Thanks to everyone who entered the give aways for my completed Scrappy Dove and the kit to make your own. I have used Random.org to pick the winners.
The lucky recipient of the completed dove is Megan. Megan, I couldn't find any contact details for you, so I hope you are reading this. Please email me (click on the email link icon up there on the right in the side bar), and I'll pop the dove in the post for you as soon as I have your details.



The winner of the kit to make your own Scrappy Dove is Rie, again, no contact details for you either Rie, please email me, by clicking on the icon in the top right sidebar.



I will hold on to both of these prizes until January 1st, if I have not heard from the winners by then, I will re draw.

Remember, it's easy to download the template and tutorial and make your own dove.

Today has been something of a wash out. I should have known really. I was far too organised last evening getting my machines set up for some sewing today. Ernest decided that last night he was going to wake up hourly, just enough to wake me up and then he'd settle for another hour.
Between 2 and 3am, I was up to pump, and then just as I sank back under the covers and closed my eyes Ernest woke again.
Thankfully we don't usually have too many nights like this, at least we haven't. I'm really hoping this isn't the sign of things to come.
Like most parents of small children I can cope with a certain level of sleep deprivation, but it doesn't take much more to push me over the edge.
Of course, I try to stay cheerful (actually Woody would wholeheartedly disagree with that statement today.),after all at least I have Ernest here to keep me awake. I'm all too aware of how it feels to be unable to sleep because your baby isn't waking you.
These knickers are pretty much the sum of my work today. Upcycled from a dress I never wore, and I want to give them away to one of my readers.
Do you know a baby girl these would suit? They would fit babies from around 3-6months, over a cloth or disposable nappy (though really it might have to be a slim fitting cloth nappy).
They would look adorable under a dress, even over tights for those of us heading into winter, but for my antipodean friends these can be simply teamed with a little t shirt and a sunhat...love love love chunky baby thighs and bare feet in the summer.
Just leave me a comment, tell me how you cope with lack of sleep...or if you do?
I'll use random.org to pick a winner on Tuesday 30th August.

I've just finished this little stretch sleepsuit using my blue stripe fabric I had printed at Spoonflower.
Honestly I'm not at all happy with the binding and I'm almost certainly going to either rip it off and re do it or cut the whole thing down into footed leggings...hmmmm.....

......

Anyhow, it suddenly dawned on me this morning that I forgot to draw a winner for my last give away on Friday as promised...oops! Sorry!
So, better late than never. The winner of the dress is.....

Hope's Mama

Just drop me an email to jeanette dot archer at gmail dot com with your address, and I'll get it in the post to you asap.

......

right off to do some unpicking!

***
Edit

Crappy binding ripped out, and replaced with good old fold over elastic. Not the best rescue because I had to work around the snaps I'd already attatched,but it's a darn site better than it was.
I made a little knotty hat too.

..and I'm impatient, so I'm listing here a few cut out ready to sew items from my UFO basket that someone else might have more use for than me.

Firstly lunchbags:
One brown lady bird corduroy with blue corduroy lining.
One pale beige/blue printed cotton with pale blue corduroy lining.

These are not complete, you need to sew them up using the lunchbag tutorial instructions in my side bar over on the left. They do not include an insulating layer, and you need to supply a button.

Next, Bucket Style Bags

Just like this one.

One in mixed green/brown florals (chocolate lollipop), with natural lining
One in blue floral (park slope), with natural lining
One in lovely beige, and pale blue cotton, with pale blue corduroy lining.

Again, you need to sew these yourself. They are pretty straightforward, though I'm not at all inclined to write out instructions, so if you want one of these then you'll need some sewing knowledge.

Lastly, Pinafores, just like the ones in my previous post.

Petrol blue, size 12-18 mths, with large flower applique pieces.

Green, size 18-24 mths, with large flower applique pieces.

Sorry guys, but again, no instructions, but fairly obvious to anyone with a little sewing experience. You will need bias binding for the arm holes and neck opening, and you will need either snaps or buttons to fasten the back of the dress.

OK, that's it, if anyone wants any of this stuff, just leave me a comment, I'll work on a first come first served principle for these,and sorry guys UK mainland only cos I'm gonna go bankrupt from postal charges otherwise. Please don't ask for more than one item.

And yeah, I know I said no instructions for the bucket storage and the dresses, but I might stertch to an order of work at the very least.

Come on, help me clear out my craft space!

