The spoils of Edinburgh...

I am spending the weekend in my hometown, Edinburgh, capital of beautiful Scotland. I can't tell you how lovely it is to be back at home and best of all, it's all due to beading! I taught a class at my favourite of all bead shops, The Little Bead Shop (they've got a blog too - check it out!) - we came up yesterday and go back tomorrow but it is lovely to spend just a few days here, soaking up some Scottish goodness with my Mum. We're going out for tapas this evening with my cousins and that is going to be a rare treat - I don't get to see them often enough.

One of the really awesome things about teaching at The Little Bead Shop is seeing what exciting new stock they have in. Gil Baird (the owner, beader extraordinaire and all round super person!) has yet to get her shop on-line fully (keep your fingers crossed for this Easter) and so there are always new and fabulous things to ooh and ah over. And buy, of course! Today, she had in some absolutely gorgeous clay (porcelain I think?) flower beads/buttons from a lady in Livingston who shut up shop in 1940 so these are OLD. I'm sure you'll agree though, they look incredibly contemporary. I couldn't believe it when Gil told me they were pre-war! I bought almost as many as she had in, knowing the opportunity wouldn't come around again.

You cans see from the top picture just how dimensional these flowers are. I can't tell you how excited I am to create something with these! My mind is full of jumbled ideas and I can't wait to sit down and try some out. 

Here's a picture of everything I bought (minus two gorgeous hand dyed silk ribbons - oh yes, it's that type of amazing shop!). You can see a bit of a flower theme going on!

My Mum also surprised me by dishing up a bunch of delights from my Grandma's bits and bobs. She died 11 years ago but we're still gradually sorting through her stuff. She was my Mum's stepmum and sadly, fairly rubbish at that....but she was an awesome Grandma! VERY old-fashioned but that's quite charming in a Grandparent in a way, isn't it? Not in a parent however....I think she would have very happily been a character in  a Jane Austen novel....that gives you some idea!She was a great embroiderer and attended the Royal School of Needlework in her youth, and left behind all sorts of exciting notions, books, beads etc. 

Aren't these just gorgeous? The silver flowers on the left are buttons (possibly sterling?) and the red ones are funny wee pendants or possibly some kind of cuff link....not sure. But they certainly have oodles of potential! They are so beautiful and all the more special for coming from my Grandma's stash. 

An exciting clasp! Sterling. Isn't this totally gorgeous?? 

So all in all, today has been a very good day. I love pieces with a history...especially one so personal to me. I feel very lucky!