Oops! Sorry for that little break there. Like Jane says, I’m still here…just busy. The biggest busy this week has been Pinterest.* Like many of you, I’ve been sucked in and I LOVE it. Since I started blogging, I’ve kept notes of things I wanted to remember, but I’m a visual person and notes just don’t always capture the beauty. Pinterest does that for me and I’m captivated. I even see applications beyond just keeping pretty photos. Like maybe, a pinboard of pictures of recipes that you want to try. And then once tried, if you like them you could move them to keepers or something. (Speaking of which, do any of you pin-ers know how to delete a picture from one of your boards?) And I think pinterest would be super fun for those of you who don’t have blogs {cough}LindaNoBlog{cough} — it doesn’t have the maintenance of a blog (the number one reason I hear for people who don’t want to start them) but it has all of the visual fun!
Anyhoo….back to our post title…Baby Elephants! I went to a baby brunch/shower this morning for a friend’s daughter who married another friend’s son. Their “theme” is baby elephants and hippos. So I put Hester to work embroidering the little critters from an old Deb Strain disk that I’ve been hoarding. I made a baby towel first. I love making baby towels, but it’s hard to find good terrycloth in these days of big box fabric stores.
The terrycloth in these bibs and towel is from JoAnn’s and it’s awful stuff. It’s stretchy and snags easily. I won’t use it again. I’ve been hunting online and I’ve requested some samples. Hopefully I’ll find something good out there. Someone also suggested just buying bath towels and cutting them up. That’s definitely a consideration.
The shower was beautiful. It was a “display’ shower. Have you ever heard of that? You take your gift unwrapped and it’s displayed on a table with all of the other gifts. The mother-to-be’s bridal shower was so huge, that present opening took awhile. So, maybe they decided to just cut to the chase and dispense with the unwrapping.
There are pros and cons to this type of shower — What do you think? If you’re outside the US, you probably don’t even have baby showers, do you? For those of you who have been to baby showers, do you think you’d like a display shower?
Back to my little display…to the bath towel, bibs and onesies, I added a baby elephant and a little elephant tag and boxed it up. I will admit, it was nice not to have to worry about gift wrapping!
Ok. I’m outta here. Going to go brave the cold and find a few photos for the scavenger hunt. I hope some of you who love to take pictures will join in!
XOXO,
Anna
*I created a Thimbleanna facebook account which was required to join Pinterest. Since then, several of you have requested friend status. Facebook and I don’t like each other, so don’t be offended if I don’t friend you back — it’s a dummy account and I don’t use it!
Oh, your baby elephants are so cute; though given the choice of theme, I have to ask – is she expecting a large baby or something?! I remember my midwife saying to me (after I’d been predicted a 10.5 lber – correctly as it turned out) “Well, I’d have said she was large, but not an elephant!” Charming.
The whole idea of baby showers seems odd to me, but then we were so superstitious that we didn’t even buy a crib till I was about 36 weeks, and certainly didn’t assemble it. I think it’s a lovely idea but the thought of a display shower – eeeeek! Is it usual to open all the gifts at the shower itself? Talk about pressure!
I bet your gift was the cutest one there. I like the idea of a display shower, but what if my gift was the worst? Hmmm, embarassing… LOL. Not sure I understand Pinterest but I’m gonna look into it if it will help organize my life!
I expect that showers here in Canada are much the same as in the US. I have never heard of a display shower either but in response to dottycookie’s comment, yes, I am accustomed to all the gifts being opened at the shower. Part of the fun is getting to go “ohhh” and “ahhh” over all the darling outfits and goodies as they are passed around. In this day and age of being eco-aware, I can appreciate foregoing the wrapping & trim BUT I would requests gifts be “wrapped” in something useful/reusable – pillowcase, receiving blanket, laundry basket, etc. Just my .02. =) Your elephant items are lovely and I’m sure they were much appreciated.
I like your elephants and hippos. I’ll bet you had the cutest gifts of all. I guess a display baby shower would be ok. At all the showers I’ve been to, they pass the gifts around so everyone there can get a good look at all the gifts.
Not sure I’m in for Pinterest….I’m a paper/pencil lady and a list maker. I don’t want to be THAT organized.
Jody
The elephants are toooooo cute! But I don’t know about the display shower. As much as a pain it is to sit there, I like the whole unwrapping of gifts part.
