Baby blocks

I have just added a new product to my etsy shop.  It is a lovely set of four blocks spelling out 'baby'

They are currently available in pink or blue, and yellow should be available next week.

They feature sweet illustrations, painted patterns and hand drawn letters with soft colours.

Someone kept using them to build towers while I was trying to take photos!

They make lovely nursery decor or a gift for a new baby and come in a draw string calico bag.

My little flower fairy turns one

It was Nell's first birthday last week (boo hoo!) so we celebrated with a little family party at the weekend.

  The theme was flower fairies and Nell looked lovely in her pretty dress and tiny wings.  She didn't keep them on for long but I managed to get a couple of photos!

I had fun finding fairy themed gifts for the party bags which I packaged up in pretty paper bags decorated with mini doilies, ribbon and a flower fairy tag with each child's initial.  Even the boys got one of these very girly bags but I did put boy stuff inside so hopefully they can forgive me.

My sister made some chocolate cupcakes and I made toadstools from fresh strawberries and mini marshmallows to go on top.

My sister also made the fantastic toadstool house cake.  It was a crime to cut it.  We did though.

Pretty fresh flowers on the food table.

Three days later I haven't taken down the honeycomb balls or bunting yet.  They look lovely with the green kitchen walls and its nice to feel festive while eating breakfast!

For the food I went tea party style with 6 kinds of sandwiches and finger food followed by scones, macaroons, cakes and biscuits and yummy fresh berry cones.

I think the birthday girl enjoyed herself - Its hard work turning one!

Finished!

I just finished this cardigan for Nell last night.  I used this pattern from Drops and added a crochet edging shamelessly copied from Alicia Paulsons version.  I also added these cute buttons from this lovely Etsy shop and I'm pretty happy with the results!  And the only upside to this stupidly cold weather is Nell will hopefully get some good wear out of it.

Itchy fingers

I haven't made much lately that isn't for the shop.  In fact not since Nell was born and shes nearly 7 months old now.  Last week I suddenly started craving a new project so popped onto ravelry, picked a pattern from my favourites list, got some yarn and now I'm knitting a baby cardigan.  I love baby knitting as its so quick!  Although Bea has requested I knit her something next (I'm thinking short sleeved top for speed).

I have also started planning dresses for the girls for Nell's 1st birthday in July.  Its good to have busy hands again!

Still here!

Just adjusting to life as a mother of two!  And these particlular two certainly keep me busy, don't let this sleepy little face fool you!  I'll be back next week with details of Bea's rainbow themed birthday party!

Introducing...

Eleanor Ivy, born on the 24th July (13 days late!) 8lb 3oz (a whole lb lighter than her sister)

Big sister Bea taking to the new addition well.

Waiting...

Its not easy being 3 days over due - especially as Bea was 9 days early.  We didn't have to do this horrible trying to be patient thing last time!


We have been doing lots of home based activities this week as I don't feel like straying too far from home, including baking cakes.  Bea decorated these all by herself.  

A pink post

One of the best things about June is that I can have a lovely bunch of Peonies on the table.  Made me feel a little bit summery despite this ridiculous weather!

I made some more teeny baby shoes as a gift for another baby girl due soon.  I got the pattern here on Etsy and made them in a couple of hours - just the quick kind of knitting project I like!

A few finished projects

As the biggest project round here is finally nearly finished (the new baby is due next week)  I have been trying to get a few other things finished.

The nursery is done but has nothing on the walls yet so I made this little embroidered initial and elephant.

Bea has been ousted from her cot bed as we needed it for the nursery so to make the transition to big bed more appealing I made her a couple of new cushions (she is a girl who loves cushions) with this very cool vintage fabric I bought on Etsy (here)

And finally a little dress for the baby to match this top I made Bea a while ago.  Hopefully we can get some cute photos of them in their matching clothes!

Ripples

I have finally started my first project for the new baby - although with only 8 weeks to go I'm cutting it fine!  I am making a lovely ripply blanket in bright rainbow stripes (as Bea insists her little sister is called Maka paka Rainbow it seems appropriate!) using the neat ripple tutorial from Attic24.


