NumberNineteen

The Second Shower

A few weeks after the fact, but better later than never, n'est-ce pas? Finally, photos of the second of the two baby showers that I threw for my sister, this one at her place in Boston.  I found those Martha Stewart tissue paper flowers & after that, the theme was set.  I stamped invites in two shades of blue flowers to match. 

The party was great & I got to see several of her friends that I hadn't seen since Terri's wedding, in 2001.  I also caught up with an old friend of Terri's from high school, with whom she recently re-connected.  Turns out, they currently live about 2 blocks from each other, over 400 miles from where we grew up!  And, last, but certainly not least, I discovered that one of Terri's friends is a follower of my blog.  That was super-cool to find out & it was really great to talk to her.  She is trying to convince me to move to her neighborhood in the Boston area, and, if we ever move up there, she has me convinced!

Terri received some really great gifts, both practical & really creative.  In addition to the super secret quilt, she received several handmade items, including the adorable sock monkey shown above. 

Now that the showers are over & the quilt is finished, I'm attempting to get to things in my life that I was neglecting while planning & sewing & so on.  You may actually see a few non-nephew related posts.  But, not for long.  He is due in 6 weeks, after all :)

The Secret Quilt

I've been working on a super secret project since November, but haven't been able to even mention that there was a project in the works, much less what it was!

Here it is! A quilt for my little guy, the little baby in my sister's tummy that in 7 short weeks will be my nephew!!!! I'm just a *little* excited to be his aunt, so I wanted to make him a super special thing that he could play on & use & every time he sees it, it will make him think of how much his aunty loves him and when he is big, it will bring back good little kid memories. 

Here's the thing.  I don't quilt.  I never have made a quilt or a blanket or anything resembling a quilt.  But, a week after she told me that she was preggers (I was the first to know, after my brother in law!!! To say that I was (am) honored is an understatement :)), I was in this quilting store in Salem, IN (if you are ever in the area, GO.  It's amazing & makes you want to do foolish things like what I'm about to tell you about).  And, everything was so inspiring & beautiful & I wanted to make something perfect, so I decided to make a quilt. Because, hey, if other people can do it, why can't I?  I chose the most adorable vintage inspired children's prints, all with a 1950's primer theme.
 

The starting off wasn't too bad, piecing it & all.  But, the quilting...hmmmm....you'd think that the straight lined diamond pattern would be super easy, right?  Well, it was really hard to evenly space all of those lines & keep everything straight & well, I'm not really good about getting things all SO.  And so, it took me a long time. Just about every Sunday afternoon for months.  I know, pathetic.  But, I got it done in time for the baby shower at my sister's home in Boston.

So, don't look at it too closely.  Just see all of the love in it.

It's All About Hope

Isn't she the most scrumptious thing ever in her ballerina costume?  She had her first dance recital 2 weeks ago & we are so proud of her, even if she did cry once she was on the stage....nevertheless! She was just the sweetest little ballerina & we treated her to a day full of fun....



Yummy ice cream at a roadside stand that's only open during the summer...


And, had our first Mommy & Daughter pedicures!!

The very next day, we set up her Big Girl Bed!!!

It was SUCH a fun weekend and it made me so happy to spend all of that great time with Hope, doing fun-we-don't-have-to-be-anywhere-but-here stuff.  That is the GOOD stuff.