Tree Fall

Show and Tell.. part one

Lets start with a disclaimer. Although this may appear to be me showing off, it really isn't. And if it was? Well, c'mon, this stuff is worth showing off about.
Also, I just want to make it clear that the thanks in my last post were aimed at all of you. Everyone that reads this blog.  Because I gain support from all of you, it doesn't matter which way you show it. Whether it's just being there on my Stats, or emailing me personally, or sending a gift. It's all good and all appreciated.
That said (and very much meant), lets get on with looking at the goodies shall we?

These are the hand embroidered mini cushions that Kristy's girls made for me and M-P2. I can't show you Bella's cushion at the moment because she's carrying it around with her and I can't get a photo!
The book is by Kristy's 13 year old, Lily, and was written for Jim.

You can't really tell in the photo's, but the illustrations are part drawn, part multi-media collage.

Lily's not only used a wonderful combination or paper, fabric and trims, she has also written a really good, morality tale - and believe me, if anyone needs to read a good morality tale, it's Jim!

Oh and she's bound it herself!

Contrary to how it appears, Kristy hasn't been quilting for very long at all. Which is why I'm asking exactly how she's gotten so much better than me at hand quilting already??

She has however been doing embroidery for a lot longer than I have, so I don't feel too bad about how much better she is at that than me too!

When she showed a glimpse of this quilt on her blog recently I secretly hoped it was for me. And I'm not even going to admit how disappointed I would have been if it had been for someone else, because it would not show me in a good light at all!

I was so excited when I opened this parcel and saw the wonderful elephant pillow that Jhoanna sent me, M-P2. Isn't she gorgeous? And don't you love that plate? Jhoanna sent it for Bella. And Bella shall enjoy it - whilst it hangs on the kitchen wall ( I know, I know, I'm a complete meanie).

Beki made this beautiful Kimono top for M-P2 from a pattern that she drafted herself. I absolutely adore the simplicity of it and am still debating whether or not I can allow it to go anywhere near an actual baby!
The button brooch is for me (I'm assuming so anyway and if I'm wrong, I don't want to hear it!) and is one of my favourite colour combinations of red and aqua. And finally, that gorgeous vintage pillow case. I am often green with envy at the vintage sheets and pillow cases that you have over in the US. Over here patterned bedding never really seemed to catch on to the same extent, so  it's not easy to come by. And when I see all the pillowcase dresses and summer bags that get made out of them, I do so get jealous.

Leya  of Curious Bird fame, sent M-P2 this wonderful owl, which makes me very happy, because Bella received another Owl 2 years ago, almost to the week, and I love the fact that the girls have now got an owl each.
The tiny t shirt is hand printed with an orange lion and is going to look perfect on M-P2 - although I can't imagine her ever being big enough to wear it!

I'm lucky enough to have lots more to show, but it's just too much for one post, so they'll be lots more next time.

We had another scan today and M-P2 is now 6lbs! And I'm only 34 weeks. No wonder I hurt. And no wonder I have no idea how I'm going to get her out! Eeek.

Surprised?? Ummm, yeah!!

Where do I start? How on earth do I write this post and have it even begin to convey how I'm feeling today? I feel more pressure to get this post right than anything I've ever written before. It needs to truly express the depth of gratitude and shock and even embarrassment that I've been feeling since Kristy, her girls and Hazel  showed up on my doorstep yesterday with a huge basket full of Baby Shower gifts! Surprise baby shower gifts!
I knew that Kristy was coming and was looking forward to what is fast becoming a traditional raiding of my studio by her girls (if it's not tied down then it's fair game!), but  I was also feeling tired and uncomfortable and downright sore from carrying humungo baby around. So I was especially touched when all the girls came in with little presents for all four of us and Kristy handed me the quilt that I had been guiltily hoping was for me M-P2. Maisie had been kind enough and clever enough to come up with her own recipe for an egg free chocolate cake and Kitty had made me my favourite necklace ever - that said Cool Mama on it! And that's on top of the beautiful hand embroidered cushions that all the girls had made for me, Bella and M-P2.  And as if that wasn't enough, Lily had written and illustrated a book just for Jim because she new he would be left out!
So as you can imagine, within minutes of them being in the door I was feeling loved and spoilt and a whole lot better.

