Sunday, August 25, 2013

Baby Nursery Tour

With a week before Baby Pope is due to be born, we’re happy with the outcome of the room for him/her to come home to. After the sneak peek I posted in July, I’ve completed quite a bit of sewing and Ronny has helped a lot with reorganizing.

I was inspired for the colors of the room from the fabric {Moda’s Baby Jane} that I used to make the crib quilt. I also liked the vintage/antique feel for decorations, so I found a lot of the decorations from antique stores and from Ronny and I’s childhood. DSC04395

My grandparents gave us this beautiful, antique dresser for baby’s room. It is the perfect size for the changing pad and a bin for easy access to diapers, wipes, and creams. DSC04406

The wall collage was a work in progress that I’ve been collecting for some time. I’m thankful for Ronny and his measuring tape/level skills. He made sure it was all even. I would have just eyeballed it. :)DSC04396

I made this small quilt hanging out of scrap fabric from my quilt. It was my first paper-piecing quilting project. I used this cow pattern, and included mini-flying geese as well. When putting on the binding, I included large, white rick-rack and hung the wall hanging inside of a frame I found from Goodwill that I spray painted white.
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This year when we were visiting the National Western Stock Show, I came across this poem call, “The Tradition” and I loved the ending paragraph. Frame also found at Goodwill.
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I love Golden Books. And since this book had a cow and the perfect colors for the baby’s room, I framed it (in another spray painted frame from Goodwill.)DSC04400

This piece is a yarn art that I found in my grade-school crafts box. I’m not sure when I created it, but I love the colors. It was hung in my office, but I switched frames.
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I left one small square frame to put a baby picture in.
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I also made the crib mobile. Using this tutorial, I simply printed out the steer and bird silhouettes for the pattern. I made fabric/batting sandwiches, sewed around the steers and birds, then cut them out. I used Fray Check to keep the edges from fraying. Then I used embroidery floss to attach each one and tied to an embroidery hoop. Ronny said baby will get to start their livestock judging skills early with this pen of five. :)
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The other side of the room includes our glider chair (that I originally got for my office), book shelf, Ronny’s childhood rocker and bear, pallet shelf and the laundry basket that I scored at a craft show.
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This shelf was passed down from Ronny’s family. I found the wood crate and freezer basket at antique stores for books, and my friend, Maggie gave us the FEED wire basket that I’m using for toys. My friend, Georgia’s dad repurposed the lamp and painted it turquoise. I love it!
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I think Ronny’s nesting kicked in before mine because he organized the whole closet!DSC04413

We are using this basinet that was my Dad’s, and each one of us kids slept in. The frame above it is from the Colorado Baby Shower where my family and “mom’s” each included a Bible verse.
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For the sewing projects, I used the sizing for the crib skirt from this tutorial I found on Pinterest, but instead of velcro, I attached ribbons. I liked the idea of using ribbons to tie on the skirt so I can easily move it up as I move the mattress down. I incorporated the flying geese pattern that I used on the quilt as well.
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I struggled to find a changing pad cover online to buy, so I used this tutorial to make my own. I had a strip of the turquoise, ABC’s fabric so I put it in there for some fun color.
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The last thing not in nursery right now, but is a nice addition for Baby Pope coming is this beautiful rocking chair from Grandpa and Grandma Bailey. We picked it out at a local Amish store, and I love that I’ll be able to do lots of rocking and cuddling in it very soon!
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Wednesday, August 21, 2013

August Garden

The garden is a little bit more out of control since July. But Ronny has had enough and will be “cutting it back” soon. These are his words for pretty much taking it all out! At this point, I don’t care. :)DSC04342

We’ve been enjoying lots of cherry tomatoes, roma tomatoes and cucumbers. DSC04344

Our pumpkins are finally matured and the vines are starting to die off. Notice our one stalk of corn in there? Yes, that was Ronny’s project!
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We got four pumpkins out of the deal this year – one ginormous one!DSC04339

And this one grew into the wire cage which made for some interesting markings.DSC04340

Ronny harvested them last night. And decided to proudly display them on our front porch. I did remind him it is still August, but he thought it was close enough to fall to display. Oh goodness. :)
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And we both had to display our prize “punkins”.

Lastly, Hank was thrilled with the sweet corn harvest – a raw ear of sweet corn is his favorite treat!
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Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Baby Shower! {Nebraska}

My tri-state tour of baby showers ended with a shower in Seward. My lovely friends and church ladies put this shower on for me, and it was so much fun!

The gals of course had great decorations – corn! And here are three of the lovely hostesses. Michelle was running around helping ladies decorate onesies, but I got a picture of her later taking pictures. :)
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I was so glad that almost all of the Bailey ladies could come (missed you, Caitlin!) to the shower. We had a fun brunch beforehand to get all of our chatting in. ::: Grandma, Aunt Tammy, Megan, myself, Mom and EmilyDSC04247

Ronny’s mom was able to come up as well! So fun to have both of Baby Pope’s grandmas there to celebrate with us. DSC04249

Two of my K-State besties came to celebrate. Georgia came up from Manhattan (and proved to me her wicked new sewing skills!) and Patricia came from Lincoln with Morris!DSC04246

After some fun games, food and presents, the gals got creative making Baby Pope a new wardrobe of personalized onesies and sleepers.
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Yes, even a few Huskers ones. :)
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Thanks again to my lovely Seward friends for throwing a great baby shower. Baby Pope is all set!DSC04256

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Baby Quilt–Flying Geese & Chevron pattern

Four weeks before Baby Pope is expected to arrive, and I’m finally getting his/her quilt finished. I started it mid-June and just created my own pattern based on this picture I found on Pinterest.

I fell in love with the Baby Jane fabric by Moda – especially since it had the perfect color turquoise, and the red, golden yellow and gray were neutral colors for the baby’s room. I ordered the charm pack and cut them in half diagonally.
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Baby Jane Charm Pack Eric and Julie Comstock for Moda Fabrics - Fat Quarter Shop

I arranged the rows with alternating triangles to form a chevron/semi-flying geese pattern. I really wanted to include flying geese in this quilt in a fun, modern way. I did use the traditional flying geese on the back of the quilt.
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When I finished the top & back, I sent it off to my favorite quilting lady in Omaha, Aimee at Splendid Stitches and she did a fantastic job with the quilting.DSC04296

I used the turquoise-colored fabric for the binding. I’m so fortunate that my grandma switched sewing machines with me so I could use her awesome machine with fun designs for the binding. I’m pretty sure after she uses my dinky/simple machine, she’ll want hers back pretty quick! But I loved playing with hers.
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Next up to finish: crib skirt and changing pad cover. Then we’ll just need a baby!

Throughout this whole summer, I thought I’d have plenty of time/energy to finish these projects. I’m going to finish in time, but wish I’d worked on them earlier in my 2nd trimester when I definitely had more energy!