Diaper bag

I have a question for the Moms in the audience. :-) What features in a diaper bag do you find most indispensable? Inner pockets, outer pockets, plastic lining, outer keyring, zip closure, two handles, etc. Or something totally different? I realize this will change depending on the person and the lifestyle. For what it's worth, I plan on breastfeeding and and probably using a mixture of cloth and disposable diapers. Thanks in advance for your help!

Homemakers Creed

For my birthday, my parents gave me a vintage, framed copy of the "Homemakers Creed" which they found at an estate sale. I would guess it is from the '40s. It is labelled "General Mills Inc." and "Betty Crocker," so it may have been associated with some kind of sales campaign. Anyway, I'll be hanging it in my kitchen where I can view it frequently for inspiration!

HOMEMAKERS CREED

I BELIEVE
homemaking is a noble and challenging career.

I BELIEVE
homemaking is an art requiring many different skills.

I BELIEVE
homemaking requires the best of my efforts, my abilities, and my thinking.

I BELIEVE
home reflects the spirit of the homemaker.

I BELIEVE
home should be a place of peace, joy, and contentment.

I BELIEVE
no task is too humble that will contribute to the cleanliness, the order, the health, the well-being of the household.

I BELIEVE
a homemaker must be true to the highest ideals of love, loyalty, service, and religion.

I BELIEVE
home must be an influence for good in the neighborhood, the community, the country.

Grandpa's cradle

In honor of my 26th birthday, I am going to stop being a lazy bum and post on my blog! :-) In all fairness, Douglas and I have been on the road the past two weeks -- first visiting his family in Colorado, and now we're staying with my parents. It's great to be "home" for my first birthday as a married woman!


The family has helped with "baby fever" by digging out all kinds of old baby clothes, blankets, toys, etc. Everyone enjoys this walk down memory lane. One item I'll be taking home with me is this beautiful wooden cradle, made for me many years ago by my skilled grandpa. Nestling inside is a vintage quilt, given to me with the cradle. I didn't realize until now that it was made for Arvid, my grandma's baby brother, who was born in 1929. That means it is 80 years old! I will probably use it as a wall hanging, since I don't want the old fabrics ruined by baby spit-up or other stains.

'30s silk charmeuse

The dress I hinted at in my last post is being made from EvaDress 7482 (short-sleeved view), with a skirt added on to the blouse. I sewed up most of the mock-up yesterday, and I'll be seeing my friend soon so I can fit it on her. Once done, I look forward to cutting into that luscious blue silk. If I can't fit into cute '30s styles myself, the next best thing is to sew for someone else!

Maternity tunic

(click for larger picture)
OK, this will probably be the last maternity sewing project for a while! I've got other fish to fry. (For one, a delectable '30s dress from a sapphire blue silk charmeuse! Alas, it's for a friend and not myself!) Anyway, Jo-Ann Fabrics had a sale on Simplicity patterns, so I picked up S2696 to make a summer top. The fabric is an old Indian-print sheet, cut to make the print part of the design. This was quick, easy, and cheap, and now I have a comfortable new top to wear!