Yippee!! Marathon completed and new top

Well, I'm rather proud and smug to say that I, Phill Sharpe, completed my first ever marathon! : ) i know some of you might think i'm a bit sick for saying it, but i thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing...when's the next one; or more importantly where?

Ben and I had a fantastic time in Berlin - it's a great city. We got to re-visit some of our favourites from last time (the Bauhaus archive and the Daimler Art space), and discover some new places too.


*NEW BERLIN TOP*
I managed to sneak in a quick sewing project just before we left for Berlin. It's an adapted version of a Wendy Simplicity top. I chose not to insert elastic but use ribbons instead for the shoulders only. I then cut out circles from two different black materials and attached them. I was really pleased with how it came out - not sure if the detail comes through.



Now it's all hands on deck for the Lady Grey pattern which finally arrived yesterday!

i have been doing stuff...honest

I know it's been a while since I've posted. The green dress from the re-fashion I've been playing around with cos i wasn't quite sure...i took off the sleeves, reduced the width of the shoulders and re-attached, but didn't re-attach them quite right. So I'm still playing with it.

I've also made a really cute black blouse for work with a tie collar...will post photo's the next time I wear it.

Marathon training has been a bit hit and miss, there's been tears, limping, sore knees and more tears. I'm hoping great success will come with the next run.

Now you know how much i love my pashley - and i really really do, I've ridden her to work and meetings a couple of times this month and I adore her but...and there is a but...she's just a bit heavy for long weekend rides or putting on the back of the car to go further afield - I'm not sure totorro could take it!
So my lovely husband got me an early birthday present... a new speedy bike and oh my it's so much lighter and quicker and easier to ride than pashley. Now, I adore my pashley and do not panic out there, she will still be ridden and from my point of view she is a bike for life...no selling for me..but for a quick dash up the hill to work, or a long ride with bento on a sunday I'm lucky to have a new alternative. And I plan on making my own version of the po campo bags...watch this space

I have been doing sewing but just little bits - like a little bag, and our new coffee pot cosy for breakfast sundays...(improved with the re-discovered checked table cloth

I love these owls on the bag - I've had the material for a while and wasn't sure what to use it for...it's become my new day to day bag. 

That's all for now...

Refashion Saturday

So me, and two friends Amy and Mel decided to scrounge around in our local charity shops and see if we could find inspiration and some re-fashioning opportunities.

And I had some great success.

 I found a great Margaret Howell dress at the bargin price of £4.99. However it wasn't quite right for me (please excuse the photo with my dress underneath - i couldn't be bothered to completely undress) - so with a quick snip off the length and some elastic into the arm cuffs voila! I'm really happy with it. And it's got lovely big pockets....and its Margaret Howell (who i only just discovered in last month's Vogue - Ageless style issue - She's a uk designer, and the dress is really nicely made and 100% cotton - yay!

My next great find was a Diesel skirt- for the slightly steeper price of £8.99 (ouch). The skirt was too big and a little weird with loops and straps that meant you could kind of hitch up parts of the skirt - (I think, i was a little confused by it).

Anyway, i little unpicking, some taking in and hey presto a new dress!

Oh..and I ran 20 miles in the morning - phew! What a day : )

Sticky hot

Oh its been hot by British standards this past week.
We had to get up at 5am on Saturday to do our 18 mile run before the heat crept in. We did it though!

And my Red Cross Running Shirt arrived. Oh it's so glamorous! I know i need to work on the stylings but at the moment i figure everyone will be too astonished at my bright red, breathless face to worry about what I'm wearing. Remember though if you want to sponsor me just head on over to my site
here.

Speaking of shirts though, whilst recovering from the 18 miles, I managed to make headway on my work shirt. Oh and can i just highlight the wonder of my wardrobe edit - i really like having my work clothes separate from my play clothes - it really helps in the morning - no more dithering! (Sorry to all those who have to wear a uniform!).
So here it is - it had it's first outing today and received two positive comments. I just hope it doesn't unravel in the wash!