A Virtual Baby Shower

Guys, you have no idea what I opened my blog reader to yesterday morning!!  It was the best surprise ever and one that seven rather wonderful people had kept quite since September last year!  I’m staggered that this has happened, never mind been kept so quiet!!

If you haven’t guessed yet, I was thrown a virtual baby shower by my online blogging friends!  I can’t begin to express how surprised and touched I am by the time and effort that has gone into the items they have made for our impending small person.

I knew the instigator, Anne of Annabelle Bumps, was planning on making something for bump but I had no idea that she’d rope so many others into doing the same thing!!  Things like this is one of the reasons I absolutely adore being part of this community; the selfless and generous sprit of so many people who sew and knit seems to know no bounds.

Look at what these gorgeous, spirited, generous people have made for bump!!

Sonja of Ginger Makes took on quilting and has made the most gorgeous hedgehog quilt, in the most beautiful colours! Kat of Modern Vintage Cupcakes and Muse Patterns, despite having a very active toddler and a young baby herself, and being the brains and beauty behind an indie sewing pattern co, has made two pairs of leggings (one of which has snails!!), Dottie Doodle of Dottie Doodle has made the most gorgeous sleep sack with owls and Tabatha (aka Louise) of Thread Carefully has made the cutest pair of fox print trousers for when bump is slightly older!  Bump is going to style Me Made May outta the park!!

So much consideration has gone into the construction too, with comfy knit fabrics, snaps and robust seams.  As well as some serious seam ripper time by the sounds of it!

I absolutely adore the animal theme and colours that have ended up being in bump’s collection too; all creatures we see in our garden or in the fields behind, plus blues and earth tones.  Just perfect.

But if I wasn’t spoilt enough, people have been wonderful enough to hand knit gorgeous items as well!  I can knit (just) but seriously don’t have the patience for it and these items are just works of art!

Anne has made not one but TWO cardigans because we don’t know if bump is a he or a she! 5CurrantBuns who blogs over at Being Frank has made the most amazing spiral blanket in gorgeous, earthy tones and the wonderful Symon Sez has created a beautiful cardigan – look at that detail around the neck and it’s repeated at the cuffs!!  Again, so much care has gone into pattern and material selection so that we’re not worried about using or washing these gorgeous items.

All these wonderful people are so talented, you should go an have a look at what else they get up to!!

I am totally and utterly amazed and grateful for the time and love that has gone into these gifts.  I can’t quite believe that this is all for our imminent arrival!!  You wonderful, amazing, generous people are far more organised than I am – I’ve only just found the changing mat and have no idea where the covers are at the moment…  Who’s going to look after Boy, hospital bags and the car seat are the only things that are properly sorted!

I am so pleased that, with everything else that is going on in the world, Boy and (all being well) Bump are growing up in a world where people do still care, do still cherish friendships and will still go out of their way to bring joy to others.  I am beyond blessed to have you all in my life.

Thank you.  The word doesn’t seem enough, but from the bottom of my hear, thank you.

Down then Up!

As there was a pause in the Lonsdale Minoru (whoops, don’t know what I was thinking when I typed that!) sew along yesterday, I decided to continue with my cornflower blue Jasmine instead. I made the sleeves yesterday evening, including attaching the cuffs and hand stitching them down on the inside which really gives a beautiful finish. I then set my first ever sleeve. It went in beautifully, if slowly, as I was being really careful.

I then flipped everything out to the right side to check I hadn’t put any inadvertent pleats in. Hurrah no pleats. Then I checked the underarm seam lined up with the side seam – beautiful. But. There were the seam allowances on the outside. Oh for goodness sake! (That’s the edited version, I didn’t throw a hissy fit of swear, or vocalise any of it, but internally I gave my self a fairly stern telling off!)

So at 10:30 last night I unpicked the basting and final stitching on that sleeve and carefully pinned it the right way round into the other arm hole. By that time it was 11:00 so I decided not to do anymore on it and went to bed. But oh dear, was I hacked off about it. I’d wanted to finish the sleeves last night, and maybe even hem it. (Don’t worry, it’s been hanging all weekend sans sleeves so the hem would be ready to do as I know you need to hang a bias garment before hemming)

So that was the down.

This morning is the up! Our lovely post lady came as usual at about 8:30 this morning. Today is one of my days at home with Boy so I was here when she popped two envelopes through the door. And they were both for me and both international! One expected and one not. Both brought big big smiles to my face though!

So, first up the expected one:

Expected, but not Quite so Quickly!

Yup, that’s my Renfrew top pattern! I swear I only got the dispatch email just before the weekend. Heck, I only ordered it on 23 Jan and on the 31st it’s in my hands! I’m so glad a I pre washed that jersey I bought at Oxfam as I can’t wait to make a start on it (once I’ve researched a FBA for a top like this…)

This was the unexpected one:

Surprise Packages are the Best!

An envelope from Annabelle of Annabelle Bumps. Inside was some very pale grey silk organza and this lovely little notecard. Isn’t the dress form die cut gorgeous? She’s been having a nightmare trying to source some 2″ elastic for her Renfrew jacket so whilst trying to find that, she came across some silk organza and thought of me! I’ve been rattling on about making another Jasmine using some star printed cotton shirting and using organza as the interfacing, rather than fusible, so she sent this to me to use!

The generosity and thoughtfulness of other bloggers in this sewing community of ours just blows me away. Whilst trying to source something for her own make Annabelle thought of me and took the time and effort to send this. I love this community of ours and the support we give each other. I know for a fact I would not have improved as much as I have without the support you’ve all given me and the knowledge that is so freely shared. Thank you xxx