A Pair of Personalised Baby Bibs

A friend of mine gave birth to twin boys on Wednesday.

We're going to visit them in the hospital tomorrow.

They were born at around 37 weeks, and were good weights at birth. I'm sure they will thrive - although things might be a bit tough for their parents over the next few months! The couple already have two sons, aged five and three-and-a-half.

I purchased the twins a CD of worship songs and lullabies, and decided to make them each a personalised bib. While I didn't know their gender, I obviously knew they were expected, and had purchased the bibs already. I was just waiting for more details before getting out my cross stitch books.

A pair of matching personalised bibs for the twins.

It is cheating a little bit to purchase rather than sew the bibs, but given how far behind I am with my gifts for all the people with birthdays in February, I thought the compromise was justified!

I have quite a few books of cross stitch designs, alphabets and borders. I ended up drawing up my own design, based on a train in one book and an alphabet in another. I think it came together OK.

A train for Noah ...

... and a train for Aaron.

Having faced not being able to cross stitch again after thumb reconstructions a few years ago, it was lovely to find that I can still do it - and pain free, too! The only problem was, I'd forgotten how long it takes!

I hope my friend will appreciate a gift that is fairly basic and simple, but personal and made with love.

A Valentine's Day Gift

Tonight I made a simple little gift for Valentine's Day.

Another idea gleaned from Pinterest, I added an appliqued heart after I couldn't find any fabric with hearts on. I think I like this version better anyway!

A framed 'Love You' with appliqued heart.

Here's how to do it:

1. Take the glass out of a photo frame (I had a spare one in the cupboard).
2. Cut a piece of cardboard to fit inside the frame.
3. Cut a piece of fabric about 2cm larger than the cardboard, then iron it.
4. Iron some double-sided interfacing onto a small piece of red fabric.
5. Draw a heart shape on the interfacing paper, then cut it out.
6. Lay everything out to determine where to place the heart. 
7. Remove the backing paper and iron the heart into position.
8. Use a contrasting thread to stitch around the heart.
9. Attach the backing fabric to the cardboard, using tape or a hot glue gun.
10. Place the fabric-covered cardboard inside the frame, and secure the back.
11. Use a hot glue gun to glue the letters in place.

A close up view.

What made this gift extra special to me was the fact that the Scrabble pieces are left over from our wedding.

When planning our reception, I had the idea of spelling each person's name in Scrabble letters instead of using place cards. Neil's mother and my family all enjoyed playing Scrabble, and I thought it might give people something to play with if they got bored during the speeches!

I bought a couple of bags of mixed Scrabble pieces from Ebay, and my very clever father made little stands to put them on. The hard part was working out exactly how many of each letter I needed! 

One of the place settings at the wedding (before the flowers were placed on the candelabras).

A message made for us by a table of wedding guests.

It's nice to have this connection between our wedding and my Valentine's Day gift for Neil. And it's nice to actually look back at the details of our day, which can easily be lost in the rush of everyday life.

In a brief speech at our wedding, I spoke of the fact that the name 'Neil' means "champion". Back then, I only knew a man who had captured my heart, and the dreams that we shared for the future.

Now I know a man who isn't perfect, but is still great to have around. I know a man who is a loving and involved father to my children, and who helps, supports and encourages me. I know the hardships we have been through together, the good times we have shared, and the dreams we still hold for the future.

Neil, you will always be my champion. And I'll love you forever.

A Pantry Overhaul

One of the things I'm liking about the Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation (12WBT) program is the "pre-season tasks".

You are required to do things like list the excuses you may use not to exercise or eat well, then think of ways to deal with them; set goals and tell other people about them (see my 'A Holiday and No Holiday' post); and purchase whatever exercise equipment you may need so you are all ready to start.

One of the tasks I found most useful was the "kitchen makeover". Not that I had a lot of 'bad' stuff in there - it wouldn't last that long! But my pantry was due for a spring clean and organisation, and it made sense to stock up on the things I would be needing later on.

Some of the new look tidy shelves.

I removed some items like corn chips and biscuits - and promptly did the wrong thing and ate them to use them up! It seemed like such a waste otherwise! I also turfed out anything that was past it's 'use by' date. Then I organised the remaining items more neatly.

The pink storage box contains the children's snacks.

Following a tip from my sister, I placed the ice cream cones, Tiny Teddy biscuits and other children's snacks in a plastic storage box with opaque sides, so I don't see them every time I open the door.

Now it is easy to see at a glance which items are running low.

My pantry is a walk-in one in reasonably original condition (we painted it when we moved in), but it has plenty of space. The shelves are deeper than I can reach, and with everything more organised it looks a bit sparse!

