Yesterday I spent the day in Oxfordshire, at the AGM for Glass Beadmakers UK. As well as discussing the business of the society, it was a great chance to meet up with friends and buy glass!

Heather Kelly, and her lovely Lauscha glass

The thing that struck me most was how much has changed in a year. Last year it was my first AGM and I knew very few people, but this year I knew nearly everyone there, which was lovely.

And it has also rather confirmed what I already suspected – I really have become a glass addict! Just look at what I brought home.

It’s going to take me a while to get through this lot!

In my defence a lot of it is CIM Limited Run, so it might not be available for long. But still, when I unpacked it, it did look a lot of glass, even to me. Better get on and melt some of it!

This is one of the reasons I love lampwork! I ordered some glass from Howaco, in the US, and due to a mix-up with the shipping label, it didn’t come to me. Instead, it got delivered to Jolene (of Kitzbitz Art Glass), in London.

And even though Jolene didn’t know me, not only did she arrange to get my parcel delivered, she also invited me round for pizza and a play on her torch! I had a great evening, the only downside is that I now have serious glass envy, having seen Jo’s stash.

Still, I’m working on mine, and when I got home I was able to unpack the latest addition. Can’t wait to get melting, especially the dichro – sparkly!