I've been working on new patterns for my Etsy shop and so it's time to clear out some of the older stock. Most items are now marked down to half of their original price, and I've reduced the postage costs on every item!

So, if you need a little rainy day summer holiday activity you can do with your children, how about one of my Scrappy Bird Kits, now reduced to £2.25, and with easily enough fabric included for more than one bird, plus a template you can use over and over again to make as many birds as you like, or as an applique.



The Flossie's Pinafore Sewing Kits are reduced from £19.50 to £9.75. They each include enough fabric for one dress, thread and buttons, plus full pattern sheet and instructions. Sizes from 0 mths to 2 years. Pattern also available without the kit, reduced from £7.50 to only £5.00.


Take a look, there are scrap bags and larger pieces of my buddies fabric design printed by Spoonflower onto organic cotton interlock, all now reduced to half their original selling price.


Don't forget that I also have lots of free tutorials here on the blog too!

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.

Half term has been hectic, though I couldn't really tell you what we've done, all I know is it's been busy, lots of children coming and going,while I've had a snotty baby stuck like glue (or snot) most of the week.
I have done a little sewing here and there too.



Oh yes, and check out my other blog for the winner of my last give away.

I finished making up the little pinnie from my cut and sew fabric, and the fabric panel is now available to buy from Spoonflower.
A few more details on my Flossies Garden blog.

Don't forget you can always make a Flossie's Pinafore in your own fabrics using the free pattern over there in my side bar. I know lots of people already have, and it warms my heart to see the photos of the finished dresses

You can see some here, and here.

A hat!
OK, so it's not going to fit for long, but honestly I'm done with this one. My first attempt was waaaay too small, my second I messed up on the decreases, and finally this is complete (with mistakes), but I'm sooo ready to start something else that I'm going to live with the imperfections, even though I know they will drive me bonkers!





Made using this pattern.

I also finished some dribble bibs. I've always scoffed at this style of bib,but I've never had such a drooly baby before, and apparently this style works well.

Not much, but Ernest has actually napped this week, which meant I've got through a fraction of the piles of sewing on my desk.
Some boring essentials, but it's still sewing. Nappy wraps, some for Ernest and some ikkle ones for an expectant friend.
Lack of sleep has taken it's toll though, I made a few silly mistakes, but they'll do the job, and I guess that's all that really matters.

Despite the fuzzy head I still needed to tidy up my work space, and while putting things away I remembered I wanted to make a new cover for this cot quilt.
I know baby boy can't use a quilt (duvet really) until he's a year old, but the bedside cot will go up in our room eventually, and it'll be nice to have bedding that suits the current decor.
I used some of my Blue Dahlia fabrics, printed by Spoonflower on lovely soft interlock. The reverse is killington flannel, and I've used resin snaps for the closure.

I finished the blanket I've been working on for baby boy. I started knitting this in the early weeks of pregnancy when everything was so unsure. I thought if I could just knit and keep my hands busy...
So, I kept on knitting until I ran out of yarn, then inspired by the Bunny Blanket in Vintage Baby Knits, I added three little bunnies in this lovely floral cotton, and bound the edges of the blanket with Killington Flannel.
Lots of hand stitching, which I always find therapeutic, and I'm really happy with the "homespun" finish.
There is a lot of love in this blanket, and I think it's going to the hospital with us.

Two little hats, made using this pattern.

Or perhaps not. I don't like this pattern. It's the Cutie Booties pattern from Amy Butler's Little Stitches book.
I think I should've followed my instincts on this one actually, the only pair I've seen made up I didn't like much, and I don't like either pair I've made today.
maybe it's because I chose not to use fusible fleece in them, or because I used snaps instead of Velcro to fasten them, but nope I think it's just that they didn't go together in an instinctive way.
Still, they are not so bad they need to be binned,next time though I'll use the Bitty Booties pattern instead or my own.....

I made this little cardigan from a cardigan of my own that I accidentally spoiled with paint. It's a nice soft, well worn in cashmere mix, so I decided to recycle it for baby boy. I used my smock pattern pieces for the bodice and the sleeves, and bound the neck edge with the left over neck edge from the original cardy. I also made casings at the sleeve edge for elastic, and used a hook and eye for closure.
Only the shoulder and side seams were sewn by machine, everything else was sewn by hand, which I think looks better, and was actually very therapeutic.
This week has been rough emotionally, starting with my birthday, and ending with the sad news of baby Freddie. I've been crying in public again, and the flashbacks are more frequent.
Yesterday it was warm, I risked removing my coat on the school run, but held it protectively over my bump. I was walking with a good friend, but then saw heading towards me a lady I just did not want to talk to. She's a nice person, but just, well, just a little odd, and tactless. My friend also spotted her, and I think our sudden "deep conversation", plus my expert "FO vibes" headed her off...phew!
Today, the sun is shining, I can hear next door's little girl bouncing on her trampoline, and Eden singing...some days there is nothing to do but focus on the good stuff and keep those demons at bay. x

Yes, another outfit for baby boy. This fabric was a birthday present from the lovely Hannah, and was begging to be an outfit for little one. I have scraps left too.

And I have a purple cashmere mix cardy of mine here that has paint on the sleeve, so I'm thinking of upcycling that into a matching cardy and bootees. I'll let you know how that goes.

I'm not sure this even qualifies as a quilt, it's patchwork for sure but it's not quilted exactly.
I ran it up today from the cloud 9 scraps, in an attempt to keep occupied. I'm quite pleased with the results.
I haven't made a quilt since around this time last year. The timelines from last year to this are poignant, but often unavoidable.
Last year's quilt is wrapped around Florence. I hope this years quilt gets worn out with love and snuggles from our baby boy.

I like sewing away in my loft, listening to the radio and feeling baby boy kick, even the sun is shining today.
I've used some of my lovely Cloud 9 fabrics to make another little outfit. A smock and some trousers. Think I've enough fabric left for a quilt too.




And a tulip just because.

We are all home now for Easter, lots of DIY planned, and hopefully some gardening in the (hopefully) sunshine.
I ran up this little outfit for baby boy today. I used the Red Letter Day fabrics by Lizzy House.
And Eden made this adorable Mama and Chick today after I spotted the tutorial on Whip Up this morning. She's done a really good job I think.


We went to take Florence fresh flowers today and the cemetery was brim full of beautiful spring flowers, sadly though Florence has a new little neighbour.

I was on a roll yesterday, must've been that first lighter evening of the year. Whipped up this little suit, in velour stripes, with another knotty hat.
I've been a bit manic recently, mid pregnancy can be like that for me,but when I'm trying to distract myself from the demons in my head I'm extra manic.
Trying really hard right now not to worry about this weeks scan and consultant appointment. The sonographer couldn't get a good look at baby boy's heart last week, so I am booked in for another look this week.
There's no reason to suspect anything wrong,but there was no reason to expect Florence to die either, so that doesn't help me much.
I can feel him kicking about more now,but my anterior placenta muffles most of the movement.
Where's my bottle of optimism.....

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.

This little dress was unfinished and forlorn,(part of the re drafting process for Flossie's Pinafore.) but I hastily* added some bias trim and a few buttons, and now I have no use for it.
I'm guessing someone out there might have use for it, so time for another give away I think.

It's sized to fit approx 18mth to 2 years, fastens at the back with buttons. Looks cute over a long sleeved tee, with tights, leggings or jeans.

Just leave me a comment and I'll use random.org to draw a winner on Friday. Offer open world wide.

* When I say hastily, I mean it's serviceable, but I wouldn't say I took as much care over my stitching as I would for something I might sell or gift.