Nursery Bedding

For Grant's nursery I took on the ambitious/audacious task of making the crib bedding. I was inspired by this project, which I can't even recall how I came across, from sew4home.com. After spending an inordinate amount of time on the internet looking at crib bedding, and fabrics, and color combinations, I eventually settled on the Taza line by Dena Fishbein and decided to use the crib bumper and crib sheet tutorials from sew4home.com. I slowly collected all of my supplies and finally got started sometime in November. I took my time, did the bumper first, and finished the crib sheet on Christmas Eve (in the nick of time for Grant's arrival on the 28th). It wasn't too difficult for a beginner, but I wasn't in a rush, and I did reference other online tutorials when I wasn't sure how to do something. I even learned how do make continuous bias tape! These are the instructions I found the most helpful for the bias tape although I did watch a couple of YouTube videos to really understand how to do it.
My cousin Beth (of Seasons of Home - you should head over there, they're doing a giveaway!) has become quite the quilter and encouraged me to make an applique quilt which she also helped with (i.e. did most of the work). It is off being quilted right now but should be back in a week or so. The pattern came from this book of pretty simple and modern baby quilts. Here is the quilt top before being quilted. The back is going to be super soft minky.
I'm finding sewing to be less and less intimidating the more that I do it (duh!) and have been looking for my next project. We have a "sisters" quilting weekend coming up in March. Any suggestions for what I should take to work on?

Since Grant Was Born . . .

his big sisters have been doing a lot of

baby gazing,
playing with things in the nursery,

dressing up,
jumping on Mom and Dad's bed,
and staying in their pajamas all day long.

Proof that there's a baby boy in the house. . .

Ben stood a little too close to the changing table last week while I was changing Grant.

We had a good laugh.

(More hospital/baby pictures coming soon. Oh, and a birth story. Promise.)

4 Weeks Old

Grant:

and just for fun. . .

Paige at 4 weeks:

Claire @ 1 month:
which sister do you think Grant resembles?

Introducing . . .

Grant Benjamin

born December 28th @ 4:18 am

7 lbs 10 oz
19.5 inches

Christmas Eve

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Paige told us the story of Christ's birth, with pictures.

Claire said, "my turn" and tried to copy her.

Daddy read to us from the scriptures.

Mom read Twas the Night Before Christmas and almost started to cry because she misses her Grandma (and the rest of her family).

The girls got to open one gift. . .

. . . and of course it was new pjs!

AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

A Lifelong Tradition

We made gingerbread houses last night - something I've done every Christmas season since I was a much younger girl. And it all started with Diana West. A wonderful Young Women leader who not only used to bake tons of these houses from scratch for an annual mutual activity but who also came to my family's home to make and refill frosting bags every year while we decorated houses as a family (I am just now appreciating what a huge amount of work that was for her!). It really is one of my favorite annual traditions. Paige LOVES it and Claire really got into this year too. It's a lot of work but totally worth it - even if I didn't get to sit down and decorate my own house until the girls were in bed :)

Claire ate at least 5 pieces of candy for every piece that she put on her house. And she licked every piece that did make it on her house (before gently placing it down). She was in heaven! For reals.

Paige loves, loves, loves this kind of thing. I think she would have gone at this for at least 2 more hours if I had let her. She is already suggesting additions and changes she would make.

Ben is a good sport and puts a lot of effort into his houses every year, even though it's not nearly as important to him as it is to the rest of us.

She's excited!

Busily working away.

And I got to participate too.

Thank you, Diana, for starting a wonderful Christmas tradition (and, Mom, for keeping it going) that I'm sure will last at least a lifetime and hopefully well beyond!