minky love

I just can't resist the super softness of minky fabric. Aside from new baby skin, absolutely nothing feels softer. And it's the type of feeling that makes your mind linger back to your childhood, remembering the softness of your blanket against your face and how it made you feel warm and protected. Yep, there's just no better feeling.

So now I'm really excited about the February influx of babies because it means I can get out my new stash of minky fabric and make some more pram blankets for the new lil' ones. But this time I've ditched the bland pastels and opted for bright and bold fabrics. Take a look at the first couple of blankets I made over the weekend...

I really love how these first couple of blankets turned out, especially the navy spot one which was made just in time for the Sunday birth of a sweet lil' boy. I think this blanket and bib will be a great addition to the super cute store bought gifts we've chosen for baby Thomas.

A matching card...

And bold wrapping...

Now off to meet this special lil' man! Bye for now...

Michelle xx

a gift for lil' cupcake

I attended a baby shower this weekend for mummy-to-be Michelle, who loves all things cupcake. Of course I followed the cupcake theme, and this is what I made to celebrate the coming arrival of lil' cupcake:

A cupcake onesie - I used spotted pink corduroy fabric to make the cupcake pan and then gathered and sewed lace onto the onesie to resemble cupcake icing. I added a lil' bow and it was done... easy as that!

Stretch headband - I used stretch lace for the headband and then gathered some pink lace into a rosette. I added a pearl to the rosette and hand sewed it to the headband.

Sock cupcakes - I used 4 pairs of Bonds Bamboo cuff socks and interchanged them so there was a glimpse of white and pink in each cupcake. I think they're perfect for a cupcake themed baby shower!

I think they look so cute together!

Cupcake card - I used the corduroy remnants from the onesie and sewed a cupcake onto plain white cardstock. Simple yet effective. 

Wrapping - I had intended to use pale pink ribbon but out of the hundreds of ribbons in my drawer... not one in pale pink! I had to turn to Plan B - I used the corduroy remnants from the onesie and sewed 2 straight lines down the length of the fabric. I pulled the thread at each end and voila, instant ruffles. I'm so glad I didn't have any ribbon because I think this looks so much cuter!

So there it is, a little handmade addition to Michelle's baby shower! It was a lovely afternoon and I loved all of her handmade touches too!

Michelle xx

my first sewing project - baby minky blankets

After returning from a trip to Thailand and Singapore in June of this year, my parents proudly presented me with a sewing machine for my birthday. Now I'm not sure whether the gift was prompted by my peaking interest in ma's fabric collection or the garbage bag full of mending I left with her before I flew out (and subsequently her way of telling me to do it myself!) - either way, I was ecstatic!

And with ten of my friends expecting lil' ones over the next few months, I thought it was the perfect time to learn how to sew! But aside from a few hem alterations here and there, I haven't sewn anything substantial since I was a teenager. But of course like every other project I've tackled, I jumped in without so much as a thought about a plan! I envisaged a super soft minky blanket and a matching bib and rattle toy that I could add to the store bought component of each lil' one's gift. Impatiently, I set about cutting the fabric and venturing out on my own without a pattern, technique or an iota of common sense. 

Despite almost throwing the sewing machine out of the window on a couple of occasions and getting scolded for a few random pins that may or may not have found their way into hubby's feet, I think I've achieved what I set out to do. And while making each blanket, I've also had the opportunity to have prayer for the mum-to-be and daydream about who her lil' one would resemble. It's been a very contented first project and I can't wait to finish the last of the sets. 

So here are a few of my first attempts - and for the experienced sewers out there... be kind!