First etsy purchase June 18, 2007

I’ve done it!!

I’ve been on Etsy so many times, but there’s just too much choice and too much nice stuff.  But I’ve gone and done it and purchased some illustrations, hopefully to hang in the living room when it’s decorated (that’s another story!).

It took me two nights to decide, but I love the ones I’ve chosen, they remind me of outsider art, I’ve got the book Raw Creation, and have bought the Raw Vision magazine a couple of times.  I like the fact that these people are self taught.

Anyway here’s my pics bought from Yellena

It was a hard decision to make and there’s still some other’s I’ve got my eye on, like this one, and this one, and this one, and this one, and this one, I told you there was too many.  If anyone out there is looking to buy me a prezzie look no further!!

I’m also having some images printed up by my talented younger brother, he’s 17 and taking a photography course. He should sell these on Etsy.

Hope fully it won’t be too long to my next post, I still need to photograph the spring quilt, and I’ll be able to post finished workroom shots soon (shouted loud so the husband can hear).  But for now tata.

Just dropping in, workroom in progress June 18, 2007

It’s kind of scary keeping this blog, I’ve tried to post every two weeks, but life just seems to get in the way.  It’s making me more aware of the passing weeks, and my babies growing before my eyes.  It’s hard to step back sometimes from the washing, cleaning etc. and to just soak them up before it’s gone in a flash. 

The thing is I’d love to be able to post every day, every day I have things going round my head that I could talk about.  But I rarely get chance to write them on paper, why can’t you find a pen when you need one!!  So writing on the computer is even harder.

Crafting and making things has come to a standstill, as with a 10 week old baby we decided it would be the perfect time to do some decorating!!!! Are we mad E is 14 weeks old and we’ve still got some stuff to empty out of the workroom.  I can’t wait for it to be finished but it’s gonna be a long haul.  Here’s a few photos of the before.

A complete mess, fabric everywhere, a rickety old table that vibrates so much when you’re sewing I’m sure I’ve got RSI from the vibrations, and a huge computer cabinet in the corner.  So it’s time for change, we now have the pc in the lounge, on a more streamlined desk, plus new flat screen (thanks dad!) 

I’ve already bought a table top and legs from Ikea, I want something waist height so i can cut and sew standing up (I’m sure that comes from 10 yrs standing as a florist), plus a stool for when my legs give way!!  So hopefully it’ll be done soon, you really don’t want to be decorating when the weather’s nice though, I’m secretly hoping for wet weekends so we can get it finished.

Blue mood May 11, 2007

No not the baby blues, but the colour blue.

All the lovely blue flowers in my garden at the minute

and the new blue pram we bought E were the inspiration for my 2nd (yes 2nd) quilt

so with 3 hours all to myself, and a selection of lovely fabrics I made a start

I chose the flowery one, for my spring baby, it has daffodils, tulips and primroses printed on.  So not really knowing what to do I decided to use that piece as the focal point and work round it, and use the pale blue minki for the backing.  I had a bit of a nightmare to start with, time to myself and trying to pack as much in as possible, I do my usual and rush and make mistakes.  I had to get the seam ripper out twice!!  But it finally came together, and I managed to finish the front.

Recognise that thrifted tablecloth again too!!

I’ve also used it as the binding, I need to take a final photo, but it’s been grey and dull here so I can’t get a decent photo.  It’s so cosy and looks great on the new pram.  I’ll try and post the pic soon.  I’m not doing too well posting though, and only seem to be managing two-weekly, I’ve no idea how people manage to post everyday!!  Must go L’s getting hungry and hubby’s home soon, and I’ve no idea what’s for tea.

Laundry love it or hate it April 27, 2007

Another two weeks have whizzed by, we’re slowly getting into some sort of routine, completely led by E.  Which I’m glad about, she’s feeding whenever she likes, (which can be often!!!), and sleeping well at night (waking a couple of times).  She actually slept in the bedside cot last night (she’s been in our bed upto now), with no fuss or crying, a complete contrast to when L was little.  We were so strict about her having to sleep in the carrycot from day one, we spent most of our nights running up and down the stairs replacing the dummy!!  Hindsight is an amazing thing, ‘why would a newborn that had been held close in the womb for nine months happily sleep in a box all on it’s own’.  It’s nice to just go with the flow and let her do things at her own pace.

I love this shot taken by my 3 1/2 year old.

Anyway back to the post title I have been amazed and aghast at the recent bloggings about clotheslines in the US, it seems that in some places it’s actually against the law to hang your washing out! Check out this  NY times article.  Why are consumerism and wealth seen as the be all and end all in the US, not hanging your washing out because it makes you look poor, come on!!!

It just wouldn’t enter my head to put laundry in a tumble dryer if it wasn’t raining (even then I prefer to hang it in the house).  As a student, and living in flats over the years, I’ve always hung my washing, and would hang it on coat hangers at the window to dry.  There’s even a project in the US, to try and educate people about hanging laundry. 

I don’t enjoy the laundry, but my eldest loves helping out, passing the pegs and the clothes to be hung.  She’s even been spending time drawing clotheslines recently!!  I love these.

The little character at the bottom is Mr Jingles, and apparantly he lives in a ‘teeny tiny house that grows and grows when he climbs inside’.

Here’s my youngest contribution to the laundry, one days worth of nappies!!!. 

Must go the laundry’s piling up as we speak, there’s a load in the washer to hang, and a basket full to be folded (there’s nothing like folding newborn clothes though!!).

Baby shoes galore April 16, 2007

I made  a couple of attempts at making baby shoes myself, and still have a leather pair to finish.

But why make the yourself when there are so many delicious ones out there made to perfection.

