Some of my (current) Favorite Things

There's something about handmade and vintage items that make me so happy. I don't know if it's their nostalgic appeal or just the thought that someone took the time to make something with their hands, putting love in it along the way. Some of my favorite baby gifts were those that people created just for Grace. First, here's a picture of my little pumpkin when she was not quite 1 month old and not quite 7 lbs! Oh, the blessedness of being little :)

Now onto some of my favorite things...There's the sweet patchwork toddler quilt that Mrs. Betty, a friend of my mom, made for Grace, which we still use as the "fitted sheet" in Grace's pack-n-play. When Grace was a tiny wee one, I remember her being mesmerized by the squares with the ladybugs! Now she likes to untuck the corners to look underneath!!! Here she is last October spending some quiet time in her pack-n-play.
Then there's the pink and chocolate brown baby wreath that Aunt Heidi made for Grace, which still hangs in her room today. Grace loves "ringing the bell" (i.e. touching the silver rattle) and pointing to the "G" in the embroidered burpie pad. Although you can't see the wreath very well in this photo, you can see Grace contemplating how to balance on the rocker she's not supposed to be standing on to try to "ring the bell"!
And one of my all-time favorites is the ladybug set Noonie sewed for Grace - down to the teensy pocket in the front and the little ladybug tag on the inside of the pants so I would know which side was front from back :). It was a wee bit big on Grace last Fall, but it's perfect on her now. If only I had taken her up on learning to sew when I was younger...

And although I know practical baby gifts are so important and needed, there's something about sweet little one-of-a-kind gifts that just warm my heart. So, with that in mind...I've started preparing for my best friend Heidi's baby shower later this year, which I can't wait to host. Heidi just found out that she's having a *GIRL*!!!! She's already an amazing mom to my favorite 4 year old little girl in the whole wide world, my goddaughter Madeline, so I know this soon-to-be-here baby girl is already one lucky baby.
Madeline just loves baby Grace, as she likes to call her and Grace is so in awe of Madeline, it is just adorable. Madeline is going to be the best big sis ever! Check out these cute matching vintage dresses - the one on the left is for Madeline and the one on the right is for Grace. Can't wait to see them wear them...I'm thinking dresses with cowboy boots - photo op for sure!!










And (knowing my love for vintage raggedy ann), wouldn't this onesie and little booties look adorable on a fresh-from-heaven baby girl?

Anna of Magnolia Rose, a super cute etsy boutique, made the onesie. She's so talented and sweet, she made these ducky bloomers for Grace and created the cutest pair of raggedy ann bloomers to match Grace's dress.

And there's nothing better than a pillowcase dress on a hot summer day, except a hand embroidered pillowcase dress!! Check out these two sweet ones that I recently stumbled upon!!!

Finally, my love for hand embroidery has led me to Cassie of Olivia Kate Couture. I love her fresh spin on old vintage designs. How cute is this patriotic ducky celebrating America's birthday on the 4th of July?!

And check out this sweet dress and matching headscarf!!!
Playing dress up + Hand-made, Vintage-inspired finds = Too Much Fun!! Maybe one of these days I will open a sweet little shop full of eye-candy pretties like this one!