A new baby in the family

Sewing [kitchen] trolley from Ikea.

Some pre-cut fabrics and FQ bundles in my sewing trolley :)

Fabric basket.  Lined with stiff interfacing to maintain shape.

My favourite quilting thread:  YLI.  Very strong, good colour selection and on pretty wooden spools.

I went to see my baby niece as soon as was feasibly possible: late afternoon last Monday.  She was 44 hours old as I held her in my arms.  She slept the entire time and I couldn't stop staring at her, she's perfect.

Izzie is 5 and totally enchanted by her little sister.  When I arrived at their house, she came running out of the front door to greet me, a giant smile stretching across her face.  She said breathlessly, "Auntie Nicki, the baby has popped out of mummy's tummy and I've got a sister - come and see!"  Ha! They'd just got back from the doctor's for Ellie's 48 hour check-up and Ellie was still in her car seat.  She is so small!  Izzie cannot leave her alone.  She plants big, wet kisses all over Ellie's face and - "look at her tiny little fingers and nails, Auntie Nicki" - pulls the sleep suit roughly up over Ellie's hands to marvel at the perfection of her baby sister.

My sister, though obviously still uncomfortable and sore, is blissful.  She and Ellie bonded immediately and Sarah seems content, relaxed and unbelievably happy.  She has always wanted children - lots of them preferably - and her doctor warned her it would be difficult to conceive due to her PCOS.  Her husband is looking after her well and they are the loveliest family.  I'm so happy for them.

The joy a baby brings to a family, right?!  Mum, Sarah and I group-message daily on Viber and it so nice to receive regular snaps of Izzie and Ellie; hear their news.

The sun continues to shine but it is definitely a little cooler, which is so welcome and makes me look forward to Autumn (I know, too soon).  The heat was starting to make me ratty.  I was fed up of feeling sweaty and unable to sleep at night-time.  I also have really bad hay fever this year - what's all that about?  I didn't get a whiff of hay fever until about four years ago and it seems to get worse each year.  Bizarre.  It's clearly a slippery slope to old age.  Ha.

I'm on a mission at the moment to organise and prettify my workroom.  I bought the [kitchen] trolley from Ikea a couple of weeks ago and it needed to be separated into compartments to help me properly sort my sewing bits.  I wasn't happy with the baskets available in Ikea and decided to make some fabric buckets on my return home.  I'm really pleased with the ones I made.  They were made purely by trial and error (they started off as just the one, quite shallow basket which didn't stand stiffly enough or fit into the trays) and I'm delighted with them now.  I used a Tilda charm pack and lined with pale pink tiny polka dot fabric (also by Tilda).  I am a huge Tilda fan.  I am planning a couple of Tilda quilts for myself, together with mother/baby hares and a mouse with a crown on.  The make-up bags, beach mat and sewing accessories are also on my 'to do' list.

Have a lovely week, friends.

Nicki 

x

When the winter blues kick in...

We all write our blogs for different reasons and I like my blog to be a happy place.  It isn't a diary for me but a space to record favourite things, special memories and experiences.  It is a way for me to share stuff that makes me happy and provides the opportunity for me to slow down and notice the small things that might otherwise be lost in the noise of everyday life.

Generally, I am quite a lively person.  I manage to keep my chipper up most of the time and I'm pretty good at cheering up other people too.  I think I'm a fairly positive person to hang out with and I find pleasure in the smallest things.   Yay me.

If I used my blog as an outlet for all the frustrations and disappointments in my life then today I'd be writing about a favourite lamp that the cleaners secretly broke, my complete lack of money (27p in my personal current account right now - another personal best) and the fact that my forthcoming [hideous] dental treatment is going to cost a small fortune.  I'd probably grumble that I'm freezing cold most of the time and I would whinge for a while that my hair desperately needs colouring, my eyebrows need taming and I rather fancy a whole new look.  On top of that, I might mutter under my breath that I can't shift this jeffing muffin top and I still can't find my gorgeous Russell & Bromley platform brogues.

Grrrr!  

But I refuse to dwell on that stuff - none of it is really important. (Although I do have to prioritise my finances to pay for my dental treatment.  Might have to sell a kidney.  Or my gran.)

It's the weekend!   

We have no specific demands on us so early tomorrow morning we're going to make a huge flask of milky hot chocolate, wrap up a substantial wedge of fruit cake and head into the snowy fields with the pooch for a long winter walk.

When we get back I will take a cup of tea and a book up to the bathroom and have a long, leisurely soak in the bath using my favourite Ren rose oil whilst the husband watches the football.   Isn't it a luxury to bathe mid-afternoon.

I will paint my nails, slather myself in thick body cream and put on my cosy cashmere trousers.

Who knows how I will spend the afternoon.  Perhaps I'll potter around the kitchen, do some baking, catch up on a bit of TV (Desperate Housewives, New Girl and Call the Midwife) or even watch an old movie with Drew.

I am determined to finish my giant granny square blanket this weekend and may even start the [beginner's] cross-stitch cushion kit I've recently picked up.

Sunday will begin with a Zumba class followed by a healthy relaxed brunch.  I will paint my beloved rocking chair and then the husband and I are off to the cinema.

(Did you notice how I glossed over the fact that I will also have a huge pile of ironing to get through, a very messy wardrobe to sort out and one or two items to list on eBay... boring.  See, it's all about focusing on the positives around here!)

Whatever you are doing, have a good one.  

Be sure to do one thing to treat yourself this weekend - let's beat those winter blues! 

Nicki

x

PS Hello to my new followers! *waves like a loon*  Thank you so much for visiting and commenting on my posts.  It really means such a lot and if I haven't already I will swing by yours soon.  Put the kettle on!  :-)

Oooh, and I've been chuffed to receive a few awards lately from some of my favourite bloggers.  I haven't forgotten about them and I will properly accept them in separate post.  Thank you for thinking of me.  How I love this friendly crafty blogging community.  Sigh.