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.