And all of that would have been more than enough of a treat for us. But 20 minutes after they arrived Kristy suddenly 'remembered' something that she'd left in the car and ran out of the house, only to return a  minute later carrying a basket and with Hazel in tow!
Hazel and I have been trying unsuccessfully to meet up since the summer and I had absolutely no idea that she was coming yesterday, so that in it's self was a lovely surprise. But when Kristy said " you didn't think we weren't going to give you a baby shower did you?"  and showed me that the basket was full of gifts I honestly could have cried on the spot (and may have briefly, but I don't think anyone noticed!).

To say I was overwhelmed is a huge understatement. I was actually struck with awe and pretty damned speechless (can you even imagine that??) and I have to say, embarrassed as well.
I can't even begin to imagine what I have done to deserve as much as I received yesterday and I don't just mean the physical gifts. I mean the time and thought and effort. From everyone that was involved.
Because much to my surprise, it turned out that Kristy had been sneaky sneaky for the last month, emailing people and arranging for gifts to be sent to her house so that she could throw this shower for me.
And so much about that amazes me. It amazes me that anyone would take the time to send out emails suggesting a shower and it amazes me that anyone would respond. And I don't mean that in a falsely self-deprecating way. I mean it honestly. Because I know that we all have crowded lives and I know how little spare time or energy there is.  And so to spend that precious time making something as a present for my family is an overwhelming thing to do. Add in to the equation the fact that we have never met and that all I have done to apparently deserve this is write a blog and you really do realise how amazing it all is.

But anyway, once I had picked myself up off the floor and was sure that I wasn't actually going to pee myself (not being crass, just being heavily  pregnant), I sat down and had the most fun that you can legally have whilst about to have a baby without doing yourself or the baby any harm.
Oh and cried a little. But only a little. Honest.

It was the best day and the best surprise and I feel like the luckiest person, just about ever. And the words 'thank you' sound useless and hollow in response to how much I feel about yesterday. And how much I feel about you all.
But I do thank you all. More than I've ever thanked you before. Because you not only gave me wonderful, gorgeous gifts, you also gave me and my family the best feeling in the world. You made us feel safe and loved and proud. So again, I do thank you and always will. If you all went away tomorrow (don't!) and this all ended and I went back to thinking that there was no one else out there that got how I feel and loved what I love and needed to make the way I need to make, I would still be happy because the people that I respect and admire and often envy, gave me so much yesterday.

And none of those words even begin to be enough.

Oh and don't think I won't be doing a major Show and Tell of all the wonderful gifts we received, because that's what the next few days will be about. And I can't wait for you all to see. I just wish everyone of you had been there.

And Kristy? You are a wonderful, wonderful friend. And your girls are the best. And I am more grateful to have met you than I am ever capable of showing. And did I mention that you're wonderful?

Thank you. So much. From me. And my children. And my husband. You made our day.

And thank you for showing my daughter that the world is full of handmade gifts and for helping to teach her to ask "who made this" when given something. I don't know any other almost 3 year olds that automatically ask that when given a gift. And I'm so proud that she does.

Ahh crap, I'm pregnant and hormonal and could go on forever. And like I said to Hazel yesterday, I feel more than a little like Sally Field when she gave her Oscar speech!!

 

I am desperately trying to email everyone but I'm having a problem with my battery and can not sit at my desk today - so please do not think that I am not desperate to thank you all individually, because I am and I will. But in the mean time, please know that there isn't a person that I have come in to contact today that I haven't shown in great detail what you sent me!

Art work

One of my favourite things about Etsy  is the fact that you can buy so much fantastic art work and know that it's not on every body elses walls too. It gives you the chance to be exposed to artists that you just wouldn't normally be able to hear about, especially if you live in the UK.
In the last few weeks I've spent many, many happy hours trawling through Etsy, choosing prints to hang in M-P2's room. I've been looking for artwork that is suitable for a baby's room without being babyish in any way. And I have to say that with Etsy the difficult part is choosing what not to buy, there's just so much wonderful work out there.
The first print that I knew I had to have for the room is by the wonderful Ashley and is such a perfect picture to celebrate the fact that I'll have two girls that I couldn't wait to get it. And the fact that Ashley was so kind and sent it as a congratulatory gift just makes it even more special for us all.

