September 16, 2009

Bits o' Fabric



Just thought I'd pop in and share the little bags that I carry my breastpump parts in. I do love having pretty fabrics around me at work. Please enjoy the extreme rumpliness that comes from being ignored in the dryer for far too long.



And a pic of the babe in a decorated-by-me onesie. That she now can't wear because her perfectly fat little thighs rub against the fabric and create an awful looking rash. It only took me 6 weeks to figure out it wasn't the diapers. Oh well, shirts and pants from now on!

July 20, 2009

Mama Made


How time flies in the summer! The garden needs tending, berries need freezing, cherries need cooking, and laundry and dishes pile up a bit faster with our loving houseguest, Ellery's aunt. She helped us out in the gap between me going back to work and Ellery being able to enter daycare. I'm back at work four days a week and routinely cursing the inconvenience of breast pump parts and public transportation, all the while knowing I am blessed to be employed and producing enough milk for my little one.

I keep offering her summers best produce, carefully pureed, but she'll have none of it. Blueberries from the garden were a little tart, as you can see! She has started crawling though! A bit early, and thankfully she's still slow about it, because we sorely need some childproofing.

Daddy has taken to buying expensive onesies for our daughter. I keep meaning to sew some instead but she still has a tendency to stay awake until 9 or 10, and that doesn't leave much time for diversion. I did manage to applique this onesie with a felt branch and leaves. I also wanted to show off some cute burp cloths I made before she was born. We use them all the time and it delights me to see some of my favorite fabrics.

Thanks Alice for checking in and reminding me to tend my neglected blog and reassure worried readers!

May 31, 2009

Crafty Friends

Ellery received some adorable handmade gifts that I just can't let go unmentioned.

Laura made us a hat


and dress


and bib


Our neighbor Dana made some cute bibs too!


Thank you crafty ladies! I am getting dangerously close to sewing again. The lint is about to fly, in no small part because of the impending arrival of an auntie for two whole months! Hooray for the whole family!

May 17, 2009

More Gifts


If you read Kris' blog Quilted Simple you know she is a woman with a lot going on. Which is why I was totally floored when a big box arrived addressed to little Ellery with three lovely handmade gifts inside. Above is this sweet bath towel with an adorable hood. It is thick and fluffy and we use this each and every bath. Ellery is determined to suck on it as much as possible. So sweet!

We also received a sweet little burp rag and a tote bag with pockets that is all rumpled in the picture because it has already seen several trips to the garden and the requisite trip through the wash. Kris, I can't believe you. Here I am with just one kid, struggling to get a thank you note in the mail, and you're whipping up handmade care packages for online friends! I'm so honored.

April 20, 2009

Gifted


Well, every parent thinks their baby is gifted! But I thought I'd ease back into blogging, now that the little one can bear to be set down occasionally, by showing all the beautiful handmade gifts that have come our way.

My grandma told me when I was pregnant that she was working on two quilts for the baby. That coupled with the knowledge that my group quilting friends were doing one too made me hold off on baby quilting myself. Grandma was true to her word. This quilt she put the binding on in a mad frenzy the night before my parents and sisters came to visit. It sits on our couch and has already seen much snuggling. I really like the red stars, and the black house in the bottom corner with the boy and girl on it.

The other quilt did not grab me as much. Ironically, because I'm not as invested in it, it gets used all the time. This is the quilt I grab if we are going to sit on the grass or whatever. So now that I've spent so much time with it, it's really grown on me. Amazingly, this quilt has already seen baby poo and grass stains and both have washed completely clean with Bac-Out, a product no new parent should be without. Now that the quilt has been through washer and dryer it is nice and rumply and I love running my hands over it.
Ellery stares at both quilts with interest whenever she's near/on them. Thanks for such sweet gifts Grandma!

January 27, 2009

Thankful


Thank you everyone for all the congratulations and sweet wishes. Things are good over here. Our daughter Ellery is gaining weight fast. She loves being held all day so that's what we're doing. Hubby is back at work and we're figuring out how to keep mama and baby clean and fed all day. Thank goodness for slings and baby carriers.

My group of quilty friends made us a quilt! It's a science fiction quilt, because of my love for Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica and Firefly. Check out the little applique'd shapes along the border! My friend Sandra did that. Her free motion quilting is amazing. I'm so inspired and honored. I can't wait till we get the supplies and energy and focus to hang it over the changing table.

Finally, let me show off this pair of knitted baby socks. I finished them the day I went into labor. I had previously knit them in green and orange, but the yellow ones are my favorite. They were knit on size 4 needles, using Cascade Fixation yarn. It has a little bit of elastic in it, so it stays on baby feet maybe a little better than baby socks from other yarns. The stretch also hides tension problems, which is good for me. I used a pattern very similar to this one. It was the first time I've knitted socks, and it was much easier than I figured it would be!

January 06, 2009

Perfection



We have a daughter! Our homebirth was peaceful and straightforward, everything is simply perfect. I feel so blessed. She is healthy and sweet, my husband is an amazing father and partner... it is a lovely time. I can't wait to show you a picture of her in her handknitted socks, and the baby quilt given to me by my fabulous group of friends. But that's for another day... Happy New Year to you all and thank you for all the well wishes you've shared with me over the last weeks and months.