Baby Bandana Bib

My lil' dude starting drooling before he was 3 months old. I saw these cute bandana bibs on Purl Bee a while back and didn't think too much of them until I had the exact same thought as the author: putting a regular bib on him makes him look like he's ready to eat, but not wearing a bib is no longer an option.
So it was clearly time to make him a cute bib disguised as a bandana around his neck.

I'm also enjoying these because they give him a little extra warmth around his neck which is one area that is often exposed to the cold when I wear him in any sort of carrier.

Knitted Panda Bear Hand Puppet

Well this might not be the most handsome Panda Bear on the block but he's still pretty darn cute. Kind of got a gnarly goofy thing going on. Hopefully my son will be charmed by him rather than freaked out. Fingers crossed!

I used a pattern from Susan Anderson's book "Itty Bitty Toys" , a machine washable merino yarn, and then lined it with a bright turquoise cotton. 

I'm already thinking he needs a little friend. Maybe a cat, a rabbit, or a pig? So many cute possibilities! 

Soft Letters

I have a confession. 

I'm starting to get nervous. 

There are only 4 weeks until I become a parent and my life changes forever. 4 WEEKS!?

I feel like I've been waiting for this time in my life to come for years, yet now that I'm faced with it I CANNOT wrap my head around it. There was a while there around the 3rd-4th month of pregnancy, that I was rather freaked out and nervous about giving birth. Now I feel like labour and delivery aren't even on my radar of anxiety but the thought of caring for a child every second of the day has become my main source of butterflies.

I know this will pass and I'll be filled with all the excitement that is deep down under the anxiety, but it's still a tough pill to swallow at the moment. Thankfully I do have 4 long weeks left to enjoy as simply a wife and not yet a mother, and I plan doing more things for me while I still can.

But on the topic of more things for the babe...

This was another project inspired by Lotta Jansdotter's book "Simple Sewing for Baby". I've always been drawn to the idea of having a baby's name spelt out on a wall in their room and these fabric letters just felt more me, than say wooden letters. It was such a super simple and quick project that gives his room just a little more personality. 

Nursing Pillow

Wanna know a secret? Sometimes I get lazy. Sometimes I give up and buy things I could make. Sometimes I just don't have the time or the drive to fulfill all my handmade dreams.
It happens to the best of us, right?

I had always wanted to make my own nursing pillow after seeing a cute handmade one in Lotta Jansdotters book "Simple Sewing for Baby". But while registering for our baby shower I had a moment of weakness and thought "Geez, I can't do everything myself. Maybe I should cut myself a break and just have a store bought pillow."
Thankfully I have a great partner in life who at just the right moments gently reminds me that I can do it myself. And sure maybe it'll be a while before I really find the time, but it will get done. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday.
This little life lesson is also one that I think my son is helping teach me from the womb. "It can wait" he says, as he makes me put off tasks for another day in favour of rest and relaxation. And it's true, most things can wait. The floors can be dirty for another day or two, the laundry can sit piled on the dresser moments away from it's final destination inside the drawers. Heck, even the bread dough can rise another day and not mind one bit.

When the baby shower rolled around there was no nursing pillow to be found amongst the gifts and I was secretly relieved. I added "make a nursing pillow" back onto my to-do-someday list, and just relaxed knowing that eventually the time would be found to get it done.
This morning the stars aligned (with the very cool morning breeze that blew into my sewing room) and I spent maybe 10-20 minutes making this simple but hopefully very useful pillow.

Baby Bib with Snaps

This bright and cheery baby bib (made with instruction from the Purl Bee) is a sure reflection of my mood today. It may be grey and foggy outside but I'm not going to let that get me down (truthfully I actually love fog) and I just can't wait to get the day started!

I'm going to make lots of freezer friendly foods today (some empanadas, samosas and spanakopita) and some granola. Hopefully I'll finish a pair of baby socks and maybe even squeeze in some gardening time. Hope you're having a great Monday too!

Reversible Baby Pants

My first (sewn) baby garment! This pair of cute little pants were made for a friends soon to be baby boy, but I'm already working on a few pairs for my own little one and am having way too much fun with all the print/colour combo options.

I made these using a pattern from "Handmade Beginnings" by Anna Maria Horner.

Diaper Changing Quilt

I found this project in Lotta Jansdotter's book "Simple Sewing for Baby" and thought it seemed like quite a practical item to add to my growing stash of handmade baby goods. I would like to think that my husband and I will be out of the house lots and toting the little one with us wherever we go, and so a diaper changing mat seemed pretty essential. 

I took Jansdotters suggestion at using a polyester batting to cushion the mat so that  I can easily throw it the washing machine as needed.

Bias Tape Baby Bib

Another sewing project inspired by the Purl Bee, this bib was so easy to make that I have no excuse to not make more. I don't think I've ever seen a bib with that funny little "crumb catcher" on the front (not that I've paid much attention to bibs before becoming pregnant) but it seemed like a pretty swell idea. Less food on the floor? Sounds great!

I found that kitschy 70's-esque fabric at a thrift store a year or two ago and just couldn't pass it up. So far I haven't found a use for it (it's been a lot harder to fit a bright 70's print into my home decor than I thought) but I think it'll work great in many baby/kid projects. I'm really ready to embrace bright colors in my child's room and wardrobe. It just feels so fun and appropriate. We already have a bright red painted rocking chair in the baby's room so we're off to a good start!

