My lastest necklace, which will appear in my new book: 'Small Beads, Big Jewelry' next year is growing nicely- though of course far too slowly for my liking.

It uses up to 24 crystal rivolis and I was shocked when I looked through my beads to discover I had that number of different colours- just goes to show a beader should never feel bad building their stash! I always say that unlike a painter we can't mix colours together to get the one we want so instead we need to buy all the possible shades in all the possible sizes to have our perfect palette. Feel free to use that excuse next time you want to buy beads.

I was saddened though to see that I don't own anything like enough bicone crystals. I guess so much of my work is using Delicas and seed beads that I have neglected to grow this part of my hoard. I have been busy the past few weeks doing projects with bicones and managed to find 1,300 (!) to bead some projects leaving my stash just about empty. I think I have used as many bicones this past fortnight as I have in all my years beading combined- and am reminded just why people love them so much so I can see some rebuilding of my stash in my future...