The Baby Pool stash is growing by leaps and bounds - - the lucky duck winner will be quite pleased with the loot! I was going to take a photo of the goods, but decided to wait until the winner was announced. That way everyone can be surprised together! Some of you sneaky gals, tucked in some little gifties for me too. Behold:
A fabu handcrafted pouch (isn't it thee cutest?) filled with goodies: fabric, ribbon, and buttons (oh my!) from the incredible Nicole (co-creator of the most excellent Back-Tack exchange!). Nicole must have known that GREEN is my fave color -- just look at those buttons. I'm in heaven. And she also managed to slip in a bag of Vanilla Madagascan tea. Oh yum!
And then new pal, Mo, sneaked in some fabulous notecards from her soon-to-be-launched shop, Froy & Olo. My snapshot doesn't do these cards justice as the paper has a slight shimmer and the tiny flowers have jeweled accents! Many thanks to Nicole and Mo!
*******
On the crafty front, I managed to complete the baby afghan. YES! A project that I did not abandon. Here, take a peek for yerself:
I have found that I crochet much faster than I knit, and I must say that I am quite pleased with the outcome of this afghan.
Here's another view:
And yet another (can you tell I'm proud?) :)
My busy hands haven't rested as I also managed to whip out this teeny, tiny sweater shell for the bun. The pattern is from Debbie Bliss' The Baby Knits Book. Knitting up this sweater was quite fun as the I.G.F. (Instant Gratification Factor) was quite high! And I like that! Here take a peek:
And finally, my friends, here are some itty bitty booties that I crocheted. You can guesstimate the size of these wee things as compared to Alison's hands. I just need to add some buttons so that the Mary-Jane straps can keep wriggly feet cozy and toasty. This pattern was from Martha.
****** Now back to the Baby Pool. You can check out the Pool calendar with all the guesstimates. (If perchance I have a wrong date/time for your guess, just let me know. I was at an all time "loopy" high this evening). View the Calendar Here!
****** And here is a list of things that are kinda stressing me out:
![](<a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd-nc/1.0/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" border="0" src="http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights.gif" /></a><br />){kind=link}
Wow! How nice to see my cards on your site! And thanks for the kind words. I can't believe you are already 3 cm and 80-90% effaced! Dialation wise, you are almost a third done. Hang in there til the 16th!
Posted by: mo | June 03, 2005 at 11:16 PM
http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=rubber_sol
I made a feed and you're being watched. Good stuff. :)
Posted by: Jennifer | June 04, 2005 at 06:40 AM
How stunning is that crochet blanket! It's gorgeous Leslie! Photo's are gorgeous too. Did you "Dooce" them?
Posted by: Nicole | June 04, 2005 at 06:54 AM
Oh girl it really turned out amazing I love that blanket. I also love the mixture of green pinks and white, it's so delicious :o) I remember those Martha booties (don't you just love the word booties) they are so precious I almost want to wear them myself.
What about a bun name contest? Why don't you call her Bunny LOL!
Posted by: Yvonne | June 04, 2005 at 08:30 AM
This picture of Alison holding the booties you made looks like it should be in a magazine...you are amazingly talented!! The blanket is just stunning, I love it.
Posted by: Kathleen | June 04, 2005 at 09:59 AM
That baby blanket is stunning! You have really outdone yourself in craftiness. I can't wait for your wee one to arrive, and it sounds like it'll be SOON! Yay! :o)
Posted by: Charla | June 04, 2005 at 01:00 PM
Wow!! You are so, so close! All of those gifties are so wonderful, and your creations....oh my!! What a lucky, lucky baby this is!
Posted by: amanda | June 04, 2005 at 06:14 PM
Oh. My. Gosh! Leslie! :D Such beautiful creations for your wee one! What treasures you've made! I love them all. :)
Posted by: joleen | June 04, 2005 at 06:49 PM
that is an absolutely beautiful afghan, i love the colors; and booties and a teensy top....i see the un-mistakable signs of "nesting"!! how are you feeling?....i don't think you have long to wait now! isn't that just like parents? mine are the same way - i have no idea what goes on in their heads!
