Lovely gifts from Cass

I came home on Friday to find two packages at my door. One was from the lovely Cass. A beautiful baby rug for Ashton and a beautiful little bag for Ellyse. The fabric on the rug says "I love Mummy" "I love Daddy" it is just adorable. Ellyse just loves the fabric of the bag, asking what all of the little girls are doing.

Thanks Cass, you made us feel very special.

Baby Ashton has arrived!

After a long wait and a terrifying birth experience our beautiful Ashton Ross has blessed our family.
Here are the promised pics of our lovely, not so little, man. I don't think I mentioned the stats but he was 9 lb 6 oz (4370g or thereabouts) and 57cm, yes you read that correctly 57 cms long!

What a beautiful little girl's room!

FROM THIS......

.......TO THIS

WOW it is all finshed, who can believe it? I am really happy with Ellyse's quilt, although if I was to do it again I would change the design a little - I think I would have liked a boader of some type.

I just love the colours and the little accessories I have made to join it all together. I will just put pic after pic, I tried to take them from different angles so you could get some perspective.

More nesting!

Last night at about 8:30 I decided to start some sewing. I had been talking to baby Lochlan's mum and she said that he was a bit of a 'chucker' so I decided to make him a little burp cloth that would match his taggie. It should fit snuggly over Kylie's shoulder. The bunting and burp cloth are in the mail now and should arrive in Mackay on Friday.

Then Keiran was still on the computer so I thought I would start to cut out the bunting for Ellyse's room. I made these a lot smaller than Lochlan's as I didn't have much material. I decided to attach bias binding to the top. I have stitched the underneath, now just need to decide how to keep the top down. I am so happy with how her room is coming together and just can't wai tto get that quilt!

Sneak Peak at Ellyse's quilt

Not sure I made the right decision with the pink thread.

What do you think?

Nesting in the form of sewing

Well I am here, officially one day overdue. This time tomorrow I will have a better idea of what is going on as I see the midwives at 2:30.

Well unlike the conventional mother to be who cleans and cleans and cleans some more, my form of nesting has become crafting, crafting and more crafting! I am so absolutely tired today, but do you think I could rest? No I have spent Ellyse's whole sleep time making gifts. My house looks like a bomb has hit it with fabric, interfacing and associated stuff everywhere! Oh well, maybe tomorrow I will feel like cleaning it??

Firstly I have made Ellyse a 'big sister' shirt. This hand stitching takes so long but I really do like the way it looks. I used some of the cherry print Corrie sent me as part of a prize. I am hoping that the little skirt I had already made Ellyse in this fabric may still fit. Otherwise I have some pants in mind.

Next, my girlfrind Kylie just had her second son Lochlan. i made him some gifts last week, but have been wanting to try some bunting so I had a go. Kylie made this gorgeous cot quilt for him, so when I saw this blue star fabric last week I just knew it was perfect. This was so easy, I haven't stitched the edges or around the lettering, I have just used 'heavy heave' interfacing and vlisoflex.

It has worked out a lot bigger than I thought, so for next time I would change the size of the triangles.

Then lastly today I made a Little Artists Drawing Case from this tutorial at Craft Apple for my friend's daughter's 4th birthday. I realised that she is having her party in just over a weeks time and if I didn't make it soon I could possibly still be in hospital come the party. I am also going to make her some bunting out of the left over fabric. Her name is Maya so it won't take me as long!

What I plan to do tonight is make some more paper chain dolls that fit into a smaller photo frame, these will go just inside Ellyse's door, I have chosen another spot for the mini blocks. I also need to put the other dolls together. Hopefully this can all get done before bub comes, it may even give some time to clean up!

Lastly I thought I would add my full term photo. I hate the way I look full term, my face gets so puffy. I more hate that the first photos we have with the baby I just don't look like me :(. Let's just hope I don't go too far over so it doesn't get any worse. I can't believe how big my little baby Ellyse looks in the photo - I know it will just be worse when bub is here.

Novy's Handtowel

I loved the idea of Novy's Handtowel both for me at home and as a little gift. I have cut out enough to make 6 of them but slowly started with one.

A great gift and a great way to use up little bits of fabric.

Was going to give a sneak peak of my little doll chain but my battery just went flat.

What do you think?
I made these little wall hangings for Ellyse's room. They are just little versions of her quilt blocks. In my mind I thought they would look just wonderful, but now they are done I am worried that they are a little grown up for her.
I am not sure where I am going to place them in her room, whether they will be altogher or in groups of 2. She has a little wall as you walk in and I thought 4 running down would be good??? Now I just don't know.
Honestly, what do you think?

Baby Lochlan, Big Brother Mitchell and Birthday Girl Chloe

I have been busy sewing gifts for a close girlfriend's newest arrival. Here I was thinking I had plenty of time as Kylie went over with Mitchell. I got a phone call on Saturday to say that little Lochlan Grant had arrived on his due date, 7/7/07. Lucky I had already bought what I needed to make his little gift. I had to make Mitchell a 'big brother' shirt too.

It was another friend's little daughter's 2nd birthday last week also and I must admit I completely forgot. I whipped up this little bag yesterday and sent it with some play money for the shop and a lai - I wanted some cute little dress ups but in my rush I left it too late. I am happy with the little bag - it took me way too long - I will blame the pregnancy!