The pattern is easy to follow and a nice simple repeat that doesn't require much concentration.  I'm choosing the colour order as I'm going along so the stripes are random.  I'm about halfway through now  so fingers crossed I can get it finished!  Along with all the other things I wanted to make!

 

Little bow shoes

These little shoes were a quick crochet project for a new baby gift (not for our own baby, although I have at last started making something for her).  The pattern is the French baby booties pdf from Luz crochet patterns on Etsy.  As a self taught crochetist (crocheter?) I generally wing it a bit and hope the finished item turns out ok but the pattern was pretty easy to follow and I think my shoes look enough like the originals to call them a success!

Its (another) girl!

Its very busy here at the moment. I am now nearly 21 weeks pregnant with what we have just found out is a sister for Bea. We are moving house and town in a month so are busy clearing out junk and looking for furniture. I am pinning like mad on my 'new house' board.

I am getting lots of custom block orders which are keeping me very busy and I am working on a new product which fingers crossed will be in my shop some time next week.

I am finding some small pockets of time to craft, although pregnancy means I'm pretty wiped out in the evenings. I have picked the Daisy chain sampler back up (It will be perfect for the new baby's nursery) and have been drafting a pattern for a dress for Bea. I do intend to start on a baby blanket soon when I have chosen the yarn.

So please excuse the lack of blog posts for the time being, I will share new work and projects soon, including some furniture renovations we have planned for the new house - watch this space!

Nesting

I'm thinking about projects for the new baby. I think I will hold off starting anything until we know if we are expecting a boy or girl (only 3 and a half weeks to go!) but whatever the gender I would love to make a ripply blanket inspired by this one from Attic24 and she luckily has a ripple tutorial I can use too.

My blog absence

Its been a long time since I last posted properly on here. But it wasn't my fault, it was this little person's fault! As with my first pregnancy I have spent the last 3 months throwing up and not being able to do much else but now at nearly 15 weeks I am beginning to be able to function again and will hopefully be posting regularly again!

There hasn't been much going on around here to share. I did make aprons as Christmas gifts this year (just before the sickness kicked in) but didn't manage to photograph them. The shop is also in serious need of a restock so I will be working on more cats and a brand new product soon. So instead I just have to mention the most beautiful sewing pattern shop I have just come across. C'est Dimanche makes me want to get the sewing machine back out right now with their range of french style patterns for babies and children. They also sell lovely fabric and other bits and bobs. I just can't decide what to make first!

Lets get personal

I have just listed a new item in my Etsy shop! Its alphabet blocks again but this time you can order any combination of letters you like. They make a sweet addition to a nursery, or a lovely new baby gift.

ABC

I have a new item in my new shop.

These are handmade alphabet blocks with my illustrations and hand drawn type on.

Each block is hand cut and painted, then the images are applied before the whole thing is given several coats of non toxic varnish.

They also come in a handmade calico drawstring bag to keep them safe.

I really love these blocks. They are so much fun to work on I am now doing the whole alphabet so it will be possible to order a personalised set. Great for nursery decor!

The 'something' has been found!

After deciding this little striped dress needed some kind of ribbon sash I trawled the internet and found this beautiful cotton ribbon on Etsy.

I added a couple of belt loops to hold it in place and tied it in a bow at the back. I'm really happy with the result. A lovely springtime dress!

Umming and Ahhing...

About how to best finish this little striped dress for Bea. It needs...something. I'm thinking a sash or ribbon at the waist and I'm liking the colours in this Cath Kidston fabric in the background with the blue stripes.

What I really need is a leisurely browse round VV Rouleaux or The Cloth House but these days with a buggy and toddler in tow such a trip is unlikely!

A sundress on a sunny day

It felt a bit crazy making this little sundress in February but the sun is out today reminding me that it won't be cold and drizzly forever! I feel inspired now to sew some more pretty dresses for Bea's summer wardrobe.

Finished dolly blanket

The little crochet blanket I made for Bea's new dolls pram is finished and now keeping Little Red Riding Hood warm.

I really enjoyed the granny stripe, nice and simple to crochet and watch tv at the same time!

Its just a shame Bea is not a fan of dolls at all and prefers to chuck a few megabloks and Peppa Pig figures in there to push about. Nevermind, I get to play with it when shes asleep!