Things have been busy around here as we move into the festive season. We've got friends visiting, baby's first outings on the underground, nights away, Christmas dinners to plan, lights to go and see, gifts to wrap. It's all rather festive. Coffee brews on cold afternoons and stollen has become an everyday essential.
I haven't been completely absent from the internet though; I guest blogged over at Wayfair.co.uk and made three delicious DIYs that make fantastic gifts for friends and family this festive season.
Oh go on: an indulgent Choc-Nut Kugelhopf to enjoy with coffee lattes, tomato chilli jam for cheese and biscuits, and linzer cookies for Santa and his reindeer. Read my post on Wayfair.co.uk to find out how to make your own.
And so, the Christmas Tree is up and the lights are twinkling. The ribbons are twirled and most of the cards made it into the post in time. Here's wishing you all a very Merry Christmas indeed; may you be warm and comfortably full of festive treats, and may the turkey go according to plan.
My days are filled with tiny little hands and feet, beautiful nonsensical babbles and smelly nappies.
We bath, we play, we dance, we take turns napping. At night, bleary eyed, we try to guess what her cries mean as we softly shush her and shift from foot to foot as we rock her. These are our slow - but full - baby days.
She is one month old now, and she has the most wonderful personality and alert eyes. She loves music and lights and cuddles. She tells me stories in her own little language. She loves going for walks, adventuring about in the fresh autumn air. I rarely switch on the computer.
I miss sewing and knitting and making, but soon, soon we will start to fit these things into our days as it gets colder and darker outside.
For now, though, we take long walks through the park, meet friends for coffee, snooze on the sofa, and snuggle in bed and under the duvet when it rains outside.
Our beautiful baby girl finally arrived. Phew.
Isla Gray Siddons came into the world at 16.07 on Sunday the 19th of October. She weighed 3.66kg and took 36 hours to meet us! She's amazing. She has ten little fingers and ten little toes, and was absolutely worth all of the waiting and drama.
Isla Gray Siddons came into the world at 16.07 on Sunday the 19th of October. She weighed 3.66kg and took 36 hours to meet us! She's amazing. She has ten little fingers and ten little toes, and was absolutely worth all of the waiting and drama.
We spent a lot of time hooked up to a machine like this that measures baby's heart rate and my contractions. I was induced on Saturday morning and went into labour shortly after. It was quite a story -- but it had a really happy ending. Here it is really, really briefly: I went through about 8 hours of labour with gas and air, and then had diamorphine when they discovered that little Isla had turned around! 6 hours later I had an epidural because she wasn't turning around ... owie. She did eventually, though. I had two and a half hours of stitches afterwards. We met almost the entire labour ward staff during her delivery because of complications, but they were all wonderful and extremely encouraging and helpful.
Here she is with daddy. She is already very much a daddy's girl, insisting on snoozing on his chest whenever she has the chance.
And with mommy, on day two, after she refused to eat and the hospital insisted she eat something before we were allowed to leave.
More than one person has pointed out that "this is not a lethargic baby". That made me chuckle. She has lots of stories to tell the world, especially at 2am. Yawn!
She is such a sweet little girl. It still surprises me sometimes that we have a baby, but it is wonderful and such a spectacular change from being pregnant.
I have been taking photos non-stop on my phone, as you do, so many more posts coming soon! My mom and aunt are visiting us from South Africa for a week, we are being terribly spoilt with cooked suppers, lots of treats and lots and lots of presents. Christmas came early in this house!
Except, I'm not standing. I'm in bed, under the duvet, with a cup of coffee. Everything has slo-o-o-o-o-o-owed down considerably. Elton would understand.
I'll keep you posted ;)
Oh em gee.
This fabric is the most super-huggable, must-havable, soft-as-anything stuff. Here in the UK it's called dimple cuddle plush, but it seems that almost everywhere else it is called minky. Soft like mink? Not sure. But. Seriously. Once I felt it, I really wanted to replace all of my bedding with yards and yards of it. I wanted to wrap up in it like a giant fabric burrito and hide away from the world. If it was socially acceptable, I'd replace my entire wardrobe with cuddle plush dresses. Seriously.
Okay okay. So, I bought some. Just a wee bit -- a mere 75x100cm. It was destined to be a baby blanket. But, silly me, when buying it from Plush Addict online, I didn't notice that it was single sided. The back wasn't soft at all. I was gutted. My plans for the quickest and easiest baby blanket ever (fold over edges, stitch down and DONE) were foiled. I had to add a backing fabric. Still, it could be worse eh?
I cut the backing about two inches larger all round, got out my sewing machine's walking foot, and quilted the two layers together using really simple diagonal lines. I didn't measure - I just counted every ten dots and stitched a diagonal line down. It's really easy to get the lines nice and straight when the fabric has a consistent pattern. Then, I cut the lining down to an inch larger all round and folded each edge over in half, pressing as I went along.
Fold it over one more time and stitch down - and you're done. You have a perfectly bound-from-the-back baby blanket that's done in twenty minutes or less. Ta da! I feel very proud of myself. Like a minky-wrapped Cheshire Cat.
