working my way through the city

In a fit of energy before the wee man was born (some clean, I cut fabric!), I started a quilt I promised to make for the Lovely LoLo in NZ.  It is gonna based on the Cherry House "city green" quilt I showed on here a while ago....

I can only hope it will end up looking like this!

So, my beloved Kona coal was pulled out along with a jelly roll of kona solids and the cutting frenzy began.  I even managed to do some sewing and, of course, order more fabric as I was convinced I didn't have the right amounts or colour combinations.  So far, this is what I have....

my photography skills don't get any better!

I think I may need to add a little more white and purple but I'm getting there.  I realised after I started cutting that this quilt presents me with most of the things that I am rubbish at - cutting fabric accurately, consistent 1/4" seams, joining pieces together accurately, and so on.  I can't be slapdash with this one, which is no bad thing really. Hopefully it won't take me another year to get finished. I'm counting on Hamish to help me out by sleeping like an angel.

Talking of the wee man, he is such a chunky monkey, having put on nearly 2lbs since he was born.  He's a month old tomorrow, which is just crazy, and *stifles a sob* cried his first tear today (I think it was when Forest were losing or something!).  I know that I said no photos/no paparazzi but given his month birthday here's another sneak peak at the chubster (check out the cheeks, they can store upto a week's worth of milk!)...

loving his mama's quilt!

Our latest creation....

I can't quite believe the past couple of weeks.  It's all a little surreal and sometimes it's difficult for me to get my head round the fact that the munchkin is now here.  Weighing in at a healthy (and unexpected!) 8lbs, young Hamish joined us on Friday 16th September a little after 6pm.  It got a little hairy towards the end, which meant a slightly longer stay in hospital than wanted, but all is well.  Laughing Boy has definite views on pictures of the wee man circulating on the 'net and I tend to agree with him so I hope you understand if photos of H are few and far between.   I can't resist one though so here's a peak at our beautiful son.....

AND he proper smiles...it's not just wind!

He's 2 weeks old now!  Blows my mind!

I've been sewing - OMG!

In a reckless attempt to get my pregnant behind off the couch and on my swiss ball (good for the back!), I decided to try some sewing today, with mixed results.  Turns out baby brain might be real after all!  First up, a receiving blanket made with voile and super soft flannel...

it's gender neutral, right?

First time sewing with either voile or flannel and what a palavar!  Suffice to say it's a bit rough and ready but it's gonna get ironed and packed in the hospital bag.  It's a nice size for pram use too so I think it will get well used.

I was on a roll!  A tag blanket was next on the list so I cut the material out with no issues, the ribbon pieces next also no drama, then pinned and sewed it all together....

I should probably iron my fabric before starting to sew with it :(

Can you see the problem? I was about to turn it the right side out when I realised that the tags were all sewn on wrong - they should be on the right side, not the wrong side - D'OH!  Now I'm about to seam rip the whole thing and start again.  I was doing so well too..... what a numptie!

It's a good job I've turned to the professionals for a couple of indulgent baby purchases.  The lovely Amy from Badskirt makes such cute things so I recently bought Addison the hippo from her and it arrived all the way from Australia in record time....

too cute!

Then I found out that Denyse Schmidt (queen of improv quilting) was having a sale on her baby quilts - like 75% off so as a last hurrah I bought one of her sets:

It came with some cot bumpers and pillow cases - not a bad purchase I think.

Well, T minus 17 days, maybe I'll sort that tag blanket before the munchkin arrives (oh, was that the couch calling my name......)

Jos bday quilt - done and done!

It was my lovely friend Jo's 30th birthday early last year and I promised to make her a quilt as a bday gift.  Because I'm a bit slow and keep starting things before finishing other things, it took me until Christmas to start choosing, cutting and sewing the quilt top.  I finished this early January and introduced crazy crazy crazy quilt here.  I did the back, sandwiching, the quilting and added the binding to the front by the end of April (morning sickness permitting!) and set about the final element - hand sewing on the binding to the back.  I did not expect this to take me another 3 months!  But finally, it's done and ready to meet the world.....

crazy crazy crazy!  laughing boy with no legs!

Because it's based on a crazy nine patch design, I decided to quilt it with random straight(ish) line quilting using a really cool variegated pink cotton thread and I think it worked out ok.  Now all it needs is a run through the washing machine and a quick check for stray threads then it's off to Jo's.  Sorry for the wait :)

Whilst I've been slacking (or I guess making something else!), my MIL has been busy quilting and is now mastering free motion quilting; she's a braver woman than I am!.  Here's her latest creation:

Laughing Boy's dad's legs are getting some quilt action too!

I need to check but I think this was a quilt as you go project and that each block has a different quilting style.  She's good!

I'm in the process of losing my sewing room (it's getting turned back into a bedroom to accommodate all the babysitters!) as we re-arrange things for the arrival of the munchkin.  Laughing Boy has been preparing too with a visit to the Forest Club shop....

OMG I actually made something!

Despite all my efforts and lists of things to make over the past months, it would seem that my mind was strong but my body weak and nothing much has been happening, crafty wise. Of course, over the past couple of months, I organised an wedding, got married and am cooking a karate-loving munchkin so I guess I've not been as lazy as I feel.  Anyway, after a hormonal blowout on Friday night (I should have made tea!), I seemed to have released a burst of energy so Saturday was spent defrosting a very frosty freezer (life in the fast lane!) and Sunday was a date with Bertha the sewing machine.  It's been such a long time, I didn't think we'd gel at first but it was a breeze and here is the result of all that effort.....

fabric basket in newly painted nursery

I'd cut out some fabric to make more but was spent after this one.  I need to take things slowly.  I have a couple of quilts to start and finish but I think I'll wait until my maternity leave starts before having a go.  You know that hardest thing - actually cutting the fabric.  I've always had "issues" with this but pregnancy has made it worse!  Who knew!  I have already cut out fabric to make a bib and some baby troosers so maybe I'll tackle sewing them up next.

I did make a couple of bags for two of my sisters, but only remembered to take a photo of one of them.

another keyla lou but it's a winner!

You know what's weird.... I'm like totally married!  And up the duff!  Not the 2011 I expected :)

a magical day......

the very dib dab!

Check out what I've just won!

It's a bundle of Sherbert Pips fat quarters through the lovely Rita's blog anniversary giveway.  Rita's blog is a real inspiration for me and I had already used one of her patterns to make the ruby ruby ruby quilt.  This collection has been hotly anticipated by fabric junkies across the world and my mother in law is now one of them!  We may be sharing the loot :-)

Well, my aim to "sew, sew, sew" now that I've got the nausea under control was a little premature. I have nearly finished binding JoJo's quilt and nearly finished a couple of bags that are gifts (with two more to go before next week).  "Nearly" seems to be my watchword at the moment.  Oh and I've started a playmat quilt (to be fair I've done one block!) 

I'm trying not to be too hard on myself because, not people to do things by halves, Laughing Boy and I have decided to get married!  It's ok - we gave ourselves 10 weeks to organise it all.  8 weeks to go before a small wedding at Lothian Chambers in Edinburgh.  Of course, as most of you know, my family means that small isn't necessarily small!  So perhaps I can be forgiven for not jumping right back on the sewing horse with full focus. 

It's been a bit of a year so far....  good times!