Tiny little heart

Knitted from lovely purpley pinky wire, this is teeny. It measures 2cm across at its widest point.

It's too small to be a brooch, and I don't have the findings to make it a necklace, so I've given it to grandma pickledweasel to experiment with. She has a glass kiln, and so she's going to try and embed it into glass. I'll post the results after she next does a firing!

Bib = FAIL

I finished another bib last night, and at first was very pleased with it. It's backed with the same spotty fabric that the pears are printed onto, and it's the same denim jacket as I've used before. I tried a different shape this time, and made it slightly smaller. Munchkin had gone to bed, so I had to find an alternative model (sorry Buddha).

On closer inspection I realised 2 things. a) I had forgotten to sew the velcro on. I was so fixated on getting my applique neat that I forgot all about fastenings - I didn't even cut the velcro out and forget to sew it on, I just forgot about it all together. Grandma pickledweasel is coming round today with her popper putter inner to help save the situation.

b) My topstitching hadn't closed the seam it was meant to. I left about a 3" gap at the bottom of the bib when I was sewing the front and back together, so I could turn the bib right side out. Rather than close it with invisible stitch I thought it would look nice with a line of black stitch round the edge, plus it's really good practice for me and my wayward sewing machine (I tend to go round corners a bit fast). Anyhoo, I didn't sew close enough to the edge. Pah. I'll have to invisible stitch it after all.

Never mind. Practice makes perfect, yes? I'm still liking the pears. I handprinted them with a print block I made yonks ago. I think the spotty fabric is perfect for them.

Mr Gizmo and Munchkin

This is Mr Gizmo. He used to just be called Gizmo, but he has acquired the 'Mr' recently, I don't know why. Maybe he's going through a formal stage.

Anyway, Mr Gizmo and Munchkin are very good friends. They are at about the same level height-wise (at least, when Munchkin is sitting down they are), and they spend lots of time kissing each other. Gizmo affectionately headbutts Munchkin, and Munchkin plants sloppy smackers on him in return.

Munchkin loves the cupboards in the kitchen, and can often be found emptying them of contents and then very carefully putting everything back. She is especially fond of organising Mr Gizmo's food sachets, taking them out of the cardboard box and then putting them back in.

But as you can see from the photos, she's taken it a step further. She has learnt how to feed Mr Gizmo. Fortunately she hasn't worked out how to open the foil sachet, but it's only a matter of time. Shall I start buying him low calorie food?

Mmmmm, Valentine....

I have a huge crush on Valentine Warner. I love his passion for food, his eccentric hair, and that funny grin he does where he shows his gums a bit.

So I am v v excited about his new tv series of What To Eat Now which is on Monday nights on BBC Two. And I may just have to purchase his new book, rather than wait for my library to get it, just because his first book was so good and full of pictures of Valentine that I can drool over fantastic recipes.

And I have his Peach Melba tart in my fridge. Well, actually, a small slice of it is in my tummy, but I'm trying to be restrained so there's some left for mr pickledweasel when he gets home tonight. Plus it's 500 calories per serving. In my Valentine Warner fantasy he would cook me amazing food and then we'd make passionate love on the kitchen table, but I think in reality all that would happen is that I'd get really really fat from all the puddings he'd cook, and have to do the washing up all the time.

A happier bib experience

I've made another bib for lovely baby Rebecca, this time without cheap melty ribbon. I'm very pleased with it, mainly because the little bird works really well, but also because it is considerably less wonky than my last attempt.

I bought a nice soft denim shirt from a charity shop today, so I'll be whipping up some more soon, probably to sell. A question for you all*, if I may: Would you buy a bib with a button on it? Not a button as a fixing, a button as embellishment. I nearly put one on the little bird, but then thought some moms might be a bit worried about baby chewing it off and swallowing it.

I'm not one of those moms, (when gardening the other day I was very pleased that Munchkin only managed to eat soil twice) but I'd appreciate some other opinions. Thanks!

* by 'all', I mean Kitschy Coo, Nifty, and the other couple of people who read my blog :D

A lesson learnt

This is a bib I've made for a lovely new baby called Rebecca, who arrived in the world last week. The denim is from an old jacket I bought from a charity shop, and the pink polka fabric was a cheap piece from my old favourite Abakhan's. It's a little bit wonky, but it's made with love :)

I took the photo this morning before I put the velcro on the tabs at the top. Do you like it? It's pretty, isn't it? Do you like the polka dot ribbon? 'Very cute,' I'm thinking to myself as I give it one last iron before I gift wrap it. 'Oooh, I'll make more with this ribbon, it's really OH MY GOD WHY IS IT SMUDGING???!!'

Don't iron cheap ribbon. Your polka dots will melt :(

Sea, sand and stitches

Sorry I've not posted for a bit, I went on holiday. Again. I know, I seem to do this quite frequently, but it's not usually like this, honest.

Family Pickledweasel very dutifully bought The Sun every day for a couple of weeks* and saved up tokens for those "Everyone goes on holiday for £15!!!!!11!!1!" promotions, and we had 4 nights in a caravan in beautiful Pembrokeshire.

It was very very hot, we had lots and lots of fun, and now we're back to normal life with a big bump, with only slight sunburn and a new taste for sand to remind us of our lovely holiday.

As per usual I did a bit of crafty shopping, and picked up these two tasty fat quarters from Inhouse Quilting in Narberth. I can highly recommend a visit, their shop is full to bursting with lovely fabric, but you can buy online as well.

So now I just have to get through a huge mountain of washing before I can start stitching again...

*I hate The Sun. So much so that I won't even put a link to them. I didn't read it when I bought it, I just cut the token out and put it in the recycling box, honest. But I can recommend their cheap holiday offers, as much as it riles me :)