I made it. Everything for LOOT is made, photographed, described, labelled, boxed and ready-to-go.

So at 9am today (after some frantic packing) we escaped London for 7 days in the countryside staying at Northmoor House near Dulverton with about 20 friends.

This is where my friends' wedding was last year and so it's a reunion of sorts and we're all excited, despite the rain, to be here and enjoy good company, good food and good drink.

For the first time in at least a decade I've packed no beading or other crafts to bring with me. Normally I couldn't imagine leaving home without some (I don't often get time to do it but it's good to know it's there if I need it). But this time nothing. I think having made well over 150 things so far this year, plus written a new beading book, and working 18+ hour days so a long time, I'm feeling all beaded-out for now and need a break from the little lovelies.

Our first order of the day was to crack open some booze to toast us all, and the coming week, and so here's to a week of much fun, laughter and sleep.