hop skip jump

on my desk

I've been such an inconsistent blogger since Henry came along, and have been missing it. A meme type thing is exactly what I need to get me moving, so here's my first installment of on my desk on a wednesday. The blog isn't the only thing that's been neglected of late - my desk is collecting dust as well. Up here are some more strips cut out for Henry's quilt (which I've since gone cold on... when will I learn to finish my projects quickly while the enthusiasm is still there? I'll still use what I've made so far because so many of my favourite fabrics are included, but perhaps in a different way than first planned). Also, I've been doing some drawings to modify my giraffe pattern for inclusion in a craft magazine later in the year. It's been a nice way to ease myself back into toy making.

In reality, this is a more accurate photo of my 'desk' lately. A quick sketch sitting on the floor next to a wriggly, cooing baby boy.

one month later...

Lordy, that went fast. Someone once said to me - or perhaps I read it - that as a parent to young children, the days are long but the years are short (sorry if I'm badly paraphrasing your blog entry). Those words are ringing very true for me at the moment. Thanks again for your lovely comments about Henry's arrival. We are still all here, and still doing fine. At 7 weeks old Henry is a real delight. The two child juggle has not been without it's ups and downs (those of you with 3 or more children will surely be scoffing at me), but we seem to be settling in to some kind of daily rhythm. Mr H is a catnapper by day like his sister before him. Hence no blog posts for a month as I remember what it's like to try to squeeze as much as possible into the 40 minute baby sleep cycle.

So I'm afraid there's not much for me to report, unless record breaking heatwaves are of interest. (I almost went bonkers staying inside for so many days on end with a newborn). I still haven't made it back to the sewing machine, although all that time on the couch spent feeding has been put to good use thinking about all the things I'm going to make one day soon. The photo up top is of an unfinished doll quilt I made for Audrey before Henry's arrival. (Still sitting on my desk waiting for binding - ack! the guilt!) The other photo was taken of the little guy last week. Just because.

making my day

Thanks again for all your kind words about Henry! Here's another photo of him, because I can't help myself. So far we're all doing ok, which kind of amazes me given how I fell apart at the seams first time around. The days are a blur of feeding, settling and cuddles. Breastfeeding has been a trial (again). He has the sweetest wee smile that melts my heart, and his sister is loving him to bits (sometimes almost literally). We have even managed to leave the house most days. Of course, Matt has had the past two weeks off work. He goes back tomorrow and so begins a whole new ball game whereby I'm outnumbered two kids to one adult. Gulp.

Over the past few weeks a few kind bloggers very generously bestowed me with a 'make my day' award. Thankyou! I'm supposed to list 10 bloggers who make my day, and then comment on each of those sites so they can play too. However, I'm on borrowed internet time right now, so please excuse me whilst I cash in one of my newborn baby cards and neglect the commenting bit. I could have made this list many times over (you should see my Bloglines!), but some of my favourite places to visit include:

1. Aunty Cookie
2. One Girl
3. Loobylu
4. Treefall
5. Red Felt Flower
6. sfgirlbybay
7. Udder
8. Brown Paper & String's flickr stream
9. Good Gracie
10. Sugar City Journal

You're all ace. Thanks for your words and daily inspiration.

Henry

Hello! And wow. Thanks so much from the bottom of our hearts for welcoming Henry so warmly into the world. Matt has been printing your comments off and bringing them into hospital for me to read at the end of each day. It's been so lovely to read all your words. Henry and I are home from hospital now, beginning that big journey of settling into life as a family of four. Audrey is quite besotted with her little brother, and aside from ending the day in a mess of tears because I couldn't tuck her into bed since I was feeding at the time, it's been so far so good.

I promise this won't become a baby photo blog (um, much), but couldn't resist posting a few photos of our sweet little man, since many of you so kindly asked. Thanks again! xo

he's here

Hi all, it's the husband here.
This is just to let you know that, as well as beautiful toys, Fiona makes a pretty fine baby too.
Henry Mark was born at 3.38pm on Monday Feb 4th weighing 8 lb 7oz.
Of course I say this without a single trace of objectivity but the boy is dashing, handsome and a multitude of other superlatives.
Fiona is doing well. Henry was born by C section which Fiona was more than happy with after a couple of days of persistent contractions.
I'm sure Fiona will have more to say down the track but for now thank you to everyone for your interest and well wishes in the lead up to this wonderful day.
Cheers!