My friend from feltinginfibrespace made me these gorgeous ones, she doesn’t have any for sale yet, but I definitely think she should they’re so cute.

There are loads of goodies on Etsy

From Olilo Design

From Diddle Dumpling

From Brooklyn Handmade

From  Catarina M’s, I don’t know if she sells them, but they’re sweet.

4 weeks on April 15, 2007

Is it really 4 weeks since E was born!  It’s been a pretty calm, relaxing few weeks, getting used to being 4 instead of 3.  We haven’t ventured too far, the furthest being my friend’s in Harrogate, and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (I couldn’t not go and see Andy Goldsworthy on my doorstep).

L has been fantastic, a bit trying at times having her here all day (nursery starts again next week ) but very tolerant of all the feeding.  Here’s a pic of her in full flow, I can watch her for hours when she’s so involved in something, it’s as if time stands still for her she’s so engrossed in what she’s doing.

Not much crafting going on I still haven’t finished the ripple blanket!!  But remember this tablecloth, I managed to make L a smocket, it’s gorgeous but no photos unfortunately as she thought otherwise and is still to try it on, it’s in her dressing up box now!!!  So I had to make a mini one, for somebody who doesn’t have a choice what she wears!

It turned out a bit small, I reduced the pattern by 50%, so I’m gonna have another go with some fabric to match these booties.  But it’s so cute, great for summer over a vest.

Apart from that we’ve been enjoying ths sun, here’s some pics from our garden.

I used this great little program mentioned by Heather.  And more flow from L.

WIP March 31, 2007

I’ve joined ripplemania (here’s some inspiration, and some more), I actually started it just before E was born , I’d run out of things to do, so thought I’d give it a go to keep me occupied.  I ended up having to go buy more wool the Saturday before she was born, so I’m now making a ripple blanket. It’s great for keeping us both cosy while I work!!!!

Thrifty finds March 31, 2007

Here’s a few of the things we purchased on our Charity shop outings the couple of weekends before E was born.

A fantastic find, I’ve been looking for a new teapot for ages, and spotted this one for £3, it wasn’t until I got home and had a proper look and realised it was a ‘Cathrineholm of Norway’.  I’ve seen these sell on ebay for about £40.  It’s made of enamel, I love it, shame they didn’t have the pans to match.

Four lovely vintage reading books by Ronald Ridout, here’s some of the illustrations.  I bought some printable fabric from here, I thought I make something printing the images on the fabric, not sure what yet though!!

This lovely cotton tablecloth that I’m going to make into one of these aprons for L.

Laura Ashley mermaid fabric, also earmarked for L, not sure what yet.

And I bought a lovely gyspy style skirt for L, but it was a bit big but the fabric is stunning.  I cut the bottom tier off, and it now fits like a dream, need to make her a top out of the remaining fabric now.

New Life March 25, 2007

I’m sat here no more than 3 metres away from the spot my lovely bundle of newness was born!!  This is E about 3 minutes old!!

 I’m so lucky to have had the birth I sooooo desperately wanted, she was born on Tuesday the 13th at home in water.  It was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had.  My eldest daughter was born in hospital, and I had a epidural, I’m not saying her birth wasn’t equally as amazing, but I did have lots of doubts about the way she came into the world.  Which made me determined that this time it would be different, I felt completely in control which I didn’t with my daughter.  I had no pain relief this time, apart from the tens machine and the birth pool, and I’d do it all again!!!  We’re enjoying lots of snuggles, my husband’s back at work next week, so real life has to start again.

 I’ve managed to do some crafting, and I’ve found some great things at the local charity shops that I’d like to post (we’ve spent the weekends just before birth going to a nearby town and trawling the charity shops – somewhere to go that wasn’t to far at home – I think my husband has caught the thrifting bug!!!)

I’ll sort out some photos and post them next week.

 ttfn, I’ve got a baby to cuddle

Baby progress February 27, 2007

No it’s not here yet, wish it was though, had a crazy week of visiting midwives, and a trip to the hospital, all I want is to have my baby at home.  Women have been doing this since time began, why is it such a big deal!! and why are they so deperate to take control!!

 Anyway, the baby projects are coming along, I’ve needed something to keep my mind occupied.  We’re full of cold, again!!! and I’m finding driving uncomfortable so we’re a bit house bound.

I’ve made my first quilt, I made L a knitted blanket and bunny when she was ‘in utero’, so thought I’d do something similar this time.  I bought a few FQ’s at the ‘Knitting & Stitching Show’ in Harrogate, mostly 50’s retro kiddy prints, and found one that wasn’t too girly (just in case), I’m sure it’s a Michael Miller print.  And away I went (sorry the photos are a bit washed out).

The border is quilting cotton, that I use on ‘Sleepytoes‘ Slings, dusky pink and sage green.  I machined these pieces together, then  overlocked it on a hemp fleece backing (bought from Babeco, along with my bamboo terry).  And made a binding out of another Michael Miller fabric (also used on my slings!!!)

I hand sewed all around the borders through the fleece, and then did a scalloped type design to quilt the fabric (it seemed to fit well around the fabric design).  The fleece is so lovely and soft, I had to make a bunny out of the same fabric.  He’s a bit subdued for a mini-moopy, but it turned out really soft and lovely, perfect for a newborn (this is the link for the pattern).

Of course L took a shine to the bunny and almost acquired it as her own, so I had to make her one similar.  She arranged the photo!!

I used this pattern, but made it a bit smaller and didn’t add the pocket.

The embroidery on the ring sling’s finished, and the pockets sewn on, here’s a pic of the pocket.  Just need an action shot now!!