a labour of love

I don't think anyone can deny that a carefully planned and lovingly handmade gift is the best kind of gift. There is something so special about knowing that somebody spent a lot of time making something especially for you. While I was pregnant with my little Dollop, and then with Splodge, I made patchwork quilts. I wanted my babies to have something special, made by mummy, that marked a special point in time. And I love their quilts so much... because they are full of memories of eagerly anticipating their arrivals, and then of wrapping them up in them for the first time.

And with my little Flump I have been the same. I spent ages picking out fabric, cutting out the squares and then stitching them together, before applying the batting and backing, quilting it all together and then binding the edges. I love how it's turned out, and I hope she will too. And I'm already dreaming about her snuggled up under it.

This time around I've also gone a bit overboard and after learning to crochet in July, little Flump has two mummy-made crochet blankets to keep her cosy through the winter too. And I absolutely love the fact she has a stash of one-of-a-kind blankets made especially for her. I'm obsessed with baby blankets at the best of times, but handmade ones are without a doubt the best kind.