Busy, busy, busy...

I have been so busy being crafty the last couple of days, and I haven't had a minute to blog.  I've been sewing in very small intervals and felting, but mostly, I've been embroidering.  Embroidery allows me to stay in a reclined position while I create - the perfect bedrest craft!  :o)  Over the next week, I'll be posting a project every day.  So, make sure you check back to see my progress.  Maybe this bedrest thing isn't so bad afterall!  

I'm so excited!!!

I must admit that it's a bit of a bummer being on bedrest. I know that you might think that laying around, doing absolutely nothing sounds pretty appealing, but after a month of barely moving, with little contact with the outside world, it gets really old! I have a huge list of things I'd love to do - get my hair cut, take Jesse to the beach, I'd even clean the bathrooms if I could... I know it will be worth it in the end, and so far it's paid off! Tomorrow I'll be 30 weeks pregnant!!! HOORAY!!!

While I've been on bedrest so far, I've tried my very hardest to keep busy. I've watched a lot of movies and tv series thanks to Netflix, napped, knit a bunch, felted and set up shop on etsy, and entered a squirrel-making contest at the Brooklyn General. Remember this little guy?

Well, he won honorable mention! (See him? He's all the way on the right.)

I received a lovely gift certificate to Brooklyn General (which I cannot wait to spend on their delicious assortment of fabric and yarn)!  And to make matters even better, my little grey squirrel found a new, permanent home in Brooklyn, New York.  I'm just so excited!

Shop Update

Hello, sweet friends!  Just to let you know, I've updated my etsy shop a bit today.  I added a bunch of cupcakes, a felted bag, and few birds, too.  I'll be adding more later this evening.  I hope you're having a great day!!!

My awesome husband

My husband, Jared, is a graphic designer at an advertising firm.  He's super-talented, and I love seeing what kinds of ideas he comes up with!  I finally asked him for some help designing my new logo last night.  I told him the colors I wanted and that I wanted bunting in it somewhere, and this is what he came up with:

Isn't he awesome!?  Thank you, my love!  You've got so much weighing on your shoulders right now, and yet you are still so sweet and supportive of my little crafty endeavors!  I love you!!!!

And the winner is.....

Thank you everyone who entered the giveaway for Horace, but the winner is.... MICHELLE!!!

Michelle said...What an awesome giveaway!

When I was on bedrest, I mainly used my laptop to keep me company and Netflix was a great way to be entertained. I especially love to watch TV series on DVD... Good luck!
Thanks for the chance to win!

Congratulations, Michelle!  Horace will be on his way to you very soon!  Again, thank you, everyone for participating!  Check back here on May 24th for my etsy shop reopening!  

Just a couple more hours....

I cannot believe how much blog-love I've received over the last couple of days for the Horace giveaway!  Thank you so much!  Haven't entered to win?  You have a couple more hours to post your comment here, if you want to join in the fun.  I'll close the comments at 9:00 PM (EST) tonight, and contact the winner shortly after.  Good luck, everyone!!!

Giveaway Day!!!

Sew Mama Sew is sponsoring a Giveaway Day today!!!  Woo Hoo!  Over 250 crafters have volunteered to give away some of their handmade goods and supplies, so check them out and try your luck at winning a great prize!

I'm giving away Horace, a needle felted owl, complete with barn gift box.  This adorable little fat owl is approximately 2.5 inches tall, and made with wool from my parents' sheep farm.  He has a clear hanger on top so you can display him with ease.

Pose for the camera, Horace.

(front)

(back)

(side)

How can you win?  Leave a comment below answering the following questions:


If you were on bedrest, how would you keep your sanity?  Any crafty ideas?  (I need all the advice I can get!)


I'll choose the new owner of Horace at random, and will post the winner by Thursday, May 20th @ 9:00 PM (EST).  One entry per person please.  I cannot ship internationally (sorry!).  Horace will be shipped out no later than May 24th, so you can start to enjoy your little handmade friend as soon as possible!  Good luck!!!!

Comments are now closed.  Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway!!!  Winner will be announced in a bit!

P.S.  Even if you don't win, you can check back here on May 24th for my etsy shop update!

