If you have read my latest newsletter, you will know that I have recently joined the Rochester Cathedral Embroiderers (If you haven't managed to read the November/December issue yet, you can read it here!). Last week we put the altar frontal and quire kneelers to one side and had a bit of a play day. We delved into our stash of fabrics and made quilted tote bags. Although mine currently doesn't resemble any kind of a bag at all, you can see the pieces I made and the colours I chose:

  

The smaller pieces and the image on the right are two pockets I made and hand embroidered while I was waiting to use the sewing machine. We made the bags by layering fabric, cutting through them along the length to make curved strips and then reassembled them in a different order to get curved stripes. Being a hand embroiderer rather than a machinist, I get impatient and hurry things and my pieces came out a little distorted to say the least! I am reliably informed they will flatten out with a good steam but I'm not convinced! They may get made into something else...

In other news, I have been busy updating my Etsy shop. If you are across the pond and would like to buy in Dollars why not check out what's for sale here? As with my website shop, I will be adding more items, so check back regularly...

Talking about shop items, new in the shop this week:

Bracing/spring needles, gift items, books and pre-printed designs. Check it all out here!

Coming soon: Christmas peg doll kits and crochet brooches...

Need to amuse the children or grandchildren? Why not print off my Christmas tree design to colour in (see below)? You can find the full size version of it on the 'Free stuff' page or by clicking here. You can always go back to your youth and colour it in yourself, I won't tell...