A busy day with a trip to Hitchin to teach my Geometric Tilas class at Charisma Beads.

This is one of my favourite classes due to getting to see, over the course of the day, the growing of the students' knowledge and confidence with the projects taught.

The day always begins with a geometric bangle/ beaded bead/ beaded components project and everyone is daunted by the complicated thread-paths and use of two-hole beads mixed in with tricky geometric concepts and 3D beading.

Then, over the hours, they progress and by the time the afternoon comes, with its even trickier stars project, the earlier concepts they've learnt, and their new-found knowledge of it all, means the idea doesn't seem as bad as it would have even just a few hours earlier.

I love seeing them grow in confidence and samples, ideas and variations begin to fly around, which I'm sure none of them would have thought possible when they first began just a few hours ago.

At lunch-time I popped out and managed to find some storage jars in Vinegar Hill with ceramic animal heads and birds which fit perfectly with my recent decorating scheme. The only problem is now I have far more storage in that room than I know what to do with. I'm wracking my brain trying to think what guests would appreciate finding in the jars or under the bear's crown when they come to stay; sweets? fortunes? beads & buttons? bubble bath balls? Until I find just the right thing they'll stay empty and poor Mr Jean Power will continue shaking his head in bafflement.