on the fly

This quilt, or something like it, has been turning around in my head for weeks. I really haven't made much at all for this baby, and it was starting to bother me. So with Audrey back at kinder today, I made a start on a cot quilt. Just one strip for now - the first of four. The plan is for 2 green and 2 blue lengths like this with white cotton to separate them. It's very, er, free-form/make it up as I go along/fly by the seat of my pants type crafting: strips of a few favourite (stashed) prints at various widths all sewn together. Influenced quite a bit by all the white in this beauty from the Purl Bee. I'm going to use some of the blue 2D Zoo by Alexander Henry to back it, and once it's all pieced (and, er ironed), sometime in the distant future, I'll hand quilt it all together. Hopefully by the time the wee boy goes into a cot. Considering he seems in no rush to be born, that might be a while. :)

buns in the oven

I am still here waiting. Baby's due date is only a few days away now. He still hasn't dropped very much, so I suspect I may still be around this time next week, too. But who knows? I have become a bit tentative about taking Audrey on big excursions far from the house by myself lest, you know, my waters break in the middle of a museum or something marvellously dignified like that. So we've been puttering about the house a fair bit. I discovered a new to me recipe for a humble cupcake base (from a little photocopied pamphlet given to me by my Nanna). I've been unable to sample it myself, but it looks so fluffy & light and I'm on good authority it tastes the same. I'll never use another cupcake recipe again. I had a birthday just before Christmas, so made these using my birthday/christmas/forever-and-ever-amen present of a long coveted stand mixer, so was able to beat the mixture within an inch of it's life - it seems to have worked! Also the fact that there's not much butter in there must help, too. Ok, enough crapping on from me - enjoy!

2 tablespoons butter
1.5 cups self raising flour
0.75 cups caster sugar
0.5 cups milk
2 eggs

Cream butter and sugar, add eggs one at a time and beat well. Add sifted flour and milk alternatively. Beat into a nice fine batter consistency, adding a few drops of vanilla extract. Bake in cupcake cases 12-15 minutes in a moderate to hot oven (I think I baked them at around 175 deg. C) Ice or fill with whipped cream when cold.

corps or tower

Three more giraffes. I'd been referring to them as a flock, but a quick nose around the internet tells me that the correct collective noun is either a corps or tower of giraffes. Who'd've thought it? Anyway, Lucille, Albert and Mimi, (plus Nigel) all found new homes this morning - thanks to everyone who placed an order.

With about a week and a half until my due date, these will be the last I'll be making to sell for a little while. If time allows, I'm all excited about finally writing up my cat pattern, or getting a start on Audrey's quilt, or even starting a quilt for the baby. All no doubt fairly delusional on my part (especially given my pace at the moment), but Audrey did arrive 10 days past due. So, time will tell.

stuffed and hand-sewn

If necessity is the mother of invention, then a small box of stuffed and hand-sewn toy giraffe limbs is the product of the heavily pregnant woman who likes to sit on the couch.

Thankyou so much for your kind and thoughtful comments on my last post, indeed to all my pregnancy related posts of late. I can't tell you how much I appreciate everyone who stops by to read, say hello and share some of their personal experience. I don't have any flowers, but a bouquet of colourful giraffe bits for you all!

baby talk

Thirty seven weeks, and I'm starting to slow down a little. I'm so behind with responding to email and feel terrible about it, but hope those waiting on me understand that my pace is slowing to a plod. The only sewing I managed on the weekend was hemming the edges of these muslin squares for baby wraps. Not that I care much about gender specific colours, but there's rather a blue theme going on isn't there? I've been staring to wonder what the chances are of the sonographer being wrong... what if it's a girl after all? At least she'd have a name - boy's names are still a hot topic of discussion around here.

In any case, baby has turned so isn't breech any longer, and my doctor revised the size down to only 2 weeks ahead (instead of a whopping 8 which was the suggestion at my previous appointment. Phew!) So, after thinking all along that I'd probably be a candidate for repeat c-section (Audrey was born by emergency caesar), I'm staring down the barrel of a possible vbac. What a rollercoaster. And the braxton hicks started yesterday, so the time is nigh to read, read, read, to brush up my knowledge about delivery. This is a strange point of pregnancy to be at, and I find my mind preoccupied with questions that can't be answered, and situations that can't be controlled. Mixed in with the odd rush of excitement and burning desire to sew baby stuff. At least my bag is packed!