It's still waiting for me to frame it (as are all the prints that I've bought), but I know just where it's going to look perfect.

I've also been really excited to buy both these prints from Magic Jelly's shop.

I love both of these, but am also  a little surprised to discover that orange seems to be playing a larger part in the colour scheme than I would have expected. Before I even ordered these I finished a floor rug for M-P2's room that uses the accent colour of orange, but I assumed that that was a one off, since the rest of the room is mainly red and pinks. But it would appear that I'm determined to introduce as much orange as possible. Who knew?

I can't remember where I first saw this next print, but I know I was trying to find a copy of this  print to buy in the UK (anyone know if it's possible - I love it awfully) and in turn found this one, which is equally wonderful.

It's by Green Chair Press, and yes, it does appear to have a little orangy/red in there doesn't it?

Another print that I really wanted was this one (yeah, yeah, I can see the colour) but unfortunately I haven't been able to get hold of one.  My disappointment though was tempered by the fact that  Cecelie has her wonderful 2008 Calendar available and that every page is fantastic.
I haven't fully decided yet, but I'm thinking that I may frame the pages seperately, rather than just hanging it as a calendar.

The final print (there isn't that much wall space)is this Jen Corace  one, which obviously wasn't bought on Etsy but which I first saw here .

I love Jen Corace's work and was so excited when I saw that this print was actually available, because I never get there in time with the Tiny Showcase  prints. And this one is exactly what I was looking for. Unfortunately it was for a limited time only and is no longer available, although this  equally fantastic one still is.

My only problem now is how do I come up with the small fortune necessary to frame all these great prints? And how do I come to terms with all the orange??

Determined

This has got to be one of my all time favourite fabrics. Which means that M-P2is going to have to learn to love it too, because we're looking at dresses, bibs, quilts, you name it.
I've got it in the pink, red and green colourways and love all three. But this red one is definitely my favourite. It's just perfect. Isn't it Kristy?
I'm still trying to work on both shop goods and baby goods and failing at both. The other day I made two bibs. In the entire day. Two.
Usually I can make two bibs in less than an hour from choosing the fabrics to throwing it in the washing machine.
Hmmm.

(it's a different bib. It just looks the same!).

As well as bibs I've been trying to make a few things for Bella, because although she's being fantastic about everything suddenly being for and about M-P2, I feel a bit bad about it. So the other day after finishing the bibs and the top of a floor mat, I made a new dolls quilt for Bella and her babies.

I've been slowly making as many quilts and covers for Bella's babies as I can because the girl is obsessed with wrapping her dolls up. Seriously obsessed.
Which is why I was more than just a little disgruntled when I proudly handed her this new quilt, that I had lovingly made for her, whilst tired and pregnant, and was not greeted by her undying love and thanks but instead by her dropping it on the floor and stating that she didn't need it.
And I'm about to have a second daughter? Really?

Gifts

I was so very lucky this morning, because not only did I get a beautiful parcel from the incredibly generous Sunshine but I also got one from the equally generous and kind Amy. 
Sunshine was sweet enough to offer to send me one of her beautiful vintage pillowcase baby dresses, and as soon as I saw it I knew I couldn't refuse!

And I think it's more than obvious why. Just look how beautiful it is.  It's far too nice to put anywhere near a baby, so it's now hanging above M-P2's crib in my studio. And has already been seriously admired by the big sister. Who has also pointed out that it's obviously too long for the baby, so it must actually be hers. How do you argue with logic like that??

Do you see how wonderful that detailing is? Just gorgeous. I really do love it. And it's definitely destined to be an heirloom.
Thank you so much Sunshine, your kindness is so very much appreciated. By all of us.

And like I said, that wasn't all that was delivered. We were also lucky enough to get these wonderful baby clothes from Amy.

This dress just kills me - I wasn't able to get a great picture of it, but the print of a doe on the bottom is so lovely, and the colour is gorgeous.

