Happy 1st Birthday!

Last Saturday we celebrated Jemimah's first birthday. It was a beautiful day, filled with sunshine, warmth and smiles!

It is hard to believe she is already a year old! Standing on her own, waving and saying "ba ba" when papa leaves for work, saying "mama" all the time! : ) Last night she took her first steps on her own! It is so sweet to see her smile with joy over this new achievement.

Before my family and Adam's family arrived for her party I took some pictures of the birthday girl. In the picture above she is wearing the dress I wore on my first birthday! Mom had tucked it away, and then gave it to me last year. My grandma had purchased the dress for my first birthday. I certainly do wish grandma could have met Jemimah. I know she would have so pleased to see her in this dress.

The day was so lovely; as you can see Jemimah was quite captivated by the flowers. In this picture she is wearing the birthday dress I made for her. I am hoping share more pictures of the dress in a future post.

I am so grateful for our little girl. She has been such a blessing to Adam and I! Each day Jemimah is like a ray of sunshine with her precious smile and love.

My sister Rachel is an artist in baking and cake decorating! She created the prettiest little cake for Jemimah, as well as a sheet cake for the rest of us. Rachel made the cakes in the same colors as Jemimah's birthday dress. Not only were the cakes beautiful, they were delicious!

Jemimah had never eaten cake before, and it took a couple seconds for her to realize that she could eat it on her own. Once she had a taste though I could tell she was thrilled. : )

"This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

A Little Heartwarmer

A while ago I discovered this charming heartwarmer pattern. I have always been a fan of shawls and heartwarmers. They are so cozy and old-fashioned. There is nothing quite like wearing a shawl while drinking a cup of tea on a cool autumnal morning!

 The idea of knitting a heartwarmer for my little darling was definitely appealing to me, as a shawl was not really practical. The little side button added extra charm to the piece, and heartwarmers always make me think of "Little Women". : )

My mom gave me these sweet little wooden button with etched flowers. I thought they were the perfect choice!

 The pattern was very easy to follow, and offers two sizes. However with the adjustable buttons you could probably adjust the sizing even further. Mostly the pattern is comprised of a garter stitch and easy increases, excepting some subtle patterning a few rows before finishing.

Jemimah is enjoying her little heartwarmer, and it certainly warms my heart to see her wearing it over her calico dress! In fact I enjoyed this pattern so much I have another on my needles right now in a soft white alpaca blend.

Calico Rompers

Earlier this summer I sewed two calico rompers for Jemimah using McCall's 7107. Is is an easy and adorable pattern. I love the added detail of little pockets, so sweet!

                      I found the perfect little flower buttons in my collection to coordinate with the fabrics.

McCall's 7107 did not include a peter pan collar, so I used a collar from another baby pattern. I embroidered a rose bullion and leaves on the collars in colors to match the flowers in the fabric. I do enjoy seeing little embroidered collars on baby clothes!

Snaps make for easy diaper changes. In the future I would like to invest in a proper snap setting tool, as I found my hand sewn snaps don't stay snapped as securely as would like, especially when my little one is crawling.

Here is my little darling wearing her romper in our garden last month. I think she has enjoyed wearing her rompers almost as much as I enjoyed sewing them, and seeing her wear them. : )

Nighttime Lullabies

Sweet bedtime lullabies and prayers . . . just before you turn out the light.
A case-bound padded board book from the Really Woolly^® brand gives children sweet lullabies to help them fall asleep. Little ones will love the charming Really Woolly illustrations, engaging verse, and Scripture from the International Children’s Bible^® that allow them to drift off in sweet dreams, knowing they are loved and safe. Prayer starters also encourage children to end their day talking to God.
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Really Woolly Nighttime Lullabies 
By: Bonnie Rickner Jensen
Illustrated by: Donna Chapman

 "Nighttime Lullabies" is truly a sweet and calming read. Each page includes a lovely illustration, a scripture, poem and prayer. Each verse is meant to remind the little reader (or listener) that Jesus is watching over them and promises to guard them and give them His peace. It is the perfect book to open up before bedtime to remind anxious little ones of God's constant care and that there is no need for fear. I found the poems to be well written and soothing.

