Remember me?  I was having an industrious second trimester, and then I got tired.  That, and I’ve been busy getting Emily ready to start school.  Yep.  My 4 year old is in Pre-K now.  I can hardly believe it.

So now I have a little extra time every day to do stuff.  Whatever that may be.

Yesterday, I made a doll for my dear friend’s baby who turns 1 next week.

She’s based on Hillary Lang’s sweet “Bonneted Baby” in Wee Wonderfuls: 24 Dolls to Sew and Love.  I adore Mrs. Lang’s book.

I made the “Mermaiden” doll for Emily a couple months ago–at the height of my industry.  Emily wanted the doll to look just like the picture. :)

Lula’s doll, however, is quite different from the original doll.

She’s almost entirely hand-stitched.  And I changed some details to make her more “Lula.”  Although, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Lula in a bonnet.

So I guess having a 4 year old in Pre-K and a 3 year old who still naps could work out well for me.

At least for the next 2 months before the New Baby arrives. :)

This striped baby softie is from the “Mooshy Belly Bunny” pattern by Chez Beeper Baby.  I love Holly’s blog and free projects–she’s got taste!  And this project is a refashion too.  Talk about frugal!  Holly used old T-shirts for her bunny; I used a thrifted Old Navy shirt (that was a bit heavier than a T-shirt) and some scraps of quilting fabric.

Upcycling can be chic, ya know. :)

Although… I fancy my bunny has just broken out of jail.

Silly bunny.  The fate that awaits him may be far worse than any prison sentence for stealing carrots.  Jail-Break Bunny is about to become Chewed-On-Spit-Up-On-Washed-500-Times Bunny. :)

We found out that we’re having a girl on Tuesday around 5:30 PM.  That was less than 2 days ago.

I have since covered the dining room table in fabric, sewing supplies, and girly potential.

Yesterday, I made reversible bibs to match outfits I bought from Target.

Obsessive much?

I’m just getting started.  Some projects on my list: these little shoes, this bunny, and this pretty sunsuit.  Oh, man.  Perhaps I should take it easy.

But it’s just too darn exciting! :)

In case you’re wondering, this is what the belly looks like these days:

I’m 17 weeks along, and all is well.  My energy level is much improved, which means I want to do things like paint the living room and clean up the backyard.  I will say that I hate taking my vitamin every day.  Ladies, is it common to feel that way?

I’ve been researching bento boxes too.  Emily starts preschool in the Fall, and I want to send healthy, happy lunches with her each day.  Bento lunches seem to embody all my ideals, plus they are an exercise in creativity.  Here’s a great post on Parenting to get you inspired.

While I’m sharing links, here are some great blogs that are new to me:

• I’m crazy for Pink Friday, a Swedish blog with lots of color and cheer to go around.
• Emily Henderson won Design Star on HGTV and now has a show of her own.  I like her blog.
• Nana Company has lots of pretty patchwork and inspiration.
• Bare Wunderbar is another fabulous Swedish blog with beautiful interiors and inspiration drawn from a variety of sources.

And some shops I’m loving right now:

• The Wheatfield, which you’ve probably seen, has the most beautiful watercolor prints I’ve seen anywhere.
• Pop Chart Lab is perfect for the nerd in your life, be it you or your man or your best friend.  There’s something for everyone.
• Need a new clock?  How about an old one instead!  Clockwork Universe has some of the most adorable vintage clocks I’ve seen gathered together in one shop.

Finally, I’m fully addicted to Pinterest now.  How did it take me this long?!  You can find me here.

Emily helped me choose all the fabrics and the size and the buttons… She decided her doll needed earrings when she found these mismatched flower buttons in the button jar.  I love almost everything about this.  But I will admit that the combination of the heart-shaped mouth and the yellow skin makes her look a little bit like a baby chick.  Alas, that was my mistake.  I talked Emily into the yellow fabric for her body.

Emily doesn’t care.  She doesn’t see anything wrong with the doll.  And I think she is in awe of me for the first time in a while.  That is something I can appreciate coming from my sassy little lady. :)

Emily and I are making a doll together.  I just love her drawing, and I hope I can replicate it (with her help) in fabric.  She really wants the sparkly crochet thread in there somehow.  Can’t wait to share the results of this creative collaboration! :)

P. S. I’ve seen dolls made from kids’ drawings before.  Here is one of my favorites.

We checked in on each other periodically.

I made a quilt top for Jacob, and she made art for Daddy’s office.

That’s our family, an extra baby, and an alien flying over us.  Emily’s the clothed one.

Which makes sense.

She’s our quick-change artist.  You can’t tell, but she’s wearing 3 skirts between her dress and pants.  Layers are in.

It’s amazing to me how a thrifted wool blanket can brighten a room.  I found this one with my mother-in-law while on vacation last summer.  Can you believe it was only $15?  I couldn’t pass it up.  I think I shrunk it a bit when I washed it, despite washing it gently in cold water and laying it flat to dry.  I mean, it had to be washed, right?  Who knows how long it sat in the antiques mall before I adopted it.  Anyway.  It still fits perfectly over this settee (borrowed from my MIL… She sure is a huge help!).

Here’s a little perspective on this space, lest you think I have endless corners to share.

Yep, that’s my “sewing nook” to the right.

So far, this room seems to be more of a foyer than a living room or even a craft room, although it’s too big to just be an entryway.  It’s also lacking a closet (and we don’t have a coat tree).  So when we have guests, their coats and purses get dumped on the granny-square-covered settee.

No big deal.  It’s one of those things you worry about when you first move into a space.  Then you just cope with it.  Or buy a coat tree. :)

And they’re alright with sharing a room.  For now.

Afterall, they are preschoolers.  Preschoolers who endlessly entertain one another.

I made Emily’s quilt for her birthday last October.  And I couldn’t leave it at that.  I had to make a matching pillowcase and giant strawberry pillow.  She was grateful.  I was surprised.  It doesn’t sparkle or light up, doesn’t have ruffles, and has no Disney Princesses.  I had no idea she’d love it.

I based the quilt on Amy Karol’s wonderful Bend the Rules Sewing lapquilt.  It was perfectly easy and simple — which is just right for the preschooler set.  Agonizing over something that will be washed hundreds of times is just plain silly.  And Emily’s quilt has been washed at least a dozen times if not more since it’s debut.

Now it’s Jacob’s turn.  His bed is a little sad in comparison.

But I’ll be making the same kind of quilt for him as an early birthday present.  The quilt he has now was Evan’s as a child.  It’s sentimental and wonderful in its own way — just a bit threadbare.

Here are the fabrics I chose for Jacob’s quilt.

I think he’ll love it.  He’s sweet like that.  I plan to use the first fabric for a pillowcase as well.

And I might make a whale-shaped pillow to finish it all off.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

I just have to share this video of my grandmother reading her poetry.  The poem is called “Midnight Haulings,” which I find eerily relevant to our current state of affairs:

Well… I’d better get back to work.  We’re moving tomorrow!