Swaddling Blanket

This is the first baby related project I've made so far for my own baby. Yup that's right! I'm having a baby!! In about 5 months a special little person is about to enter my life and change it forever. WOW. No matter how much I think about it, it still just doesn't feel real enough. I'm so glad nature plans it this way, with 9 months to prepare for such a life altering arrival because I need every minute of it. 

The Purl Bee is one of my favourite craft blogs and is a constant source of inspiration. Lucky for me their baby projects are fantastic and they have a couple swaddling blanket projects that have inspired me to create my own. A friend gave me lots of baby fleece (I am already blown away by the generosity of friends and fellow moms, thank you all!) and I knew right away how to put it to good use. I'm pretty sure a baby can't have too many swaddling blankets (especially when I imagine the immense laundry/lack of sleep factor that will clearly take over my life) so I will definitely be making a more of these in various colors and patterns.

Wonky Stripes Baby Quilt

The first time my friend Lisa told me about her experience of adopting a child from Ethiopia, I struggled to keep the tears back. Her adoption story was so beautiful and touching I think it would be impossible for someone to not be moved by it. She's such a energizing and selfless woman who was clearly changed forever the day she brought back her little girl. When Lisa recently told me she was going to back to Ethiopia this winter and was organizing a fundraiser for C.H.O.I.R. I knew immediately that I wanted to help.

The fundraiser is in the form of a shopping event featuring handmade artisan gifts with a child in mind. I've clearly had children on my mind for quite sometime now so it felt really natural to make another craft intended for a child.

This is the first quilt I've made for someone else other than myself and I must say I'm pretty sad to have to see it go! Good thing I can just make another one.

If you live in the Halifax area come check out Handsmade for Helping at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth on Thursday November 3rd at 6:30pm. This quilt will be for sale as well as pottery, textiles, rugs, jewelry and so much more. 100% of all proceeds will go to C.H.O.I.R.

Another Log Cabin Pillow

Despite my attempts to keep my bedding from looking so "matchy matchy" I just couldn't help but make some cute brown log cabin throw pillows to go with our new duvet.

With some new pink striped pillow cases I also made (and some floral ones not shown) I felt like I needed to tone down the girliness by adding some more muted tones to the bed. I mean I do have to share this room with someone else, who happens to be a man. He politely says he loves it all, and I love him all the more for it.

Log Cabin Duvet Cover

It's about time our bedroom got a pick-me-up. As much as I love the last duvet cover I made, I've been itching to have something a little bolder on our bed. I know that this collection of fabrics might not look "bold" to some, but compared to the very beige palette of the last one I made this feels quite refreshing and perky.

The other side is made up of oversized simple stripes of navy and two shades of beige. I'm planning on making lots of pillow cases to go with this new cover but I think I'm going to try to make them less "matchy matchy" than the old set of bedding. Maybe throw in a few other fabrics that aren't in the duvet but are complimentary. 

Patchwork Shower Curtain

There's nothing like sensing an approaching season change to inspire you to redecorate around your home. 

Our bathroom was in serious need of some colour and life. Now of course I feel the need to knit a new bathmat to match. Another project to add to the ever growing to-do list!

Recycled Stripes & Florals

Another round of recycled garments! I hope you are enjoying these transformations as much as I am. 

Loose Floral T-shirt

I've been dreaming of a shirt like this for a while. Actually in my dreams it's been a super light weight knit shirt, like the one I found in Fresh Fashion Knits.
But until it's cool enough to wear a knit t-shirt I think I might make a few variations on this cute little t-shirt thanks to this very 80's Vogue pattern.

Recycled Skirt and Dress

Another round of recycled clothes from a thrift store! And this time I actually remembered to take before shots so you can really see what changes were made. Below is the original dress, before I chopped off the sleeves and hem length.

Striped Elastic Waist Skirt

Aah, there's nothing like the sweet simplicity of pastel stripes. I've only been wearing this skirt for maybe 20 minutes but I already feel like I should be skipping down the street in the sunshine enjoying an ice cream cone. 

I don't know why it's taken me so long to make such a simple skirt. I added a second elastic band to try to make the waist band look a bit wider. I would love the look of a third, but feel silly using so much elastic for no purpose other than appearance.

High Waisted Button-up Skirt

The more summer clothes I pull out of storage, the more I realize I have a lot of short skirts and dresses that just don't feel appropriate in this warm-but-not-hot-yet weather of ours. I feel like the only way I can get away with showing that much leg is if it's 30 degrees out. So here I am with another longer, and more demure skirt. 

This was another sewing project that started off with very little thought put into it and just kind of designed itself. All I knew was that I didn't have any zippers short enough so it was going to have to have a button closure. The button placement is a bit wonky, but hey it was my first time making a button-up skirt so I'm okay with that.  

Knee Length Floral Dress

Finally I made a longer length summer dress that doesn't feel frumpy! I think it'll be the perfect dress to wear out to a summery dinner with my husband tonight.

Repurposed Tote Bag

Today I stopped by the post office to pick up a few books that I had ordered from Amazon.ca. I was surprised to see that they were packed in this odd woven plastic bag (as well as a cardboard box inside a bubble mailer; apparently Brits take their post pretty seriously). I didn't think too much of the weird packaging until I got home, unwrapped it and laid it out flat on the floor and saw the print of a crown and the words "Royal Mail".

As a lover of snail mail I just knew I had to do something with this amazing little find. Although I think that woven plastic as a medium could a bit limiting, it seemed quite suited to be made into a tote bag. A little floral lining to add visual softness and warmth, and some simple black straps made from scraps of an old dress. Et voila!