Yesterday I drove out of town to explore a little bead shop tucked away in the Taranaki countryside. I could have spent thousands in there. All the different colours and varieties of beads overwhelmed the senses and as I looked at the jars and bags brimming with sparkling curiosities I felt a little like a kid in a candy shop. I now have a fresh supply of spectacular Japanese seed beads, freshwater pearls and cloisonne beads. Tonight I'm hoping to use these to finish my newest cuff; a decadent and sugary concoction of Art Deco and 50's embroideries surrounded by pink and cream seed beads and pearls.