See my 'How to...' pages for another video tutorial: "How to use the prick and pounce design transfer method". Don't forget there are now more prick and pounce kits for sale in the shop.

I had reason to get my postcard selection out recently and realised what a ridiculous amount of inspiration I have tucked away in boxes, it's no good there! I got some out, had a look through, kept a few choice ones out and put them all away again...

There are lots of new things happening on my website this month:

Check out a new creative collaboration with my sister Caroline called Twin Needle. We will be combining our creative knowledge to bring classes and creative services. See what we will be up to at our new website: www.Twin-needle.co.uk.

I have also started some new 'How to...' videos. See the first of these here, or you can also view on YouTube. A great way to learn embroidery! The shop now has a variety of needles available to help you, and prick and pounce kits are also available again

And lastly, I've added some new pictures to my art gallery page. These aren't new pieces, but they can feel like new when you haven't seen them for a while! See one of them, 'Storm in a teacup' below:

This is the Jacobean piece we will be stitching on the crewelwork taster day coming to Rugby in March and April:

We will learn some basic embroidery stitches with the option to turn your piece into a scented sachet if you wish, so why not join myself and Nikki Jarvis for these fun taster days in hand embroidery!

For more information and to book, see the classes page.

Imperial Chinese robes from the Forbidden City - V&A, London.

This exhibition features costumes and textiles from the Forbidden City, Beijing. The items were worn by Emperors and Empresses of the Qing Dynasty and this is the first time they have been on display in Europe, so this is a fantastic opportunity to see these works of art.

If you look carefully at the above picture you will see that this robe is actually embroidered on the front and the back. The background fabric is not actually yellow, the yellow that you see is all embroidery! Every inch of this is covered in satin and long and short stitch in silk floss threads; anyone who has ever done any embroidery should appreciate the volume of work in this garment. My mind was certainly boggled by it...

The exhibition is on until the 27th February and costs just £5 (£3 concessions), worth every penny!

 More items on display

Live in the Rubgy area? Fancy having a go at some embroidery? The silk bag below is one of the projects we will be stitching in  a series of one day taster classes (we will stitch the flower in the class and I will give you instructions on how to make up the bag, don't worry it is very simple!):

So why not join myself and Nikki Jarvis for four days of taster classes brought to you by  the Royal School of Needlework? Click here for more details.