in a quick lunch date with the lovely Marcia DeCoster who was in town teaching, her equally lovely husband Mark and a friend, talented beader and super athlete, the also lovely Stacy Creamer. Over a great Japanese meal we managed to catch-up and put the world to rights. I haven't seen Marcia since Tucson and although I read her blog daily it was lovely to see her in person again.

As always my trip to New York has flown by and I am already hoping I can soon start to count the days until I return.