My special 12WBT folder (without a pretty cover as yet).

I've set myself up with a folder to contain the exercise and nutrition plans and shopping lists we will be given during the 12WBT, and given it pride of place in the pantry.

I love tidy cupboards!

It is great to have sorted out the pantry. The fridge and freezer also received attention, but they are sorted out more frequently so the change wasn't quite so dramatic.

Today I took my weight and measurements, and completed the last of my pre-season tasks. My new life starts on Monday.

Wish me luck!

Lucinda Starts Child Care

Today was Lucinda's first day at the early learning centre.

Three bags packed and ready to go.

She had a great time! She aced her one hour orientation last week while I was present, and without me today she was still happy. She drank her bottles, had three sleeps, and played contentedly. A model child!

Sitting with big sister Grace.

Perhaps it is because I only finished weaning her last week, and my hormones are wreaking havoc. Perhaps it is because she may be my last baby. Whatever the reason, I was feeling a bit emotional when I dropped her off with the others this morning.

Lucinda has been my smiling little sidekick 24/7 for the last (almost) eight months. I missed her terribly! It is weird for someone who was previously so independent, but I'm not used to being on my own!

We're going through a bit of change at the moment. Lucinda started childcare. Charlotte started in a new room on the 'big kid's side' of the early learning centre. Grace started kindergarten (at the same centre), and went up to the kindergarten Sabbath school class at church. She also started Adventurers (a program at church which I'm sure will feature in a post soon).

The three stooges!

I could easily view it as the end of my one-on-one time with Lucinda. The end of Charlotte's toddler years. The end of the way things have been so far.

But all those "starts" made me realise it is actually the beginning. The beginning of Lucinda learning to interact with others apart from her immediate family. The beginning of Grace's world expanding as she gains new skills and experiences, and builds her confidence while preparing for school.

Hopefully it isn't the end for me, either, but the beginning of a new chapter in my life.

The beginning of carrying a handbag (a couple of days a week) that doesn't contain nappies. The beginning of having a little 'free time' to work on my giant to-do list (until I start work in a couple of weeks!). The beginning of rediscovering the 'me' that, while altered forever by motherhood, still exists somewhere independent of my children.

Here's to new beginnings!

A Simple Tote Bag

Here is another handmade gift.

The completed tote bag.

This one I whipped up over a couple of hours last night, and gave to my friend Donna today for her birthday. It is a tote bag, which I thought might be useful as she commutes by train several days a week, and loves to read and do crosswords.

For this project I followed the instructions in Lotta Jansdotter's book, 'Simple Sewing'. I needed to concentrate to work out exactly what to do sometimes, but was surprised at how quickly it came together.

My inspiration this time.

My sewing machine is still having problems, but there were only a few loose stitches evident on the bag so I figured I could get away with it. The applique was inspired by one of the photographs in the book.

Details of the sewing.

Some decorative appliqued leaves.

I liked this bag so much, I think I might try to make myself one.

If I can find the time!

A Play Mat for Timmy

Here is the first of my handmade gifts for the year.

Timmy and his sisters checking out his new play mat and cars.

For my nephew Timmy's second birthday, I made a play mat from a fabric panel that featured a town, with roads, shops, a petrol station and car wash, school and police station.

I have to admit that I didn't follow a tutorial or a book or even something I'd seen on Pinterest this time. It all came from my imagination - and what I could find in the craft shop!

Essentially, I sandwiched some batting between the panel and a back I made by inserting a strip of fabric in some denim. Then I machine quilted by following the lines on the road, and sewing around the large road signs featured on the panel. (Thank you to my mum for the loan of her sewing machine).

Finished view - front.

Finished view - back.

I had to look up some instructions online about how to bind the quilt, and especially how to do the mitred corners. As my other quilt isn't finished yet, this was my first time doing anything like this. But I thought it came out alright.

The mitred corners weren't perfect, but not too bad for my first time!

I had purchased a few little cars to go with the mat, so decided to make a drawstring bag to house them all securely. I appliqued onto the bag a little piece of fabric with a car on it, as well as a little tag on which I quickly stitched a personal message.

The mat and cars on the drawstring bag.

All packed up in it's own bag.

You can tell I did this in a hurry!

The highlight for me was when my niece Sarah (almost nine) came and told me it was a really cool present!

Sarah, Timmy and Laura playing with the cars.

When you're two, you can drive two cars at once!

It certainly was rewarding to see them playing with something I had created. 

But I'd better keep at it. There are plenty more gifts to be made!