The dress lives on...

Here is another quick little make from Crafty Creatures (by Jane Bull).

Not a lot to say about it really, other than I am still using up little scraps from the baby dress. And see the trunk - already thoroughly chewed.

Must not waste any more time here for now, as (fellow Brits will appreciate this) the SUN IS SHINING. The girls are due back from swimming lessons in less than ten minutes, and then we are going to head straight to the park. With some brownies and a flask of hot chocolate. (It may be sunny, but it's not warm.)

Have a lovely weekend, everyone.

Jolly the Giraffe

Jolly the Giraffe - pattern from Crafty Creatures by Jane Bull

Remember the lovely purple dress I took the scissors to so I could use it to back my chevron crochet cushion?

I am still making things out of the dress scraps, and, this time it is something to give back to the original wearer.

Mum has just been up for the week, on `Grandma duty', while my back recovers after surgery (am now into the sixth and final week of not picking up Charlotte - hurray!). It has been lovely (having Mum here, that is - not picking up your own baby is as frustrating as you would imagine it to be).

We made quite a few things between us - some finished projects which I'll post about in time, and others that are still works in progress. This giraffe was one of several things from a book Mum bought with her - Crafty Creatures, by Jane Bull. I can definitely recommend it.

No prizes for guessing where the pictures were taken. Well, it would have been rude to let Mum go home without at least one trip to my favourite place for cake, wouldn't it?

And while we tucked into our treats, Charlotte chewed her way through each of her giraffe's limbs. Very soggy. But she most definitely likes her new toy - and so gone is any guilt I may have had about cutting up her beautiful little dress. It is bringing her more pleasure this way than if I had kept it in a box for her to bring out and glance at when she is grown up.

And that is all I have time to say today. Soon the girls will come bouncing home from school, and the chaos begins again. Yesterday, inspired by the book Mum gave us, we started making three little ponies. On a whim. I think our house is a mad house. Most parents in their right mind do not decide to embark on a crafty project after school just because their children have spotted something that `might be nice to make'. But, dinner was in the oven (my new favourite lazy but surprisingly healthy dinner of roast chicken and jacket potatoes), and all was calm. More about that when we have something finished to show you...

Babies with Moustaches (and crocheted booties)

Crocheted booties (pattern by Quartered Heart)

 As I type this, my four year old is busily arranging a photo shoot of all her toys wearing moustaches. Who would have guessed how much fun an investment of one pound at Poundland can buy you...

We decided on the French style `tache for Charlotte's contribution to the Babies with Moustaches photo challenge. Scroll down, and you will see I didn't escape, either. Not sure what message to take from the fact the four year old gave me the Chinese Emperor one to wear. Still, I might yet keep it on for the school run to bring amusement/embarrassment to the other mums and my daughters later on.

Here are my latest crochet makes - booties! I was so chuffed when I successfully made the first one that I emailed Sam from Betsy Makes to tell her. (I think she understood my glee more than my husband when I waved it under his nose.)

Here is Charlotte modelling her latest footwear. Delightedly, it has passed the wriggle test, as she kept them on for an entire afternoon. If I tell you that socks and many other booties we've tried in the past have lasted about thirty seconds, you'll know why this latest pair please me so much.

So happy was I that I made another two pairs. I am sure Sam (and plenty of other crafty people reading this) will relate to that, too. I found the pattern nice and easy to follow - once I converted it into English terms - and simplified it by stopping after row 11 and making them into Mary Jane style booties.

And finally, a couple of pictures the four year old has taken and requested I put on here. Her rates are very reasonable and (as you can probably tell), I would be grateful to be freed from the role of being her subject, should you need a photographer for the afternoon.

The super sensitive motion detector

Liberty square, shawl from Grandma and cushion from Sang

Why do newborns come with a super sensitive motion detector?

Mummy cuddles her to sleep standing up. Happy newborn. The instant she gently, ever so gently and slowly lowers the sleeping baby into the cot. Waaaaaa, waaaaaaa, waaaaaaaa.

How do they know?

I have even tried the patented bottom jiggle as I lower her into the cot. But this baby has the super sensitive motion detector and is not fooled by the clever tricks that Mummy used on her siblings. Or, perhaps I have lost my touch. Or, maybe just forgotten they were all like this once.

Two pleasing things have happened lately to help sleep (apart from baby just getting bigger and more able to sleep for longer, that is). The discovery of her thumb, and, more importantly being able to suck it properly without it teasing her by slipping out of her mouth. And, a friend. She actually smiles and acknowledges that little zebra now each time she goes into her cot awake.

