In which I play with Lutradur and cook Artisue's recipe.

Phew, have I been slaving over a hot sewing machine. I have a new course on Friday and Saturday on all things hot (in other words zappable). It is one of the courses we arrange ourselves - well, Fiona does all the hard work - and we will have a talk and a meal on Friday evening. People come and stay in B&Bs and I don't like the thought of them staying in on their own, so we always do something.

Thank you all so much for your kind words on the book. I don't think I have ever had so many emails and blog mentions about a book before. I'm also very encouraged that so many people sit and read it. Val and I always had a theory that everyone looks at the pics and the captions only. Now that we can have so many colour pics, the word count of books has gone down a lot. When I started, it was about 25000 and now I aim for 15000 to 18000. I do take quite a lot of my own photos these days. They are nowhere near the standard of Michael Wicks but it is useful for step-by steps as long as they are small. My camera can handle 10 mega pixels so the resolution is not bad. I will have to send you a message on a piece of paper (or in a bottle) Penny. Then you can stick it in the book. I shall do some more on Inkaid next week when things return to normal. I have stitched into it on paper, Shirley, but have yet to try fabric.

Thanks, too for all the catty messages. I think the new boy is going to be called Smudge, Jordi. He is white and pale grey and looks like a charcoal smudge. I am encouraged that your older cat took to the young one and I shall take note of the advice. I love your pics of the Station murals. http://abovethegwb.blogspot.com/ Very inspiring mosaics. I do so love mosaic work and am thinking of using it as one of the design sources for the next book. It is quite difficult to turn into textiles though, so it will be a challenge.

Not sure that Clive is up to moving targets, Aussie Jo. The baby won't be with us for a few weeks yet so perhaps Clive will have got some practice in by then.

Chrissy - can I cope with two? When Stevens is on form, she can be pretty crazy on her own.

I think you need a kitten, Carol - much better than InkAid if you are broody.

Glad you like the blog, Cathy J - I still feel that it is a very selfish exercise because I enjoy writing it so much. Clive is now less keen as, for some reason, my laptop won't let me upload photos into blogger any more. I think the path has become corrupted but all attempts to change it have failed. It's fine on Clive's machine so I keep pushing him off.

I've done a lot with Lutradur for the course. This is the heavyweight version which can look very like leather, depending on what you stitch it to.

This is on cotton which won't react to heat and is good for zapping through to. Just a quick sample. More after the course. Don't want to give it all away.

Artisue, I loved your no-sagne recipe. Going to make it for supper tonight.