Great Granny Along

I've made a little time for sewing lately...not as much as I'd like but we'll get there.  There's lots of sewing to do before Christmas, so I'm getting started.

Fabrics chosen and cut

Rows pieced

One completed block.

29 more to go...

Some Fun Sewing

I was cruising some quilting blogs and came across the Moda Size Matters blog hop.  I saw Camille's block at Simplify and thought it was awesome.

So I printed off the sheet, did s quick sketch on the back of her block within a block within a block version, and got to playing once the boys were down for the night.  Here is the result:

24" is a gigantic block.  But that means it uses some serious stash/scraps and makes a quick quilt.  For now, this one will stay on the design wall until I get the urge to make a few more.

Clamshells

Haven't worked on this one in a while...

 I measured and need about 20-25 more inches in length.  Not sure how many rows that makes.  Just a little hand stitching and TV after putting the kids to bed.

Will's Nursery

It's been a great while since I checked in.  Will is 4 months old, I'm back at work, the garden is finally coming in, and life is just hectic.  But we are trying to do some fun things this summer with Sam as a family, so that is fun too. 

I was home from work with Sam the other day, so I took a little time and photographed Will's nursery.  There is one more project I'd like to do for over his crib and the curtains still haven't been hemmed, but I figured I needed to get some pictures anyways.

This room is impossible to photograph with my regular lens, but I tried my best.  I didn't style much since I was doing this while at home with a sick kid (he's fine now).  It's a small room, but perfect for a nursery.  The walls are Analytical Gray by Sherwin Williams.  It is a perfect warm but not pink gray and works really well with the stained trim (bane of my existence).  For reference, here's my original mood board for the nursery.

I did get the stuffed puppy (it's made by Jellycat), and I sewed the quilt (in this post).  The rocker turned out different - I used my great grandma's glider but didn't get around to reupholstering it.  It works with the existing faux leather for now.

I love the gallery wall.  Love, love.  The top left picture is one I drew when I was 5 years old - my cousin found it and gave it to me for Christmas.   The frames are Ikea and Michaels and Target.  The clock was from Lowes.  The Fe canvas I made using a DIY image transfer method.  The footprint canvas is Will's one-month footprint.  The W is from Michaels - I painted it black and distressed.  The baskets on the changing table shelf are from Target, the bins on the bottom from TJMaxx - both are Curver brand.

The changing pad cover is one I made from large buffalo check fabric.  I tried to improvise, and it took me three tries to get it right.  I should have just followed the tutorials I read instead of trying to be cool and do it my own way.

Curtains I made from white linen-look fabric.  The curtain rods are EMT electrical conduit and wood craft finials I spray painted ORB.  The blinds are fruitwood ones from Home Depot, and the wall lamp is from Lowes.  Rug and ottoman are from Target.

 I had planned to do a large rustic map art over the crib, but I haven't finished it yet.  So for now the TJMaxx art hangs over the end of the crib.  I made the crib skirt and sheet.  The sheet is black and white hounds tooth; I also have one with cows on it.

I should have taken photos of the closet, but I was lazy.  I painted out all the shelving while I was pregnant and added baskets.  His clothes are so cute hanging on the tiny little hangers inside.  I didn't style the bookshelf - the top shelf is stuffed full of newborn cloth diapers he's outgrown.  One of these days I'll get a tote and put them in the storage room.

 This hook was a wedding present from some friends, and now it holds little ball caps in the little corner between the closet and window.  It's just a cute detail that makes me happy.

I'm pretty proud of this nursery; I feel like it's my best room yet.  There are things I'd like to tweak/add, but I pretty much did it all myself while I was pregnant with William, and I adore this room.  I think it is a good take on my original mood board, and if the boys ever need to share a room I think the decor from Will's room and Sam's room will blend really well with each other.

*Crib and changing table we had from when Sam was a baby - they are Delta Martine collection.  And the bookshelf is from Target.

T-Shirt Diapers

My brother had a ton of clothes he was getting rid of . . . I dug through them and snagged a ton of shirts and such to re-purpose for the boys.

My first several t-shirt diapers:

Outer is a t-shirt or polo, except the brown on top which is a lightweight cotton sweater.  Inner is microfleece, and the middle is another layer of t-shirt with a sewn in microfiber soaker.  They are made from the Very Baby pattern and have additional snap in soakers.  Love them!

I'm having a hard time resisting all the awesome thrift store shirts that have been calling my name . . . but I have more of my brother's t-shirts already waiting . . .

Garden Work

There was some straw and chaff left over from baling the barley, so we hauled it over to the garden and used it as a weed preventer.

Saturday morning . . . we had made a little progress during the week.  It had rained a bunch, and we needed to get the straw off the trailer so it didn't get hot and catch on fire.  I set up the playpen with a sheet over the top for Will.  Sam alternated between playing on his swing set and helping pull weeds/spread straw.

Sunday afternoon . . . complete. 

It hurt to blow-dry my hair,so I'd say it was a good workout.

I go back to work Thursday . . . I miss my coworkers but I'll miss my sweet baby more.  I like being a homemaker, and we have just found a bit of schedule these last couple weeks.  Oh well, the bills won't pay themselves.

A little something

Will is already outgrowing his newborn diapers, so I have started on bigger ones.  The plan is for mostly one-size pockets to use at daycare and around the house, but to also have several sized fitteds to use with diaper covers.

Over the course of a couple days in early May, I managed to get this one done.

I learned a lot from his newborn diapers - what patterns I liked, which fabric combos worked best, where to and not to apply snaps, my preferred method of inserting elastic, etc.

This diaper is a size small fitted diaper made from the Very Baby pattern.  It's a knit print on the outside, a middle layer of microfiber (microfiber auto toweling from Costco), and an inner layer of microfleece.  Plus a sewn in booster of microfiber and knit print, and a snap-in soaker of microfiber and microfleece.  I had to try it out as soon as I finished it.  Of course after I snapped pictures I put a cover on over it.

So cute!

And when I changed him later the microfleece was just damp in the front, so it seemed to do a good job with my heavy wetter.

 

Now onto the other 29 or so . . . eventually I'll get them all done.