Onto the crafty stuff. Here is the cushion me and the littlest girl finished yesterday. The bulk of the creative credit should go to my friend Sang for knitting the squares, and my mum, for crocheting them together. We just added a back and toy stuffing.

The cushion was an unexpected bonus, which came out of the fact they arrived too late for the project they were originally intended for...

It is hard to think of what to say about this blanket and the friends who knitted it for me without sounding cheesy.

It is a wonderful blanket made by a bunch of friends, who, I hope already know how wonderful I think they are. And, thank you of course to my mum for managing to crochet all the squares together!

Tiny Toes

The house is currently silent. All I can hear is the sound of the cat purring next to me.

I think this is the first time this has happened in almost a month. And, for that reason, along with the fact that, as any parent of a new born knows, the silence may be broken at any moment without warning, I am giving myself ten minutes to update my blog. Before I return to the other thing sitting next to me. A mug of hot tea.

Charlotte will be four weeks old tomorrow. 

What a happy - if busy - time it has been. I am going to risk sounding smug and say that I think this is probably the time of my life. I almost want to slow down this period of time, so it lasts a bit longer. (Only maybe with more sleep factored in.)

Mum came to stay for the first week, and helped with a whole load of things whilst I staggered back onto my feet after birth and had most of my energies taken up with responding to a tiny little person whose sole aim in life was (and still is) weight gain.

On that front, I am pleased to report there are now several gorgeous and squeezable rolls on each of her thighs, and the girl can also boast several chins, too.

Whilst Mum was here, she mainly took care of the three big sisters, including making sure they got to school on time. Being smitten with Charlotte, it wasn't long before they persuaded Grandma to let them take turns to push her in her pram to school, singing to her all the way there. So keen were they to show off their new little sister to the world. Well, their school friends and teachers, anyhow.

On the final day of her stay, Mum returned home from the school run and announced that she thought "Charlotte's extremities were getting a little cold" in the footless romper suit she had on that day, and that some booties were needed.

By the end of the afternoon - in time for the final school run of the day - the little lady was wearing a pair of her own specially made and very freshly knitted up booties.

Aren't the booties - and those tiny toes that fit inside them - adorable?

Charlotte Emily

Introducing...

Charlotte Emily, born at home last Thursday, weighing 8lb 9oz.

We're completely smitten with this little bundle of joy, and delighted she is here safe and sound.

If things are a bit quiet on here or I'm slow with email responses for the next little while, you know why!

Packing

The other night, I had a couple of friends round for cake and a bit of sewing. As it happened, barely any sewing got done that night, but there was plenty of chat. And cake.

The subject of our house move came up. End of next week, hopefully, I said. Really? So how is the packing going, they asked. I thought I would start next week, I said.

Sharp intake of breath from the pair of them.

I have been de-cluttering, I said. I don't think we have that much stuff. I don't think it's that big a deal, really.

They remained unconvinced. And their faces looked slightly worried for me and my naive approach to moving house.

So, the following day, I set about filling some of the nice big boxes that I had ordered a couple of months back, and that, had been propped up just inside the front door. My thinking had been it would prompt me to move them and get on and pack. It hadn't. Until now, that is.

Here is the progress so far. I got into it and started enjoying it. A bit like buying stationary for a new term at school, I quite liked the order and lists and general neatness of how the boxes look. But I have to admit, although I have filled four big boxes with stuff, I cannot say I am noticing an emptiness about the house. I cannot tell the difference.

Lemon and Raspberry Cake from The Hummingbird Bakery Home Sweet Home

Time to stop for tea and cake. In order to avoid turning into the size of a small house during pregnancy and the lack of running it allows, in the last fortnight I have been trying to limit myself to one slice of cake a day. This seemed like a good time for my daily treat.

And, during that time, I pondered the sewing possibilities that were opening up as a result of packing (in my mind, anyway - anyone else would say this was no better than a student stopping to tidy their room and going out to buy more stationary before embarking on any more revision).

But here's my logic. A few weeks back, I had bought a metre of white towelling, thinking I would make some nice new hooded baby towels for the new arrival, the old ones being horrendously stained and sad looking from having been used on three other babies.

I don't want to be packing that metre of towelling, I thought. It would be much more pleasing and neat for my front of box contents lists to have finished baby towels to put into the box marked `Baby's Stuff'.

I wasn't really into sewing at the time my first was born, and so I didn't make anything in the run up to her birth.

