The thing I've loved most about these last few Sundays I've spent at Cordial and Grace is how relaxed I've been afterwards.

Normally I dread Sunday afternoons, because I invariably shift to work mode and my thoughts turn to the week ahead, rather than enjoying the rest of the day.

So it has been an absolute delight to spend three or four hours engrossed in sewing, and by the end of the session the Sunday blues are gone.

Even better, I leave with something I made.

It was my last session on the Basic Sewing Skills course today, and we were making skirts and aprons.

I went to Fabric Land on Friday looking for a cotton fabric and I must have been in a funny mood because I left with two metres of bright pink fabric covered in liqourice allsorts.

My reasoning was, if the skirt goes wrong it wouldn't look odd because the pattern is so mismatched. It's the kind of thing I used to wear when I was 14, and I think sometimes my pre-teen self comes back when making fashion decisions.

If I was making the skirt again I would probably choose a pastel fabric with a light pattern of stripes or flowers.

Luckily the sewing pattern chosen by Laura was easy to understand, and after four hours - and a few fiddly bits-  I had a proper skirt.

I don't really see myself wearing it, but I might take it to Latitude this year for a bit of fun.

I'm still looking for a good, second-hand sewing machine and as soon as I get it I will be repeating all of the projects I learned on the course, with new fabrics.

Cordial and Grace are working on a new schedule for their workshops, so check their website to find out what's coming up. I know I'll be the first one to sign up to their next patchwork quilting workshop.

This week I've also dabbled in some baking. First, I was testing a new biscuit recipe and decided to practice some Valentine's cookies a few weeks early. Then I made a simple sponge. I love these Peter Rabbit cake decorations, a gift from a friend.