Posted by: debbie | June 04, 2005 at 08:26 PM
wow leslie! i dont know how you do it, you are so motivated! the afghan is goreous, which makes the sweater and booties pure, pure icing! that bun is coming any day now!!! cant wait...
Posted by: hannah | June 05, 2005 at 06:06 AM
Oh my gosh your crocketed afghan turned out beautiful!!! And those boots and sweater are adorable, can't wait the little one will be very lucky having such a great mum :0)
Posted by: Marieke | June 05, 2005 at 10:02 AM
I don't have a job OR kids...and I don't make ANYTHING! You're (let me get this straight) about to give birth, have two kids, are renovating your home...AND YOU MADE AN AFGHAN?! Not to mention the adorable sweater and booties. Good god, woman, you need to give birth just to get some rest! :) Hope you're feeling well. P.S. The afghan is FABULOUS!
Posted by: Marilyn | June 05, 2005 at 10:24 AM
so so cute!! love it ALL!!!!!!!! seriously, those booties are to die for!
Posted by: joy madison | June 05, 2005 at 11:23 PM
Good gravy, girl! What a fantastic post! So many goodies!! I was meaning to ask you about your afghan when you called the other day. I am so impressed with it! It's Bee-Yooo-Ti-Ful! And the little sweater shell & booties, awwww!
Hope you had an awesome birthday yesterday!!
Posted by: Giao | June 06, 2005 at 06:28 AM
Breathe in and out. It will all be ok. Your Afghan and baby booties are my favorite!
Posted by: ani | June 06, 2005 at 07:29 AM
I crochet faster than I knit also. Your afghan is awesome!
Posted by: Lu | June 06, 2005 at 08:55 AM
I love your afghan! It's beautiful and I wish you were here so you could teach me how to crochet. I've crocheted probably two things and I am no expert. Yours is just perfect.
Don't stress, you'll have love surrounding you in spirit, no matter who is in the room. *hug*!
Posted by: erika | June 06, 2005 at 08:12 PM
Oh my, that afghan is so beautiful. There's obviously a lot of love in there - what a lucky bub! Best of luck! :D
Posted by: Fiona | June 07, 2005 at 05:01 AM
The blanket turned out beautifully! I am so impressed!
Posted by: frecklegirl | June 07, 2005 at 06:19 AM
That baby blanket is amazing! I would teach myself to crochet just to make that blanket. Where is the pattern from??
Posted by: Sarah | June 09, 2005 at 05:42 PM
That afghan is absolutely gorgeous! Wow! I think I'll have to learn to crochet just so I can make something like that. And I know exactly how you feel about the whole "parents out of town" stress. My parents went to see a track meet (!!!) out of town, and weren't there for my daughter's birth. It was definitely disappointing, but in the end I still had my sweet baby, so it was hard to be TOO disappointed.
Hang in there!
Posted by: Stephanie | June 10, 2005 at 10:20 PM
Oooh! I'm so behind with checking out my fave blogs. It's nice to see all your homemade goodies. Love the afghan, sweater and booties! Your li'l sweet pea is so lucky!
Posted by: Marie | June 11, 2005 at 05:19 PM
This is getting so exciting Leslie!
I hope your parents make it back!!
I LOVE all of the crocheted/knitted goodies!
Posted by: jes | June 12, 2005 at 04:57 AM
have you had that baby get? Or are you just too preggo to post?
Posted by: joy madison | June 13, 2005 at 12:16 AM
Please add me to the list of people who would love to know where the pattern for the baby afghan came from ? It's just beautiful.
As are your baby's feet! And, I'm sure, the rest of her. All best wishes to you whole family!
Posted by: Anamaria | June 26, 2005 at 10:43 AM