I cannot deny it has given me a lot of pleasure to make these fluffy towels that have pretty home made bias binding round the edges. The idea for bunny ears came to me as I was making them. Hardly original, but cute. And then, having made two hooded baby towels, I realised I had scraps left over that could be used.

And so, I made a couple of square flannels, one of each type of edging to match the towels (because that sort of thing really matters in the scheme of trying not to drop a slippery newborn who is screaming their little lungs out as you try and get them clean and dry).

And then, three little bunny hand mitt flannels for the big sisters.

This all pleases me. One metre (costing about £10) of towelling has gone a long way. Bonus extras that I hadn't bargained for. And no bulky leftovers to find an appropriate box to pack them into.

Although all that towelling did create a heck of a lot of teeny tiny bits of fluff that managed to get just about everywhere in the house (I blame needing to pop to the loo every ten minutes during sewing). The hoovering had to be done (and long overdue, so just as well).

I must resist the urge to work my way through other such similar fabrics from my stash instead of just packing them all into a box only to be opened the other side of the move. Or else my friends will be right. We will not be packed on time. Or ever, for that matter.

Just as well I didn't share with them my intention of making my polka dot dress before the move. I think realistically, that will have to wait. The next box I pack must be one for sewing things. But I can't quite make myself do it yet.

The blinds are done.

I have one more project (for my middle girl's birthday) that must be done before the sewing things get packed away.

Inspired by the Great British Sewing Bee (what will I do with my Tuesday evenings, now?), can you guess what it is going to be?

Love Liberty

Pretty!

I have a confession to make.

My recent subscription to Mollie Makes may have been just a little bit influenced by the free gift of some Liberty fabrics that went with it.

Yes, I am a sucker for marketing. But can you blame me? This is lovely, isn't it? I had many grand plans for these prints. My favourite one is the one at the bottom left of the picture. If only those nice marketing people had sent me a bit more of it.

So there it stayed. Inside its original packaging, only to be removed, stroked, admired and then carefully refolded and returned, until I could think of a suitably worthy use for such pretty fabric.

And then, while the hubby had taken the girls out on a bike ride (hip hip hooray for Daddy being off work for a few days!), leaving me alone in the house for a couple of hours, inspiration struck.

Look away now if the prospect of Liberty fabric being used for baby sick cloths offends you. But here we have some of the prettiest shoulder protectors/mopping up cloths known to man. And, being backed with leftover Winceyette (from the baby quilt) they are soft. Oh so soft. With practical hanging loops, too. So. Pleasing.

They say there is a fine line between genius and insanity. Before you judge me too harshly, hear me out. 

The squares of prints were the right size for making something small like this. That meant no cutting or measuring was needed, apart from using them as templates to cut out the Winceyette backing. A very satisfyingly quick and simple make. And, the ribbon was also a freebie (from the front of last month's Mollie Makes), making this technically a free make.

Is it a waste to use such beautiful fabric for a purpose destined to be thrown up on by a baby who will be oblivious to the finer qualities of the print when something plain and functional would do? Maybe. If looking at it from a Dad Perspective. But, when looking at it from a Mum Perspective (and, in this case, a mummy who loves Liberty), no it is not. Oh no no no.

I know that I will be shattered within days of this baby making an appearance. I think in moments of reaching for something clean to shield my shoulder from baby sick, I might be vaguely pleased if the thing I happen to reach for is something very lovely looking (rather than one of my now tired and grey looking muslins). If the big sisters haven't reassigned them as pretty dolly blankets first, that is.

I had a realisation this week. I have been enjoying the Lego building every bit as much as the girls. I couldn't really tell you what we've been doing with our holidays or what we have to show for it - but I know that there's been a lot of Lego building going on.

Here's my rainbow house - with added bouncy castle (made by middle girl) and `apple stall' (made by littlest girl). I am particularly pleased with the roof. I need to get out more!

 And, one final Mollie Makes related make (I am not on commission, I swear!).

A fun little key ring kit was on the front of the latest edition. And, it being my niece's birthday this week, I thought I'd personalise it and give it to her as a gift, along with our current favourite book.

Oh, and a little butterfly clip - which will make sense to other mums who have the same book, and just seem like a pretty clip to those not in the know. Made from teeny tiny scraps from a free kit, so quite pleasing to the scrimping bee in me.

Smug cake time. Oh bother. We are out of cake. Time to make some more me thinks.

Getting hooked

Tuesday evening saw the second episode of The Great British Sewing Bee. Have you been watching?

