#BlogBumpClub - 30 weeks +6

Blimey! Has it really been 3 weeks since I joined in the weekly linky? My apologies - everything is going well, so there are no worries there. I've just been super busy (and super tired) which doesn't leave much room for anything else. So what's going on at 30 weeks?

I have actually been told by the doctor to rest and put my feet up whenever I can as the baby is lying on a vein at the top of my right leg, and slowing down the flow of blood back up to my heart. It sounds much more serious than it is, basically it just means I get a 'dead leg' feeling or pins and needles, plus a little swelling. Nice!


We had our final cardiac scan at the Evalina Hospital last week and everything is looking great. This is such a relief. We had to take Wiss with us to the appointment and my husband was going to wait outside with him, but the consultant said they were welcome to come in too. She was lovely and explained to Wiss that the lights were going to go out so we could watch the telly better and see his brother or sister. He was fascinated, and a little unsure (he couldn't fathom the jelly on my tummy!) but he gave me a thumbs up and told me I was being very brave! It must have helped to cement the idea of the baby insode my belly as he has been singing and talking to 'The Lump' as he has been calling it (?!) Poor thing!

The weather has been pretty warm in London recently so I have been living in my fab turquoise maternity jeans (from ASOS) and vests, a couple of dresses from Primark and Hennes, and my new Toms. Oh my word, these are SO comfy! I also treated myself to a pedicure as it's definitely getting tricky to reach my feet myself!

Other little things that have been making this stage of my pregnancy easier are the Organic Pregnancy Stretch Butter from NomNom Skincare - it's really easy to apply and rub in, it's not greasy at all which is perfect for the hot weather - and the Pregnancy++ App that I have been reviewing. With just over 9 weeks to go (if everything sticks to schedule, of course!) I need all the help I can get with my To Do lists!

These #BlogBumpClub posts are part of a wider group of bloggers - don't forget to check them all out either on Twitter or with this linky:

A Major Work in Progress

I had a few projects in mind for this months 'Work in Progress' post but somehow I've not even found the time to start them, let alone get progressing. My Coco pattern and fabric have just been sitting on my desk, the neon shower curtains I've been commissioned to make are just waiting for some attention. But there's been another work in progress that has been commanding a lot of my time and energy recently, so it seems silly to ignore it.

I'm 25 weeks pregnant and this baby is a major Work in Progress!
 

This blog is primarily about crafting and making - my creative life as a parent - so it's perhaps obvious that I should also write about this big creation, although I've resisted so far. When I heard about the Bloggers Bump Club hosted by Molly on Mother's Always Right I jumped at the chance to join in.

This will be my second child (but my fourth pregnancy) and although I'm getting excited now it's been quite different to my pregnancy with Wiss (now 4 years old.) There was understandable caution and anxiety at the beginning and a reluctance to get too carried away but now I have happily been deemed a 'normal risk' by my consultant. But regardless of what has happened in the past it seems that many women experience their second pregnancy very differently to their first.

With Wiss I had so much time to 'be pregnant'; I read all the books, I wrote a diary, I made time to connect with my bump and I diligently took weekly photos from 14 weeks onwards. This time around....I'm afraid to say that I've not done anything. I took my first bump picture only last week!
 

I'm hoping that's all about to change. I'll be joining up with some other great bloggers, who also happen to be pregnant at the moment too. The Bloggers Bump Club (#BlogBumpClub) will be a great opportunity for me to stop and think about my pregnancy, at least once a week and to read and compare stories with all the other fab ladies involved. I'm imagining that for me, it may be a full post or as simple as a sharing a picture, recording a feeling or even detailing plans for making things for the new little one, but I'm looking forward to seeing a whole range from everyone. If you're 'in the club' then why not join in too?

I'm also testing out a new Pregnancy App at the moment so expect a review soon. Don't worry, there will still be all the usual posts, I'm just as busy making and crafting as always, but there will be some added extra baby ones sneaking in too! I hope you don't mind :)

Tutorial Stall - Village Fair at the South Bank Centre

 Tutorial Stall - featuring 12 UK Craft Bloggers

Village Fair at the Southbank Centre

 

This weekend (24th and 25th August) the Southbank Centre is hosting a large scale quintessential Village Fair including stalls, traditional games and crafting.

The key theme of the fair is community and bringing people together to share their passions. This is explicit in a series of interactive talks titled the Craft Code Village, which explore the relationship between the craft community revival and the Internet. In response to this the Southbank Centre have invited 12 Craft Bloggers from across the UK to create a collective Virtual stall on their blogs for the weekend of the fair - and one of them is me!

Crafters traditionally share their practice at market stalls and sell their goods as a way to generate income, whereas craft bloggers are more likely to share online and often share how to make their craft too. What happens when craft bloggers create a virtual stall?

THIS is the result: a Tutorial Stall sharing one link to each blogger's favourite DIY tutorial on their site. It provides a chance for all 12 bloggers to simultaneously share each other's practice to their readers and through doing so celebrate the very foundation of Craft Code Village.   

Participating Craft Bloggers (click on the link to be taken to the tutorial)

1

DIY Plastic Taxidermy by Pointless Pretty Things

2

DIY Dip dyed Shoes by Trends with Benefits

 

3

DIY Rubber StampPrinted Handkerchief by Davina Drummond at The Making Home

4

Crochet pin cushion by Crafting Finger

5

Woven ribbon lavender by Tales From Mountpleasant

6

Flower Fabric Badges by The New Craft Society

7

Felt Streamers by This is Wiss

8

Little Paper Book by Some I Made

9

Teacup Embroidery by Ailie Willia

10

Booboxes by Emily Quinton at the Start Up Wife

11

DIY Curve Bead CordBracelet by Claireabellemakes

12

Bunting Notebook by Papermash


I hope you are feeling inspired and please let me know if you do follow our tutorials - I'd love to see the results. Happy Bank Holiday!

The Village Fair Virtual Stall - This is Wiss Tutorial for Felt Streamers

This weekend the South Bank Centre in London is hosting a quintessential Village Fair, with an urban twist! There will be stalls to browse, traditional games to play, local brass bands, and loads of crafting. For more details of the events on Saturday and Sunday then check out the South Bank Centre's website.

The key theme of the event is Community and bringing people together to share their passions. I am really excited to be part of the Virtual Tutorial Stall, where rather than selling items 12 craft bloggers are sharing ideas and giving tutorials, so that you can make rather than buy. Interesting idea, huh?

 

 

Here is my tutorial for quick and easy felt streamers. Perfect for celebrations, decorations or maybe to go on a stall of your own...