It's a good job that this dress is plainly to small for Bella, because otherwise we'd have had a fight on our hands!
Amy also sent this very cool vest dress.

(I know I should have ironed it first, but my energy levels are such these days that it's a case of iron it or photograph it because I'm not doing both!).
Isn't that squirrel just the best though?
And that's not all - we also got an Argylle T shirt, a gorgeous printed T shirt and Bella got a Dora etch-a-sketch - which could not be more perfect for her.

Thank you so much Amy! We loved it all and can't wait to see the bebe wearing everything. It was very kind of you. And especially to think of Bella too!
But the really great news is that Amy's sister owns the fabulous shop Fooey and you can not only buy these great clothes yourself - but they're having a sale at the moment, so you can also grab yourself a bargain. Sweet.

See, I told you I was lucky today. Spoilt even.
And very grateful.

Oh and have you seen? I'm finally famous.  About time too.
 

Blanket

I started this crib blanket for M-P2 a few weeks ago. Because she'll only use sheets and/or a growbag until she's one, I've pretty much avoided getting in to the whole quilt thing. I'll probably just do what I did with Bella and make her one for her 1st birthday. Or make her one next week. Who knows.
Anyway, I wanted to make her something to snuggle in and I've been wanting to expand on the style I used for Bella's stocking , so it was only natural to come up with this.

M-P2 will actually be sleeping in two rooms, so I have two schemes to come up with. In the day time she'll be in her cot which is in her end of our bedroom. One third of our room is split naturally from the rest by the stairs and bannisters that come up in to it (it's an attic room), so that third will permanently be hers and I'm furnishing and decorating it as a nursery. But because it's an attic room it is impossible to control the temperature of the room - in the winter it's freezing and in the summer it's boiling. So it's just not possible for her to sleep in there at night (especially if she's premature). Which means that at night she'll be in her crib that's in a corner of my studio. Something that will probably continue until we can afford a bigger house. So I want that corner to look like it's hers too. Hence the two colour schemes.
This blanket is for her corner of the studio, which I guess I'm intending to decorate in a pink and linen theme. Although it's a pretty small corner, so other than some lined baskets and a wall organiser, there isn't all that much of a scheme to come up with.
So anyway, this blanket is obviously based on Bella's stocking, except that I haven't used any trim this time. I did want to, but then I got all worried that it M-P2 might get her little fingers stuck in it or something, so opted to keep it plain.
As before, I've used a combination of Liberty prints (Kinnear and Toria), a couple of Japanese prints (the cherry and the headscarf) , some pink polka dot flannel and a piece of natural linen. I wanted the blanket to be warm but not too warm, so I haven't used any kind of batting, but have used some soft, soft chenille to back it.

For once I haven't used binding on the blanket because I wanted the edges to be soft too. And oh boy, it is so much quicker to do it this way! Just sew around three edges, flip it the right way out and top stitch the whole thing (I know you know how to do that, I'm just saying ). I have to admit though that as quick and easy at it is, I still prefer the way things look with binding and won't be resorting to this method very often.
The blanket is pretty small, but that just makes it easier to lug around with us if I need to, and because I've pre-shrunk the hell out of it, I'm not afraid to just throw it in the wash, so it doesn't need to be kept precious.

I've  also been doing a lot more sewing for her 'nursery', but I want to wait until that's finished before I show you it.

And completely off subject - I will be putting all those puppies up for sale sometime very soon. I was hoping to do one large shop update, but I just haven't been able to get enough made. But don't worry, if you want a pup and miss them in the shop, I will do my utmost to make one to order for you.

Books...again (blame the rain)

We're reduced to looking at another book today because the weather here has been so bad that I just can't get any new photo's.
I'm still working on baby stuff as well as a whole slew of rabbits for a wholesale order (a bit more about that next month), but I can't show you anything because it's too damned dark. Bah.

I'm finding it tougher and tougher to be really impressed by these books these days. We've all seen so many of them before that it's pretty hard for them to come up with anything really new.  That said, I still can't resist buying them, especially when they include those gorgeous pears on the front.