Then fold the unfolded-side's binding in half, and back over the front as usual.
The cuddle plush fabric is in the tiffany blue colourway. I bought it partially because I love that soft aqua colour, and partially because of the name. I know, it's like judging a book by its cover. Shocking. The backing fabric I chose is navy blue scattered with white, burgundy, blue and pink flowers (from Stitch). If the cuddle plush wasn't so expensive, I'd make a guilt-free adult-sized version for my bed - can you imagine the softness in winter?!
This fabric is the most super-huggable, must-havable, soft-as-anything stuff. Here in the UK it's called dimple cuddle plush, but it seems that almost everywhere else it is called minky. Soft like mink? Not sure. But. Seriously. Once I felt it, I really wanted to replace all of my bedding with yards and yards of it. I wanted to wrap up in it like a giant fabric burrito and hide away from the world. If it was socially acceptable, I'd replace my entire wardrobe with cuddle plush dresses. Seriously.
Okay okay. So, I bought some. Just a wee bit -- a mere 75x100cm. It was destined to be a baby blanket. But, silly me, when buying it from Plush Addict online, I didn't notice that it was single sided. The back wasn't soft at all. I was gutted. My plans for the quickest and easiest baby blanket ever (fold over edges, stitch down and DONE) were foiled. I had to add a backing fabric. Still, it could be worse eh?
I cut the backing about two inches larger all round, got out my sewing machine's walking foot, and quilted the two layers together using really simple diagonal lines. I didn't measure - I just counted every ten dots and stitched a diagonal line down. It's really easy to get the lines nice and straight when the fabric has a consistent pattern. Then, I cut the lining down to an inch larger all round and folded each edge over in half, pressing as I went along.
Fold it over one more time and stitch down - and you're done. You have a perfectly bound-from-the-back baby blanket that's done in twenty minutes or less. Ta da! I feel very proud of myself. Like a minky-wrapped Cheshire Cat.
If, like me, you prefer a neatly folded mitred corner on your quilts, that's easy too. When you get to a corner, unfold the next side's edges and neatly fold the corner fabric back on itself to make a triangle corner, lining the edge of the fold up with the edge of the front fabric. You might need to look at the picture for that to make sense.
The cuddle plush fabric is in the tiffany blue colourway. I bought it partially because I love that soft aqua colour, and partially because of the name. I know, it's like judging a book by its cover. Shocking. The backing fabric I chose is navy blue scattered with white, burgundy, blue and pink flowers (from Stitch). If the cuddle plush wasn't so expensive, I'd make a guilt-free adult-sized version for my bed - can you imagine the softness in winter?!
Massive, massive thanks to my amazing friend Stephanie who organised our baby shower a few weeks ago. We were thoroughly spoilt. There were balloons and bunting, decorations and cakes, giant sandwiches and baby games, presents and laughter.
We invited friends and partners - daddy wanted to be involved too - and had an absolute blast. In fact, we carried on with the festivities long after everyone had left (this happens when you have a baby shower in a London pub eh). We also bumped into some friends on the way home and had a second impromptu party after the first. When life gives you lemons...
Look at that cake. I think you need a close-up.
Vanilla sponge with strawberries, cream and meringues, topped with burnt sugar. I was tempted not to share.
We played pin the dummy on the baby. I didn't win, but at least my friend Danielle - mum of two - showed us that it is possible to give baby a dummy while blindfolded and disoriented. There's hope for us newbies yet.
We were presented with another cake to take home: vanilla sponge with cream and raspberry jam. Very fitting for a little baby girl with all of those ribbons and hearts and teeny tiny fondant baby booties.
We guessed the presents. This one, daddy says, is a cricket bat. He is optimistic.
It was in fact a GroEgg, which is a brilliant room thermometer nightlight whatsit that lights up according to the temperature of the room it's in. We've had it on since we received it (about two weeks ago) and have been constantly worried that our room is orange, "a little warm" for baby - averaging 22'C. Isn't this supposed to be England, the land of the cold and rainy?!
Incidentally, it is exactly what he wanted and was as thrilled as he would have been if it was in fact a cricket bat. We also got an attachment that goes on top and turns the basic egg shape into a lazy sleeping owl that lights up. As you do. We also received selection of beautiful books, a handmade baby quilt for the car, lots of gorgeous teeny tiny clothes (how does a person fit into them?!) and some other baby essentials. Thank goodness we had the car with us - we had lots of things to take home!
Other party games involved sniffing nappies to determine the ingredients of popular baby food purees. Can you tell I'm very wary about this?
I don't know what was so funny, but it had something to do with tuna flavoured baby food. Gross.
And my one contribution to the whole event: I made everyone a box of cupcakes to take home. Two chocolate and two vanilla cupcakes iced like hydrangeas and roses. I particularly loved the two-tone hydrangea piping which I blatantly copied from this blog post (at Glorious Treats). Yum.
I'm so glad we decided to go ahead with this; we very nearly didn't do anything to celebrate! So now we have all the gadgets and goodies, and plenty of little baby hats and whatnots; we just need to add one baby. Tick tock!
Easiest. Box. Pouch. Ever.
