Why not join me and my sister Caroline, in April for a class in customising your clothing? We will show you how to make simple changes to your clothes to turn them into a personal and unique garment!

 We we also show you how to use left over pieces of fabric, what you can do with clothes that don't fit as well as looking at other items such cushions, bags, scarves and rugs. And it's not just for the girls; guys bring along your shirts, ties, waistcoats and scarves and we can transform those too!

Some techniques we will be looking at:
•    Block printing and stencilling
•    Fabric manipulation – Flowers, leaves and Suffolk puffs
•    Embellishing with beads, sequins and buttons
•    Decorative bindings
•    Appliqué
•    Construction of simple accessories and furnishings

So join us for two days of fun and creativity. Our fist class is being held at the Royal School of Needlework, based a Hampton Court Palace, Surrey on 19th and 20th April 2011. Visit here for more details and to book.

I would like to start the new year by thanking everyone who has supported me and this site. Statistics tell me that there are now over 2000 visits (that's 16000 odd hits!) to this site every month which I am obviously thrilled with. Thanks to all those who have bought from my shop, the 'Prick and Pounce' kits sold out in days and some peg doll kits have also sold out. More of both will be for sale very soon!

I work hard to keep this site up to date and I am pleased to announce yet more additions including a gallery page for your work (see image below), more free stuff (who doesn't like free stuff?), new shop items and a new newsletter hot off the press.

Thankyou to all of you, and here's to a create and fulfilling 2011.

Sarah

Alan Gilbert leading the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Painted by Christopher Tasker

Wishing all my readers all the very best for the new year, as pretty as it is, lets hope this is the last we see of the white stuff!

Snow flakes on my jumper, December 2010

The 'Prick and Pounce' kits have proved popular and have already sold out, but don't despair! More stock will be available after Christmas...

Some of the items on display at the Battets Russe exhibition, V&A museum, London.

This is the design for a back cloth from 'L'oiseau de feu' for the betrothal and coronation scene.

These costumes were used in the production of the dancer Nijinsky's ballet 'Le Sacre du Printemps'.

I loved this cartoon of the composer Igor Stravinsky playing the music for above mentioned ballet. His music was purportedly hard to dance to being very jerky and with constant changes in time. You can see the pain in the dancers faces behind him as they try to keep up!