So, the slight turn in the weather, the lighter evenings and the easing of my morning sickness all mean I'm feeling the urge to clear up and organise. (Not to mention the distraction from thinking about Florence's Inquest coming up this week.)
I sorted through my UFO box yesterday, and re discovered these little dresses I started to experiment with ages ago. I remember abandoning the project in favour of more urgent sewing,and because I wasn't entirely happy with the way they were going. Looking at them again with fresh eyes I can see that the pattern itself isn't really too bad, and I might return to working with it again.
Meanwhile, though these little dresses are not entirely successful, they are quite cute and it occurred to me that rather than chuck them in my rag bag, somebody out there might actually like them for their little one. (I could be really wrong about this though.)
Anyhow, both dresses are simple A line pinafores that fasten at the back with snaps (I've yet to add these, but I will do before I pass them on to anyone.). I think they'd look cute over a long sleeve t shirt or turtleneck over leggings or jeans, or even with just tights...they are short dresses, kinda 70's style, but that makes them ideal for crawlers.
Both dresses are sized to fit 6-12 month olds.
(And I should warn you, the colours might possibly run in the wash, so a colour catcher sheet would be a good idea.)


Hmmm, not sure I've really convinced anyone here!

Anyway, not to leave out the boys, I also found these half finished bibs. I just need to add snaps, and they are ready to use.


So, if you would like either dress or the set of bibs just leave me a comment telling me which one you'd like, and I'll pick a winner by the end of the week. Give away open to everyone who reads, I don't mind posting internationally.

While I have your attention, I also have in my UFO box several ready to sew lunch bags, and I really can't be arsed sewing them, so wondered, do you think they'd be worth giving away? The instructions to make them are right over there on the left hand side of my blog.(you might need to scroll down a bit) Just a thought...think I might have to ask people to pay postage for those though...pondering.
Let me know what you think please?

To those waiting for their 25 days of giveaways gifts from me. I was so excited about the give aways that I totally forgot I would have to actually post them, and that would mean braving my local post office, which I haven't been in since before Florence was born.
The ladies that work in my local post office are lovely, and over the past seven years or so, I've been a very regular customer with my little online business, but after Florence died I found it too difficult to go in many of my local shops, the post office was no exception.
Anyway, after a week of walking past the wrapped and ready to go parcels in my hall, I finally today plucked up enough courage to face the Christmas queue and post them.
I was nervous, and a bit shakey,but I got the window of one of the lovely ladies I know, and she said she didn't want to say too much,but she wanted me to know how sad everyone was to hear about Florence. I think I said "thank you", I hope I did, I may have just smiled, I'm not sure.
So I did it, faced another fear, and your parcels are all on their way.

....

This morning I was thinking about music, music that reminds me of Florence. I'm not much of a music follower really, something a couple of my friends frequently tease me about. I'm more likely to be found listening to radio 4 than dowloading tunes to my ipod...never downloaded a song in my life and I don't even own an ipod!
I guess I have fairly diverse taste in music when I do listen to it, I like everything from The Velvet Underground, Trex, through to Barry Manilow and Shirley Bassey!
Anyway getting to the point. I narrowed it down to two songs. This one first.



I listened to this a lot once Woody went back to work.We both love this song anyway,but I found in those early days, and actually even now it speaks to me. It describes how I often feel since Florence died.

Then



I think one night not long before Florence was born I woke up and Woody was half watching Glastonbury on the tv, and this was playing. I remember it waking me, and feeling...oh I don't know, something!

Anyway I'm clearly in a waffly mood today, just thought I'd share these with you.

It's day two of the 25 Days Of Giveaways!
Tina gave away a beautiful necklace yesterday, and today it's my turn.
Maisie is all ready to come and live with a babylost family.
Maisie is sister to Madeleine, they are almost identical twins.
Madeleine is staying here with us to watch over our family through our first Christmas without our darling Florence, and Maisie wants to come and watch over another family who needs her to help them through this Christmas.

Maisie is approx 35cm/14" tall, and would be happy either sitting on top of your Christmas tree or on a mantel shelf, wherever you'd like to put her.
Maisie is not a toy, she's for decorative purposes only, as she has small parts that are not suitable for children.
This giveaway is open to all babylost families across the globe. I will pick a winner(using random.org) early tomorrow morning,to give our American friends a chance to enter.
Just leave a comment and let me know how you are coping with the Christmas shopping? Are you like me, shopping online,wrapping and hiding before I have a chance to even think about what I'm doing? Or do you have a different approach?

To all my American friends.
I took some slightly better pics of Madeleine and Maisie this morning.
Don't forget Day 1 of the 25 days of giveaways starts tomorrow over at Tina's blog, and Day 2 is right here on Saturday.
Maisie wants to come and watch over a babylost family, and that could be you.

She's got her best butterfly hairslide in, and is waiting patiently for her journey.


(And yeah, I'm having far too much fun playing with these girls!)