I made these teeny box pouches a few weeks ago using this tutorial from experimentalk. Easy peasy. I used up a few leftover pieces of fabric, quilted them directly onto some batting using the quilt-as-you-go method, and then added a bit of lining fabric afterwards that matched the size (about 8 inches by 12 inches each).
The resultant pouch is quite small, but is ideal for all the bits and pieces that are jiggling about loose in the bottom of your bag. Each pouch here fits in a large wad of cotton wool pads and a tube of baby bum cream. You could make the boxed corners flatter and make a cellphone pouch, or a pencil case, or a coin purse...
No separate lining required? My kind of quick project! I overlocked the edges together, and zip zip zipped along the edges to make a boxy pouch about two inches tall. I also used fray-stoppa on the exposed overlocked edges on the inside to stop any unravelling, but really, you hardly even see the stitching and it saves about twenty minutes of fussing with a lining and turning inside out and pressing and whatnot so I'm rather pleased with that.
A ribbon pull makes these easy to open and close. Also, ribbons. They're great.
They're a very cheerful addition to my bag. I had initially thought I'd make up a whole lot of these with my fabric strip scraps from the cotton patch at the quilt festival, but these days I'm doing more sleeping-and-waiting-for-baby than sewing. Any day now...!
I haven't disappeared, I promise. I started maternity leave, which means that much of my time these days involves no computers (fantastic) and lots of sleeping (equally good).
And occasionally, some sewing.
Yay, finished! Pockets pressed, stitched, backed and filled. We can now have Christmas in September. Tempting though it is, we'll put a hold on the turkey for now. Baby is due any day now and we've been more focused on hospital bags than twinkling lights.
I just happened to have some small chocolates - as you do. Perfect size for advent calendar pockets. And for midnight snacks.
And occasionally, some sewing.
Yay, finished! Pockets pressed, stitched, backed and filled. We can now have Christmas in September. Tempting though it is, we'll put a hold on the turkey for now. Baby is due any day now and we've been more focused on hospital bags than twinkling lights.
I just happened to have some small chocolates - as you do. Perfect size for advent calendar pockets. And for midnight snacks.
The larger pockets fit in quite a bit - I'd imagine you could fill these pockets with small toys or lots of coins.
The colours are really cheerful! I'm tempted to leave it up instead of folding it away for the festive season. There's just no space. Baby stuff takes up all the space! There are blankets, onesies, toys, gadgets and gizmos, muslin squares, talcum powders, and lots of pink things everywhere.
This is the back - I really love those penguins. They remind me of how I feel these days. Waddle waddle.
I can identify with that. Yawn. Impromptu mobile phone photo on the way out to lunch this weekend, as you do.
It's not as bad as Christmas in July. Really, it's almost September. Soon, there will be Christmas carols playing in all the stores, and decorations adorning the High Street.
I know. What is this crazy lady thinking?
It's not a rational thought. I'm counting down the days/weeks until Baby Arrives and suddenly there aren't very many left. While I still have 6 weeks to go, we've been told to be prepared for anything from 2 - 6 weeks. You know, just in case she comes early. There's not a lot of time left to prepare anything. We have a cot. We have a moses basket. She has clothes. We're fine. (And, repeat).
And then, in all the excitement of taking it slowly and trying to finish off work so I can go on maternity leave and well, there isn't really time for an afternoon nap, is there? I happened upon the new Makower advent panels for this year. You get one panel of pre-printed advent calendar, and one panel of pre-printed advent calendar pockets. You cut out the pockets and assemble on top of the calendar, and done! Family tradition, and a sewing win.
I know. What is this crazy lady thinking?
It's not a rational thought. I'm counting down the days/weeks until Baby Arrives and suddenly there aren't very many left. While I still have 6 weeks to go, we've been told to be prepared for anything from 2 - 6 weeks. You know, just in case she comes early. There's not a lot of time left to prepare anything. We have a cot. We have a moses basket. She has clothes. We're fine. (And, repeat).
And then, in all the excitement of taking it slowly and trying to finish off work so I can go on maternity leave and well, there isn't really time for an afternoon nap, is there? I happened upon the new Makower advent panels for this year. You get one panel of pre-printed advent calendar, and one panel of pre-printed advent calendar pockets. You cut out the pockets and assemble on top of the calendar, and done! Family tradition, and a sewing win.
They're not as Chrismassy as they have been in the past, and I love the colours. Like, really love. Greens and reds and oranges and teals.
And so, because I've been completely rational about the whole process, I bought two panels. One for our family, and one for my brother and sister in South Africa. Because really, there's loads of time to cut out individual pockets, press, top stitch, attach, add batting and press some more.
And, really, a tiny two-month-old baby needs an advent panel for her first Christmas.
I know. It's all a bit nuts. Still, it looks rather lovely once (partially) assembled. I'll show you once they're done. All the pockets have been cut, pressed, top stitched, and attached. That was the biggest job. Now, all I need to do is add backing, wadding, hanging loops and voila! we're ready for Christmas. Sort of. We just have to get through the baby bit first.
This is the fabric (from Stitch) I chose to use for the backing - purely on the fact that I had to have those penguins. Aw.