It is hardcover and the pages are thick board as well, making it a great book for my little one to enjoy on her own too. I was truly blessed by the beauty and simplicity of this book! I would highly recommend "Nighttime Lullabies".

*I received a complimentary copy of "Nighttime Lullabies" from Book Look Blogger in exchange for my honest review*

A Thrifty Little Dress

 Last month my mom gave me a blouse she no longer wanted. She had purchased the blouse a couple years ago at a thrift store. The color was a soft lavender and it was 100% rayon, but too big for her.  She hated to just toss the blouse, because it was pretty and comfortable. That was when she had an idea! Mom thought that there might be enough fabric to sew something for Jemimah, and that the color would look  lovely with her blue eyes. Mom was right! : )

I pressed the blouse and then set to work laying out the pattern pieces. It was a lot easier than I thought. The front and back of the blouse were a perfect width and length for the skirt. I cut the ruffle sleeves from the sleeves of the blouse and then with what I had left from the front and back I was able to cut out my front and back pieces of the yoke.

It is a very lovely little summer dress, and the fabric hangs so nicely. Since it is 100% rayon it is also cool and comfortable in the summer weather. I think this dress is my favorite "momma made" garment for Jemimah so far.

One challenge in the construction of this dress came when I discovered a small bleach stain and hole. Thankfully it was just about an inch or so above the hem. I carefully mended the hole and then added trim to cover the mended spot. I was very pleased with the added elegance of the trim, but as I stitched the trim in place I realized the trim almost met in the back! I did not have quite enough trim to overlap my raw edges of trim.

I fiddled with the scraps of fabric, contemplating how a little patch might look.... and then I remembered these sweet little flower appliques I had in a tin! They were a free gift with an order of trim years ago. I sorted through the different color flowers and was satisfied with how the blue looked against my fabric. Now that all is said and done I rather like the little flower "patch" in the back of the dress. It is an added touch of homemade whimsy.

So as you can see this is a very thrifty little dress: an old blouse destined to be tossed, a remnant of trim and some free flower appliques. I think that is one of my favorite things about sewing for a baby, you don't need much to make something sweet and adorable!

Smocked Dress

 This past week my sister and her husband welcomed a sweet baby girl into their family! In honor of her arrival I made my niece a little smocked dress.

It had been quite a while since I smocked anything, and I thoroughly enjoyed working with this soft lavender calico! The delicate print and color made me think of English lavender, which is perfect for this little lady. Her middle name is Bronte. : )

Once the fabric is pleated it is quite relaxing to sit back and work on the smocking. I love how such simple stitching can give a dress a beautifully detailed look.

For the back of the dress I used tiny white heart buttons. They have been in my button box for a while and I thought they were the perfect finishing touch.

Lacy Crochet Baby Afghan

Last week I completed Jemimah's baby afghan. I had begun crocheting this afghan before Jemimah was born, but it was set aside soon before her birth and I never quite found the time to complete it until this past month.

Originally I planned to use another pattern for her afghan, but I was not totally pleased with the outcome. So I decided to unravel what I had begun and search for a pattern on-line. I love looking for free patterns on Pinterest. : )

 It was during this search that I discovered the most delightful crocheting blog, Lacy Crochet. Olga, the author of the Lacy Crochet blog, is a fabulous crocheter and offers a beautiful variety of free patterns. If you enjoy crocheting I would highly recommend checking out her blog. The pattern was very easy to follow and I am so pleased with the finished results.

Here is a link to the pattern I crocheted: Lacy Baby Blanket. The only change I made was to add a shell border.

I am sure that Jemimah will find her new afghan cozy and perfect for nap time.

My Keepsake Bible

Back in January I received "My Keepsake Bible" by Sally Ann Wright from Tyndale to review. I was immediately delighted with the quality: padded cover, beautifully illustrated, Bible stories written in short story format, sweet little prayers based on Psalms. Being a first time mom I was also very pleased with the pages to dedicate the book, record family tree and baby's "firsts".

Adam and I have enjoyed reading the Bible stories and prayers aloud to Jemimah. She seems to enjoy listening while taking in the colorful illustrations. 

