Mother's Day Baby Quilt

Here's the result of sacrificing a few lunch naps last week - a finished baby quilt for my pregnant colleague. I love how it turned out and that I made the Mother's Day deadline. She had a baby brunch on Sunday - how apt!

As usual I revelled in the binding process. So relaxing and quick on a small-sized quilt. The quilting was fun, too.

To round off the gift I added one of the dresses I made for my girl. We never got around to dressing her in it (never fear, we did dress her up in the second one for adorable pictures) and it would be a shame to just have it sit in the closet. Bonus point, the fabrics are in the quilt.

I got quite the boost making this quilt and have employed it well to troop on with this old project of mine. More on that some other day.

I may be quiet but I'm still making things whenever baby and my rationed energy let me. Our daughter is amazing. Happy, agile, exploring everything. Time flies. It's hard to imagine she was just a little cluster of cells a year ago, she's so big now. Our sunshine. Everyday. Yep, still drunk on the new parent hormones as we bloody well should be.

Happy sewing!

Something Finished

I made these beautiful, cheerful, too busy for my husband curtains for our kitchen a few weeks ago. They were the first project that I started after little E's birth and the first one to be finished. I just didn't find the time to blog about it. What would usually be done on an afternoon took a couple of days but it was great way back into sewing.

This is the back which can be seen from the outside. I love them so hard. Years back* when I bought the half yard cut I'd planned to make an apron but this is an even more satisfying use. Such an improvement to the terribly dull makeshift that used to be in its place, don't you think?

My sister saw these and like a kid who sees somebody else with an icecream cone immediately demanded asked to get some, too. I'm happy to oblige her and it doesn't hurt that she's paying me in fabric on top of appreciating my makings. So we ordered another Michael Miller print and as soon as we've picked a coordinating solid I'll fit it into my schedule.

Happy sewing!

*Proof that everything does get used in the end!

Things I'm Working On

Yes, I might not be blogging or commenting on your posts a lot but I'm actually working on several sewing projects and somehow manage to fit a little bit of sewing or sewing prep into most days. These projects are new and there's still a few old ones to tackle but I'm following these creative outbursts as they come and know all will be wrapped up at some point.

This baby quilt top for my colleague (very excited for her!) is the latest project that I added to the list.

It started out with some fun layouting on the floor. My first equilateral triangles. Funny how it can still amaze me how much seams shrink a project.

And then there's these dotty hexagons and triangles. I splurged on the Hex N More ruler as well as the Super Sidekick as I want to work more with geometrical forms than previously and try out new blocks. Working out so far!

Last but not least, another quilt for the tiny one (totally the most gorgeous baby ever, yes, we're completely enthralled new parents). Her baby quilt is much too special to be used for outings in the park - though the handquilting possibly won't be done until her first birthday - which is why I'm working on a fun zig zag quilt. I'm using triangle paper to save time and it's a great project as it's easy to break up into increments. Rather than sewing all the HSTs, ironing them all open, sewing them up, etc., I'm working the processes in small parallel steps. Gives me the pleasure of "finishes" whenever I'm working on it. I even picked a more girly palette!

Happy sewing!

Let's Talk About Christmas Presents

Has it been nearly three months since Christmas already? Yes, it sure has. This beautiful 11 week old girl in her cot next to me - she is beating up her mobile whilst stretching her legs as far up into the air above her tiny tummy as possible whilst I'm typing this - makes sure I remember Christmas and the time since very well.

Baby E let us enjoy a quiet Christmas Eve and a delicious lunch with my family the following day but she certainly kept mum and dad very busy between the late hours of Christmas Day and her afternoon arrival on Boxing Day - her estimated due date. Best Christmas gift ever!

Obviously we've been kept busy since, not that we mind too much. We're grateful and overjoyed to see her grow and learn, we're basking in her smiles and laughter. As I said, best Christmas gift ever!

I haven't sewn a stitch but I did get some wonderful stitchy presents. Up first, Oakshott fabrics - a Freesia fat eights pack and half a metre in Thistle. Not exactly a gift but I'd been intrigued to give them a try for ages and the last days of my pregnancy did wear my nerves a bit thin so I treated myself. The colours are gorgeous and I fear the picture doesn't do them justice. I hope to turn them into a cushion or two.

Up next a proper Christmas present, a Cotton & Steele bundle of yard and half yard cuts. Preeetty. No set plan yet but it'll be something special, I'm sure.

Last but not least, several wonderful helpers to make my sewing life easier. Some snips, Wonder Clips and a new, bigger cutting mat. The old one is only 60 cm x 45 cm whilst this one nearly covers the whole table at 90 cm x 60 cm. So nice.

I've got a few projects lined up (old ones, too!) but don't have a fixed schedule or anything. I'll take it as it comes as my most important "project" is lying in her cot next to me. Gnawing her hands. I should better be off. *wink*

Happy sewing!