In waiting ....

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas.

I have officially gone into the realm of being 'overdue' my baby.

 The due date was yesterday and still no signs of the bubba yet.

I've been reassured lots by friends and family, especially for a first child its not uncommon.

So while I wait, I've been busy...

My next door neighbour was also due her baby on exactly the same date as me, but ended up having a little boy on the 21st December. A gorgeous little boy called Christopher.

I had already bought a very cheap but plain pack of 10 bibs for £3.00 which I sat and made hexagons to decorate them with. I'm super pleased with how they turned out.

Together with a little pair of handmade slippers and a taggy comforter from flannel and fleece, all wrapped up in blue tissue paper it made a lovely little package for a newborn.

I've also crocheted a hat, made numerous cross-stitch pictures to decorate the nursery with and a patchwork  hot-water bottle cover (to take to the hospital).

 More postings soon!!

At least I know that the baby will be here at least within the next 12 days!!
Already seems like I've been pregnant forever, but mustn't complain I've had a very healthy pregnancy, with few symptoms.  I've been very active throughout and after waiting for the best part of over 20 years for this opportunity a few more days won't hurt xxx

Hoorah for Gremlins ...

 Consensus told me that I should finish the Gremlin quilt straight away, before my baby comes along demanding all of my attention. 

Thus it was that armed with wadding, backing and some natty yellow binding I managed to complete the quilt  over a couple of mornings (afternoons reserved for biscuit munching, tea supping and peaceful naps).

 I'm a little embarassed by the awful quilting, I've become a little out of practice,so I'm not very confident and  went for something I knew I could cope with - my baby bump does prevent me from being able to get up close and personal with my machine.

I love the backing - an ikea print I've had for ages - which makes this quilt sort of reversible - what a great talking and pointing piece when baby is old enough to be distracted from tears and tantrums.

The binding is the yellow ovals from the Moda It's a Hoot range.

Despite bad quilting I LOVE IT, and think the baby will spend many happy hours rolling around on it and perhaps cuddling on the sofa with it one day xxx

Watch out ... Gremlins about!!!

 I'm calling this my Gremlin quilt for one reason only - as I was making this from the scraps in my many baskets of oddments (yes I did say many ... and I am ashamed) as fast as I was trying to use them up, they just seemed to multiply!!!

I started this project many moons ago, maybe 2 years ago, but such a lot happened between then and now that they have been sittng in a drawer, untouched.

I'm waiting for my 1st baby to arrive any day now and for some reason, today just seemed like the perfect day to dig out those Gremlins (believe me I had to engage brain cells I haven't used before to figure out where I put them) and finally get round to piecing them together.

I'm a little disappointed I didn't make more blocks!!

The dilemma now is whether I finish it off now before baby arrives (it measures only about 110 cm square) and have it as a little play mat?

or

do I play with more Gremlins and make it into something much more substantial?

I am rather loving it, there is an ecclectic mix of fabrics, some of which were from the very first quilts I made or from special quilts I've made as gifts or commissions.

My name is Caroline, and I'm addicted to ....

CROCHET!!

 I have tried to teach myself crochet before, but I just couldn't master it.

Then I bought a copy of a Woman's Weekly Stitch & Sew Special magazine and fell in love with a Granny Square Retro Blanket.

I wanted something for the back of my sofa in the living room which is predominantly in cream and soft blue/duck egg ... so I bought a selection of Rowan Aran wool in colours that didn't quite fit the idea in my head, but complimented each other perfectly.

I ended up not following the pattern completely but once I got started I just couldn't stop.

I started this blanket just over a year ago, after my husband left me.

It feels almost right, that now I am in a much happier place and about to have my first child that the blanket has finally been completed.

There are 100 squares in total 10 rows of 10 squares, making it a decent lap sized blanket. 

being made from Aran makes it wonderfully warm and quite heavy for the winter months ahead.

I do admit that although its been over a year since I started it I didn't do any over the Summer in preference of being in the garden, going for long evening walks etc but the last couple of months of cold. wind, rain and grey skies made me knuckle down at last.

Over tha last few weeks I've also managed to crochet another blanket for the baby and I'm just about to complete another one very soon.

Crochet is addictive!!!

I can't wait to get my hands on some more wool so I can try my hand at making some hats for the baby next.

Thank you for all the previous comments regarding my baby news xxx

It's good to be back blogging again xxx

Looking Forward ...

... to my little munchkin xx

I have wanted to blog for soooo long about this, but was unable to for various reasons.

I am ready and waiting now for my much awaited 1st child - in truth I've wanted a family of my own for over 20 years, but having worn a 'sensible' hat all my life believed that I must meet the right man and have a nice house etc before bringing a little one into the world.

It took me 34 years to meet Mr Right and then marry, dreaming that all this was right around the corner. I have since learned the hard way, that life rarely turns out like you hoped.

Mr Right turned into Mr Wrong and my dreams were shattered.

My marriage broke down and so I thought, all my dreams had disappeared.

At one point I thought my tears would never stop flowing with pain.

But I did slowly pick myself back up, with the help of great friends both at home and at work.

I slowly reconnected with friends and family I'd lost touch with.

I began to put my faith back in the Lord.

I prayed a lot ... and hoped ... and dreamed ...

 I did not anticipate that I would become so extremely blessed to be expecting this beautiful bundle of love, joy and hope xxx

Over the past months I have been stitching, knitting, crocheting and making all sorts of things for the nursery - things I couldn't really post about because even though I know exactly what gender I am expecting - from some people I have tried to keep it a secret.

Oh boy, will I have lots of photo's to show you once baby is here!!

I am sorry that my absence from Blogger has been long and neglectful, I felt I had to hide my joy from someone who still tries to hurt me and feels that he has the right to know my every business.

I have nothing to hide, I am the happiest, most priveledged, blessed and grateful person on the planet right now and very soon my arms will be filled with the most precious gift that I have ever created xxx

FABRIC DE-STASH HELP NEEDED xx

I have a large amount of fabric that I am DESPERATE to sell to ideally a UK small business.

I have two ranges by Blue Hill Fabric: Sara's Stash and Savannah.

They are both reproduction 1800's fabric: an example of one range is above examples of Savannah can be found if you google on internet.

I have metreage available on small bolts as well as pre-cut fat quarters all ready for display at trading events or to sell online/Ebay shop.

 I also have display baskets on sale.

As I haven't blogged for such a long time I have lost a lot of viewers for my blog - I would be so, so grateful if anyone reading this could perhaps put out the feelers for me, someone just starting out in business or someone specialising in Repro fabrics. 

They are for a great price, negotiable.

Thank you xxx

A Happy Winner ...

OOOhhh how happy was I when this wonderful bundle from Kate at M is for Make arrived in the post yesterday.  I thought they looked familiar when I saw these fabrics on her website - I actually purchased 1/2 m of this range at The festival of Quilts this year - they are organic cotton fabrics that were beyond my price range, why I could purchase so little. I added some solid to it and managed to make a little pram quilt for a baby. 

Thanks to this generous giveaway I now have more fabric to play with and can make something a little larger for a very special baby I'll tell you about next time.

Thank you to Lynne from Lily's Quilts Blog found here for hosting the giveaway and again to Kate for sponsoring a very generous giveaway.

Thank you