Baby Blankets to Me by Me

Just a quick picture post on all the blankets that I've made to use for Paige. I'm addicted to blankets! Receiving blankets, minky blankets, knitted blankets, quilted blankets... They're so warm, cozy, and useful! I have some fabrics stashed to make a quilt or two for her once I have a little more time... but until then, this is what I have so far:

Receiving Blanket (Valori Wells flannel)

Receiving Blanket (Valori Wells flannel)

42" Receiving Blanket (Amy Butler "Love" flannel)... and thanks to Megan for helping with Paige's first bath!

42" Receiving Blanket (Amy Butler "Love" flannel) - ignore the hot mess, just-got-home-from-the-hospital so there are piles everywhere, in the background

Cotton / Minky 42" blanket (Jenean Morrison's "Silent Cinema")

Cotton / Minky with silk ruffle 42" blanket (Jenean Morrison's "Silent Cinema")

Double whammy of a cotton/minky blanket AND a receiving blanket!

 So if you ever need a custom-made baby blanket, I'm your girl!

Handmade Sheets

I forgot to post this a few weeks ago. The last items I made in an effort to turn something old into something new were sheets.

I went sheet-crazy with this new baby! I made sheets for two old pack-n-plays, sheets for the vintage swinging bassinet, sheets for the antique Moses basket, and sheets (and a crib skirt) for the crib. Party on Wayne? Party on Garth!

pack-n-play sheet (Sandi Henderson's "Secret Garden")

I am just all-too aware of the gorgeous and fun designer fabrics that are out there compared to what you can find in the store.

moses basket sheet (Sandi Henderson's "Secret Garden")

crib sheet (Art Gallery's "Coquette")

I can't hang with the goo-goo gaa-gaa teddy bears, ducks, pastel blocks, and hearts. I gots to have real color, pattern, and style when it comes to baby things because something has to energize me when I'm getting sleep in 2-3 hour chunks for crying out pity's sake. Actually, that's what motivated me to start Ginger Freckle, come to think of it.

and again... Sandi Henderson's "Secret Garden" fabric for the antique swinging bassinet sheet

Anywhoo... nothing makes my heart sing more than to look at beautiful fabric when caring for little miss Paige.

It Took Me 10 Weeks...

(gratuitous baby picture...)

It took me 10 weeks... but I finally touched my sewing machine! It's a miracle! I haven't sewn since I was literally in labor with Paige. I was making a boppy cover and 3 burp cloths for my very own self 10 weeks ago... and I had to stop to concentrate a lot more on contractions and a little less on sewing (!)
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But this week I had 3 projects that I needed to finish for others but have been having a hard time getting to because Little Miss Paige likes to be held when she's awake and she's still not quite on a schedule. I'm not even going to try to figure out how to sew while holding a baby... although that would solve some of my productivity problems!

My Mom was nice enough to come over to HOLD the baby so I could turn on the sewing machine and get to work. Here's what I finished:

1) A baby blanket for my #1 customer in NY who had a baby shower to attend at the last minute.

This is quilting weight fabric with a minky backing

2) A baby blanket for a close friend whose sister-in-law just had a baby.

This is quilting weight fabric with a minky backing AND a complimentary bias tape edging

3) A personalized baby blanket for my aunt and uncle to give to my cousins who had their first baby 6 weeks after Paige.

This is a fleece-on-fleece knot fringe blanket with applique letters on the solid side

All this time away from sewing has caused me to think a little more about updating my Etsy shop. I'm considering redirecting my focus to creating custom-only work. It seems that keeping an inventory of items to sell isn't the best approach since most customers have their own colors and styles in mind. I'm still mulling it over... but I can feel the winds of change coming on!