Finding our Rhythm.

Finding our rhythm. My little sweet babe is 6 months now. How our worlds have changed. We are still up all night. In bed early. And smiling the whole way through it. I love his sweet baby smell. His soft skin. His fine hair. His personality explodes more and more every day. We know what he doesn't like, what he likes - and what he loves. Right now his favorite thing in the whole world is our sweet pug Charlotte. He loves to giggle and coo at her. He's also quite into his reflection in the mirror. We moved into our own little nest last July - we bought a townhouse. It has been so lovely to sink our toes down into this home - to know we will be here for awhile. Growing, changing - life is wonderful. Not always perfect, or easy - but this life is wonderful.

And then there was him.

He. My sweet. My life. I was pregnant for.ev.er. 42 weeks and 2 days. He came via emergency cesarean (after a planned home birth) and after about 39 hours of labor (and two inductions). Oh and there was back labor. But he is here! And we love him. I love his squishy face and dimples and soft skin. His bum is adorable and I have been known to give it a pinch and nibble after he has his evening bath. He has become my entire life. Although the beginning was tricky and at times I feel in over my head - I wouldn't change a thing.

Now to get back into the swing of blogging. Here is hoping!

A little obsessed.

I am certain that my constant desire to sew, sew, sew lately is to distract me from our sweet babe - who is set to come any day now. Last night while I couldn't sleep I spent many an hour swooning over fabric on Etsy. I feel an amazing tinge of excitement when I connect with a piece of fabric that inspires me.

Here is what I'm coveting,

The theme is linen. 

 

All of these fabrics are from UniqueShiny. Check them out and swoon with me. 

Lots of loves and a very happy Monday to you!

 

Quilting Love.

A little while ago I posted about a quilt that I was starting work on using this tutorial from a cuppa and a catch up.  I loved how easy and fun the process looked. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) when I began the quilt my sewing machine went kaput. I visited a locally owned sewing machine shop and fell madly in love with a very pricy but beautiful sewing machine. Before I knew it the machine (thankfully last years model so it was discounted) was on my kitchen table and ready to quilt. I still shudder thinking about the cost of the machine, however I try to see it as an investment for me and my family. I am a gal that loves to get her sew on. I made the quilt using various fabrics from my local Fabricland - nothing too fancy just nice quilters cotton. I also made the binding on the quilt (my first time ever doing this) - and I am sold on forever more making my own binding. The binding is soft (because it's made from the same cotton used in the quilt) - and it is much more homey looking then store bought. Sure making binding is labor intensive, however I think it's worth the results when you think about how much work you put into the quilt itself. As for what I learned during the making of this quilt? I really dislike sinthetic polyester batting or lining. I've only ever used cotton batting and this time I chose polyester. I can tell by feeling the quilt it just isn't the same - I also had problems with the batting shifting and morphing into weird shapes when I was quilting. Oh well lesson learned. On the back (or front, whichever way you look at it) of the quilt I made three Dresden Plate's using this tutorial from Sew, Mama, Sew! I've used that tutorial before for Dresden's and I really love the way the quilt blocks turn out.

Gosh I'm sad to see this little throw quilt go - the bright spring fabrics make me so happy! The quilt is going to a good home though - it's all ready for my Mother in Law's birthday this early May.







Up next on my sewing to-do list is this interesting looking playmat tutorial from Amy Gibson of Stitchery Dickory Dock via the Moda Bakeshop. I think the play mat will be perfect for our little babe (who is set to arrive any day now!).

I ordered some fabulous fabric off Etsy a little while ago (which was mostly Moda fabric by coincidence) and I spent today cutting out oodles and oodles of circles by hand for the play mat.

Have a wonderful Wednesday! We have fun plans tonight for my beau's birthday - staying in with a bit of barbequing and I made a yummy cheesecake which I'm sure will be devoured.

Loves!

Simply Scratch

I love a good food blog. Recently I stumbled upon Simply Scratch - and found myself lost... scrolling through pages and pages of the beautiful tasty recipes. I love the diverse selection - lots of creamy comfort foods and some great healthy options.

Image Source - Simply Scratch

This morning Barry awoke to the scent of these delicious pancakes - Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Swirled Pancake Muffins. They were delicious. I made them in muffin form as suggested with the recipe and they did not disappoint.