This would make a wonderful gift for a new baby, but would be greatly enjoyed by a child too. I would definitely recommend "My Keepsake Bible", and I am so very pleased to have received a copy of this book for my own little girl. : )

You can find more information about "My Keepsake Bible" HERE.

*I received a complimentary copy of "The Keepsake Bible" from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review*

Knit Booties

Last week I finished knitting these sweet little booties for Jemimah using the Saartje's Bootee pattern. I had seen this pattern recommended on a couple of other blogs for it's simplicity. It was a fun little project and the pattern was easy to follow.

Since we are still in the thick of winter where I live, it seemed like a good idea for Jemimah to have something extra cozy for her little feet, and these certainly are cute and cozy. I knitted the larger size and they fit Jemimah really well, with a little room to grow.

What cozy projects are you working on this week?

February

February has been a month of cold days, but a warm hearth. We have had a lot of snow this month and some beautiful sunrises! It has been a great month to stay by the wood stove with a cup of tea and knitting. Here is my month in pictures. 

I took this photo one morning as I was leaving to spend the day with my mom. The sunrise was so pretty, my pictures cannot do justice to the colors! You can see a sliver of moon in the sky too.

Dear Adam has kept very busy shoveling most evenings. Here he is in his cozy winter garb. These pictures were taken earlier in the month, at this time the snow is a good deal taller!

                                       The pastel colors of the sky some mornings have been fabulous.

                                        My special Valentine's roses and card from Adam! He is the best. : )

         I baked Adam and my mom homemade cherry pies for Valentine's day using this delicious recipe from Delightful Handwork. I had always used canned cherry pie filling in the past, this is so much better! Another favorite recipe this month is Peasant Bread, very easy and goes great with homemade soup.

We are spending more time sitting around the stove. Some evenings we even eat our meals in the living room. And it is a free clothes drier. : )

Jemimah turned five months this week. These past five months have gone soooo fast!! Why look she is already learning to play the piano! She loves her special time with papa in the evenings.

Jemimah is such a sweet baby, and an absolute joy to our days. It is wonderful to see her grow and develop. Her laugh is the sweetest sound ever and her smiles are irresistible.

Currently I am knitting some booties and a sweater for Jemimah. I have found so many terrific patterns on-line, I just wish I were a faster knitter.

Lately I have been sewing aprons for "Lilacs in Spring". Here is a pattern I just recently sewed. It is an original 1940's pattern. I loved the finished results and plan to sew another from the purple fabric underneath the pattern for myself.

 I am presently reading "The Gold Shoe" by Grace Livingston Hill. As always Grace Livingston Hill is one of my favorite authors! She has a wonderful way of drawing me in within the first few pages. This story begins with a blizzard- perfect for this winter.

Tasha has settled into her new home. She seems to grow more mischievous each passing day. But she is very loveable.

Adam found this cute little bird out in the snow one day while shoveling. We think it is a brown creeper.

Hope you all have had a lovely February!

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 
 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.” Psalm 91:1-2

Jemimah's First Dirndl

 Every October my sister Rachel hosts an Oktoberfest dinner at her home. Rachel is a terrific cook, and with our German background on my mom's side, preparing a German feast seems to come naturally to Rachel. It is an event we anticipate each year!

This year we were all hoping to dress in German attire, but with time limitations we were only able to sew outfits for the little ones. I sewed Jemimah her first little embroidered dirndl.

For years now my mom has been sewing German inspired outfits for our business. We had designed patterns for girls' sizes over the years, but did not have one small enough for a newborn. Adam suggested I might use my doll pattern, and maybe he had a good suggestion! : )

I decided to design my own pattern by drawing out the pattern shapes, but in scale with a newborn jumper pattern I had on hand. It ended up being too big, but I know she will eventually grow into it.

I hand embroidered the inset, but was unable to get a good close-up. It was fun to use the colors from the skirts calico in the embroidery.

And here is a photo of my mom, with my nephew Micah wearing the lederhosen that mom designed and sewed. They were adorable, but it is really hard to take a photo of a two year old!