Cedric Nicholas

On the 11th of Sept we welcomed Cedric Nicholas in to our lives. Born at 5:21 in the afternoon weighing 6lbl 10 and a picture of perfectness.

I almost have no words to describe how amazing it was and is.

D-Day

Well it seems that even my bank knows what today is...
Although it's in the back of my mind I'm not dwelling on it. In fact Mr G and I have decided to go to lunch together to celebrate.

While waiting for lunch time to roll around I made this pencil case to hold all those random pens and pencils that seem to gather on the tray on top of the microwave. It's been years since I put a zip in anything and I'm impressed I even remembered how to do it.
Next two jobs are to make reversible bags out of these fabrics. The floral below was found at the Way We Wear Fair last weekend. A score! 4.5 m of seersucker for $45. They lady that sold it to me said it was 1950's but I'm wondering if it's older than that.
The fabrics below were salvaged from Vinnies a few weeks ago - massive pieces for only $2 each. Sometimes it's amazing what you find when you have time to look!

Will post up the bags when they are done.

Checkers for Fathers Day

Thought I should share what I made my dear old Pa for Fathers Day this year. A checkers board with covered buttons as the pieces.
When we finally agreed on the rules everyone took turns to have a game with Dad. Mum and I both lost but I decided that was the best thing to do on Fathers Day. My brother however wiped the floor with Dad! Oh well - better luck next time Pa.

Baby Shower

I never thought I'd have a baby shower but I'm so glad I did. The friend that organised it did a wonderful job (thanks Lou! x x) and it was just as I hoped it would be. A delicious afternoon tea with close friends (and no games!)

There was even a few surprise gifts from friends overseas which made it all the more special.

Thanks to all my darling friends! x

A parcel arrived

A parcel arrived today! I love snail mail and even more so when I'm home to receive it rather than having to wait until the parcel is back at the post office ready to be picked up.

Today's parcel was a gift from a friend who lives in London and has recently purchased a sewing machine. It was a lovely surprise! A handmade blanket for the baby, one of the first things to be made with her new machine. A letter accompanied the blanket explaining..

"Maybe since you are so good at these things you were wrong person to sew for but I have tried. It was nice sewing away and thinking about the baby as I did it."
I just love it - handmade things are so special and being a crafty person I know the time and effort that goes into sewing a gift.

Thanks Sarah! It will be treasured x x

Little birds

I've had a picture of the mobile that I wanted to make for the baby in my head for - hmm longer than the baby has been a bump in my belly!

I bought the photo hanging frame from eBay and made 10 Mister Blue Birds from the Spool pattern to hang on it.

I had to rejig the way the mobile hung as all 8 of the birds were on the same level and it all looked a bit crowded but now that's done and it's hanging I'm thrilled!

The baby's room is looking lovely now - The chair in the picture was a present from Mum. She covered it herself. It's just what I wanted!

On the baby front - we had an appointment with the Dr yesterday and the little monkey has gone from engaged a month ago to now not engaged... Ho Hum... have to say it kind disappointed me. It's very hard to not feel like It's because I've done or not done something. Of course sensible me knows it's nothing to do with that but it's still a bit of a disappointment.

Perfect weather for making

It's raining here today - a lot! I'm lucky though that this is the first day that haven't needed to leave the house. Well that's not entirely true - I did have to time my visit to the supermarket but that's all.

Yesterday I hit the jackpot with embroidered doilies at a few ops shops on the way home from my acupuncture appointment. For $10 I scored enough to make all of these!

Here are some closer shots of some of my favourites.These little flowers remind me of the flowers in the garden from the house I grew up in.
I just love the blue in this little one. And just for fun here are some silly photos of me taken today. I've been wanting to make sure that I have some photos of me pregnant. Just a bit of fun really. I look like I'm in the shower with clothes on... And here is my 'I'm a little teapot' pose!

My Creative Space

It's finished! Hurrah! I bought the yarn for this dress about 18 months ago. Since then the little girl it was for has grown too big but my niece Olivia is just right for it.

It's been a long time since I've joined in with the my creative space meme. It's lovely to be back. Maternity leave so far is just what I hoped it would be. Time on the couch, crocheting, crafting, sewing and cooking. Oh and a few sleep ins and afternoon naps. I could get very use to this.

Next project is to add some pretty bias binding to the towels I have for the baby and plan something yummy for dinner.

Gifts for friends

All of a sudden I have all the time in the world to spend making gifts! It's fantastic!

A friend went on a very long oversea trip recently and gave me all her Frankie magazines (20 of them!) So exciting! About 10 of them left me with doubles so I've been having a lovely time cutting up the spare ones to use on cards for friends. I made this card the other day.

I've also been spending time making earring and brooches for friends as gifts. The earrings below went to a friend on the weekend, along with a brooch I forgot to photograph and the brooch below will be off to another friend after I've made the rest of the present.

I really love making gifts for people but find that when I finally get to give them the present a feeling washes over me that it's a 'handmade gift', like I'm being cheap. Now I know that's rubbish - personal gifts are wonderful! But... still each time I feel like I should accompany the gift with 'I made it' like it's a flaw in the gift rather than extra special.