Image Source - Simply Scratch

For dinner we indulged in Baked Macaroni and Cheese also from Simply Scratch. I served the macaroni and cheese as the main dish with plenty of steamed broccoli and carrots to offset the insane creaminess. I did add some panko bread crumbs to the top along with shredded cheese to up the crunch.  Overall this recipe is a keeper and I will be pulling it out occasionally. I can't recommend it enough - Simply Scratch has oodles of tasty looking recipes. Check it out! 

Days like today are definitely ones to remember. Lots of good food - laziness on the couch and plenty of warm laundry to fold.

Loves!

Sewing, crafting, dreaming.

Happy Monday!
The sun is out and about today - warming our chilly Vancouver toes. I have been busy working on things around the house. Nesting, nesting, nesting.

Speaking of a nest. Here is the completed bird mobile I posted about making in this blog post using this tutorial. We switched it up a bit - making it circular but everything else is about the same. The hardware we hung it on swivels so the mobile can twirl around.

 

I used all sorts of fabric scraps for the birdies. I love that when I look at each birdie I can think about what that fabric was used for in another project. Some of the fabric was used in the babe's quilt and many others in various projects around the house. My lovely beau picked out the structural branches from our yard - drilled holes in them and strung them together lovingly. It was a fun weekend project and I'm so glad that the babe will have something we both made for it. 

I have been a little fabric obsessed lately. I decided this week (at 38.5 weeks pregnant..) that I would make a throw quilt for my Mother in Law's birthday gift. I'm using this interesting looking tutorial from a cuppa and a catch up. If I have leftover fabric I'm planning on making some Dresden Plate pillows using this tutorial from Sew, Mama Sew!

Have a wonderful start to the week. 

Lots of love,

Full.

Full. Life has been so full lately. Full of baby celebration. Full of anticipation and excitement (and nerves of course). And full of food. Gosh I want food all.of.the.time.

The middle photograph is the babes quilt which I made. I'm really becoming fond of quilting - it's so soothing. 

Lots of love - have a wonderful Easter Weekend.

Tweet!

Today I am planning on starting work on this adorable Bird Mobile Diy - tutorial here from spoolsewing.com. I was debating on purchasing a cute mobile originally - but I can't resist how cute these little chirpies will look in our babes room one day.

Happy Wednesday!

Much love,

Thoughts on 3am.

Sleep during the last few weeks of pregnancy has been fleeting. Occasionally I would describe it as impossible.  My wakefulness has become a curious mix of anxiety and excitement. Some nights I feel as though anxiety rules me - and some nights  excitement does. Often curiosity and a mixed feeling of longing send me off to sleep.  Generally I am awake around 3 am to sometimes 6 or so. I have wanted to document how I feel about this pattern of wakefulness for awhile. What better place then here?
    
3 am is lonely. The strangest sort of lonely. I don't think 3 am would be the magical number for everyone - for some it may be 7 am or 11pm (who knows really why these times are the loneliest). My closest guess is because the sky is so dark this time of night. Very few creatures are awake. In my house everyone - inlcuding the cat is in solid slumber. I find this time of night - or I suppose I should say early morning - the most difficult. Distraction is often key.

Most people say this wakefulness prepares you for a life with a newborn. I know it is common. In some ways I feel as though it is another right of passage onto motherhood.  On this morning, as I write this at 5:41 am I am certain I agree.  Some nights I just wish for sleep - deep rest - to prepare my body and mind.

Having now spent so many nights awake and pondering these thoughts I am content that I have somewhere to reflect upon them.  Our lives will be changing so much in just a few short weeks that I try to appreciate and absorb every moment even more. I savor these odd moments of wakefulness. I want to embrace the strong mix of emotions - the high highs and low lows.

We are changing - and evolving. And growing.

I think I will finish my orange juice and fold some laundry. Perhaps in a bit I will give sleep another try.

Lots of love,



P.S. The photograph at the top of this post is indeed me.  I rarely include pictures here of myself, but I felt it fitting for this sentimental post.

Friday Afternoon

Feeling busy lately - but blissfully so. I am really loving being at home - awaiting the arrival of our first babe. I like doing the dishes with the quiet of 7 am (and following it with tea and knitting).

There is something very powerful about designing your day. Sure there are chores to toss in and errands to run - but somehow they become more enjoyable with tea in hand or with the distant sound of rain falling.

Lots of love,

 

Insta-week.

My last week or so in Instagram pictures. 

That isn't a pumpkin under my sweater - baby bump!

Loves!