Author: Marina

And it’s done!

The pram throw quilt for my baby girl is finally ready! lot’s of room for improvement though. I’m thinking of writing a quick tutorial, so I don’t forget the all process! I bet it will pass sometime before I tackle another quilt project, but I loved the experience.

October roundup

October…..31 days to do lots of things is never enough, but it ended up better than expected.
I manage to do almost all the basic things I intended//
  • Cleaning my wardrobe to make room for baby’s stuff // I manage to fit all the extras in just 4 bags. I won’t be able to fit in those clothes for at least the next 6 months!
  • Do baby’s laundry // lost count of how many cycles I’ve done to wash all the clothes we have been kindly given by our friends. But it’s all done now and the tiny clothes are now ready to be used
  • Attend NCT classes // very valuable to have an idea of what to expect before/during/after the baby is born, especially for G!
  • Go the gym // still managing to do swimming, aqua and yoga at least three times a week. Start to feel a bit tired nowadays, but I’ll try ’till the end!
On the project side, I’m not as done as I could have been//
DIY Project 1 – Striped canvas (here and here)
It’s pretty much done, but I’m currently not very happy with the end results…so it’s not going up the wall just yet.
DIY Project 2 – Felted bowls (here)
I made one using two straight needles, but I haven’t felted it yet…so not sure if it works or I need to get a round needle.
DIY Project 3 – Pram throw quilt (here and here)
It’s pretty much done, the only thing missing is the binding on two sided…I ran out of white thread. But I’m very pleased with the results and I’m hoping to blog about it in the next few days including instructions.
DIY Project 4 – Christmas quilted stocking (here)
Haven’t even started on this one…it will go in the November list!
DIY Project 5 – Striped baby blanket (here and here)
It’s coming out pretty well, but it does take time to make it!

I’m starting to think that maybe I was a bit over ambitious, but overall I’m glad I set some goals otherwise I would have ended up doing half of the things that I have actually made!
On another note: So another month has gone by very quickly, leaving only 5 weeks until we’ll meet our little baby, until our lives will change forever, until the unexpected will be ruling our days…until we’ll settle in our new family life made up with more joy, love and excitement!
So November will be the last month, I guess for a while, when I can still plan things, dedicate time to make stuff and work on projects, take time for myself.

Striped canvas – Update


DIY Project 1 – Update 
I finally decided to tackle the first of the October projects…about time! but the thought of using acrylics on a big white canvas was a bit daunting. I started out easily, just using thin paper tape to define each row and then started with the first wash of colours. The bottom part looks smoother than the top, where you can clearly see the changes in colours. Also, after removing the tape I realised some of the paint had moved under it….acrylics on a canvas definitely work differently than watercolours! I’m hoping to be able to rectify things with the second wash.

On another note: When I started the monthly projects plan I thought I was overloading myself with too many things to do and that at the end of the month I would have actually felt as nothing had been done. However, being almost at the end of the month, I’m quite pleased to have at least started the majority of the projects. I know I haven’t finished any yet, but this way I can jump from one thing to another without ever getting bored.

Striped baby blanket – Update

DIY Project 5 – Update
It was in the ‘maybe’ to do list for October, but it quickly became top of the list. As it started to get chilly and dark early in the evening I felt like I needed some kind of activity to do snuggled up on the couch under a throw in front of the tv. And there it was knitting a striped blanket working in garter stitch.
I’m using a very easy pattern of 3 rows, and multiple of 3, changing the colour as I feel like….no plans, just what I think it works best next. 
So far, so good, except some initial mistakes…..
//the first one row of orange yarn was not supposed to be there, but let’s pretend it was done on purpose.
//I slowly mastered the art of adding a new yarn to the work, meaning the passage from one colour to another for the first few colours was not done properly.
The only problem so far…I might run out of yarn sooner than expected!

Pram Throw Quilt – Update

DIY Project 3 – Update
After much debate and testing on shapes and colours, I finally made up my mind on fabric and design for one of my October projects: the pram throw quilt. I will be keeping the outer border in green and change the inner border from yellow to pink. The pinwheels will stay yellow, but instead of turtles I will be quilting pink vases with green stems and yellow/pink flowers.
I have already cut out all the shapes I need from a piece of paper; next step will be ironing and start cutting the fabric…this is the much dreaded bit!