Anyone else suffer this?

Nesting

I never thought I'd spend my few weeks of before the baby arrives 'nesting' but I guess I've proven myself wrong considering that today I've washed out the cutlery trays in the draws and cleaned the microwave, inside, outside and underneath (very gross..)!

Also trying to stick to the rule, 'if you see a spiderweb you have to clean it up - not think I'll do that later'. So far it's 5 out of 5 for me.
Yesterday I washed all the white things we have for Little G. They looked so sweet hanging to dry and next to Mr G's shirts they look super tiny!

We've never been a household that irons anything but again the nesting has kicked in and this afternoon I've decided to iron all the whites that were washed. Might have something to do with the lovely ironing board cover I picked up while op-shopping today.

So that's 5 days down of leave and not once have I been bored! I could get very use to this.

How many is enough?

So far I've made 6 bibs for the baby. They are so cute that I think I could keep sewing for days before getting bored of them.

Today was my second day of maternity leave. Feels totally surreal to be on maternity leave - and to think that I read today that at the end of this week the baby is considered full term - sheesh!
Mr G says bring it on. He's tired of waiting! Suddenly thought I've decided I'm right here for a bit - what in goodness name do I know about looking after a baby?! I've read up about birth and labour and am totally OK with that but sleeping, feeding etc... I'm hoping it's on the job training.

My First Tutorial

Just finished writing my first tutorial that will be tested out at the next Adelaide Brown Owls meeting. If it goes well I'll post it up on the blog

Granted it's not a very unique pin cushion - I'm sure there are loads of instructions on how to make these pin cushions but when I sat down a few months ago to make mine for the Foxs Lane swap I just followed my instinct rather than searching the web for instructions.

Fingers crossed the instructions I've written are OK!

A new addiction

Recently at Brown Owls we had a workshop to learn how to make covered buttons in to earrings. Wow is it addictive! Just look at the lovely selection I made Saturday afternoon.

What is it about covered buttons that makes us crafty types crave more and more! You'd think 6 new pairs would be enough but now as I look at my stash of fabric I can see so many more options.

Granny square blanket complete

It's complete!

Yes it was started in January while watching the Australian Open.

And true I did say it would be a Granny a Day...

But somewhere along the line I learnt to knit and then got distracted...

Finally though after 6 months its done - and the best part - I am thrilled with it.

I hope our little one loves it too. After all my brother still has the blanket mum crochet him when he was born. He might now be 24 but and the blanket might be under the bed rather than on it but I know 'blankie' is still loved.

Where have I been?

I got an email from a friend today that simply said 'brightredcherries has been quiet'... and indeed he was right - I have been quiet. I was so chuffed though to know he was even reading that I promised I would post tonight.

Even thought the blog has been quiet - I've been pretty busy. Here are some things that have been filling up my time.

Making baby gift for a friend that's due a few weeks before me. I just love Jho's owl pattern!

Finishing off the pram blanket for our little baby

Setting up our baby's room. It now looks very different to the dressing room it was a few weeks ago!

Finishing my first ever knitted piece - a jumper for the baby

Growing this bump (thought this one seems to happen without much thought)! 31 weeks today and healthy healthy healthy say the Dr!

Happy days and 4 and a bit more weeks of work - Hurrah!

Warmed by knitting by Cathy

While my knitting is going very slowly - I am still loving it.
Have a look at this video - it makes me want to knit every thing and it looks so warm on such a cold day.

All sorts of making

My niece's 1st birthday party last weekend gave me lots of wonderful excuses to make things. I made the bunting and some yummy treats for the party.

The Butterfly cakes were even better than they look! I'll be making these again that's for sure.

And the perfect present for a little girl? A Bubbly the Owl of course! If you want to make one you can pick up Jho's pattern here.

Here she is with her Mum opening her gift. These are the best moments when it comes to handmade presents.

Happy Birthday Olivia!

Birthday Bunting

On Friday night and Saturday morning I spent many hours cutting and sewing like a mad thing. The task, to make a birthday sign for my niece Olivia's 1st birthday. Something which I was totally proud to be asked to do.
I had wanted to make a tutorial but time got away from.
I even had Mr G helping taking action shots!
and ta-da the finished product!

If only I needed new PJ's

I would buy these ones for sure!

My Creative Space

Inspired by a friend I decided it was about time I rejoined the My Creative Space meme hosted by the lovely Kootoyoo.

Of course there are always a few projects on the go at our place but the one I'm really enjoying is making the Star Wars crochet characters. Here is the finished Chewie.

Next I'm going to start his co-pilot Han. Can't have one without the other after all. The patterns I purchased from etsy are excellent - the detail on each piece is amazing. The Chewie is made from Angora - super soft and is brushed quite firmly once finished to achieve the fluffy look

Next on the needles once the jumper is complete is this hoodie for the baby. I just couldn't resist how cute the picture is!Thanks for stopping by!