Friday, December 19, 2014

CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS AND SOME BABY SEWING


Well so far I have been spending the month of December pretty much like I hoped to be.  Not too involved in the hustle and the bustle of the season, as I was close to being completely done with everything by Thanksgiving Day; which included not only all my sewing, but my shopping, wrapping, and decorating too. This was the first time in my nearly 40 years of marriage I have pulled this off and my feelings are, (believe it or not), a little mixed on the whole experience, lol.  On the one hand, don't get me wrong, I am enjoying NOT being stressed, harried, and totally swamped with last minute projects. And I have had myself some slow days and even a brief nap or two.  Which means when it is time for our get togethers, parties, and fun times I am good and rested and looking forward to it all instead of tired and wondering if I will make it through without collapsing. However, on the flip side it seems as if the season has been SUPER SUPER long, and surely Christmas has come and gone by now.  I know that doesn't make any sense, and like I am digging for something to complain about, but it has just been kind of "weird".  And I am not really complaining, just pointing out a fact. It is kind of like I rushed, and rushed, and pushed and pushed, for weeks, to be "ready" on Thanksgiving, and so that might has well been Christmas Day for me.  And all these weeks since then have seemed like...."Why is the tree still up and shouldn't we be moving on into the winter?"  Dumb I know.  But maybe for me, rather it should be or not, Christmas has always been surrounded by hustle and bustle and somehow it just doesn't seem quite right.  I think maybe next year I will do my best to get organized early, but not press sooo much to be  completely DONE by Thanksgiving.

20 WEEK BUMP.  HALF WAY THROUGH...LITTLE SAM TOOK
PIC...PRETTY GOOD FOR 3!


I have spent the last couple of weeks working on some things for Melody's coming baby.  I will be happy when they settle on a name for her, which so far has been harder then they thought.  Melody loves old fashioned, classical type names and so doesn't want anything too trendy or popular.  And yet old fashioned names seem to be pretty popular right now, so this is proving to be a bit of a challenge.  I think they are rotating back and forth between Cora June, and Claire Elise, with Cora having a little more of a pull.  Personally, I love them both and hope they pick soon.  Though I am really NO ONE to talk.  Melody did not receive her name until 4 days after she was born and I was ready to come home from the hospital, lol.  Names are important I think, so I guess it's better they take their time.  I just want to embroider some things
 with her name on it, which I guess is not really as pressing as it seems, lol.  Melody and I both are excited to get going on some little dresses for this little girl, so I am wanting to get the "necessities" behind me so we can concentrate on those.  I have made her 6 self binded receiving blankets so far and nine burp cloths.  I don't really feel like you can ever have enough of either one of those items, and I have such fun making them up.  They are simple, easy, quick, and darling.  They both let me use my decorative stitches as well which not much else does, so that makes it even more fun.  Though I am thinking they might come into play in some little dresses too.  I used them all the time when sewing for Melody now that I think about it.  I made pretty much everything she wore until she was close to 10 years old.  After that I took a LONG LONG break from sewing.  Anyway, some of the fabric I have had on hand, and some I bought new at Joanne's tremendous black Friday sale, but let me show you what I have made so far....

EVERY TIME I LOOK AT I-PHONE PHOTOS I THINK TO MYSELF I NEED TO GET OUT MY GOOD CAMERA, BUT I NEVER DO...SIGH.  THIS FABRIC WAS MELODY'S FAVORITE AND IS JUST AS SWEET AS CAN BE.  LITTLE PINK BIRDIES ON A LIGHT GREY BACK GROUND...LOVE IT!

TRIED TO GET A CLOSE UP ON THE DECORATIVE STITCH USED TO CLOSE THE OPENING, AND TO HOLD THE TWO FABRICS TOGETHER

LOVED THIS BLUE ONE!


AND THIS HOT PINK AND FUCHSIA 

SOO PRETTY

AGAIN, LOVED THIS SOFT PINK AND GREY COMBO

MORE DECORATIVE STITCHES

LOVED THIS FUN FABRIC WITH ELEPHANTS, GIRAFFE'S, AND BIRDS




MORE DECORATIVE STITCHES

WANTED TO SHOW YOU ONE FROM THE OTHER SIDE SO YOU CAN SEE THE BACK OF ONE OF THE BLANKETS, AND HOW IT IS ALL THE SAME PRINT.  DIDN'T REALIZE TILL I WAS LOOKING AT THIS THAT THE PRINT IS UPSIDE DOWN, LOL. BUT YOU GET THE IDEA.  CUTE LITTLE FOXES AND BUNNIES

