Penny is Here!

Penelope Amelia Jones

Born March 29, 2012, 3:09am

6 pounds, 13 ounces

Her birth was fast and all natural.  We are overwhelmed with her sweetness! 

At Long Last: My First Quilt....Ever

I read a good amount of crafter's blogs, and one thing I've noticed is that the sewers are often intimidated by knitting, and the knitters are often daunted by crochet.  There always seems to be one or two crafts that frighten people who are often very skilled in many others.  For me, making a quilt always seemed very intimidating.  After a years work, however, I've finished my first quilt!  Furthermore, I designed it myself.

I'm not sure why the process scared me, as my mother has been making quilts my whole life (by hand, mind you, she has never been close friends with the sewing machine).  So I always knew all the concepts behind quilting, but the length of the project always seemed arduous.  I like to sew and knit clothing.  If someone can't wear it, I'm usually not making it. 

One day I was perusing The Purl Bee, however, and saw this quilt, and Fell.In.Love.  It wasn't exactly what I wanted though, so I sat down at my computer and started designing a variation with a two-tiered tree.  Each tree would have two patterns of green foliage fabric and one of 2 woodgrain fabric's for its trunk.  Here's my quilt in progress:

I made it crib-size, which was nice not only because it will be for my new baby, but because the quilting and binding processes didn't intimidate me quite so much on a smaller scale.  I could fit everything onto the dining room table as I worked.  In the end, I did a simple "stitch in the ditch" quilting technique, used 2 different Kona white cottons and backed it in green, also by Kona.  I learned so much, and I'm so happy with it (even if I have to remind myself, as usual, that it doesn't have to be perfect).

As with any other project, once I completed it, I was already planning my next one.  Maybe something with just patchwork squares, linked together in a matter of hours?  I'm sure, even with that, I'll complicate it somehow.  And why not?  Maybe that's the way you learn the most.

At Month Nine

On a rare sunny Saturday here in Portland, Mr. Jones and I snapped a few photos of my belly at nine months.  I have gotten your emails, friends and family far away, so I am indulging you in how I look these days, unfurled from the tent dresses I usually don.  

It hasn't been a bad pregnancy at all, but wow, pregnancy is long, isn't it?  To think I was pregnant since just days after our wedding in Hawaii.

The only pregnancy curiosities I've experienced is that my navel never popped out (too much info.?) and I've had crazy restless leg syndrome for months and months now.  It's now gotten so awful that I now have to numb my legs with ice before bedtime each night!  And to think I used to be cold in bed.  

Now we're in that strange time, looking for symptoms of the start of the biggest day of our lives, and having no idea what to look for, except something dramatic.  At 3cm dilated already, the doctor says I can 'pop' anytime, though my due date isn't until Monday.  The suspense is killing us, and everyone around us, too. 

Still, we wait, at what Mr. Jones calls "the crossroads of our lives" (hence the intersection in which he wanted this photo snapped).  Wish us luck at the crossing!

Baby's First Shindig

I had the prettiest baby shower in the whole world!  And I'm not just saying that because it was mine.  In fact, I had nothing to do with it at all, except to bring some deviled eggs and homemade bread.  Our friends Jocelyn, Peg, and Sarah hosted it for us.  It was co-ed, really casual, and of course, woodland-themed!  Once the party got going, I hardly picked up my camera.  Luckily, I got these photos of the food+ set-up before it was consumed:

These ladies are all super crafty.  Plus, Peg has an amazing house, Sarah is a model maker/set dresser, and Jocelyn is a Producer/Antique Lover.  Could you want anything more for a party planning super team?

Brad, daughter Florence,  and friend Kristina. Flo is so cute, I'm not even sure she's real.  

The food, all scrumptious.  I'm sure you'll notice this hamburger cake, which I saw at the local grocery store and had to have.  It didn't really jive with the theme, but the ladies were flexible.  Sometimes you take fast food to the woods for a picnic, right?  Maybe that's just me.

Sarah (co-host of the event) and Willow "There's a Tiger Coming" Lamont.  So sweet!

Sarah's owl cookies were fabulous, and Peg made Fluffernutter sandwiches, also at my request.  Unlike the burger cake, these were DEMOLISHED.  Apparently, Fluffernutter is an East Coast phenomenon (or perhaps just Northeast?).  I will change this, single-handedly.  Organic children of Portland are you with me?!?  They were at this party.

The decor, the atmosphere, and the event were just amazing.  I can't say enough.

Mr. Jones and I were so, so touched.  Of course we got many generous gifts, too.  The outpouring of good wishes and anticipation from our friends here has been incredible.  It certainly makes living so far away from "our people" during this time so much easier!  Thanks again, ladies (including all those who brought food, and contributed in other ways).  You certainly gave Mr. Jones + me + 1 a memory to be cherished.

Jean's Birth Story

When we last saw Jean, a mother from the book "Natural Childbirth" by Herbert Thoms, M.D. (published 1950), she and her husband Chuck were touring the hospital, trying out the gas masks, saving money for college.  You know, the normal baby prep. things.  Now, Jean has gone into labor (as I soon will) and her husband is there in the very early stages, to HELP MAKE HER PURR (please click to enlarge, and read these genius captions).

I guess that rubbing and purring wasn't enough, as her husband is soon escorted out, to be replaced by her OB.  Please note, she feels the contractions are like gagging at the wrong end.  Mothers, can you confirm this please?

Jean's baby begins crowning.  The hand on the left side of the frame really illustrates the point, I think:

Apparently it's INTENSE EFFORT and not pain, that makes you wince in childbirth.  Who knew!  Oh wait, the male doctor who wrote this book.  He knows!

I love this photo.  It's somewhere between the agony of childbirth, and a 1950s pin-up girl.  I only hope to look this good on The Day:

Finally, she meets her baby.  Well done, Jean!

Are you curious as to what Jean's daughter looks like, is named, or how on earth her husband is going to bond with this thing?  Stay tuned for the last installment!

Rattle and Hum

Hello! Apologies for my absence, if you've noticed. I've been at my job long hours (another look at the movie here), taking childbirth classes, and making a few long-term craft projects I hope to show you down the road.

In the meantime, I've knitted these Toadstool Baby Rattles (free pattern here). They were so much fun to make, and used up some of my yarn stash. It's been a long time since I knitted something unwearable, and it was such a nice change that I'm thinking about knitting some stuffed animals next! The woodland nursery theme continues, as it's four weeks and counting (and hopefully not much more) until baby. This week: babycare class, and our baby shower!