I love to ride my bicycle!

 

Well it couldn't have happened on a better day!
My big brother set off on their week long Coast to Coast Bike Challenge - Success in Tour de France and to top it all my little Stanley cracked it on his bike this morning.
It's a great feeling letting go of the saddle and watching them go it alone.
We celebrated with a trip around Gunpowder Park and picnic then back to the local Rec for a final lap at the end of the day.  Finally the sun shone - what a great start to the holidays!

A shout out for Imogen

I've just sponsored my big brother and his family to help them along their way as they take the Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge across the UK.  It's all in aid of PWSA a cause very close to our hearts as my niece, Imogen was born with Prader Willi Syndrome.
As her mum says:  'Imogen faces many challenges every day, but above all she is our fun-loving 4 year old who we all adore. In just 4 years we have benefited hugely from the support that the association has given us and we wanted to do something special to mark its 30th anniversary.'

You can sponsor them directly and find out more about it here
I'm using my link with Etsy and hopefully all you keen sew happy people out there to offer a sewing tutorial for my storage buckets - from the book State of Craft

For just £2.50 you'll be given a link to my secret blog where you will find a comprehensive step by step guide on how to make my handy storage buckets.  All net proceeds of the sales will go to PWSA
Please spread the word - the listing will be up for one week only!
21/07/2012 and 27/07/2012
The listing is just here 
Good luck Pete, Charlotte, Maddie (cheering them on at home with a poorly knee!) CJ and Imogen xxxxx

Update 29/07/12: Well done family - raised well over £1000 and managed all the hills with just a few bruises as souvenirs! I've extended the listing as it was so popular (one purchase!) So it's out there indefinitely, to see if we can drum up a little more!

Wedding Bells?

on bed, originally uploaded by Helen Rawlinson.

No it's not me! I made something similar last year for my friend's wedding. Now it's up and out there if anyone wants a personalised gift for a wedding. Dominque road about with his in the back of the car for a good while!
Something to shout about.
In my Etsy and NOTHS shops now!

In between

So I'm in the middle of open studios, in between our two open days.  Amidst the panic of it all, I decided to make something of my owl that's been hanging around since two Halloweens ago - just put a parade of lights behind him to make a bit of a show and plonked him on a cushion.
Stanley got to try him out on a tee shirt too.

woodland creature - hence the greenish face - went off to a party - leafy crown not shown.  He got to stay up 5 minutes longer for this photo, nice mummy that I am!

 I also had a little wedding commission - another project that's been on the back burner for a while, now ready to share with anyone that needs a wedding gift, slightly modified since it's first showing at my friends wedding last June (I don't half seem to take my time!) Tea towels available too.

Personalised on the back but not showing just yet!

  The rock design which I'd put onto lampshades last year finally got an airing on some tea towels and it's all for you to see if you pop along tomorrow!

 So I've done a bit of catching up and I'm very happy that some customers have gone away with the new stuff (just one owl cushion left - OK I admit, I only printed two!)  I've still got plenty of units to shift (as Mr. John Hegley would say) so if you fancy a day out, please come and find me!  There's a whole load of fantastic work at The Chocolate Factory so even if I'm not your cup of tea  I'm sure someone else will be.
Oh and block got made into a lampshade - just for show, got some kits to shift!