Times have changed

It's amazing how things change.
3 years ago, if I'd made something for myself, I'd be sorting out photos for a blog post!
Now, 3 years on, I made smoething for myself a couple of weeks ago, and still haven't even remotely thought of getting photos for a blog post!
But miss Addison on the other hand? I've been sewing for her, and of course, that's who this blog post is about!

This is a pattern from Brindille and Twig, and I've made a few. Recently they updated their patterns, and so the size is a bit bigger than previously, I really like this as the original 3-6m is now feeling a bit snug on miss A who's now 4m. I love their patterns!

So this version is the updated 3-6m and it fits quite comfortably, with room to grow too.
I made a couple (the one with grey sleeves is because I ran out of cream lol!) from scrummy warm Merino fabric. Warm, but without the bulk! And gender neutral for if we have another baby, plus a wee tag in it so I know in the future what size it is.
The only change I am going to make in future is to make the front and back hems, wider. They are just over 6mm, and the snaps I have access to easily are 11mm, so they hang off the binding a bit.

Tasty hands!

Angel Gowns - a wonderful cause.

I am not a big one for promoting causes, but this I think is a very worthy cause.

Angel Gowns, for Angel Babies.
Whether you have a wedding dress, or wish to donate your sewing services, please see if there's something like this running in your area.

I think it's so beautiful. As I listen to my miss muffet grizzling away in her cot, I feel so grateful to get to experience this.
For so many, they don't hear their babies cries. They deserve a special gown made with utter love, worn at a moment of utter love

Prettied up book cover.

Here in NZ, when your child is born, you get a "Well Child" book. It records all information from birth, every midwife, dr, nurse you see fills it out. We also have "Well Child" checks, every couple of months, a provider comes around, weighs, measures, and checks things out, so they fill these out too.
It records all immunisations etc, as well. So it's a book that gets well used over the first 5 years, and *I* have to somehow keep track of where it is at all times?! With my mummy brain? Pffttt

I saw someone makes them, but charges a good price for them (and rightly so, it's her business, and these things take time!) but I knew I could make one for a fraction of that price.

This is the book before hand. It's made from a medium card stock, so not very sturdy.

 I ended up making 2 as I had a lot of fabric left over, so the above one is a gift for a friend who had her wee girl 8 days before I had Addison. 

This is the inside of mine -  

excuse it not being rotated, you can just turn your head ;)

Addison is doing wonderfully, she's 11 weeks old tomorrow! Smiling like a trooper, with a mammoth cheeky attitude, and sleeping anywhere between 8-10hrs a night (generally around 9.5hrs)

I love her so much and I am so lucky.

Cute Baby Items!

I've had so much fun making these.
They are from a 220gm Merino so a good heavy weight for winter.

This romper is a size 3-6m and it won't be too far off fitting her now.
It's from The Little One Layette pattern collection from Fishsticks Designs
A very well designed pattern.

This is the most gorgeous wee blazer ever, I just need some buttons now. It's lined with a cotton spandex knit, so it won't be too bulky (pattern calls for self lining)
Its the Lily Knit Blazer by Peek-A-Boo patterns.
Available from Fairytale Frocks and Lollipops. Be warned, this is an addictive site with hundreds of patterns.

What I love most about the Peek-A-Boo patterns, is that there is a chart on each set of instructions, saying which page you need to print, for which size, and adaptation to each pattern. There is no need to print all pages to get just the one size, or change of style, and no horrible trying to figure it out. It's all set out clear as day! More pattern companies should take a leaf out of their book.

Our new addition

On the 12th of December, after a stressful week beforehand of sudden onset of severe hypertension and a failed induction, we had our absolutely divine baby girl, weighing in at 6lb 15oz. So petite!
Addison is the most amazing wee girl. She's now 7 weeks old, sleeping between 5.5-6.5hrs a night, and is such a smiley dot! Who is also very well behaved, letting me do sewing for her in the last week.

 A few hours old!

Myself and Addi on Christmas day

My delightful smiley girl

I am trying to add photos of what I've been making, but for some reason blogger isn't working right, so I'll do that at a later stage.

Fun with shopping and sewing!

The bank account has been hit hard lately (well not too hard, I'm good at finding bargains!)

The first is Crinkle plastic for toys.
Proper child safety approved plastic, designed to go inside toys etc! It was a great price at only $1.25USD for a 9x9" square. Perfect to put in a few toys.

The second, which I'm waiting for a 'combo' listing to be put up so I can get a few things from the one listing, is Baby Safe flexible mirror sheets. At approx $4.20USD for an A4 sheet, it isn't hugely expensive by any means. I figure half of the sheet can be a mirror for when baby is rear facing in the car.
Something like this Baby Safe Mirror. And the rest will be put onto a playmat, or hanging toys from a playmat.

The third is from the same seller as the mirror sheets, Silicone teething pieces. She has a fantastic selection of colors, and shapes, that you can attach to toys, play mats etc! And at $4.60USD for 10 pieces, is an absolute STEAL!

Then shop-a-holic me decided that I needed some cute, gender neutral fabric to make a playmat with, I figured charm squares will be the best bet, and found this gorgeous Riley Blake range - Life in the Jungle
I NEEDED it then and there, of course, so I can make this. Thoughts and Thimbles Activity Gym tutorial

Of course, there's those great plastic snaps featured on the play mat tutorial, so I needed some of them too!
Cue me shopping at Green Beans NZ where I got 100 sets of plastic snaps, some snap press pliers, all for $20NZD! I'll be snapping things left right and centre

As you can see, I am going to be busy, and the bank account is going to get lower and lower, as the arrival of Squatch gets closer and closer.
Today I got to hear squatch's heartbeat for the first time, very cool!

Sewing with a purpose

My sewing purposes have changed so much now, with baby Squatch due in December.

This weekend, was my first sewing project in a long time!

I have had this Winnie the Pooh cot panel for around a year now, I saw it and loved it. Now I have an excuse to use it.

I bought the Mod Tod Star backing from http://www.fabricfixation.co.nz/, and the binding was just a pale blue homespun, basically to match with the small patches of blue that are on the quilt. We do not know if Squatch is male or female, I just wanted to tie the binding in somehow to the rest of the quilt.

Every character is quilted around (used my Juki F600 and it's walking foot, first time ever using a walking foot, I'm a convert!) and that took a very long time, especially on the caterpillars who are just several circles, nightmare! lol.

The middle is a cotton bamboo batting so a very natural breathable fabric.

Now having done this cot quilt, I want to do a bassinet one, and a floor one! 

 My pretty mitred corner.

 The front and the back.

Introducing......

Baby Snuzal.

Some gorgeous old machines

I know that some of you appreciate the real old machines. We went away to hubbys parents for the weekend, and the local museum was having an open day with all the old steam machines etc, so I thought I'd take a moment to get some pictures of the machines and a couple of garments from there.

V8815 on me

I've put so much weight on lately, think it's since I've stopped some of the medication I was previously on, GREAT! Not lol.
At least I can still look nice.