OOh got to check out Pinterest and thank you as you’ve just reminded me that I haven’t wrapped Hubs birthday presents for tomorrow – bummer!! Love the elephants by the way and I have to say that baby showers are not big here. In fact I don’t think I know of anyone who has ever had one -sorry.
I love your baby elephants and hippos! We don’t really do baby showers over here but if we did I’d go for the display option simply because it’s good ecologically if no wrapping paper is used.Also I am rubbish at and dislike wrapping parcels:)
hey anna…thanks for the shout out!
i love your pinterest visuals…they are great!
i have gone to several baby showers but never to a display shower. your display was really beautiful & your creative bibs & towels must have been the hit of the display… as well as the shower!! you & hester did a fantastic job!
enjoy the rest of the w/e!!
Very sweet these little elephants
and I love these cute littel snowmans.
Such a lovely idea ;0)
1. Very. Very. Cute.
2. I [heart] Hester. She has mad skills. I’d like to invite someone like her to live at my house someday.
3. Pinterest, eh? I have been mulling over social media the past several days, considering some I’d like to join. I terminated my Facebook account over a year ago because FB felt a bit snarky, a bit high-school-ey. Thoughts?
4. Does anyone but me find it mindbending and time consuming to figure this stuff out? I’d like to be more a part of things, but I can spend way too much time figuring out how to tile a Twitter background…
5. This comment keeps growing. Sorry ’bout that!
Erm, well, at the risk of sounding rather b*tchy, I think this display thing sounds kind of weird and greedy. But wth do I know?
Pinterest sounded so interesting until you said that you needed Facebook to do it. I am a Facebook resister, so I guess that rules it out, but I really like how it looks. Have you ever tried Evernote? It’s kind of similar but not tied to Facebook.
I love all the sweet elephant baby gifts. Of course, they are the Alabama mascot! I think the display idea sounds good because it is fun to look at everything and it means the mom-to-be can spend time socializing with everyone instead of just undoing wrapping paper.
Okay…so your gifts must have been ooowwed and ahhed over. The display shower was great for your stuff. I bet everyone else was just drooling over it. SO cute.
I. Love. Pinterest.
A lot.
To delete hit the edit button on your image and then delete. Yay!
I have been to a few baby showers but not a lot. The open baby shower sounds like a great idea if you invite a lot of people I guess. Your little elephants look so cute too on everything you made.
Hi Anna,
I haven’t heard of a display shower, guess all the gifts better be pretty enough to display! Yours are wonderful, adorable and so professional. I think I like the surprise factor of unwrapping.
Happy weekend to ya,
Shawn
Love, love the baby elephants & hippos. DD loves elephants too so her baby shower featured a cake with an elephant and circus peanuts! I’ve never heard of the display shower idea. Guess there would be pros & cons to that one.
I’ve got an invitation to Pinterest but haven’t started yet. when it asked to access my FB acct I began to have second thoughts but it does sound fun. I might need something else to get me to spend more time online! Still trying to decide whether to proceed!
” One elephant went out to play
Upon a spider’s web one day.
He had such enormous fun
That he called for another elephant to come.
Deux elephants allaient jouer…”
You got me singing Anna!
Very cute…but you and Dianne are showing up my “meager” accomplishments!
there was a collective aaaaaaawwwwww!!! when i brought up your post … so very sweet!
p.s. – do you think that Molly is gonna think i’m stalking her?
Adorable elephants, Anna. I love that theme for a baby shower. We are throwing a shower for my sister in a few months and I would feel weird asking people not to wrap their gift … it seems a little presumptious. I’ll have to check out Pinterest.
Such cute little elephants! More and more tempted to get an embroidery machine. As for my thoughts on a display shower: might be just a trend towards less waste, although I love to wrap pretty packages and don’t look at them as a waste at all. I still would feel the need to assemble my gifts into some kind of presentation.
I love, love, love the elephants; they are so adorable. You always embroider the best things. I’m still pondering a new machine, but sometimes I think I only want to do some minor embroidery such as monograms and names. I keep waffling on this issue as then I see what wonders you create and, just like magic, I’m on again with considering a major embroidery type machine. If I could just make a decision one way or another, I can get on with buying it.
Nothing but sweetness in this post….lucky, lucky baby!
Oh those little bibs are adorable Anna. Baby showers don’t tend to happen over here and I’ve never heard of a ‘display’ shower. I’m sure your beautiful gift shone out!
