Back with some news

Apologies for the long break I've had from the blog! I've been really busy with some website work and the stuff I do as a volunteer for the NCT, which hasn't left me much time on the laptop to do anything else. That's part of the excuse. The other part is that I've been feeling very sick and tired over the last few weeks (although the nausea is starting to subside now, thank goodness). And it's all because of this gorgeous little thing:

 Due at the beginning of January 2012. :)

I sold some crafty things!

Well, we have had a very busy few weeks getting ready for our two Mummade stalls at local craft fairs over Easter / May Day. The first, at a local fruit farm, was not that successful - we think due to a lack of advertising - none of the other stallholders had a good day either. But the second, at Malvern's May Day celebrations, was much more successful. I sold three cake stands made out of old plates, which I was really pleased about! I'll definitely be making some more of those. Just need to hit the charity shops for more plates - as the car boot sale on Monday was useless. Luckily we have a charity shop in Malvern entirely devoted to crockery. I also sold a felted soap - I forgot the sign I had made to explain what they are so I'm not really surprised more of them didn't sell.

Here are some photos of some of the things I made:

My favourite - this one sold but I have another set of these plates to make another (for me!)

This is the only cake stand I have left. Anything left unsold will be up for sale at our summer residency at a local craft shop/cafe.

I sold two cake stands like this one.

Toddler skirt (designed by me) - upcycled from a pair of adult linen trousers

Toddler dress

Presents for 1-year-old boys

Matilda and I went to a lovely 1st birthday party yesterday. The mum had gone to such a lot of effort - baby-friendly foods (including homemade dips, courgette muffins, cheese straws etc), a music session, bubbles, and just a handful of people so it wasn't too overwhelming for any of the babies. The birthday boy even drifted off to sleep while we adults chatted and the babies played. Matilda had a lovely time - sometimes at parties she doesn't really smile and I wonder if it's all a bit much for her - but she was all smiles yesterday, and because it was mostly people she knew she was happy to join in from the start. Much better than a party we went to a few days ago which was mostly for the adults - Matilda was lost in a sea of grown-up legs!

It was another little boy's birthday yesterday too - he and his mum were at the party too - and as both boys' mums are good friends of mine I had two little presents to make. I bought a pack of t-shirts from M&S and used some of my fabric scraps to create applique designs. I also made cards by sewing squares of fabric onto a piece of card.

I made a sling!

Well, I was beginning to think our babywearing days were numbered. The Ergo waist strap had started to dig into me and I couldn't get it comfortable and I just felt like Matilda was too heavy. Another problem was Matilda was really resisting going in it unless she was ready for a sleep, and then crying in it as soon as she woke up. I borrowed a friend's top-of-the-range Macpac rucksack-style carrier but it was no better - incredibly heavy and seemed to pull on my shoulders. It reminded me too much of carrying heavy backpacks on D of E expeditions at school! Then someone from the village gave us their old Baby Jogger 3-wheel pushchair, which Matilda loves and to be honest it's a joy to push up on the hills (although I don't think I'd dare take it on the bus or to the shops - it's huge!)

At the last Sling Meet I was asking for ideas and someone suggested trying a toddler-size mei tai. No-one had one available and then I remembered I had started to make one ages ago but stopped because I couldn't imagine when I'd use it as I was getting on so well with the much-easier-to-use Ergo. I was looking around on the Natural Mamas site for ideas when I came across Podaegi carriers. As I'd already made the shoulder straps, it looked like a quick and easy make - and it was! I used the dimensions from this tutorial. The top section is padded with a layer of fleece, while the top of the straps have four layers of fleece (cut from an old fleece blanket). The main body and strap fabric is a heavy cotton - similar to denim - while the body also has a panel of gorgeous tree/leaves cotton fabric.

I took it out for a test drive yesterday and I was really pleased with it! Sorry about the pics - they're just taken on my phone - I'll try and get some better ones taken soon. I tied it in a ruck-style carry, using the ends to make a chest strap - that way there was no painful waist strap and Matilda was nice and high so she could see over my shoulder.

More Mummade crafting

The blog has been a bit neglected lately - mainly because in the day Matilda really gets annoyed if I go on the laptop (plus it's been such nice weather we've been outside a lot), and in the evening I've had so much other stuff to do (eg freelance web work, writing stuff for NCT newsletter etc) I've just not had time. On the plus side, Matilda has been letting me do some sewing in the day so I have got quite a bit done in the last couple of weeks. Which is a very good thing as we have our next Mummade craft fair coming up. We're having a stall at the Easter Saturday craft market at Clive's Fruit Farm, near Upton. It's our first proper craft fair so we're a bit nervous! I'm planning to make a load of felted soaps, some cake stands made out of recycled plates, and some children's clothes. So far I have made two pinafore dresses and almost finished a skirt. So lots to do! Picture updates will follow...

Chasing shadows

Last week, with the first proper spring sunshine of the year, Matilda had a great time chasing her shadow, waving and pointing at it and trying to step on it. On pancake day we walked over the hills into town to watch the pancake race with some friends. It was a lovely chilled-out day - a picnic on blankets on the grass, watching the ducks on the pond, and following a little shadow around the park.

Last weekend we went to Goodrich Castle to meet up with my sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew. Matilda had a lovely time with her cousins, but refused to wear her gloves and cried when her hands got cold so I ended up having to carry her with her hands tucked into my coat. Wish I hadn't left the sling in the car!

Toddler moments

This week I have been struggling to remain calm in the face of Matilda's increasing awareness of her independence. Too often I've found myself trying to bargain with her, making empty threats or losing my temper. Obviously it doesn't work as she's way too young to understand it! As much as possible we try to go at Matilda's pace but sometimes there are times when we have to be somewhere at a certain time or a limit has to be imposed and then it can get difficult. I've just read Deborah Jackson's Do Not Disturb and that really reinforced the way I would like to parent but let's just say we're learning all the time!

So anyway, I thought I would share some of the lighter moments from our week...

Trying to play with toys despite wearing her 'gubs'.

Eating porridge.

On the big basket swing in the park.

Upsy Daisy having 'Matilda milk'.

Reading to Doll and Bear while Mummy was in the shower.

Helping Mummy cook.

On the climbing frame at the park.

A very huggable hoody.