Recent Sewing

After I had so much fun sewing my new infinity scarf (which has been a big hit by the way, I've worn it a ton already even though I don't need it for nursing yet)I got a major sewing bug! I immediately dove in to some new projects. I am still trying to keep things simple due to my limited time and energy but it felt good to be making something again and I have a few more ambitious projects lined up in the near future.

The first project was my take on this tutorial for a hobo bag. I used their pattern as a guide but ended up drawing my own version of it in a slightly smaller size. I loved my more structured purse that I made earlier this year but wanted something a little more light and Summery that I could take with me on my mini vacations and plentiful trips to the pool that have been happening so much this Spring and Summer. I was able to use all materials that I had on hand which made this even more satisfying and it has been a great little bag to haul around town. I'm enjoying having a nice light purse before I have to switch to a giant diaper bag again ;-)

My next project was for my maternity photos which we had taken just last weekend by my lovely and talented business partner and friend Joanna. We had decided on a "bun in the oven" theme for the photo shoot and did some really cute photos of me, Eric and Echo cooking together. I made Echo and I some matching aprons to wear for the photos.

They are a little wrinkled here since I stuffed them in my bag after the shoot but I think they will make the maternity photos extra special and they will be something that Echo and I can use for years to come. I'll be sure to share some of the professional photos as soon as I get my hands on them.

Above is a close up of the heart appliques that I added for an extra special touch. You can find the tutorial that I used for this project here.  All this sewing has really whetted my appetite for more (I may have an addiction) and I am excited to be starting new projects soon!

Absence Makes the Garden Grow Larger

The garden area looking lush.

Last week I went on a little five day mini vacation to visit my brother in DC and while I was gone my garden shot up like crazy! Ok, so I realize posts about my garden are not interesting to anyone but me. However it's my blog so I'll do what I want ;-P Seriously though, I like to be able to look back and compare things year to year so I find it helpful to record this kind of thing here.

Let me tell you, my garden is a great big hot mess this year! That being said it's also shaping up to be my most successful gardening year to date. There is a lot going on here that I am excited about and a lot that could be done waayyy better in the future but it's all pretty fun and exciting to watch.

My first problem is that I totally mixed up all my seeds when I was starting them inside and now I have no idea what things are (blame my pregnancy brain). For example the photo on the above left could be of zucchini or of acorn squash, I really don't know which. If it is zucchini it could be one of several varieties. The above right photo could be ground cherries or tomatillos, apparently the plants look similar and I can't figure out what it is by looking online (at least not in a the amount of time I'm willing to spend on it which is not much).

My other biggest problem is that I have things planted much too closely together. I know not to do this but I always end up doing it every year. I get way too excited and try to squeeze in as much as possible without allowing enough room for plants to spread. *Sigh* maybe someday I'll learn :-)

Bush beans flowering

 One the plus side things are growing splendidly out in the gardens and everything is just beginning to bloom which is very exciting. I've also been able to grow some things that I have never had success with in the past such as carrots (seriously, these are supposed to be so easy!) and cilantro (I was about to give up on this but gave it one more try) and they are turning out great this time around!

Cilantro

Moving the gardens to a sunnier location has really paid off and we have been lucky enough to have a nice rainy spring which has made taking care of the garden really easy.

Lettuce and carrots

Now if I can only figure out what everything I've planted actually is then I will be in business! I have high hopes for successful crops of some kind or another as the Summer progresses though!

Breastfeeding Infinity scarf

Ok guys, I am officially in my Third trimester! Woo hoo! The past few weeks I have been feeling very third trimester, as in suuuppper tired. I haven't had enough energy to keep the house clean and stay on top of dinner much less do anything fun or creative. Well yesterday I treated myself to a large homemade iced coffee in the afternoon that left me feeling wonderfully refreshed (caffeine restrictions while pregnant have gone out the window) and I got to spend some time with my much loved but lately neglected sewing machine. 

