...collaboration...

 ..she was sitting there this morning as I had breakfast next to her and I realised she was totally surrounded by homemade things from lots of fabulous women in our lives...

(clockwise from top)

Quilt over back of couch - Nanna/ Aunty Glen

Nappy bag and change mat - mama

Animal wrap - friend Sarah

Crochet hat - friend/ Aunty Jade (flower by mama)

Sleeping sac - mama

Flax ball - Nanny Love Lee

Shawl - Nanny Love Lee

Crochet cushion - mama (with help from Nanny)

... how cool is that!!...

...aw, just look at her - isn't she the sweetest thing...xox

...sleeping sac...

 ...this project has been on my to-do list for this winter since pregnancy ... but when lil ice-block was waking during the night again for a hot milk warm-up it got bumped right up that list... still took me a while as I've gone back to work part-time... guess it's obvious, but being full time mum of two, part-time worker, full time housewife does not leave much time or energy for creativity... kinda why I got lazy with the quilting on the front... I started doing a hit n miss kinda thing from the shoulder (totally in love with that idea at the mo)... but then figured this would look really fun too...

...the strips were already cut (during pregnancy) with a cot quilt in mind... which hasn't been started as I can't decide on which quilt style/ pattern to use... but doing this was interesting reconnaissance mission for that project to work with the main colours I'd planned and other bits from the stash.... a stash I need to use up as much as possible as we're moving home to NZ soon - YAY!!

...pattern for the sac is from anna maria horner's book... although as per usual I cannot just Follow. A. Pattern... and made this one MUCH longer...to hopefully last out her first winter...maybe she'll get a quilt to match sometime during that time too...she's already learning that when she goes in the sac it's sleepy time... bliss...

...oven cloths/ mitts...

...I've decided I actually do like quilting random little things like these... although I'm still too scared to try a real size quilt... or anything actually all-that-structured in fact....anyway...my mum volunteered me to make oven cloths for our family farm Christmas this year... I was procrastinating over it something terrible because felt like didn't have the right stuff in the stash to do it... then the man of the house asked me to cut off couple pairs of his jeans for shorts... and VOILA!!! - suddenly I have the perfect fabric precut perfect size!! I also recycled op shop jerseys for the heat protecting insides... with inspiration for the woven detail from my cousin and her wedding invites nearly 8 years ago!!! (Wow cuz!).... and can you tell how much fun I had with the patterns on the machine.... :)

...coasters...

...another way overdue birthday present... this time for friend's birthday in August... she got them finally today!!!... had fun playing with scraps in the colourways to match her awesome couch and coffee table area which is where I have spent a lot of hours particularly during this pregnancy... had fun trying few more SMALL quilting bits and pieces also... slowly building my confidence with this quilting thing... inspiration from Pip's book... although once again - I can't/ won't/ don't follow patterns exactly... still think crazies are my thing... in quilting sense (not so much otherwise :P)

...and this project also prodded me to do this.... to save my sanity...

...now my ribbons and strings box is closeable again with all the other loose bits I'm hoarding... just...

...crazy button buttercup bag...

...so this is one of the presents that has now been received and I can safely blog about it without spoiling the surprise... made from FREE pattern... using some crazy quilting I did like nearly two years ago and never found a good purpose for the two fat quarter size pieces I managed to finish... happy birthday (very belated) gorgeous Gemma...

...obi...

...actually most of what I've made in the last week has been presents - birthday, wedding, XMAS!!!... so don't feel I can spoil by posting photos just yet.... however I wanted to try this Japanese style obi from this book that I was given for my birthday (thanks lovely Gemma) ... years ago an Indian lady told me her mother was coming to stay with her after the birth of her baby to wrap her belly for 40 days and 40 nights after the delivery...apparently helps with return to form (easier than sit-ups?!?).... decided I'd like to try it...so Japanese obi to help me try out an Indian tradition?!?!...was also great chance to try some of the quilting techniques I've been reading about in various library books/ online... am super happy with how it turned out and hoping it'll make a showing at Wardrobe Wednesday soon (after delivery)...