Girlish days and flumpish cat nights.

This Saturday was rainy and miserable, but I cared not. I was snug and cosy in Hyde Park - my old, student 'hood - listening to Crosby, Stills and Nash with three crafty ladies - we drank tea, talked non-stop, and formed an orderly queue by Lucia's sewing machine.

A few months ago, we all attended a fun but chaotic sewing workshop at Fabrication in Leeds. Although enjoyable, it was only a day long, and way too ambitious in what it hoped to deliver. Well, for amateurs like me anyway. I came away from it with nothing but nice memories and a partly (and badly) hemmed skirt. It is still partly (and badly) hemmed.

My friend Lucia, however, now makes things that I envy and covet: gorgeous vintagey bags and super professional looking cushions. Kindly, she offered to host a sewing workshop at her flat. We would be making cushions - plain and simple, and a perfect beginner's project. And she was amazing! In addition to calmly hand-holding all three of us through much marking and cutting and pinning, she also managed to whip up a pan of carrot and coriander soup, and kept the tea flowing.

We're definitely going to do it again.

I made two cushions, and very proud of them I am too. I felt giddy-happy when Molly gave my 'project' her fat-pawed seal of approval as soon as I plonked it on the bed. I might make her a kitty sized one for Christmas.