a whale of a time.

 What better way to await a new baby... then to sew a whale.. am I right?  Yes, this is the latest creation from my nest here.

Since our daughter Azriel has been loving the notion of being a 'mermaid' in her baths lately.. and always wants to read 'Jonah and the big fish' in her picture Bible... I thought she may love getting a whale from her baby brother.  We're trying that approach of 'new baby brings older sibling a gift from the womb'...

Ummm, suddenly the idea of equating my womb with delivering a whale isn't so cute of an idea.  Maybe I should have sewn her a goldfish...

Yep.  He's still brewing in there.

My midwife today even said it didn't look like he was to eager to dive out... after she made me feel like her ventriloquist doll (gah!).  Nothing like saying you're in your TENTH month of pregnancy to make you feel like a 'bloatation device'.  So yes, I did paint my nails last night (for the first time in...years) and pampered myself with a warm bath, and chocolate chip cookies that Azi and I baked. 

I'm going to just force myself to relax (is that an oxymoron?).. and take this babe at his timing.  At this rate... I may have to sew him a 'cupid costume' for his take-home outfit.

Whale see... get it?

sorry.

Mega mama,

Mel ;o)

P.S. I meant to ask you parents what approaches/advice you took with preparing you kids for a new sibling?  Thanks!

Keepin' it real... at this nest.

I'm still not sure if I should write this post...

I'm all for being transparent with you readers, and for being awkward if it's humorous at my own expense...  but I never want to make it 'weird' for you.  I just want you to know where we are here at the nest.

When Ben and I decided to have a family, we both agreed that having me 'stay-at-home' was desired.  I could not envision having kids and then leaving them while I went out to earn a paycheck (this does not mean I judge other mothers who still desire to work outside the home!).  We knew this decision would mean a sacrifice on many levels, and financially we would lose some 'perks'.  

Recently, we have realised our budget is tighter than we expected.

Almost like a choke-hold.

No extra spending... at all.

Looking to cut any/every thing that's a 'frill' in our life until we can get some stable footing.

Sound familiar?  I know a lot of young families struggle with this issue of finances.budgets.bills... and I'm not looking for pity.

Like I said, we chose this path: seeking to live simply. placing value on family instead of frills.

Here's my dilemma.

Our Internet is next on the chopping block now... and thus, this blog may go into hibernation.

I've never wanted to pursue advertising in this space, I don't want my posts to be dictated by other motives for 'gain'... but keep them real to what I am passionate about.

Trying to find a solution it was suggested I throw it out to you readers - to give you the option of 'partnering' in keeping this space alive.

That idea seems awkward.  I'm not asking for charity.  Creative ideas and beautiful blogs abound without asking anything back...  I guess I just wanted to provide this opportunity to decide if you specifically want my heart.our nest as part of your daily read.

A buck or two from a hand full of friends will keep this nest hatching each month.

That's why I've added the 'donate' button on the sidebar to your right.

Sorry if this goes against 'blogger etiquette', I would love for you readers to still connect here even if you don't/can't spare some change... honestly!

Thanks for hearing my heart.  I hope to keep sharing it with you here in the future.

Empty pockets, full heart,

Mel ;o)

a camel and a bump...

A gorgeous 'spring-like' day warranted a family trip to the zoo today.

Granted.. the only animals to be seen were the camel (better known as a dirty-brown-shag-carpet on four legs)... a few playful monkeys... a couple meercats.. and that snake (it was actually moving up the glass - so I squealed like a two-year old girl and ran waddled!)

If camels have humps... this mama has... one mighty bump.  Yes, still.

Like I said, I breed lazy babies.  But I'm still holding out for the fact that tomorrow night is a full moon and it's bound to shift the tides around here... maybe.

We'll keep you posted!

Mel ;o)

D.I.Y: fabric cloud mobile.

Hey there daydreamers!  Here's a sweet and simple do.it.yourself fabric mobile project. 

Those who know my paintings know that I adore clouds... so it was fitting that I sew up a few fluffies to hang over our dining area.  I've decided to make this a 'seasonal mobile' hence, it was first a doily snowflake mobile.  Now, it will be a 'chance of showers' theme..

Want to make one?

Supplies:

Fleece/Felt

Stuffing

Pearl Beads

Clear Thread

Branch (or hanger of some form)

1. Cut a cloud pattern (large & small).

2. Double up your fleece/felt and cut out a grouping of clouds.  I opted for a range of white/turquoise/and stormy grey colours. 

3. Stitch each matching pair of clouds through your sewing machine - but leave a 1" gap at the end.  With your needle still pinning down the fleece/felt... lift the pressure foot and push bits of stuffing into the cloud (a chop stick is great for this part).  Finish your seam, trim the edges - and poof - your cloud is ready!

