First project of the year

Granted this is a little late, but better late than never, as the old saying goes. My sister-in-law (to be) loves handmade things, so it is always a pleasure to make gifts for her and our adorable niece Elizabeth as I know they will always be appreciated. So as her late December birthday approached, I wracked my brain for ideas.

I decided a beach bag would be ideal but in my pre-baby preparations (and nursery curtain sewing mishaps) I ran out of time. So on Christmas Eve, I went through my stash (too late to go to hunt for fabric in the shops, especially with Madelyn attached to my chest 90% of the time) and I searched for something simple, modern and that would go with the apple green lining fabric that I had managed to buy earlier in the month. I ummed and aahed about using this gorgeous Joel Dewberry fabric I had bought to make something for me because it's one of my favourite fabrics, but in the end it won out because although more aqua than green (SIL's favourite colour) it set off the photo beautifully without being too busy and gave the bag a nice modern look. Unfortunately there's not much left, but I may be able to do some applique with the scraps for Maddy.

I cut out the lining and printed the photo (with breath held as it was my last piece of printable fabric) on Christmas Eve, but that's as far as I got - couldn't bring myself to cut the feature fabric in case I found something else, and Madelyn was unsettled all night so I couldn't get to the machine anyway. So when we saw SIL on Christmas Day, all we had was a promise of a personalised handmade present. She was understanding though and happy to hear I was making her something, especially so soon after having a baby.

Then the days passed and I still hadn't managed to make any progress, putting it aside to make a couple of nappies instead to spread out my nappy washing days a bit. Then Andrew mentioned it to me one night this week and asked when I was going to do it, my reply being "Who knows?" as he kept occupying himself with odd jobs and shed tidying and sorting, leaving me with both children and not returning the favour. So when Maddy was asleep yesterday, he told me he would keep Austy out the back with him so I could sew. Woo hoo! It was pure bliss, and with a few feeding breaks this is what Maddy did most of the day, laying in her bassinette beside me with the humming of the sewing machine to soothe her:

I went for an after dinner walk to get her to sleep at a reasonable hour and was itching to get back and finish the bag, especially as we were meant to be babysitting Elizabeth today - the perfect chance to give her Mum her birthday gift. So after I fed Maddy, Andrew settled her and I sewed into the night, finishing at 12:30, half an hour before Maddy woke for her next feed. So I am paying for it a little today (and certainly needed my coffee with Madelyn waking up three times last night and taking nearly an hour to feed and settle each time) but the results are worth it I think.

The lining has an internal pocket with decorative stitching and a mobile phone or sunnies pocket, with plenty of room for a towel, sunscreen and bathers.

I've had the plastic for about a year to make bibs for Austy, then when he stopped wearing bibs I thought I'd use it for an art smock then decided to use it for this bag instead. I was afraid of plastic sewing, and while it took a little more care and patience, it wasn't too bad and makes a great splash proof beach bag.

Austy thought so too - here he is modelling it straight after his shower - he wouldn't get dressed till I took a "smile" of him with it!

Oh, and I almost forgot! I have joined the one a month challenge, as I needed to remind myself that I won't always have an unsettled baby and those WIPs, baby dresses and outfits for Austy will get made eventually. This was the perfect motivation, and I've already managed my first completed project for the year. Bonus!

Tick, tick

Now that could be the clock ticking down as we near closer to D-day... counting down the days now at only 10 days till my due date (last chance to place your guesses in the baby stats game in my sidebar!). Or it could be me, slowly ticking of the items on my list of things to do before bubs arrives.

I now have the nappy bag completed and filled with stuff for the baby's stay in hospital. We hardly took anything when Austy was born as the hospital claimed to stock everything you needed except the going home outfit, but this time I know better. Luckily this bag is big enough to store either a days worth of cloth nappies, or 4 days worth of clothes. Since I'm happy to use disposables while in hospital, there is plenty of room for nightgowns and day wear for bubs, with a few extra changes as well as that first cloth nappy and going home outfit. Austy hardly fitted the little gowns they had for him there and they tied around the neck which I was unsure about, so I ended up getting Austy's Dad to bring in a few bodysuits for him during our stay. This time I'm all prepared.

Here's the nappy bag in all it's glory. Not the best pics as the battery went flat on my camera while I was taking them, but you get the idea. I used some of my favourite quilting fabric - the bag designed for MY liking rather than for Austy's Dad or for the baby. We still have Austy's old very boring plain kapoochi bag if Austy's Dad wants to use it, but I last time I found that because of the milk bar, the baby was always with me anyhow, so I figured I should have a pretty nappy bag just for me!! So here it is in my favourite colours, with bag feet and lots of pockets!!

And another tick - Austy's big brother tee-shirt that the baby will "give" him on the first visit to the hospital. We figured that first visit he will be fascinated with the baby anyway and so thought a tee would be fine. Each day he visits after that he will get quiet play type toys - I have wrapped in my hospita bag a box of wooden jigsaw puzzles, a foam "tools" lacing set (where the kids thread shoelaces through holes in the tool shapes) and a zoo themed felt board. They should keep him amused so that we can all be together for longer, without Austy's Dad having to rush him home before he destroys everything.

Unfortunately when tried to embroider the design directly onto the tee, I felt it was safe to leave the machine and fold some washing, only to hear a long beep and check it to find a big tangled knot at the back and a hole gobbled into the t-shirt. Sometimes this embroidery machine really does my head in... you'd think it would be simple, press start and walk away. But no. I managed to salvage it by sewing the design to a patch instead and appliqueing it on. Austy won't know the difference...

Oh, and that's my nursery curtains you can see in the background - the sheers are all done, and this one blackout curtain, with the front two blackouts yet to be cut and sewn. I would do them tonight but some electrical work done today has meant we have no lights tonight... Hopefully tomorrow night.

And finally, a huge welcome to my newest nephew, Ashton Tomas, born on Monday and a great test run for Austy at hospital visits. Of course we all had a cuddle of the little man, and Austy was sooooo well behaved, and even more excited to sit up on the bed with his Aunty Katy and hold Ashton in his lap. Check out the huge grin! I can't wait to see how excited he is when it's his own baby brother or sister he is cuddling. He is going to be the best big brother around!