So, I’m home from the French wedding odyssey. It was a bit of an epic trip. I got back full of cold and generally feeling rather seedy and lived-in. I’d love to think I embrace travel but the tedious nuts and bolts of it all drive me up the wall more and more. I was very, very ready to be back. My homecoming was made all the more welcome when I discovered a massive - and vaguely shaming - mountain of post. It was such a pleasing haul I thought I’d share it here. I did bring a couple of things back from France. I’ve never been to a French bead shop, but I’m always very happy to come across a haberdashery, like the one I found in Chalon town. I didn’t have time to look at all the buttons - just the wooden ones. I coped:

I also picked up this preposterously cute ribbon.

But, back to my magic post day. I’ve been meaning to buy some beads from Claire Maunsell of Stillpointworks for some time. I wish I’d got more.

I’ve also wanted some of these big disc beads from Grubbi for a while. The glazes are really lovely and rich, especially the blue to the fore of the picture.

There was, somewhat inevitably, a nice fat Scorched Earth parcel. I feel I should add that the size of it was - in part, at least - owing to Petra’s ever generous extras!

There was also a nice haul of tasty czech glass from Mountain Shadow Design.

Aren’t those orange dragonflies a stunning colour? I love the massive English cut rounds too! I’d kinda forgotten placing this order from Earthbutter Studio. In my defence, there was a sale.

I didn’t just have beads waiting for me. There were some new patinas too. I’ve no idea how they’ll work but fingers crossed for patina chain in pink and plum.

The biggest parcel was from Yuki Designs. I’ve been admiring their stock for a while and I had a rash moment - or two - last week when I went for broke and just ordered (well, nearly) all the things that took my eye. I was braced for a customs charge and a bit of a wait, but my order slipped through customs and arrived within a week. Even better!!

Finally, there was this collection of handmade wooden beads and blanks from Pymatuning Crafts. I’d lost the will to take things out of bags by the time I took this pic. Plus, they’re all made from different woods (all storm damage, etc.), so I didn’t want to mix them up.

So many possibilities! I think that’s everything. If you’ve enjoyed looking at these anywhere near as much as I enjoyed opening them, you must be smiling right now. Maybe you’ve been tempted into making a purchase - I hope so!