Need an Idea for a Special Gift for a Baby Shower

My mother has a dear friend that always cross-stitches a quilt (not huge… maybe 6x4) and it is always a HUGE crowd-pleaser. She gave me the first one with my second boy… her only request was that we actually used it as her daughter refuses with her own 3 children. I cried when I opened it and so did my Mom, it was a surprise and so personal.

Last month, my Nephew and his wife had twins and she made them two… my Moms friend doesn’t really even know the new Mommy but wanted to do this, I caught 4 or 5 ladies wiping their eyes. I can personally say that my almost 3 year old has slept with it forever and although the stitching it coming out and he has pulled off 90% of the tiny beads, it is very loved.

She buys the kit at Hobby Lobby (I think) and cross stitches the top layer… then she takes it to a tailor and has it quilted, it has always been my favorite gift!

Good Luck!
E.

I always give my favorite story book, which happens to be "Guess How Much I Love You" and a piece of handpainted art, personalized with the baby's name to match the theme of the nursery. It's always a big hit.
I pay my friend that is very crafty to do this for me. If you are crafty or know someone that is, I think this would be a memorable gift.
Another suggestion that I learned from a friend: buy a very nice blanket and take it to an embroidery shop and have it personalized with the baby's name or initials.
Also, I always give the mother-to-be & any siblings a gift as well. Everyone is so focused on the "new" baby that they forget about mommy & big sister/brother.
When I was pregnant with my second child my coworkers collected a significant amount of money to buy a gift after I had already had 3 different baby showers. Instead of buying the baby a gift, they redecorated my bedroom. It was much needed and much appreciated. Needless to say, I really don't remember many of the baby gifts, but vividly remember my room being so nice when I came home from the hospital.

Hope this helps...

Here are a few ideas:
**Make her several scrapbooking pages (those really fun ones like those by "From The Heart". Pages can have a" Baby Arrival Day" theme or some pages for her sonograms.

**Make an old-timey black & white inked silhouette of a boy/girl and incorporate the baby's name into the image. I.e. Little girl holding a parasol...the girls parasol and skirt spell out the first & last name.

**Sew a diaper bag or overnight bag (for visits to grandma's house!).

Kim Bransford with Nana Puddins embroidery makes a BEAUTIFUL baby blanket. Her number is ###-###-####. It is the soft material and the satin edges and embroiders beautiful sayings or the babies information on the edges. It is a forever keepsake that is not expensive. She makes some great canvas bags too...lots of ideas that she can give you!!! Tell her J. sent you to her.

J. T.

One of my favorite baby gifts that I received was a large supply of burp cloths that had been embellished with different ribbons along the edge and lace. Each one was differetn and made from a basic white burp cloth. It looked like she had simply sewn a length of ribbon, lace, or both to the edge to make each one individual and special. They are precious and I used them everyday!

Another suggestion, if you are short on time would be a "Mommy gift" Why not treat your step-daughter to a prenatal massage, or a manicure or pedicure before her baby arrives. She would love to feel pampered a little before her world turns upside down forever!!

A very special gift I received was a prayer blanket. Each knot represents an actual prayer prayed for the new baby. I found directions at the link below. http://www.helium.com/items/858878-how-to-make-a-fleece-t...

The blanket I received was personalized with my daughter's name and birth date. Even if you make your own blanket, Irene at Sew Nice would be happy to embroider one or both sides before you put it together. You can reach her at ____@____.com for all of your embroidery needs and additional custom-made baby items.