Introducing Madeleine and Maisie. These pretty Yule Tide Fairies are responsible for keeping me sane these past few days...or rather the making of them is.
Florence would have been four months old on Sunday, and I've had a few dark anxious and tearful days where I've struggled just to get through the daily chores.
Working on these little dolls has given me a focus.
I had been so looking forward to making Christmas gifts for our baby, I'd even tucked away some special fabrics and trimmings with gifts in mind. A doll was top of that list.
When I saw the pattern for these dolls in the December issue of Sew magazine, I realised we could still have a doll for Florence, we could have a special hand made decoration for the first Christmas without her.
Then I read Tina's blog, and her idea to have a twelve days of Christmas blog giveaway for babylost parents inspired me to make two.
So Madeleine has a loving home here, but her not quite identical twin is looking for a home with another babylost family.
Tina's idea has snowballed into twenty five days of blog giveaways,(click on the link in the side bar for details) We are day number two, on Saturday 28th November.
So, make your way back here on Saturday, when I'll have a post with more pics and details, and if you want Maisie to come and live with you just leave a comment then. More details to follow.


Oh, and a top tip for other babylost parents; don't lock yourself away in your attic for three days making dolls, then answer the door to your neighbour, who you haven't spoken to since his new baby was born a couple of weeks ago, ask how everyone is, then when he tells you the baby's name, say "Oh how lovely, I'm making a doll and was thinking of calling her that same name."...I may as well have answered the door in a nightgown, clutching a reborn doll, and muttering to myself!!

Look over there on the left, I've added another free tutorial, this time for my maternity skirts.
I'd say it's more for the intermediate seamstress, rather than a total beginner. Actually the construction is simple,but the pattern making part is slightly more complex and does assume a certain amount of knowledge.
Please give it a go, and let me know what you think.



By the way, I'm liking this maternity leave thing. Today I made this skirt and tutorial and then went bra shopping with my friend.

With all the panic of back to school week, (and oh how I've panicked! I hate letting go of my precious ones on that first day.) I totally forgot to do the draw for the nappy giveaway ! Only three entries though..hmm, lets see how random.org deals with that.....

OK, well Cybele,looks like you are the winner,and cos I'm such a dope Dandelion and Harrysmum also get a nappy..just pick one from my store,place an order,but don't pay for it and I'll pop one in the post for you. ;0)

Not so exciting this time. I've finally got around to listing the XS and S nappies for sale in my store,but these two have slight faults on them.
The seahorse print nappy is size medium,100% cotton outer,and 100% cotton velour lining with 100% hemp fleece soaker layers. Snap fastening. Only problem is I forgot to add the back waist elastic,so I've added a couple of extra snaps at the front,and it will work just fine.
The ABC nappy is size XS,perfect for a little newborn or for a baby doll. 100% cotton outer,100% cotton velour lining and 100% hemp fleece soaker layers. Snap fastening. This one has a slight stitching fault.
So,if you'd like these nappies just leave me a comment,tell me what your fave saturday afternoon activity is,and using random.org I'll pick a winner on Monday at 6pm.
My fave Saturday afternoon activity is curling up on the sofa and watching a jolly good old movie. I don't get to do that too often,but today I'm making an exception and going to watch "Move Over Darling" with the lovely Doris Day.

Flossy!
Congratulations Flossy,you win the Zidee podeagi giveaway.
If you would email me jeanette@tiddlybums.co.uk with your addressI'll pop the podeagi in the post on Monday.

I used random.org to pick a winner for those interested.

..I'm going to be picking the winner of the Zidee Podeagi Giveaway at 6pm (GMT) this evening,so get your comments in,on that post.

Urgghhh,and I hate no pics on a post....

This pod ( well it's twin to be absolutely correct ) was featured at this years Summer Sling Show,fashion show. I was rather surprised to have it returned to me this week,I had thought it might be raffled at the show,but anyway their loss is my readers gain cos I'm giving it away!
Now this could be scary,I might have such a teeny tiny response to this give away that I'll have to go and cry in a dark corner of my work space.
The pod is a standard size Zidee,the blanket is made with gorgeous japanese cotton reversing to pewter dupion silk.The straps and headrest are aubergine corduroy,and I'll stitch on one of my lovely new labels before I ship it off to the lucky winner.
So, leave me a comment,and tell me what made you smile today.
I'll use a random number generator to pick the winner,unless there's only two of you then I'll do eeny meeny ...
I'll draw the winner next Friday 29th August .

ETA: I forgot to say what made me smile today; it was seeing the latest video from spoonflower on their blog,that dancing made me smile.

Bought more trim,and now it's finished.

Loving the fit of my spoonflower skirt,I thought I'd make another with this Ikea cotton print.
I used a different finish and trim on the pockets this time.



This ribbon was found in a bargain bin in Hobbycraft,sadly there isn't enough left to trim the hem of the skirt,but I'm going to pop in there tomorrow to see if I can find some more.

This skirt is a bargain all in all, the cotton was only £1.59 a metre,and I used about 2 1/2 metres,and the ribbon was £1.99 for three reels.

I am so pleased with this,made with my spoonflower fabric from a Japanese pattern.
The pockets are trimmed with satin bias binding,and the hem is trimmed with grossgrain ribbon.