This picture reminded me that I started a white on white quilt about 10 years ago (alright, about a year ago) that is still sitting in a box somewhere. That table cloth makes me tempted to resurrect it, although possibly it's not the best idea to make a white quilt just before bringing a new baby in to the house!

I'm going to be making some of these apples for Bella. We bought her an absolute ton of wooden food for Christmas and it's been the best gift we gave her,  but I think that some fabric food would go down well too (and be less painful to stand on when she leaves it lying all over the floor). And since I've only just realised that it's just under 3 weeks until her third birthday, I better get on with it.

Unfortunately there really isn't very much new about this book, but I did like the fruit and veg themes and of course the pears are just the sweetest.
I also really like these peas. But then I'm heavily pregnant and don't get out much!

I think that if you don't have very many Japanese craft books then you could find a much better one to spend your pennies on and if you already own far too many, then you could probably give this one a miss. Unless of course you just have to own the pattern for the pears.

Ahhh, so that's what that's for!

Keeping on.

I'm still here. Still slowly, slowly working my way through the endless lists. I swear that it takes me all day to do the same as I used to be able to do in a couple of hours. Still, I'm getting there. Slowly. Did I mention that?
Things seem to be progressing on the baby front too. I've been having stronger and stronger Braxton Hicks every night for a week now and last night things got so uncomfortable that we finally packed the hospital bag properly and we weren't too sure that we would actually make it through the night. Needless to say (and thank goodness) it was another false alarm and things are much quieter today. Including M-P2, who seems to have tired herself out last night. So much so that when I went for my scan this morning, the sonographer had to jiggle my tummy about to wake her up! Honestly, I have no dignity left.

And on the craft front? Well I'm slowly (the theme of the week) coming up with a colour scheme/style for M-P2's 'room' and have managed to get a few things made, including some curtains for the front of the storage  that we bought last week. And I have a few more ideas for a floor mat that I want to make and some cushions. I haven't decided on a plan for her baby quilt yet though and I'm still struggling with what to use to cover a very old armchair that will be in one corner of the room.
Tonight though we have some time off - Bella is visiting her grandparents until tomorrow morning, so we're off to buy a couple more baby items and then for coffee and a browse in Borders. Which means that I would be very grateful if we didn't have a rerun of last nights palaver.

Books...Part3

I didn't expect to like this book nearly as much as I do. I'm not sure what I expected, but I was very pleasantly surprised when I  opened it up and saw the visual feast that is apparently Amy Butler's home. (does she really use that amount of her own fabrics in her home? Do we care? Nope, cause it looks amazing).

Almost every single page has something that made me ohh and ahh, even though we've seen much of it before in various magazines and websites. And although there's a serious risk of overkill when it comes to Amy Butler fabrics, it's  impossible not to just love everything that she does with them.

The book is a complete celebration of pattern and colour and provides so much inspiration for the home that it literally makes you want to jump straight over to Repro  or any other wonderful fabric store and order almost everything she's ever produced.

As well as chapters about how to decorate and live in different internal spaces, the book includes directions on how to make various standards like envelope pillows and floor cushions. It tells you how to look after potted plants, how to mix essential oils to create a more relaxing bath time, and how to get the most out of your home studio. Of course not in great detail, but just enough to get your creative juices flowing.

I revisited the book before writing this and was again struck by just how jam packed with gorgeous photography it is. It really is quite stunning. Unfortunately I had a little 'helper' whilst taking these photo's and wasn't able to take nearly as many as I would have liked. But take my word for it, there is a lot to look at in Midwest Modern. A lot.

If you have any kind of interest in any of Amy Butler's prints then this is definitely the book for you. It absolutely will not disappoint - unless of course you're looking for an in depth read, but in all honesty, the pictures are going to distract you so much that you'll forget about that anyway.

I'm feeling much less sorry for myself today - although still sore and uncomfortable (I guess being pregnant does that to you!). We've spent the entire weekend re-jigging the house and now at least have a space at the end of our room that is starting to look like it belongs to M-P2.  I'm just desperately trying to decide on a colour scheme for her 'room'  now and trying to work up the energy to do all the sewing that I need to do before she arrives. We're getting there though. But lets just hope she gives us another couple of weeks. Please??