WREN handmade

Patchwork pillow

UPDATE: the Crafts Department blog has a post about the making of the pillow plus some shower pics!

We're currently anxiously awaiting the arrival of our little guy. A few more weeks, and it can't happen soon enough for me!

I've been lucky enough to have had 4 baby showers. Each one had a different feeling and I've enjoyed all of them. The latest one was given to us by my old friends at Martha Stewart Living. I will share more photos of the amazing gifts and decor but first I wanted to share the group gift. They each embroidered a linen square and then sewed them together to form an alphabet pillow. I love how they all look together!

Where did the last month go?

I didn't realize I hadn't posted in almost a month! I'm happy I've finally gotten the baby area (since we don't have a separate room) in order. We took a trip a few weekends ago to the Buck's County area in Pennsylvania and New Jersey to do some antiquing. We got the rocking chair, red shelves and some odds and ends. We were looking for a dresser but ended up just getting one at Ikea. I painted it a light grey, which changed the look a bit.

I made a mobile out of fabric scrap yoyos.

I also have been working on this crochet afghan. I have realized though that since the baby's supposed to come in August I'll have plenty time to finish it before it's cold enough to use it.

baby thank you notes

Recently I had one baby shower and before this baby comes I'll have 3 more. I wanted to make some personal thank you notes that go with the color palette I've been using for the baby stuff I'll been collecting and making. I got the template here from an old birth announcement story.

My color palette...

Crochet baby project

I've been working on a few more baby projects lately. I can't seem to help myself, must be the nesting instinct! I thought I would share a pattern for these crochet balls I developed many years ago in the Martha Stewart Kids magazine. It's fun to come up with all different stripe patterns and use up small bits of leftover yarn. Happy crocheting!

A new quilt and some news.

So sorry for my absence here! I was doing a freelance job for a month and it really took it out of me. By the time I'd get home each night I could barely do anything. But, I am now back to working on Wren Handmade and will be posting here more regularly.

One bit of exciting news is that we are expecting a baby boy in August! As you might expect it has gotten me thinking of all kinds of handmade projects and decorating ideas. Don't worry this won't become just a baby blog, I hope!

I have been working on this patchwork quilt and I just finished it. I had been working on it before we knew the sex of the baby but I then added a navy blue dot backing so I think it works for a boy. I did all the piecing and quilting by machine which went quickly and looks good I think. I did buy a walking foot for my machine to make it easier. Here are some process shots...