Dresser Complete!!

Ta-da! Granda's dresser is complete. Just got it up to Charlie's room tonight and it looks great with the wallpaper!!

I got a few tester pots from B&Q mixed to match the stripes of the wallpaper. They'll not be that hard wearing but there's plenty of paint leftover to do any wee touch ups required!

The two wee dogs were made by my Dad when he was at school. I just sanded them down too and painted them. I think they look great and Charlie already loves them!!

Here are a few 'before' pics of the dresser. Unfortunately I didn't take one before I started sanding!!

I'm still Alive!!

Gosh it's been ages since I've written anything!! Though I'm sure that no-one has noticed! We're still out in the country using this dongle thing to get online and it's so rubbish that I avoid using the internet unless I need to.

So to update you all we are nearly ready to move back home and I'm so excited about getting into the 'new' house. I will post pics when I get some and when I'm using a different connection so I don't go crazy waiting on it to load up!

Back to work about 2months now and it's goin fine. I'm enjoying being back to get some more adult conversatia bit of craic with the girls.

Charlie in now 1!! Which is so hard to belive as I just started this blog shortly after he was born and it doesn't seem that long ago.

Have been busy so haven't made that much. A few crocheted brooches and the beginnings of a scarf. Will also post pics of these soon.

Busy! Busy! Busy!

It had been ages since I have blogged anything but I have been very busy with scraobpooking and I still have a ton of stuff to do!!

I spent most of October and November typing up and producing a cookbook to help raise funds to but bible for Christians in Asia. That went really well and we have raised over £2000 which is fantastic.

I was asked to make a few scrapbooks for gifts and so far have completed one and need to make another two. I enjoyed that as I got to buy lots of lovely things with someone else's money!! The first book turned out really well and the receipient is delighted!

I made a few of my Christmas presents from a mini-book to chilli jam. All accepted with pleasure. So here's a few pics of the things I have been doing!

This is Granny's Christmas Card. Charlie got his photo taken with Santa and Ian thought it would be a nice idea to give it to his mum as a card. Aren't these papers gorgeous!! They are from the Swell Noel collection from K & Co.

Great Granny Doo got this calender. I did a bit of rough applique on the top to create the tree and the birds. I was going to use a printable linen to make this calender but (typically!!!) ruined it went I put it through the printer. Will have to try and make use of it somehow! So I ended up using a printable canvas which worked really well and probably ended up make the whole thing stiffer.

I took picture of the scrapbook and the jam but can't find them at the moment so I will blog about those later.

Here is my current to do list: -

1. make a cot bumper for Charlie

2. Complete 2 more mini - books for a friend

3. Gloves for Ian for the bike

4. a Charlie's first Christmas mini-book

5. My 2009 book (got the idea from Shimmelle Lane's website)

6. Charlie's first year!

Where o where will I get the time??

Also we are moving out next week so that the builders can start the extension and I will be abck to work at Easter!

Phew! I'm sweating just thinking about doing all this stuff!!

Hi to the Holiday Makers!!

Welcome to New A Zealand!!

So far all quite here in NI. Hoping to go over and have lunch with Andrew this afternoon. Anne has taken Charlie out for a walk and I'm trying to get through 3 lots of ironing and tidying the back rooms in that time!! Geeking about on this is eating into that time a bit!!

Charlie doing well - no teeth yet but sleeping and eating great! Weather ok here a bit dull with light rain on and off but that's to get worse by the weekend!

Ask the New Zelanders if they're on Facebook cause I can search for them and keep in touch that way maybe!

Enjoy!! Chat soon!

Chuckling Charlie!

This is Charlie's first real laugh and I hope that you enjoy it as much as me!! By the end of the silliness he's not sure whether to laugh or cry! Please excuse the singing!!

Nana's Brag Book

I have just completed a Brag book for my Mum as she's going away on holiday and is going to miss Charlie!! I used the SEI Chick-a-Doo collection. I splashed out on the epoxy and puff stickers. The kit I bought also had iron on velvet stickers - Gorgeous!! I'm only going to post a few pics here but you can see them all on Flickr or Two Peas in a Bucket.

I also made a wee bag to store it in and keep it from getting torn. I used a Maya Road Coffee Break Album. This worked well, although as I used a lot of 3D stickers the book had to expand a bit so the back cover doesn't close over properly. You can't really notice it.

I am now about to purchase some great fabric off etsy to make Charlie a cot bumper to keep him cosy over the winter. Yeah!! Can't wait till it arrives and I can start making it. It's quite expensive but just look at those dimples!!

Weaning! HELP!

What is the crack with weaning? Charlie's on solids and we've not got a clue how to mix milk and solids! When we give him some YUMMY baby rice(!!!) do we give him less milk in the bottle or just the same as usual? He's getting 5 bottles a day so do we cut this down???

I'm scared of over feeding him - my Mum thinks I'm turning into a Feeder!

Also he's eating a lot of bibs, paper, soft toys, my hair and anything else he can get squeezed in but I don't suppose those things count as a meal?? He's sitting on me knee at mo trying to eat a small furry rabbit and the computer desk! Delicious!

