Tickled Pink

When I saw the result of the first pregnancy test I took (I ended up taking three..) the first thing that went through my mind was Psalm 92:4 "I sing for joy at the works of your hands", the second was 'It's a girl' and the third was 'Oh crap'.

I immediately put the second thought out of my head.  I didn't want to spend the next couple months hoping for a girl and be disappointed if we ended up having another boy.

So when my second thought was confirmed by my midwife, I was over the moon.  I definitely cried.  A lot.  

I was so excited to start dreaming about how to decorate the nursery for our daughter.  I decided this time that I wasn't going to make the crib bedding and change pad covers.  I looked into the cost of getting it made versus the cost and time for me to make it, and opted to have it made.

I searched Etsy and priced out the cost for two crib sheets, a crib skirt and two change pad covers.  I decided to go with the shop RockerByeBaby.  Amber's prices were great in relation to other Etsy shops, but what made my decision really easy was how quick she responded to my questions and how helpful she was.  Before I had even decided to go ahead with my order, we had exchanged thirteen messages.  Her communication was fabulous and she totally delivered on the order!

I knew that Baby Girl's room was going to be grey and pink so Amber showed me a line of fabric that was all grey and pink and I picked what I liked and she made it be.  

This was a really nice way to get crib bedding and change pad covers.  I got exactly what I needed (no unnecessary crib bumpers or quilts that you normally get in set) and in the exact colors and patterns that I wanted.

I also got an extra crib sheet (left) and change pad cover (right):

I was so excited to receive the bedding in the mail and couldn't wait to get Harrison set up in his new room so I could start the nursery.

Since I ended up buying the bedding, I decided that I wanted to make a few things for her room.

I'm really excited to show you what I've done, but you'll just have to wait for another post!

Strawberry Shortcake Quilt

It's baby overload over here!

In the midst of making everything for my little guy, I managed to find the time to make an adorable baby girl quilt for one of the Hubby's cousins.

I used a fabric bundle that I bought off Fabricworm a while ago and was super excited to find out that I was getting to make a baby girl quilt!

After seeing the quilt top put together, the Hubby said that it reminded him of Strawberry Shortcake.  I just think it looks super cute!

I really like the chevron pattern, and I am in LOVE with the colors.

This is little baby Praise enjoying her new quilt - she's pretty thrilled, I can tell.

So cute!

Can't wait to take pictures of my little guy on the quilt I made for him!

Laundry Hamper & A Surprise!

This is our change table.  I think it's pretty cute! (It's also fully stocked and ready for baby!)

Notice how it is on an angle?  You can't see in this picture, but there is dead wasted space behind it.

I hate wasted space!

(There is also dead air space above the change table, but don't worry, I'm waiting for a little something to arrive in the mail from Etsy.)

'What a perfect spot for a laundry basket!'  I exclaimed in my head.

I took some leftover fabric that I originally bought to make a crib sheet out with (but it was not wide enough) and decided to turned it into a laundry basket.

I measured the height that it needed to be, and then just kind of winged it from there!

After sewing two edges, and taking care of the raw edges, this is what I was left with (clearly it's inside out).

And this is the completed hamper:

I decided to use Command hooks to hold up my flimsy laundry hamper.

After 'measuring' where they needed to go, I ended up with this:

After some strategic cuts in the hamper, I had this:

It serves its purpose and looks pretty cute!

I can toss dirty clothes in there and then just grab and go! (to the laundry room)

Success.

After completing this little project I was left with this:

Well, there was more than this, but I forgot to take a picture of it.

I decided I wanted to make a pillow cover. Shazaam!

After a quick 'google', I found this tutorial and got started.

It took about 30 minutes and then I had this:

My very first ever pillow cover!

Double success for the night! Woot woot!

The tutorial was super easy to follow - thank goodness!

I see many more pillow covers in my future.

I Love Fabric. Period.

I often look at fabric online.  I love looking at it, imagining what I can do with it, looking at it.  But I was nervous about buying fabric without being able to feel it.

I follow the blog Prudent Baby, and it seems like those super crafty ladies buy all of their fabric off of Fabricworm.com.  I figured, they do it, and they like the fabric once they get it, so maybe I should give it a try.

So I did.

I thought of a couple of projects that I wanted to do, and started browsing.  I find that choosing fabric for a quilt, is one of the most stressful parts of the process.  Don't ask me why, I don't know why I find it stressful, I just do.  Finding fabrics that coordinate, and that I won't hate in a week could have something to do with it.

When I started browsing I looked at fabric bundles.  This was a great way for me to not get stressed out about choosing coordinating fabrics.  All I had to do was make sure I liked the fabrics that were in the bundle.

I chose three bundles, two I had plans for, and the third, I just really liked.

Jenean Morrison, Silent Cinema ($38.00 CAD)

I am totally loving the yellow/gray color combo right now.  I really want to re-do our bedroom with yellow and gray.  Alas, this fabric is not designated for our bedroom.  It is designated for a quilt that I will be making for                              .  I can't tell!  They might be reading!  But they probably aren't, but maybe, just to be safe.

The Quilted Fish, Sugar and Spice ($31.50)

I see a couple of baby girl quilts in this fabric bundles future!

Khristian A. Howell, Theory Seaside ($36.00)

I just liked this bundle, pure and simple.  No idea what I'm going to use it for.  I'll probably just look at it for a long time.

Actually, I will probably just look at all of this fabric for a long time.

I heart fabric.  And Fabricworm. 

Go there.

Babies & Quilts: A Few of My Favorite Things

On Sunday, I went to a baby shower at The Teahouse in Stanley Park.  I think that this may have been the fanciest baby shower I've ever been too.  We had a private room looking onto the Burrard Inlet, and a menu of delicious items to choose from for breakfast.

The shower was for a friend in my Bible Study group and her new baby Hunter.

In the last year, I have been introduced to the world of Quilting and have gotten into the habit of making baby quilts for my friends.

For Hunter, I made this:

And I 'wrapped' it like this:

Where did that adorable little giraffe that conveniently coordinates with the quilt come from? 

Oh, I made it!

Still needs some perfecting, but I think it looks pretty good for my first stuffed animal!

Baby Hunter loved his quilt and stuffed animal so much, he didn't want to get up:

He was an excellent model.

I have also made these baby quilts:

Baby Judah

Baby Adaya

Now, I have to give credit where credit is due.  My good friend, Amanda, taught me everything I know about quilting.  She showed me the pattern for these quilts and has helped guide me along my way.  

I also blame her for my newfound fabric addiction and the fact that photo's like these set my heart a flutter:

Quilting, and the love of fabric, can be an expensive habit... but it's so worth it when you end up with beautiful gifts!