i surrender
sacrificing

new rhythm

It's mind blowing to me how quickly the hours pass with a new little one. The days fly by even faster when family is visiting, drawn here by a cuddly, cooing new life.

I wondered, as I'm sure all soon-to-be mamas do, how much our lives would change with the arrival of a baby. With almost three weeks on our parenting resumes (I know, you seasoned mamas can insert a laugh right here!) I can begin to see a new rhythm emerging. It's a slower, peaceful rhythm, pulsing along to the beat of a little stomach. When a sweet, petit mouth begins to open and close, I have no qualms about putting down the fabric shears, the broom, or the as-yet-unfolded laundry to quench his thirst. What a joy it is to slow down like this, to enjoy these quiet moments with this amazing, growing person.

So, yes, the crafting continues. Things get done, but slowly and mindfully. We have been very fortunate to have had family in town since Finn's birth to help out around the house. When my parents leave in a few days, this new rhythm will continue to evolve, naturally shaped by the needs of the three of us. Three of us in our own drumming circle, learning to play our own beats in rhythm with the other two musicians, each player adding something unique and complimentary to the mix.

Here's a sampling of what the mama beat looked like this week:

summer blouse 2


The Summer Blouse from Weekend Sewing in Nani Iro double gauze. Overall, I'm quite pleased with the end result. The shirt worked up easily, with a few modifications. I made it in a larger size than I would have normally in order to accommodate any postpartum chest size fluctuation. I did have to modify the bust darts (as you can probably see here - my ironing job is super lax) as well as significantly decrease the sleeve length. I fancied up the sleeves by adding a flared, finished edge. This added a bit of time to the project, but I think the detail really adds to my level of satisfaction with the blouse. Without the flared sleeve, I might have the impulse to wear it as a pajama top rather than an out-and-about top.

summer blouse 1

The double gauze fabric worked wonderfully. It's cool and light yet not see through, with a nice drape. I would certainly not recommend making the blouse in a standard quilting cotton, as it would be too stiff. Cotton lawn or other lightweight cotton would do the trick. And oh, how I would love to have more clothing in double gauze, particularly in the Far Far Away line. Too bad it's so hard to come by at the moment!

(The little bird necklace is my Mother's Day/Birth Day gift from my sweet Patrick - in honor of bringing my littlest bird into the world. I only take it off to shower, and even then, it's with hesitation!)

summer blouse 3


Until next time, in between feedings!

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