This lovely lad was found munching on the magnolia tree. He is all set to go to his new home with a friend of little e.

The first birthdays have been rolling by for at least a month now. After much discussion our antenatal group decided that we would draw names and between us, buy one present for each child. The discussion got a little heated when the budgets were set, but we managed to come to some sort of agreement and drew the names.

I drew the name for a certain young boy who loves to climb everything and whose mother has a soft spot for horses. I'm sure she will come up with a suitable name for our friend here. The horse is more of something for a little boy to grow into, but it is already kitted up to go with his best cowboy bandanna.

I'm not big on making soft toys and was surprised that this took a whole 500g bag of fill. The bag certainly looked a lot larger than the head when I started. When materials are counted, it was probably cheaper and faster for me to buy a present, but I was stubborn and wanted my present to be handmade. I searched online for a pattern but couldn't find anything realistic. I ended up at my local library with a 1982 copy of “Easy-to-Make Toys”. There were lots of soft toys, some crotchet ones and a word working section so that “It's not only Mum whose skills are employed. Dad can join in the fun too, especially with the wooden toys.”

The designs are suitably 1970s, and probably kitsch before it's time but without the deliberate irony of the Softies. The book is proof that there really is nothing new under the sun.

Horse showing concern - “Poor guy, she skinned him for a pair of PJs”

Hello to those who are new to reading Seven Stitches.

It was an epic tutorial month at Sew Mama Sew. I was delighted to have my tutorial featured in one of the days of tutorials.

I've been blogging since January this year. The title comes from both my favorite number and a certain constellation that the title sounds like (more about that in June). While you are here, take a look around, let me know what you think. Keep in mind I am in the Southern Hemisphere, so the seasonal things may look a little out of kilter.

After the tutorial month I have an even longer list of things I would like to make starting out with

the twirly skirt – little e would look great in that, though maybe when she is bigger
a brooch keeper – I have soft spot for sparkly things

or a post it note quilt - I love random piecing.

There is a saying that the cobbler's children go without new shoes. I think there may be more than an ounce of truth in it. I have still to make little e a quilt.

I might be living proof of this saying in more ways than one.

My father is an electrician and has always been determined that he can and will fix anything that breaks. As children, this was a source of great amusement. After visiting Uncle Michael, with his modified toaster that really bounced the toast like in the cartoons, my brother and I wanted one too. Not to be out done by his electrician brother (it runs in the family) Dad set out to make one too and of course take it one step further. The toaster bounced even higher.

I think Dad was aiming for our waiting plates.

However, Mum wasn't as impressed and the toaster was reinstated to a bit less than it's former bounciness. That toaster was fixed a number of times, as was every other appliance in the house.

It finally went walk about one summer holiday when friends house sat. When Mum was asked if there any suitable payment, she knew exactly what she wanted. Out of Dad's earshot, she said “Make the toaster disappear”.

We got our new toaster and it popped just like every other toaster. Not much else was said on the matter for a few years.

However, when Dad found that old toaster hidden in the back of the shed – it was carried high like a trophy. That toaster even managed to live another day as it was placed carefully in the box of items to go flatting.

Our washing machine was very much the same story. I think we will save that one for when I finally get a quilt made for little e.

In the meantime, she isn't going without by a long shot My Stitching Sisters friends made this wonderful red and white quilt. It's the first time that I have been given a quilt and it feels amazing. As, you can see this quilt has been with little e since the beginning.

While I was able to choose the pattern and colours, I was carefully sent from the room as everything went together. There were hushed tones as people discussed the quilting, the boarder, the fabrics. It was presented to me two weeks before little e's arrival, when I was at the “whole world is uncomfortable” stage of pregnancy.

Like the toaster being repaired every time with love, this quilt was stitched with love and it shows.