Chocolate Malt Cake, from The Hummingbird Bakery Home Sweet Home

As my hubby already had a night out planned, I used it as the perfect excuse to make an indulgent cake (for no reason other than to find out if it tasted as good as it looked in the picture of the book), get a couple of friends round to share some with, and, possibly (depending on how distracted we got with TV) do some sewing.

First things first. The cake. Oh my. All I can say is that my kitchen suffered for this cake. Just about every mixing bowl was used to make the different concoctions that went to putting this thing together -  topped off with an icing involving almost a kilo of icing sugar among other things, creating great clouds of dust that left no surface untouched as it settled. As the icing stage was a bit hurried by the fact the programme was about to start, this scene was still there and didn't go unnoticed by the man of the house at breakfast the following morning.

Was it worth it? Oh yes. Just look at that chocolate fudge sauce oozing out from each layer of the cake. Even my self-confessed chocoholic friend needed to take a tactical pause midway through eating what is possibly the mother of all chocolate cakes. And, judging by the return of fridge mice (this time, concentrating mainly on the Maltesers, rather than pastry crust), the hubby likes it enough to forgive the mess.

I enjoyed the second episode of The Great British Sewing Bee even more than the first. I think the judges are warming up a bit more now, and I really like the individuals who are competing. My favourite? Hard to choose - I was sad to see Tilly go out this week, as I've popped in on her blog a bit in the past and really admire her gorgeous hand made wardrobe. I still think she was possibly the most creative one of the bunch, but suffered from the pressures of making things under time pressure. And, let's face it, who wouldn't? I sat through the first episode thinking "I could do that", but really? Under time pressure, uh oh. I doubt it. And this week's trouser challenge was just that. Hats off to all the contestants. But if I had to pick a current favourite - I think Ann is a complete gem, and Sandra wins my vote too, as she quite reminds me of my own mum. The scenes of her fitting one of her daughters for a dress in the first episode took me straight back to my own childhood. That said, I loved Stuart's tulip skirt - and would have chosen it as my own favourite item from this week's show. I have no idea who will win!

We did a tiny bit of crafty stuff whilst watching. My friend Pamela was kind enough to teach me how to make these cute flowers I had spotted in Mollie Makes.

I last tried crocheting about two decades ago when my Nan showed me how to make granny squares. She used to make fantastic granny square blankets in the most clashing bright colours imaginable!

Having tried miserably to make the basic flower using YouTube (I watched it along with my friend Imogen, both of us needing to repeatedly stop and start the video more times than we could count and with no doubt amusing looks of concentration/bafflement on our faces), I can vouch that a real life teacher makes it much easier.

I managed to make a couple of flowers with Pamela at my side to help, and then kind of got hooked, and make several more the next couple of days. I have been using the scraps leftover from the baby blanket, and I'm planning to make them into a garland to hang up in the baby's room.
In fact, I'm booked to go on a beginner workshop with Sam of Betsy Makes in a couple of weeks. She holds her workshops in the evenings at Fancy (the gorgeous local cake shop I'm always going on about). An evening of learning something new and cake? I cannot wait!

Baby Quilt Update #4

Thanks to Flossie Teacakes for a tutorial on binding :)

It's finished!

Thanks to the generally rubbish weather this week meaning a lot of inside playing going on, and, after a sewing night at a friend's last night, I have had plenty of time to sit and do all the hand stitching to finish this thing.

I'm chuffed to bits with it!

This has been a pleasure to make - it gave me the perfect excuse to choose half a dozen prints I really liked, and to have fun putting them together into a quilt for the new bambino.

I used old fashioned Winceyette for the backing - it is super soft.

And, very washable. Which, as my hubby wryly reminded me, is kind of essential.

"Hold this up for me, will you, love? Do you like it?" "Er, yeah - and I'm sure the baby will too when it does a Code Brown all over it" Thanks.

Praise be to whoever invented Lego and Sylvanian Families. They have enabled this quilt to get finished nice and fast by keeping my three little girls very contentedly busy.

And, in a bid to get every last bit of sewing use out of the fat quarters I'd bought, I set about cutting up little pieces (inspired by this) in the hope I'll make a cushion using a slightly trickier looking quilting technique.

Depending on how well that goes, I'll either throw the rotary cutter and mat to the back of a cupboard in a sulk, or, will take up the girls' very unsubtle suggestions that I could maybe make them each a rainbow coloured quilt next.

We'll see!

My next make had intended to be an infinity scarf for myself, using some love at first sight and must buy fabric I bought last week at the same time as the Winceyette. Nothing like sticking to a plan...