A Bookish Life

She's just so cute.

We are getting a little sleep around here. Some of us more than others, as you can see. You may also note the completed quilt Cate is laying on- finished just in time for her arrival. She also has a special blanket handmade from each of her grandmas, one a lovely green knitted throw and the other a sweet coral and yellow quilt with her name embroidered in the corner.

I don't quite have the words to describe how in love with this little munchkin we are. I know those of you with kids can probably guess how overwhelming it is. Brian calls her his peaberry, which is a tiny coffee bean that is prized in this house for its cuteness.

I have a couple sewing projects to work on- some for Cate, one for Eliza, and a few for my friend Larissa's wedding. I'm thinking this week, since I'm feeling basically recovered, I might pick up one of these projects during an afternoon nap time.

The littlest Daskam

March 11th brought us Catherine Ruth Daskam, the newest little beauty in town. Cate weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce and took a little less than two hours to make her entrance.

Pardon the short blog break. When we can actually stop staring at her, we're trying to sleep!

Snow Day

The snow steadily falling around our house has made this the pitch perfect day for quietly sewing, reading, and napping. I can't recall the last time I had a more relaxing sort of day.

I took a minor interlude from all the baby-sewing to make a new bag. For the last six months I've been experimenting with bag patterns and new designs, trying to improve on the simple rectangle tote I favored. I thought because it was so easy to make, it must not be all that I wanted or needed out of a bag.

I'm happy to report that after testing a dozen other designs I can say that no, this is exactly the style I am happiest with. I love how easy and simple it is. I love how the character and style gets to show up in the fabric and not the shape.

There are a few new improvements. The whole thing was pre-washed and can be thrown in the laundry after a night in a smokey club with no ill effects. It also has an exterior pocket perfect for keys and two large interior pockets that velcro closed and can hold tiny clothing changes and zip lock bags for dirty diapers. It's still the perfect size for a trip to the library and can easily accomodate several books for those who read at train crossings and red lights. It snaps closed, and is easy to get into in a rush.

The fabric is Amy Butler's design(s), of course, and they have a nice weight without sacrificing the structure of the bag. I'm considering making a few more for the shop, if I can manage not to get sidelined by quilts and baby clothes.

The next project for the afternoon is binding this quilt, before moving on to the newest adventure in snowy day serenity.

Nesting

I have never been accused of being a neat freak. In fact, I think my family is mildly surprised everytime they come to my house and find it relatively put together. As a child I had a deep and true messy streak that has only just begun to fade as I make my way further into adulthood.

However, it occurred to me today as I attacked the inside of the refrigerator with a scrub brush and a bottle of cleanser, that perhaps this is what people mean when they refer to the "nesting phase" at the end of pregnancy.

Perhaps the sparkling interior of my refrigerator, my newly organized closet, and the commitment I've made to keep our bedroom floor clear of clothing castoff is a sign that I'm maturing, but I prefer to think maybe it just means that here, in the middle of the 37th week, I am getting ready to have a baby.

Speaking of baby Cate, I made her this little birdhouse and bird at the end of January and never got around to finishing it or sewing the bird closed. Originally the idea came from here, and I wanted to experiment with making a small bird village for the wall. The bird and elephant patterns, though somewhat modified, came from this book, which I have really enjoyed.

I have plans to make a bird mobile from an Ikea chandelier, so you may see more little birds yet.

And now, if you'll excuse me, there's an obscure little pile of dirt that I just noticed for the first time, and I must vigilantly attack it or die.

Twin Quilts

This weekend it was my great pleasure to aid in throwing a baby shower for a friend who's having twin boys. I was dying to show off these gifts all week, partly because the fabric came out so cute, and partly because the elephants turned out well.

There ended up being a red elephant for twin B as well; he's just not pictured because he was in surgery having his ears attached at the time.

I have been trying to sew a bit everyday, and have started working on Cate's bedding, her elephant, a commission for a friend, and a blue wrap dress for the wedding I plan to attend (as a normal, non-pregnant person) in six weeks.