High Tea at Stamford Plaza

I just thought I would share these photos of my recent trip to High Tea at Stamford Plaza. The girls at my Mothers' Group organised it for my baby shower. One of the girls put together these photos.

It was a lovely way to spend a cold and rainy Saturday afternoon.

And just couldn't help but share this pic also - 3 winters on wondersuits!

Who would have thought from that first picture that I would have a blonde, curly haired child?

YAY some sewing

Well I am thinking that maybe I am starting to nest and that this may include some sewing mojo. The plan with this fabric was to make a little pinni to match others I made for my friend's little girls...but I just thought we would get more use out of a skirt.

Last summer I had the little twirly skirt all sorted, I had my own little way of doing it - well that was all forgotten last night and I made things a lot more difficult for myself!

Anyway I am generally very happy with how it turned out, it was the look I was after and I seem to have got the length perfect. It definitely needs a 'lift' though. I was thinking either orange or pink ric rak around each teir - what do you think?

I am looking forward to sewing a bit more now before bub arrives - 2 weeks to go!

And a big thanks to Kim, I couldn't find my wool but used embroidery thread and it worked

beautifully.

37 weeks!

Well I could have just 3 weeks to go, or it could be up to 4 and a half! I am somewhat over it, but at the same time I am enjoying these last few weeks. Keiran and I haven't really decided if this is our last baby or not. I would really like a third, but he is not so keen. If this is it for me then I want to enjoy it.

I really need to get myself organised and set up the nursery for the baby. Everything is in there, it is just not very organised. I am hoping to start nesting soon - hopefully I will get some energy!

I won something!

Corrie held a 1st anniversary competition on her blog and I was the lucky winner. Yesterday afternoon there was this lovely package waiting for me!

Thank you Corrie, I will use all of it! Such a wonderful suprise!

I love to give!

I made these bags this afternoon as gifts for loved ones.

The bag on the left is for MIL who has been on holidays. We don't celebrate Mothers' Day with her, but usually buy her something little. She just loves green, so I hope she loves this bag.

The one on the right is for a frind from my MG. It was her birthday last week, but the bag is more of a thankyou gift for looking after Ellyse so Keiran and I could go away for a night a few weeks ago. It was very generous of her and her DH, we were very appreciative.

I love these bags a whole lot more than the Elvis one - I think that goes without saying!

Ellyse's big girl bedroom

I am so excited. We finally moved all of the furniture around today. Change table and cot out and bed and bookcase in. I am happy so far with the layout of the room - but it could still change!

I cannot wait to get the quilt finshed and make a few other little personal things for the room too.

Ellyse's quilt so far

WOW what an effort it was to get all of those blocks sewn together this afternoon! It is just straight lines and very easy but I am feeling very stiff from sitting at the machine for so long.

I was desperate to get them done today so my friend can help me lay them out tomorrow.
I am so excited about it.

As I was sewing it I was concerned about some of my fabric choices, but laying them down like this gets me all excited. In each pile there are 5 different blocks, all with the same boarder but a different middle. I am looking forward to the challenge of getting them all layed out.

I've been tagged

I've been tagged by a few people so here goes.And the rules are:•
Start with 7 random facts/habits about yourself, that others may not know!• People who are tagged have to write their 7 things on their blog• Then choose another 7 people to get tagged and list their names

1. I have been with my husband Keiran for nearly 14 years. I was 17 when we started dating.

2. We had a long distance relationship (1000 km) for nearly 2 years. Lucky I am a teacher and I was home every 10 weeks. He would visit during term also.

3. I can never imagine having a son. I am not sure how to prepare myself for the fact that there is a 50% chance this will happen - in 9 weeks!! (Belinda I may need to talk to you about this!) I can't believe I just wrote that - I would never normally admit that to anyone. It doesn't mean I wouldn't love a son, just coming from a family of girls, I can't imagine it at all!

4. My closest friend and I have been friends for 21 years. We still see each other at least once a week. Her husband and her 'followed' us to Mackay - we had a ball!

5. Although I have 2 sisters living overseas, I have never been myself and honestly do not feel the need to at this time in my life.

6. I desperately want 3 children, and my husband is certain he doesn't. He is dead set on 2.

7. I like to be in control of most things around me, I like things in order, I like to know how every $ we have is being spent - poor Keiran!

30 weeks

Well here I am 3/4 of the way through my second pregnancy. My sisters have been buggin me for some belly shots. I finally too onle last week and I could not believe the difference in my shape. Check out the photo.

Elvis! Elvis!

My mum is a die hard Elvis fan, and is also the kind of person that has everything. The thought of buying a gift for her for Mothers' Day is daunting. So I made her this bag. I am happy enough with it. It could possibly be a little bigger, and now that it is finished I can see that it really needs a clasp, that is easily fixed though.

I am thinking of making MIL one from some Amy Butler fabric.

Some little gifts

My friend's sister was given one of these when she had her baby. I thought they were cute and not at all worth the $30 price tag. So what does a sewer do............ she copies the idea and makes her own version.

Two friends have recently had babies and I thought these would make a perfect present. The fabric and ribbons were bought very quickly as we were on our way to story time at the library, something Ellyse just loves going to.