Exciting news and another bookmark

I have just finished my second bookmark - this has slightly more hardanger work than the first one. There are internal and external buttonhole corners, wrapped bars, dove's eyes and double cross stitch. The fabric and thread are the same as before:

Fabric - 22ct hardanger in white
Thread - DMC perle 5# in white & DMC 3348 stranded cotton
Backing - Forest Green felt

My big news is I have been asked to teach hardanger on a workshop. There is a stitching shop in Wales where we have our caravan and the owner organises Saturday courses. They have many tutors on the tutor team: last year Linda Paris demonstrated patchwork, Joy Clayton did Indian quilting, Dawn Holden joined the team to demonstrate silk scarves, and Rose demonstrated her gorgeous beading work, which is more and more intricate every year.

I have been asked to join the team to tutor on hardanger, I have demonstrated before but this will be my first paid teaching for stitching. I am so excited and feel very honoured to have been asked. I have decided to teach one of my own designs, hence the two bookmarks, although I might do some tweeking to them. I am not sure what level of hardanger she is wanting so I have designed a beginner and intermediate level bookmark. I may also do an advanced version just in case.

My final piece of news is about the church Christmas tree. The tree for Christmas 2009 will be called "Miss-tree" (say it out loud to get the pun) and I am hoping to fill the tree with small ornaments of shoes, lipsticks, handbags and any other girlie item. I am going to look through my magazines as I am sure I have many charts I can use. I am going to stitch a couple of ornaments each month, if anyone would like to stitch one too please email me clare@hearnden98.freeserve.co.uk for details.

Happy stitching everyone - good luck with your 2009 projects