P.S. A certain little parcel is wending its way youwards.
The baby gifts are adorable! I’m sure the mom-to-be was thrilled. I really love those bibs, did you have a pattern or just make up your own?
I don’t get along well with facebook either. A while back I joined under pressure, and then un-joined about 2 hours later. :)
Your baby treasures for the shower are just dang adorable and I bet the hit of the shower. So this Pinterest – I’m not sure I understand but then if it’s techy, lol – well you know I struggle in that area. How long to SLC :)
Hugs – Mrs. Farmhouse
I love those Ellys! They must be a popular theme at this moment, because I also went to a baby shower yesterday and Mom was using Ellys. I love yours!
So precious! Thanks for sharing with us.
Oh gosh, whenever topics like this come up I feel so old! Nope, never heard of such a shower. I am going to a baby shower in May. Maybe it will be a display shower and then I can act all hip and say, “Hey, I know what that is!!” ;0
I have a facebook account, grudgingly. Don’t use it. Just have it. ;0
Those elephants are darling. Very cute!
I look forward to seeing your photographs for the challenge!
Darling, despite the fact that you used such an inadequate terry cloth. ;) I really dislike baby showers and a dispay shower just makes them worse. Ugh.
I still don’t get the Pinterest thing. But, then, I don’t understand Twitter, either. lol Can’t wait to see your photos!
Such cute, cute baby gifts!!
Around here we still do the unwrapping thing, and often the attendees will sit in a big circle and pass each opened gift around. It’s kinda like a baby shower version of hot potato. I find the process a bit awkward so maybe a display table would be a nice change.
Lucky Lucky friends daughter and bubba! Gorgeous elephants (elephants are VERY popular at our house at the moment). Anyway, I just want to grumble a bit that you have introduced me to Pinterest and the Scavenger Hunt….they both grabbed my interest straight away and WHEN am I going to find the time to fit them in???? Sigh!
BTW – know exactly what you mean about Facebook….I joined last month only because Ella was desparate to join and I wanted to keep an eye on it….within hours I had all these friend requests and now everyone probably thinks I am just ignoring them when really I’m ignoring everyone!!!
My goodness, I have been thinking elephants for a few months now! My youngest daughter is married to a sweet guy of Indian descent and elephants are very powerful symbols in their culture. So since they are expecting their first child in May I have been looking and thinking elephants for some bibs, and onesies and other sweet things!
never heard of a display shower before, kind like the idea and kind a not…puts a lot more pressure on gift giver…lol!
HI Anna,
Pinterest is indeed interesting – You do find lots to share with us.
I have Facebook and went there because it meant I could view photos of family ( nieces, nephews etc) It has been good to connect with them at that level. I don’t Twitter ( well probably I do but not on the Twitter page nor do I do My Space- ah so many ways to connect and express one’s self on the net.
Just trying to blog more regularly and connect with some of my favorite bloggers.
Love your elephants- I am sure that they were appreciated by the mother to be. I have never been to a display shower. I am not sure what I think about- I have a couple of friends who really love the wrapping of the gifts – they would miss that aspect of a shower.
Regards,
Anna
what precious gifts and I BET yours were the best!!!!! Im not sure if I would like that kind of shower…opeing gifts is so much fun…but it sure would go faster..sometimes the opening takes a long time but it sure is fun!
Your gifts were amazing!
Love your elephant baby items!!! As far as a display shower … I don’t think I care for that idea. There is just nothing like when you look upon all of the wrapped gifts … so many surprises within each package … just waiting to be unwrapped!!! I think a display shower would feel like a store … everything laid out nice and neat. Nope … I want to unwrap presents!!!!
Your baby things are all gorgeous!! We don’t really have baby showers over here. As I’m a superstitious person, I’m not too sure about giving all those gifts before the safe arrival of the baby. When I had Stuart, I only had the minimum of necessities ……. in those days shops would keep the pram and cot aside for you for a small deposit, and deliver them once the baby was born. Even now, I don’t make a baby quilt until after the birth …… and I know lots of people who feel the same way. Oh dear, does that all sound a bit negative and gloomy!
