It's hard to believe that just over 6 years ago we were in the midst of the first UK Lockdown and I taught my first public virtual class.

What is now such a huge part of my life was once so new & scary and a scramble to adjust my house and get all of the right technology etc at that time.
But I'll always remember that realisation when I taught my first one that this was such a good way for people to learn and that I would never not do them and 600+ virtual classes in I'm more convinced than ever.

I will be forever thankful to all of you who have supported me, & the shops/ societies/ groups etc I've been able to teach for from home.

These classes have meant that many of us are able to stay in touch, keep our businesses going, have an incentive to keep beading & designing, increase our knowledge, learn from others we'd never have met otherwise and, through our beading, spread beauty in an increasing dark world.

The virtual classes also gave me an education on the importance of 'live' learning and it's been wonderful to meet many beaders who, due to a variety of reasons, were excluded from in-person classes but can now learn and socialise with like-minded beaders.

Being able to communicate & socialise with others through a shared love got us through very tough days and I feel so privileged to have gone along that journey with many of you.

Personally I've learnt so much from so many of you (and that's not counting all the colour combinations I've 'stolen'!) and virtual classes have meant that even in the depths of health crises, and a very long period when I was unable to bead & struggled to leave the house due to eye issues, I was able to turn on the screen and forget the real world for a while.

Live learning being open to more is something I'm passionate about, and will continue to be involved in through my classes/ open beading/crafting sessions for different groups of people so thank you to all those if you who continue to book/ come to them- it means the world to me.