Nana Knits

There is nothing nicer than a Nana knitted garment. My kids are very lucky in that they have my Mother-in-law, my Mum and my Nana (amongst others) that knit for them!

My Mother-in-law recently finished knitting this gorgeous double breasted car coat and beret for Isabelle. The wool she used is so lovely and soft and is a merino, possum blend. The pattern is from the book Vintage Knits for Modern Babies by Hadley Fierlinger. I love this book it is so awesome!

 

If you’ve been following my blog for a while you might remember the Vintage Pixie Hat I knitted for Isabelle, also from this book.

My, how much she’s grown!

Thank you Nana Jocelyn for such a lovely coat and hat, I know Isabelle is going to get a lot of wear out of them both this and probably the next Winter to come!

linking up with WKWW and (on behalf of my Mother-in-law’s awesome skillz) my creative space ,  Show and Tell and make it wear it.

Jen x

P.S. Have YOU entered my giveaway yet? It closes tomorrow (20/6/13) so you better get in quick!

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A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Isabelle: “I’m a cat!” My poor wee girl has been struck down with a nasty cold hence the rugging up when outside (at least her winter woolies are adorable, right? You might as well be warm and stylish!)

Noah: Loving the sparklers. He was also hit with the cold but is such a little battle-axe, always quick to shake off bugs quickly and not one to moan about it.

Pipi: All toasty and warm. Pipi has been the latest casualty of this nasty cold. Turns out it’s hard to feed with a blocked nose. My Mother-in-law was visiting in the weekend and suggested I put vicks vapour-rub on myself so she could breathe it in while feeding – such a great tip!

Joining in over here

To see more of my weekly portraits go here.

Jen x

I ♥ Book Depository

When I have a new baby I like to aid in the toddler-baby bonding process through reciprocal gift giving. The kids meet the new baby and present him/her with a little gift and the baby, in turn also gives them a wee pressie. It’s also a nice way of making a bit of a fuss of the older kids in a time when everything seems to be about the new baby. I did it when Isabelle was born and then again with Pipi (although I think Noah did wonder how Pipi stored her gifts while in-utero! He’s a thinker, that one!)

Because my kids have a copious amount of toys, I/ Pipi decided that their gifts this time would be books which I bought from Book Depository.

I’d heard about Book Depository a couple of years ago, but this is the first time made a purchase from them. I was pretty impressed. With free shipping worldwide and over 9 million titles available, what’s not to like? Plus their prices are soooo much cheaper than my local book stores.

For example, I bought Igy Peck, Architect for Noah for NZD $13.75*, compared to our main bookselling chain which stocked it at the price of $27.99 at that time.

And the book I bought Isabelle, Belle & Boo and the Birthday Surprise; I bought for $19.01 compared to $29.99.

Igy Peck, Architect was a perfect fit for Noah, as Andrew has a little architecture practice and Noah seems to also share his Dad’s passion for construction and design (see one of his Kindy ‘creations’ below!) And the storyline and illustrations are wonderfully quirky, so it’s a joy to read as an adult (over and over again, as I’m often requested to!)

Belle & Boo and the Birthday Surprise was perfect for my little (Isa)Belle too and I love the sweet storyline and gorgeous illustrations. It also had the bonus of a gorgeous free A4 sized print which Isabelle now has framed, hanging in her room.

I love all things Belle & Boo and have just pre-ordered The Belle & Boo Book of Craft from Book Depository! Yay!

Here are a couple more books that I have on my Book Depository wish list:

Crafty books:

Make Hey While the Sun Shines  / Oliver + S Little Things to Sew

Books for the kids that remind me of my childhood:

The Milly Molly Mandy Storybook / The Jolly Postman /  Go Dog Go!

Actually, I’m tempted to buy Go Dog Go! right now, it would be a perfect learn to read book for Noah and I do have a little credit in my paypal account. My brother, sister and I still talk about this book. We had a tree at one of our childhood homes that was right up the back of the section and we used to climb up and have a great view of our whole neighbourhood. We used to call it the ‘Go, Dog, Go tree’! Ah the nostalgia!

What books are on your wish list/ do you love from your childhood?

Jen x

*All prices in this post are in NZD. The prices quoted are what there were when I made my purchases and of course do fluctuate.

Also, you should know (in the interests of full disclosure) as a Book Depository affiliate I earn commission if someone buys a book from there after being referred from my blog. However, you should also know that I never recommend something I don’t stand behind. And lets be honest, I’m probably just going to spend it on more books.

Finishing touches

Remember this post where I announced that Pipi's hexagon quilt was complete? (possibly the longest hyperlink ever!)

Well I was LYING! You would have thought that I was happy to see the back of making so many teeny-tiny hexagons, but NO!

At the end of last week I sewed up another 7 to make this little personalised patch on the back of Pipi's quilt.

I girl-ified the gender neutral colour scheme of grey, yellow and teal by adding a pink hexagon in the middle. When Pipi has her own room I plan add splashes of hot pink here and there including (hopefully) a framed bit of something from here – a very appropriately named local cafe (and cookbook) – I just love their branding (and their food’s pretty good too!)

Versacraft is ink that can go on fabric and you simply iron it a couple of times to heat set it.

Pipi seems pretty pleased with her now personalised quilt, don’t you think?

Joining in with my creative space ,  Show and Tell  and Sew and Tell Saturday

Jenny

PIPI GRACE– 1 month

I had been planning on charting Pipi’s growth and milestones in monthly ‘chair’ posts as I have seen all around the blogosphere, but then when I posted this pic on Facebook and Cass suggested that I chart Pipi’s growth in relation to her quilt. Genius! (Although really it’s just an excuse for me to post heaps more photos of my gorgeous babe and her quilt… but I guess my secret plan is now foiled!)

Yesterday on the 9th of June, Pipi turned 1 month old and today we had a midwife appointment which confirmed that Pipi now weighs 4150g up from 3340g at birth (810g increase) and that she is thriving well – go Pipi!

Because I’m with her all the time I find the growth less noticeable than others, but seeing those 2 photos side by side – I can really see it!

Other observations are that Pipi’s much more alert, smiling a bit and all round a pretty chilled out little girl. I can’t wait to see all the other little milestones reached and see her personality develop further.

‘Oh, Hi!’

“Waaaa!”

Thank you for letting me (once again) bombard you with all those baby cheeks and hexagons!

Jen x

Stills

Little bits and pieces of our week

1 & 2 –  warm baby tootsies. / crunching autumn leaves underfoot

3 & 4 –  enjoying cosyness inside with extra layers on the bed and my new Mr & Mrs pillows  (If you haven't entered my giveaway for The Art Room, you really should! / enjoying crisp wind and sunshine outside enjoy while on this walk.

5 & 6 – brand new smiles / old(er) ones

7 & 8 – A now finished little craft project (to be revealed soon.) / A new project in the works (to be revealed much later.)

It was unintentional to pair these photos together like that, but it just seemed to work out that way (although some are more forced than others) – a happy accident, I guess!

What little things have made you smile this week?

Joining in with the lovely Em at The Beetle Shack

x

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“A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Noah:  toi-toi waving

Isabelle: leaf gathering

Pipi: simply being gorgeous

(These photos were taken on a walk we enjoyed today with Nana and Tony – on the same Limestone track as enjoyed here and here.)

Joining in over here

To see more of my weekly portraits go here.

Jen x