4. To add the groovy 'raindrops' feature, I strung some pearl beads onto clear thread and knotted the strands to the bottom of a couple stormy clouds.  You can tie a knot around each pearl..slide it to the length you desire.. and then double knot it in place.

5. String your clouds at varying heights along a natural (or painted) branch.  You could also hang them from a clothes hanger wrapped in ribbon... or a quilting hoop... etc.

Hope that inspires you to get your head in the clouds today...

and go get your craft on!

Mel ;o)

slide.show.sunday. take 32.

Hello friends, it's that time of the weekend again:

a slide show of our fairly quiet weekend (no new baby yet!)..

Here's our sweet 'big' baby Azriel... all aglow in a cosy sunbeam.

Saturday mornings are for waffles... our Ben makes the best in town!

Getting the 'new baby' car seat all ready - Tinderpuff wanted to supervise.

Mewsli lounged nearby... and I was totally jealous of her.

'Family Dinner Saturdays' up at the in-laws... Great-Granny and Azi share a love of books.

Here we are... ready and waiting to 'pop'.  

Every time we talk about 'baby brother' Azriel will yell at my belly "WAKE up baby"!  She seems to be eager to see him now too.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

See you on the flip side... hopefully with some BIG news... eventually. 

Busting at the gut,

Mel ;o)

...here we grow.

Here we sit.  Hovering in that tangible phase of ...the waiting.  This baby is due on Sunday (Feb.5th) but we all know how torturous it is to pin our hopes on that day actually delivering.

Like most great things in life worth waiting for ... this forces my growth.  No, not just in the literal sense of 'this gut better not get any bigger'! 

I see my need for growth in patience... when my daughter's energy level seems inversely proportional to my own exhaustion.

I need to grow in playfulness - to recapture that childlike wonder for so many beautiful moments one could discover each day.

I desire to grow in being present.  To accept with gratitude the moment that God has blessed me with... instead of worrying about 'the tomorrows' or getting distracted by the 'to-do-lists'.  

So here we are... in the waiting... and it is here, that we grow.

 ***

Linking up with other growing toddlers at Mama Loves Papa today:

Azriel's outfit:

striped shirt/grey long sleeve: Old Navy

black corduroy pants: Thrifted (George)

Mel ;o)

 

D.I.Y - upcycle men's shirt into dress.

So, I'm not going to lie... this project was inspired by wanting to create something that I could labour in (for fear of those repulsive hospital gowns!)... um, yah.  Turns out I discovered a pretty cute dress idea instead - so I won't be wearing this while giving birth, I'll save it for a fun summer date with my man!  Maybe you'll be inspired to upcycle an old shirt from your fella's closet too.  It's in my classic style of super fast.stupid easy too, even my Ben was laughing at how I whipped it up in half an hour!

Supplies

Men's Dress shirt (whatever size fits your frame)

Stretchy Ribbed Fabric (fabric shops sells them for waistbands often?)

Pins

1 metre of lace

Sewing Machine

 1. Cut the top shoulders/collar and arms off the plaid shirt.  Cut a square of the ribbed stretchy fabric for your chest (10" high roughly)... this fabric is like a tube top and should fit comfortably over your bust... (alter to make it so if needed).

2. With your shirt inside out - sew up the side 'armpits' - this will be the hip part of your dress.  Tuck the tube top down into the shirt with right sides facing in... and pin in place.

3. Using a loose zig-zag stitch feed the shirt/tube top through your sewing machine...gently pulling the stretchy fabric to meet the shirt edge as you go.

4. Now we get to use the sleeves from the shirt...as dress straps!  Unless you prefer the strapless look - but this mama does not.

5. Slip on the dress and position the sleeves with the wrist cuffs to tuck down in the front panel. pin in place. 

 

Same deal goes for the back.. (overlap the sleeves and pin in place) you may need a second pair of helping hands to reach back there. 

6. Another loose zig-zag stitch to attach the sleeves to the tube top with matching thread.

 7. Snip two small holes into the front of the dress seam (orange pins marked here)... and thread a metre of lace through.  This adds a cute finish to your dress and helps tighten the dress for a secure fit.  Tie any leftover lace in your hair for added flair!

Rock that baby belly upcycled men's shirt.

You can layer it with lots of outfits... and undo the buttons if you need to hang your gut out - since that's ladylike.  I plan on using this lots more - once this baby pops out (any day now).

I have a few more variations I hope to try out in the future/ and share with you.

Maybe I'll start a 'miss.lumberjack.lady' clothing line.

Preggo in plaid,

Mel ;o)