As much as I would love to sew up a bunch of cute stuff for baby Clover I simply don't have the time or energy. However an infinity scarf is something even this busy momma can handle and it was fun to make somethign I can use when our new baby arrives. I got the idea from this tutorial  but it really couldn't be easier. You basically take a rectangle and sew the ends together. When finished the scarf can be worn like a normal infinity scarf or unfolded and draped across your chest if you need a little extra cover while nursing. 

I had this awesome piece of really stretchy green fabric that I picked up in the scrap bin at Joanne's which was perfect for the project. Not only is it light and soft but it happens to be my exact favorite color in the whole world. I love that mossy green shade. I still felt it seemed a little plain so I decided to silk screen a little fern design on it (although in retrospect maybe I should have done a clover, hmm...).

 I had a really hard time taking pictures of this on myself so my apologies for the terrible selfies. At least they get the point across, showing the two ways the scarf can be worn.

Just a note on breastfeeding covers in general, I'm not a huge fan of them. I really never used one when i was nursing Echo and I strongly believe that women should be free to breastfeed in public and uncovered without shame. However there are always some circumstances where you might like a little privacy so it's nice to have a cute option in case you decide you need or want to cover up. Again, i never used a cover with Echo and I'm not sure if I will with Clover either but I figured if I don't ever use this one as a nursing cover at least I will have a cute new scarf!

Sandbox for Echo

One of the things on Eric's to do list for a while now has been to build Echo a little sand box to play in. He actually built it a while ago but I keep forgetting to post photos. We put it out by our blueberry bushes in the front yard so that I can see her from the garden. The idea was that I could work in the garden while she played in the sand but she almost always wants to help me when I work in the garden so we usually just play in the sand together after I am done gardening.

This is such a simple toy to make but such a huge hit! My parents got her some sand toys to play with and we were able to pick up a few more from the dollar bin at Target so she has lots of things to build and shovel with.

It's pretty small at this point so it may need to be expanded after Clover is big enough to want to play in it too but it's a great size for Echo right now. When the girls outgrow it we will probably convert it in to another raised garden bed.

April Photos

Holy Moly this month got away from me! I have a ton of photos to share but had very little time to blog (apparently). I'd love to say I'll do better next month but things are looking busier and busier until our little Clover arrives in late July or early August. Time is really going at warp speed now and our due date will be here before you know it! I will at least promise to do a monthly photo post even if I get nothing else done on here. Hope you all are having a lovely Spring!

Echo and her buddy Milo

We started out the month with some low key get togethers with friends including a cookout, outdoor games and trips to the Botanical gardens.

Cooking out with friends

Echo and her other buddy Nathan at the Botanical gardens

Echo got to enjoy her first Easter egg hunt this year! She absolutely loved it, so much so that she asked to do it again the next day!

We took another trip to Gibbs Gardens to enjoy the blooms and get some outside time. I was starting to notice that 99.9% of the photos I take are of Echo so I tried to photograph some other things as well for the rest of the month. I wonder if this happens to all moms.

My mom did a mini photo shoot of me at the gardens since I hardly ever get to be in pictures any more. She did an awesome job! Here are some of my favorite shots that she took.

I also had fun photographing the family in such a beautiful garden setting.

Lastly we took a little mini vacation to Savannah to do the Sidewalk Arts Festival at my alma mater SCAD! It was so fun and nostalgic to go back, made me miss my college days.

Lunch at the Crab Shack on Tybee Island included lots of kitty petting for Echo

Tybee Island, I didn't get any great shots of Echo at the beach but she sure looks cute in her swim suit huh?

Breakfast at my favorite coffee spot, Gallery Espresso! So many memories here!

It was so fun to see how much the college has developed and grown. It really is an amazing place and I'm so proud to have gone there. They were celebrating their 35th anniversary this year and were giving away sunglasses with a 35 on them. Eric and Echo are both modeling them in the next two photos.

 And lastly here are some shots of some of my favorite square from the festival. Mine is the one with the girl holding the fish bowl.

I have so many more photos from this month, if you want to see them check out my shutterfly!