Good enough to eat...

My first Saturday job was in a bead shop called Bijoux Beads. It is a beautiful shop selling an array of gorgeous beads and handmade jewellery, with 3 stores: in Bath, Salisbury and Shaftesbury. Looking through photos on my computer I found some that I took whilst I was working there, and they have reminded me how much I loved it. There is something deliciously tactile about glass beads; each Saturday I would sneakily plunge my fingers into the trays brimming with sugary colours.

If I was given a pound for every time a customer said, "Mmm these look like sweeties," I would have been rich, but they were right.

Whilst working there I learnt the skills to make jewellery to sell in the shop as well as teaching jewellery making classes. It has been a long time since I made anything but I can feel the creative itch starting again. Before heading off to university I long to buy beads and make some jewellery to match my favourite outfits. And that's the joy of making something yourself - you get exactly what you want.

Looking through the Bijoux Beads website I have picked out my favourite (mostly pink) beads, the beads that make my mouth water and my heart glad.

Pink dotty handmade glass heart £2.95 I think these would look fab as a pair of dangly earrings.

These hearts (£2.50) were always one of my favourites. I liked to use them as a pendant on a simple chain, or adorning a chunky charm bracelet.

These pink and gold Indian flower beads are so cute, and only 45p each.

I love these metal daisies (£1.50) and long to make the ultimate daisy chain: a necklace made entirely of these flowers strung together.

And finally these pink and gold beads (45p) with their flower pattern are mouth-wateringly lovely.

I love Bijoux Beads xxx

www.bijouxbeads.co.uk

Libby

Happy Camper

You could probably guess, but I am not a camping person. I say this, however, after returning from a week of camping in Devon with my friends. There are aspects of camping that I enjoy; waking up to "good morning"s coming from the other tents and to a breakfast of porridge and syrup or barbecued sausages. One evening we all sat outside in our sleeping bags playing cards, before lying back into the grass and falling asleep watching the stars. Luckily we woke up again and dragged ourselves into our tents before the first drop of rain fell.

Because that is the flip-side of camping. It rained at least once every single day. Shoes became sodden and my body acquired a permanent layer of damp sand after using the one towel I had brought with me for both apres beach and apres shower. I may have seen dozens of floppy bunny rabbits hopping around the campsite in my late night toilet excursions, but I still got cold and returned to the tent damp from the rain.

However, perhaps my biggest objection to camping is my aversion to khaki. It may be the colour of next season, however it loses its allure somewhat when in the form of a sea of drab tents as opposed to a jacket or shearling coat. Why does camping equipment have to be so deeply unattractive? I fail to find one good reason why a tent should be khaki. Camouflaging into the surroundings? Surely that's the last thing you want when returning to your tent after the pub or trying to locate it after nipping to the loo at 2 in the morning.

No, I mantain that any camping experience would be greatly improved if it involved sleeping underneath this Zandra Rhodes teepee tent (£89.99 at Millets). This is the ultimate tent for the ultimate happy camper. Because in the words of Coco Chanel, "Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening." So why should fashion stop at camping?

To match the Zandra Rhodes tent is this snuggly sleeping bag (£24.99 at Millets), both warm and pretty enough to induce the sweetest of dreams.

A pink, polka dot double skinned tent (£44.99 at onestopfestival.com) - pretty perfect I'd say.

There'd be no chance of losing this multi-coloured tent from Millets (£49.99).

This whacky zebra print tent is a pop-up version making for quick and easy assembling. (£24.99 at Millets)

I am lucky enough to own this pink sleeping bag, which I slept in last week along with my pink 'Love' cushion that I brought with me. It is so warm and comfortable (not to mention pink and beautiful) that I am tempted to sleep in it at home too. (£24.99 at Blacks)

And last but not least, I am in love with 'Anorak' sleeping bags. The comfy sleeping bags come in a range of kitsch designs for the most stylish night's sleep. This bunny version has to be my favourite. (All designs £55)

I love this cute birdie bag.

And if you're bored of counting sheep, try counting boats instead.

Libby

Anyone for tea?

Today I spent the afternoon baking. Again. This time lemon, raspberry and white chocolate cupcakes, which I am not afraid to say are fabulous. As I wafted around the kitchen in my pink polka dot apron, singing along to my music, the sun streaming in and the air sweet with the taste of icing sugar I thought to myself how very lovely life is. And who could not be happy with 24 pink cupcakes to eat all by themselves...? (Ok, maybe I'll share if you're nice to me...)

Libby

Home is where my heart lives

After two weeks away from home there is nowhere I would rather be than in my room. I think you can tell a lot about a person from their bedroom; then I wonder what mine says about me? Pink (naturally), bunting hung with bras that I have decorated, or old ones that are simply too pretty to throw away, a framed Vogue cover (one of my favourite possessions) and walls covered in magazine pages. And, of course, my bookshelf. Every time I walk in to my room and scan the shelves bursting with fashion books and past copies of Vogue my heart is glad and I am reminded why I want to be a fashion journalist / ultimately the editor of Vogue. Not that I need reminding very often.

Libby

I miss art...

When I finished school one of the things I was most looking forward to was never having to go to an art lesson ever again. To me finishing school meant finishing 2 years of the stress, tears and frustration that accompanied A level art. It would mean - shock horror - FREE TIME, and no more panics about how many pages I had or hadn't done in my sketchbook.

Yet there is now an unnerving emptiness in my life. Yesterday I was enjoying the new found freedom that finishing school and finishing exams has brought to my life. And guess what I did? I delved into the drawer I had vowed never to open again and drew out paintbrushes and my sewing kit. I can hardly believe it. I miss art.

I miss having paint flecks permanently decorating my nails, I miss the feel of a brand new sketchbook, I miss sewing. I never thought it would happen.

Anyway, in a moment of nostalgia I found these photos on my computer of some of my art work over the past 2 years. It is safe to say I was never destined to be an artist, but nonetheless I am proud of some of my work - be it my favourite poem painstakingly hand-stitched onto a canvas or a dress made from old photos and postcards - not because they're particularly good, but because I had a go and enjoyed making them. And having a go and enjoying it is one of life's mantras that I think is worth following with gusto.

Libby