A Wonderful Day

I have been stuck inside for almost 3 weeks now on bedrest.  My hospital room had a window, but 3/4 of the window was covered by an air conditioning unit, only allowing me to see a tiny patch of sky.  And although my house has tons of windows, I still feel like I haven't seen the sun in forever!  Now this might not seem bad to you, but I love being outdoors in the spring and summer - working in my garden, kayaking in the river, taking Jesse to the pool or beach, picking strawberries for jam, and riding bikes down to the "historic" part of town to go to the farmer's market or occasional festival.  (I'll be doing all of those things next year, by the way!!!)  So, in order to keep me from going completely crazy from cabin fever, I went outside today!  Don't worry!  I sat very still with my pelvis tilted back so that I could still rest, and I only stayed out for half an hour....and it was nothing short of glorious to bask in the sun and watch my adorable 4-year-old play in his new "gingeraffe" kiddie pool that he received for his birthday from his Grandpa and Gigi.

Then Jared came outside with two packages.  One box was for Jesse, and it contained two books - Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, and Leonardo the Terrible Monster (belated birthday presents from Aunt Megan and Uncle Justin).  He was so ecstatic, that we had to read them right away while he sat in his pool.

And to make the day even better, the other package was for me!!!  My mother-in-law, Jean (otherwise know as Gigi), sent me a book I have been wanting VERY BADLY since its release a couple of weeks ago, Anna Maria Horner's newest book, Handmade Beginnings : 24 Sewing Projects to Welcome Baby.  

I REALLY wanted this book, but since funds are super tight, I felt so guilty buying it.  I have entered every giveaway available to win it (see below for more chances to win), but have been unlucky thus far....until today!!!  (Thanks Jean!!!  You made my day!!!)

Blog Giveaways for Anna Maria Horner's New Book:

May 16    The Purl Bee

May 18    All Buttoned Up

May 19    Alabama Chanin Journal

May 20    Homemade by Jill

May 21    True Up

May 22    Oh, Fransson!

May 23    Prudent Baby

May 24    Sew Liberated

May 25    Handmade by Alissa

May 26    Hazelnuts

May 27    Petite Purls

Giveaways.  Sunshine.  Kiddie pool.  New books.  Micah staying put for another day.  What a wonderful day!!!!

Spinning

Last summer my friend Lizzy went home to the Minnesota state fair, and brought me home a lovely little bag of the most beautiful hand-dyed roving from this farm. I have been trying to decide what I want to make out of this little piece of heaven, and after staring at it for months, I finally broke out my spinning wheel and started spinning.

It took me a while to set the tension on my wheel, (It's been so long since I looked at that thing!) but I finally got into my groove, and quickly spun out this small amount of yarn. I also spun a little bit of white roving while I was at it, so that I'd have enough to knit something, too. I don't know what I'll make out of the yarn yet, but when I figure it out, I'll let you know!

SQUIRREL!

Bedrest continues! I spend a lot of time combing through blogs to find fun crafty ideas for when I'm able to sit at my sewing machine for long periods of time. The other day I came across this fun contest from the Brooklyn General Store. They have put together the most adorable knit tree window display, and requested handmade squirrels to inhabit it. I couldn't resist making a needle-felted squirrel to add to their other furry friends. I shipped him out today, and I can't wait to see all of the other entries! Oh...and fingers crossed...I really want to win, too!

(This sweet chunky squirrel loves him some acorns!)

More Baby Knitting

I started knitting a baby hat for Micah a couple of weeks ago. My goal is to use what I have on hand to make anything for this kid, so I used some baby yellow, super-soft yarn that someone gave me a couple months ago. I finished it very quickly, but after looking a the gargantuan size, and knowing that the probability of this baby is coming in a couple of weeks is very high, I made another hat for a premie using this pattern and size 4 needles.

So sweet....and so tiny! I can't imagine a baby being that small!

A Bag for Everything

While I'm on bedrest, the sweet stay-at-home-Mommas from our church have volunteered to watch Jesse during the week. Every day holds the promise of a new adventure for the boy - the beach, a new pool, dress-up, trips to the library, napping in a tent, new toys to play with... Jesse loves playing with his friends, but he always wants to bring something from home with him. I whipped up this little bag for him in about and hour using this tutorial (plus I added a pocket) so he can bring his little treasures with him wherever he goes. (Please forgive the terrible picture! It's much cuter in person!)

Not made by Amy Plew

I'm home! And just in time for Jesse's birthday! I'm still on bedrest and a terbutaline pump to help stop the contractions, but at least I'm home with my family!!! Jesse is 4-years-old today, and I can't believe how fast time flies. Here are a couple of pictures of the day's festivities.

I didn't do a thing for this party but sit back and watch. My awesome friend Lizzy bought the balloons and decorated the dining room, and my friend Christy made the amazing Spiderman birthday cake. A couple of friends came over with their kids and we just enjoyed hanging out and celebrating the blessing that is our little boy, Jesse!