Latest Additions to Charlie's Book

I've finally got around to scanning the latest pages of Charlie's scrapbook, all about the pregnancy etc. I have only two pages left to do and I can really see the changes in my style of the last year. I've really enjoyed noting all the changes and things I've felt and hope that Charlie like reading it when he gets big enough to understand. Hope you like the pages!

Scrapbooking Zombie!

It's 12:30am here and I'm just about to head to bed after a srcapbooking frenzy! Haven't done any scrapbooking since Charlie was born so I thought I had better catch up. Got 4 pages done for his mini-book and have a few more ideas up my sleeve to finish it off.

Charlie got some injections today which went ok. He weighs 16' 12.5"! He's a bruiser!! He will be 16weeks old on Friday and I can hardly believe time has gone so fast. He has changed so much and he's giggling and screaming like mad!

I'll scan my new pages in tomorrow, but now off to bed!

My First Quilt

I can't believe that I have actually finished my quilt for Charlie. I started it about 4 months ago but then he came along and put a spanner in the works! I'm really pleased with how it looks, although some of the stitching is more than a bit ropey! But Charlie won't notice! I love the Alexander Henry fabric and would love to make some more things with it.

I decided to make one after going to a geeky craft show with my other nerdy friend!! There were loads of quilts on display which were really modern and trendy and then I discovered Flickr! WOW!! There are millions of quilts on this site! I spent hours looking through them and finally was inspired to design my own. Now I know it's not fab and my quilting definately leaves a lot to be desired but for a first attempt I feel it's not bad! Hopefully as I make more I will become more skilled and they will begin to look more professional!

Just noticed the other day that the matt finish on my changing mat has gone shiny from use! Will know for again just to use the vinyl with the shiny finish to save any hassle. I fancy making one of those cot bumpers to match my quilt but not sure if I can manage it.

Charlie's Baptism

Our wee baby boy was baptised on Sunday. It was a really lovely service and Dad was able to bring us into the service and pray for us after Charlie was baptised. It is daunting to realise that we as Charlie's parents have promised to bring him up as best we can and teach him about Jesus.

There are so many times when we don't have a godly attitude towards each other but as Charlie grows we are going to have to be more aware of the Christian examples we will be to him.

We just pray that God will grant us the wisdom to be good and faithful parents who will draw Charlie to Jesus and that one day he will make a committment to Jesus himself.

Charlie's Changing Bag

I finally finished Charlie's bag. It has turned out ok but I wish that I had added padding all the way round. The sides are a bit floppy. I might re-do the sides if I get time. I pleased with how the handle turned out as this is the first time I used rectangle rings and a slider. It means that we can either carry the bag or hang it on the buggy. I quilted a few stars onto the front but you can really see them. I should have used a brighter coloured thread. If I take the bag apart again I will sort out the quitling. The bag is bunged already with all of Charlie's bits and pieces.

Bag Making Marathon Take 2!

I managed to finish the bag I started at the course and have started Charlie's baby bag! I'm pleased with how my first quilted bag turned out. There's not too much quilting, just a little around some of the circles. If I was doing it again I think that I would add more.



Charlie's bag is coming along. The brown star fabric is the outside along with a blue spotted front and sides. The green spotted fabric is the inside lining. I'm going to add a few pockets for bits and pieces. I am using a pattern from 'Sew Many Bags, Sew Little Time" which has quite a few nice simple patterns.

Bag Making Overload!

I am on a bag making marathon! I was at a bag making class yesterday, which I really enjoyed. I didn't get my new bag finished so I had to complete it tonight. Got that done and then have started making Charlie's new baby bag. It won't take long to make, it's just getting the time at the moment! Hoepfully I'll get it done tomorrow night.

I'm also going to the hairdressers tomorrow to get a long needed injection of style into my hair.I can't wait! It's got so long and it now takes forever to dry. Hopefully a chop will sort that out!

Charlie Saying Hello!

My parents were on holiday for a few days last week and were getting withdrawal symptoms from Charlie so I had to send them a pic or video every day.

This is Charlie saying hi to his Nana and Papa. He was just getting into cooing at this stage and his arms and legs are flying about like crazy!

Chubby Cheeks!

I can't help laughing at this pic of Charlie!! He looks totally taken by surprise! Look at the chubby cheeks. This was taken last week and his cheeks have expanded rapidly since then.

He is 9 weeks old today and it is so hard to believe! Charlie is beginning to get into a wee routine and he's smiling, cooing and talking away. It's great!

Ian and I could stare at him for hours! We have been truly blessed by the gift of our son!

Exhaustion

Charlie has roasted the last few days due to our heat wave!! So he's been very clingy and I'm exhausted! But he's lying beside me now sleeping and you would not give him back!! He looks so peaceful and quiet.


I have a mountain of ironing to do and 3 pair of jeans to patch for my little brother but I think that I will just relax here for a wee while and then start into all of the above!


I feel like I need a sewing fix. I want to use some of my new fabric but I just can't get the time. I think I need to be more organised! When does the routine stage of a new baby kick in? Ever?

Introducing Charlie

This is Charlie! Now I know that I am a bit biased but I do think that he is a wee cutie! He is now 5 weeks old and starting to smile and coo at us which is really lovely!

I should be writing the thank you letters for his gifts but I'm skiving by customising my new blog.

He's just drifting off to sleep beside me after a feed.