HERE IT IS AGAIN

NICE SELECTION OF THESE HEAVIER BLANKETS.  THEY CAN BE USED FOR SUCH A MULTITUDE OF THINGS.  FROM, SWADDLING, TO LAYING ON THE FLOOR TO PUT THE BABY ON FOR TUMMY TIME ETC, IN THE CAR SEAT, AND ON AND ON.  THEY ARE A LITTLE WARM FOR THE TIME OF THE YEAR THIS BABY WILL BE BORN SO I INTEND TO MAKE HER A FEW JUST SINGLE LAYER ONES THAT CAN BE USED MORE FOR SWADDLING, AND FOR A NURSING COVER ETC ON A HOT SUMMER DAY.  SAM AND LUKE STILL USE THEIR BLANKETS LIKE THIS FOR VARIOUS DIFFERENT THINGS.  MORE PINK IN THE PILE THEN I INTENDED FOR THERE TO BE...OH WELL, LOL
And as for the burp cloths I wanted to make them a little different then I have in the past so went on a search through Etsy and Pintrest to come up with some ideas. (isn't it wonderful that such things exist to help us out?)  I settled on a VERY similar way I have done them in the past, and yet a little different.  I cut them into 10 by 20 rectangles, and then layered them with different coordinating fabrics for 2 different looks per burp cloth.  Then I put a single layer of plain white flannel (I KNEW that dollar a yard white flannel would come in handy someplace, haha) in the center to make them more absorbent.  Then I drew two straight lines down them (in the pen that erases when you hit it with the iron!) and quilted the fabrics together with decorative stitches.  Soo fun.  I even have a stitch that is actually little baby carriages.  Then I just used yet another decorative stitch to sew all around the perimeter of the cloth and finally clipped the ends for a fringed look.  I think they are darling and will no doubt be put to lots of use.  It amazes me (and I mean AMAZES me) that they sell 3 of these type burp cloths on Etsy for 44 dollars! And that's without decorative stitches!  Crazy...and yet, I guess it is what it is. They didn't cost me more then a dollar or two per piece, and I am grateful that it makes it easy to have an abundant supply.  I am going to make maybe 3 "fancier" type burp cloths ( I know...I know,  kind of dumb when they are used for spit up, lol) with maybe some applique and embroidery on them, but like I said, I am waiting for her name.  After washing and drying them to get the fringe to come out, they look a lot more quilted then my old ones as well. Let me show you these....













THIS IS JUST ONE LAYING FLAT..THE OTHER PICTURES SHOW YOU THE FLIP SIDE  YOU CAN SEE DECORATIVE STITCHES BETTER HERE TOO


MORE DECORATIVE STITCHES
WHOLE STACK...DON'T TAKE UP MUCH ROO
Yesterday I had a lunch and exchanged gifts with my girl friend Cindy.  She always gives me the MOST beautiful ornaments, and this year was no different.  Let me show you...

ALREADY ON MY TREE...ISN'T IT PRETTY?

Tomorrow we will pick up my youngest sons 3 oldest kids to spend some "Christmas time fun" with grandma and grandpa.  I am taking the two girls to see the Nutcracker at a local college, and my youngest sister and her son are going to join us.  We are going to go somewhere fun for dinner first though we haven't decided where yet.  Hubby will hang out with JD no doubt doing something that involves some football, lol.  They will all spend the night then and go back with us when we go down to church on Sunday.  We are all looking forward to it.

I just wanted to give you a quick (I know this is WAY too long already, sorry!) little praise report however before I close for now.  Yesterday, Melody's husband Mike was kicked in the face by a cow! Very scary considering these animals weigh over 1200 pounds!  I imagine kicked just right it could have easily killed him.  As it was he was VERY fortunate.  He did fracture some bones in his face, and his one eye was badly scratched.  But the doctor feels with time and a little medication he will be as good as new soon.  Meanwhile it doesn't look nearly as bad as I feared it might.  He didn't even bruise very badly.  Still kind of swollen, but back at work the next day.  Taking it much easier then usual, but still pretty good I am thinking.  Thank you Jesus for watching out for him.

POOR MIKE

Well that's it for now.  I hope you all have a wonderful week-end and our enjoying the joy of the season and are NOT frantically trying to finish things up.  Blessings to you all!  Debbie




5 comments:

  1. Debbie, I am so proud of you and your accomplishments, especially in this busy time of the year! Your projects are so well done and so thought out! I can't imagine sharing so many completed, pretty projects! I too, look forward to the name your little one receives. For the most part, I did not know the names of our grandchildren, until they were born. No matter what is it, you will end up loving it, because you love her!

    So thankful that the cow kicked victim is not hurt more. What pain that must have caused him! Another Christmas blessing,
    that he was not hurt more.

    Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family!

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  2. Ouch! Mike is so very lucky ... that could have been far, far worse.

    I have everything caught up for Christmas but with so many things on my calendar, I'm not feeling able to slow down and enjoy as much as I'd like to. Thankfully other than walking this morning, I have nothing on my calendar for this weekend ... I'm looking forward to a lazy, relaxing weekend.

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  3. Poor Mike, indeed. Thank You, Lord, he's going to mend well with time and patience.

    Everything*is*beautiful! Loved it all!!!

    Hugs and a Merry Christmas,
    Kelley~

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  4. Wow! Mike is so fortunate! And, the blankets and bibs are just so lovely and you could have an Etsy shop for sure, if that's what you wanted to do. :o))) It is amazing what folks will pay for stuff. It's all in what they want and if you've got what they want then they will pay the price. I love Etsy, just ordered some photo props today to use for our Christmas pictures. Have a great Christmas week!

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  5. Yes, Poor Mike!! But it could have been a whole lot worse. Praise God it wasn't.
    I love the little birdie print! You are such a busy beaver. I've finally got a pr. of jammies cut out but haven't started sewing them yet! Have a wonderful Christmas, Deb.

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I am so glad that you would take the time to comment on my thoughts and feelings, it is such a blessing to me!