OPOW day two, and a cycle ride!

Day two with Tilly and 91 others OPOW certainly has captured the imagination of the blogging community. I personally have really enjoyed my journey.

Today my little top started life a skirt! A broken zip and waist that was far too small meant refashion time, and I thought it had a little "hello sailor" about it.

A really heavy cotton, almost made the sewing machine needle stick I wondered if it had been treated with something to make it do this?

No Fancy trims today, but this has been the first time I have used stripes and I think I did ok with matching them up.

oh how lucky my best shoes match!!

Then off for a cycle ride. My journals of a novice cyclist have been somewhat lacking, this being only the third ride of the year. Not exactly what I had planned to keep fit and reduce the use of the car.

It is so much easier to look stylish on a bike it the warm weather.

Every good bike ride will have a pub stop and this was no exception, we had two!! MrPB enjoyed lots of cider. I think this is rather a nice shot for the celebrating of hands project.

This was our view for most of the journey home, up hill!

For some all that hard work peddling was too much.

Celebrating our hands

A lovely day at the beach the other day. Celebrating our hands with Josie, follow the button at the side to find out more.

OWOP day one.

Along with a staggering 91 other sewers I am joining in with the One Pattern One Week from the inspiring Tilly, you can click on the button at the side to find out more . I normally jump at a chance to join in but I took my time with this, having had a go at my little top I can not understand why? I was planning to make my tops as a stash buster any how, so I took a few days and loads of fun putting them together. It has been a great exercise, I have learnt alot about my own sewing process.

So here is the the pattern I have been following : rather like the Colette Sorbetto. Very easy but actually very successful and versatile.

So a butterick pattern, only 2% of us and using these patterns but well over half will be making up tops of some sort.

I so enjoyed this top, I have never added big flowers or so much lace to anything!

All the tops this week are revisionista's, this had a previous life of a table cloth, very soft cotton though, lovely to sew. And a hugh pile of lace from a boot fair last year!!

The day was spent hanging the community quilt I made for my village, along with a Super Soup event. A great day for the beginning of spring.

If I get a chance I would like to share this top with Justine at the Aew and Tell, also Pam at Threading my way, both have great weekly link parties.

Community Quilt Project.

This post has been a long time coming! About a year in fact, when I started blogging I was so impressed by the support and creativity in this community I was inspired to do more. Here was the birth of a community quilt project. I gave everyone young, old, male, female, stitchers, non stitchers a blank square. All you had to do was decorate it.

After some time I got the square back and I have made a village quilt that is to have it's home in the village hall. A place that needs lots of love and making pretty, a perfect place then.

So today we hung the quilt and invited everyone along for tea and cake. So here is a our final quilt.

This Arthur's square he was the youngest (he had a little help)

These where my two squares

Plenty of tea and cake to go round!

We also used the village hall along side two lovely ladies that ran an event called Super Soup. For a donation to Christian aid you could some truely wonderful soups and home made bread.

All the hard work of making the quilt was really worth the lovely day  sitting around having soup then tea and cake. Villagers just dropping by for lunch and to see their square in the quilt, a really relaxed time but a real sense of community. I just love bringing like minded people together for crafts or food music whatever it just feels so great ( after all the worry of will any come or want to take part goes!)

I think I will really strive to work in groups more often.

PS a litle sneak preview of my OPOW!

Celebrating our hands.

Todays photo is what I spend alot of my time doing!

Celebrating our hands

I've been rather busy so have lapsed with the celebrating of our hands, but here I am returned! All celebrating with Josie http://www.myhomemadehappy.com/

Today I have Arthur who wanted to have a pic nic with his pack linch box in the green house!

Day Tripper.

Since the 1st of January I have been looking forward to my annual day trip to London. So get the fullest day possible I was on my train at 6.30am with a serious craft and dressmaking agenda. Meeting my Mum and sister when went to the stitch and craft show at Olympia. I was seriously impressed, there was so much! We didn't get as far as seeing the Downtown Abbey costumes or experiencing the paper craft which before I went was on the top of my list to try!

There was the most amazing quilt exhibition theme Olympics of course. There where hundreds and hundreds of quilts but this was amazing Hearts of Gold.

With so much to inspire I realised that little project can be more achievable and fun. I was taken by the cross stitch and I think I will have a go at some Easter cards.

There where some funny goings on too with knitted best cat and dog in show, so much fun.

What struck me most though in the knitting department was these wonderful blankets. As you may know my knitting isn't professional by any standard but I did think a square at a time.

I had a chat with the Simply knitting stall who explained that the blankets where apart of the comfort blanket campaign for Refuge. http://simplyknitting.themakingspot.com/blog/refuge-comfort-blanket-campaign-the-details  The squares had been designed by famous knitters and where available via an e book. They raised a amazing £2,049.50 .

 All I can say that they where stunning and inspiring and I feel that making a square for me a square for a charity maybe a really good little project of my own come this autumn. Any one interested in joining in?

As I said there was so much that I didn't see a fraction of it really being that we had lots of chatting to do to over coffees and lunch and wine ect. And to complete the shopping we went to Gold Hawk Road for dressmaking fabrics.

Thankyou Mum and Katy it was the best day!