Your right…no baby showers on this side of the Atlantic. What a neat idea for displaying the gifts…like yourself I would be tempted to make something and you know that can’t be duplicated…plus just think of all the ooohs and ahhs when people realize you’ve *made* your gift! ;o)
ive been wondering about pinterest…i dont have facebook either…do i really need another site to suck away my time??
ive never been to a display shower? i like the idea! i went to a shower 2 weeks ago and it took the very pregnant, on bed rest mother to be over 2 hours to slowly open gifts!!
I enjoyed reading all the comments on this subject, Miss Anna, you generate some good thoughts. Everything usually ends up on display after it has been passed around the room, so why not! I think I have finally figured out a plan for my fb usuage because I got on it to keep in touch with family but it has grown because I find old friends. I’ve been on Pinterest and haven’t digested what it is all about. So many are playing with it. I bet I will too.
I have never been to a display baby shower. It sure puts a lot of pressure on the gift givers. I love your gifts. It makes me want an embroidery machine. Good thing my husband doesn’t ready sewing blogs, my secret would out!
I love your gifts, as I love all the stuff you make. I don’t like the display shower idea so much. Many times I have been able to take a simple, inexpensive gift and make it appear nicer by the wrapping. It’s the presentation that often makes the gifts special. As far as waste, we reuse any wrappings that are intact–I admit it’s often more of a money issue than a green issue. So anyway, I like the traditional shower which also allows the recipient to show a moment of attention and appreciation for the gift & giver.
Totally cute! I’ve not heard of Pinterest.
Anna, you always enchant me with the beautiful things you make. I once made a man’s bathrobe from terrycloth (many, many years ago) and swore I’d never touch it again if I could help myself!
I think I’d like the display shower. I went to a baby shower last month and the mother-to-be never opened any of the gifts. I always like to see what is given – more ideas, you know? I was disappointed. I guess we always want to see delight with what we’ve brought for them. ;)
Adorable elephants and nice crafting there Anna! I like the idea that all the presents bought for baby will have the same theme but won’t be all from a specific line. Personally I dislike baby rooms where everything from curtains to lampshades to bedding are the same! As for baby showers – they are not a UK thing at all. Many people think it is tempting fate to gift things to a baby who has not yet made an appearence! Whilst I am not really superstitious I have to admit that any presents I did recieve before my two turned up were put away in the nursery along with the unassembled cot until they had arrived!
You made some gorgeous olifantjes! What a fun baby shower, hippo’s and elephants!
Dear Anna,
You give the most amazing shower gifts ever!
I have some news. It’s a mracle, really.
I’m pregnant.
My theme for my baby shower is granny square afghans. The grannies should be the colors of yummy candy, edged in white.
I’m old now, so the baby will be huge.
Please make her afghan about 70″ square.
We’re naming her Anna.
I’m sure the new mother-to-be was so excited with your gifts! I haven’t heard of a display shower either…sounds like either it’s for very large showers or someone who is in a hurry! ;-) At least, you didn’t have to worry about wrapping!
If the display table is filled with cute gifts like yours- I say… why not? When baby showers get big it is hard for everyone to see the gifts anyways so why not have table for everybody to walk buy and see. If it were a small intimate gathering, I will wrap my gift. Carolina
Baby showers are quite popular here in NZ and I love the idea of having a theme.
Those bits and pieces you made are so sweet.
ooooh, the baby elephants & hippos are sooo sweet, what a lovely baby shower present! thinking of it, i don’t even know whether baby showers are usual in germany…i think they weren’t in the past but as we (as in we germans) are ‘celebrating’ halloween i should investigate! and i should do that soon….because i become an aunt!!!!!!!! my only sister (she’s 2 years older than me) is pregnant with her first child (sorry, i’m still so excited although i know it for about 2 weeks…but i’ve just got the first ultrasound picture…!)
regarding those display showers…i’m not sure what to think of it…sure it’s a good thing if you think of the avoided waste, but one of my most anticipated moments is to unwrap a present :)
hugs, julia
p.s. haven’t forgotten to answer your comments – i’m still catching up after one week’s absence!
Wow, Anna. I wish I could embroider like you. As my kids would say, you’re the bomb!
yep had a baby shower for keira! lots of fun, cute games and lovely presents! it was a special afternoon and we sent the hubby’s up the road to a nice waterfront pub:) it was a great day but then I didn’t want to have one for the rest of my kids as I felt bad having a baby shower, then the birth and then the baptism so soon after!
not sure about gifts on display though! they always look so pretty wrapped up
loooooooooooooooove what you made
corrie:)