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!

Wool on Sunday #5 - On A Christmas Wednesday

Merry Christmas all you lovelies!

Still no baby but I managed to finish this scarf for my brother-in-law just in time. My joints are aching - these last days I've retained water in my hands which I hadn't before and the power knitting probably didn't help - but I'm happy.

It's a simple as can be k2, p1 pattern but I've made it more interesting cause colour changes and vertical stripes!

Happy holidays!

TGIFF - More Cushion Covers

I'm preeetty sure I said I'd put my sewing machine away for the season not too long ago, didn't I? Ah well, humbug. On Wednesday my colleagues called on a secret mission. You see, another colleague is expecting a little boy with his girlfriend, just a few days after I'm due, and just like they got us a little something they were looking for something for them.

They'd been thinking along the lines of a onesie and a t-shirt with some cute applique like "little brother/big sister", only they couldn't find something they liked which got them wondering whether I might not applique something onto bought clothes if they got me the fabric and utensils. I gave it a thought and said I could.

When I got off the phone I got thinking some more. I don't have any experience with applique. Would it turn out well enough? Is "well enough" enough for me? They'd have to buy the things. And get them to me before I could start. Do I even like working with things that I didn't choose?

So I called them and proposed to make two samey yet not same pillows from my ample stash if they sent me batting. Whilst they deliberated I already pulled my fabrics and got playing - like we do. Shortly afterwards a courier brought me batting and a gift card to make up for my stash expenses.

for the baby boy

for the big sister

So yeah, I whipped up two sibling pillows in two sessions on Wednesday and Thursday and sent them to the office on Thursday afternoon. Hope they'll be well received.

Happy sewing!

TGIFF - Whale Cushion for the Nephew

Sorry for the terrible pics but it got done in time, is ready to be wrapped up until Christmas, and had to be shared - N's whale cushion. Inspiration courtesy of Oh Franson - I made up the block as I went but next time I'll definitely buy her pattern and save myself the math trouble.

Happy weekend and happy sewing!

Linking up with TGIFF which I haven't done in ages, this week over at Quilt Matters.

TGIFF - Picture Roll

 

Happy sewing!

Making my Deadline

Just one more side to be fixed during my break today and a wash tonight. Yep, I'll be taking these pretties with me on my holiday come Thursday. Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? I most certainly do.

More pics soon. Promised.

Happy sewing!

Sunday Stash

This weekend I've been feeling like a bear of sorts preparing for hibernation or a baby with a sleep eat repeat routine. A nasty cold knocked me out right after the work week was finished, sigh, but I'm confident that another herbal bath and early night will have me restored just in time tomorrow.

Since I've got no finished skirt to show you, much less pictures of me outside wearing said skirt, I thought I'd show off what I couldn't resist buying the other day when I went into the store for necessities only - it's always like that, isn't it? - two luscious fat quarters. No idea what they'll become but I had to have them.

Taking a peek at a different front, progress on my sister's scarf has been slow but I've knit up the first blue ball and am set to soldier on this coming week.

That's it folks, just a quick update. Now come on an join the Sunday Stash fun over at The Floral Suitcase.

Happy sewing!

Impressions

Thank you for all the kind words and congratulations on the birth of my nephew. I've seen him two more times now and I'm absolutely lovestruck. This is just a short hello with two shots of what I've been working on today so far.

Finished the centre block for my nephew's baby quilt. Read all about it here.

Also, some more paper piecing. Finally started on that pillow cover for my husband that should've been made for his birthday a month ago...  Don't fear, he got something else he enjoys a lot.

Well, I'm off again for more sewing. So nice to have a whole day all to myself and be sewing again.

Happy sewing!

Pay It Forward - Don't You Love Surprise Mail

Last year I signed up for Pay It Forward on Alyssa's blog and now I've received my handmade gift. Just when it had slipped my mind, so it really proved a surprise. So fun! Look at this beautiful sunny zipper pouch! It's so spring, or summer, even.

A few of you know how much I love Lotta Jansdotter's Echo collection. So this is perfect for me! Especially because I didn't buy this print back then because I was still a little scared by brights. Well, maybe I still am, a little, but I'm working on it. I really love the combination of bright yellow and aqua here and I love how deep the pouch is. I've yet to decide what exactly to use it for. It perfectly fits my knitting needles but also many other crafty things...

Alyssa also sent a lovely bundle of scraps and added some red pearl cotton. Once more, fantastic choice for me. Thank you so so much, Alyssa! My surprise mail really made my day.

Now, if you'd like to get some surprise mail, too, you can still enter my Pay It Forward. Two more open slots. Just sayin'.

Happy sewing, friends!

Christmas Holidays

I'm back. Back in Berlin, back online and back to better health. Thanks so much for your comments and concern. I did take things slow and have recovered nicely.

After my last post I spent a wonderful, relaxing weekend with my husband, my sister, and her partner. Amongst other things we took a leisurely stroll around a handmade Christmas market where we bought delicious marmalade and my sister espied cutesy Christmas tree ornaments. She especially liked the owls, however, didn't really dig the fabrics. Obviously I hatched a plan immediately and rummaged through my stash as soon as they left on Sunday. I came across my Sew Stitchy layer cake which I won in Fiona's giveaway in June. June! Seriously?! Time has hurried along like mad.

I hadn't touched these pretties since making my hexie pouch and a few proved perfect for wintry, not too Christmassy ornaments! I brainstormed with this on my table...

... to finally turn out these.

They're blue and white respectively in back and front. However, I made a third one combining both fabrics.

And it's smaller than the other two... Yep, I'm going to be an aunt come summer. I'm so excited and happy! Can't wait to gift them these little darlings. Here they are all together.

As you might recall most of my time this Monday to Friday was dedicated to the Yoshi quilt project. I'll be posting about my progress in chronological order over the next couple of days - my Christmas present to you.

Have a wonderful Christmas, friends!