frustration

Well the nursing cover is finished, minus the button and hole.  I thought I had a pretty white button for it, but can't find it.  I'm heading to the city on Wednesday for a prenatal appointment with my midwives, and to do some shopping.  I'm going to use a 50% off coupon to get a new pretty white button from Joann's.  If this child comes before then, I'll just pin it or something.  I'm not too worried.  I probably won't even use it until we start going on outings. 
My frustration lies in my hands being swollen.  It's extremely difficult for me to accomplish sewing tasks when my fingers don't want to work! I've cut way back on salt, and drink lots of water but they're so stiff.  I'm trying not to complain too much about it, because I can still wear my wedding band.  It's tight, and leaves a little mark, but it's there.  I'm a night time sewer as well.  I sew during the day, but I find it much easier to focus at night when I don't want to be working outside.  My contractions keep kicking up at dusk, and trailing off in the early morning.  This is not exactly helping my to-do list, but hey, there are contractions! I'll take it!
I've been working with my cranky sewing machine because I can't manage to sew through velcro or elastic by hand right now.  I have all the covers (11 I think) cut out both shell and water proof liner, with the velcro tabs attached.  The gussets are about half finished having the elastic applied.  All that's left is stitching the gussets to the covers, and finishing the edges with more elastic.  I really am ready to be done working with all these modern fabrics and notions.  I have a true dislike for them, but it is teaching me patience.  Especially after sewing on 6 gussets last night to realize I had the seams going the wrong direction. 
Well I need to get to my list of chores, the main one being cleaning the stinky chick's box (they're inside with us until it warms up).  I'll introduce them soon, hopefully.  Also, if anyone wants a more timely update of  what's going on birth-wise, or just in general feel free to add me on facebook.  If I don't get around to posting something, my husband sure will.
Best,
Jenny

which would you choose?

Still no baby! I'm going a bit nutty with waiting, and the phone calls and messages from friends every day asking where the baby is aren't helping my patience.  I've been cleared to do as much activity as I want because I'm measuring 2.5 weeks ahead and the midwives are predicting that this little bundle isn't going to be so little!
My sewing machine is having issues with the tension or something, and for the life of me I can't figure it out.  It only happens if I use a newer Coats and Clark spool of thread. The thread doesn't come smoothly off the spool...it all of a sudden will spin like crazy and several inches will come off and wrap around the medal spindaly-thing that holds the spool.  My husband is going to take it in to a repair shop as a birthday gift for me, but the nearest repair shop is almost an hour away.  Needless to say, we're waiting until we have another reason to head in that direction. 
I've been hand-sewing some, but not too much.  I've finished the nursing pillow cover, and will have my version of a hooter-hider finished tonight.  I have burp cloths and diaper covers left to finish at some point.  I don't know which is more important to have right away.  I have 2 diaper covers that were given to me, and quite a few hand towels that could be used as burp cloths.
Which would you recommend I work on next?
Thanks,
Jenny 

bed rest...ugh

I've been enjoying these last few beautiful days...spending hours outside cleaning up the yard and paddock.  My braxton hicks contractions had been progressively getting worse as well.  Sunday night they started to seem like a little bit more than normal.  I assumed it was from my uncomfortable pants and being in the truck for so long ( I had to pick the hubby up from the airport an hour and a half away).  All week it's been progressively getting worse, and after two nights of restless sleep I finally called my midwives.  I am truly terrible about admitting when I need medical attention... and I'm now on a semi-bedrest for the next few days.  I need to make it to 36 weeks, which is Monday to keep the baby out of NICU and to be able to birth at home.  Here's to positive thinking and me working on some knitting I guess

I really want to sew!

19th century clothing...for little ones, or my husband, or really anyone but me. I'd sew for myself but my ribcage has *gasp!* increased by at least an inch, maybe two. I'm already fretting that the dresses I have won't fit.  I have lots of little ones I can sew for, including my own *squee!* and darling husband sure needs clothing but I'm forcing myself to finish making my cloth diapers and covers.
I'm about half way through my goal of fleece pre-fold diapers, and haven't even started on the covers yet.  I've tried knitting some woolen soakers, but I get frustrated and rip it all out.  I'd like to get at least 3 covers knitted as well.  There are multitudes of baby things that need to be sewn before I can move on to the want to be sewn items.  Sigh...I'm half way considering cutting back my hours at work (that have already been cut in half) just so I can have more time to sew. 
Also, I really would like to post photos of what I have sewn, but our internet connection is so poor that it is impossible to load a photo onto blogger.  Hopefully I'll get up the ambition and time to go to the local coffee shop and post some photos...my other blog is desperately in need of some updating as well!
Off to sew!
Love,
Jenny

searching for

a good every day bread recipe. There are so many out there, and I haven't made bread in ages! I just hate spending the money on decent bread and the store when I know I can make it at home much better and probably much cheaper too. If anyone has a recipe suggestion, I'm all ears!

In His Hands

Dear Father, thank You for this new baby.
Would You protect and nurture this baby and bring this pregnancy to full term.
In labor, would You remove all fear and replace it with faith and expectation.
Please give those attending the birth wisdom to take the best care of mother and baby.
Please let this baby be born normal and whole, healthy and strong, and at home with no complications with baby or mother.
Father, thank you for hearing my prayer, for I pray in the name of him who is called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Amen.
by Donna Wilson

I received this prayer card tucked in with the box of medical supplies I ordered for our home birth. I ordered from a lovely family-run store, called In His Hands. Ordering was simple, the package was shipped that day, and came in a timely manner. All three of those things seem to be hard to come by today, so a special note saying thanks is in order I believe!

What to wear in the winter.

A friend sent me a message earlier this week saying that she was going to an event in February and needed to know exactly what to wear. I thought rather than reply to one person, I could make a post out of it because I’m sorely lacking in “look what I made” posts. This isn't the finished article, but I thought I would post it while the ideas are percolating in my mind and add to it or edit it later.

My first thoughts are that what your clothing needs are in the winter and summer really aren’t that different. In the winter you just need more!

I’m assuming she’s going to an event that is dated somewhere during the Civil War and it’s not a pre-war event. Working on that assumption here is the list I would prepare for myself before I went. I love lists!!!

Sturdy leather boots

Stockings – preferably wool

One pair of drawers for every day

One chemise for every day

A shortened petticoat to wear next to the drawers

Skirt support *

Three to five petticoats depending on the circumstances of the event

One sturdy dress – preferably wool

This list is the typical list I would recommend for anyone going to an average weekend event. The only differences I would have would be the textiles recommended and those would change with the weather.

Additionally I would plan on bringing a few things because this event is * I think* is taking place during winter in the Midwest.

One hood

Outerwear, either a coat or multiple shawls if you don’t have a coat.

Rubber over-boots to protect your leather ones

Mittens

Scarf

*It is my belief that most women attending Civil War reenactments would be portraying someone existing in the middle class of society. From the research I have done, and the tons of research belonging to other individuals that I have read, or discussed I believe that the vast majority of women would be wearing skirt support on a daily basis. Either a cage crinoline or a covered hoop, but something would have been worn. There are plenty of working circumstances that would limit the size of the support, but not necessarily negate the use of said support.