I've been busy...

I was just honestly shocked that my last entry here was in March! I was pretty sure that had been at the end of April...

Needless to say, things have been a bit hectic around here. I have my deadlines looming for my book and have been working like mad to get it done. It will get done and on time and I do see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's frantic at work, but it's fun and I really enjoy what I'm doing and have the feeling that I'm actually doing something that I'm good at and that I enjoy and that hopefully has a greater purpose (all those eager beaver students waiting for my book!).

To add a bit of diversity I've also been traveling to some conferences, which went well, but was stressful. I was glad to come home to my family. And I was glad to come back to my normal lighting in my bathroom - the bathroom lighting in hotel rooms is brutal! I saw lots (!) of grey hair, looked like I needed some expensive facial creams and a serious visit to the hairdresser to get highlights, grey coverage and a decent haircut. I admit: I really do need a decent haircut! June. June will be the month for the haircut, after the first of the two last deadlines. Phew. Back to normal lighting I'll hold off on the highlights - it must have just been the light in the hotel. I could I guess always consult my talented, but slightly abusive hairdresser for his opinion...

I notice that whenever my workload and stress level go up like this at work, I feel this urge to craft and make things at home. So I've been busy making things around here. At first I thought it's the process of manual labor that I enjoy, but that's not the case. Household work for

example like scrubbing the tub or the floor or ironing and folding laundry have no appeal to me when I come home tired from a full day. But the call of the sewing machine when the kids are in bed? Oh yes, that's much more fun and more satisfying. Mind you, I really appreciate how wonderful an organized and clean house is. And I have to say I have the best husband who is taking care of that at the moment. So, I have the luxury to actually make fun things in the evening. I've taken some pictures for you to enjoy:

I made this shirt a while ago but just took a picture of it tonight:

I absolutely love the fabric (Wonderland by Momo). The big risk with clothes for little kids, especially little Anouks is that they get torn while they play. That's a bit sad when you've spent the time making it and love the fabric, but at the same time it gives life to the clothes and it trains my mending skills - can you spot the mended tear right in the front?

Here she is wearing the blouse for her grandpa's birthday:

This one I made tonight (!). I had bought this Japanese fabric a while ago for another project, which I abandoned and then I found this pattern online and thought it would be fun to make tonight.

I like this close-up and noticed too late that it features the broken snap button. It's hard to gage the strength needed for attaching it without breaking it....

This is another Oliver and S pattern, the popover sun dress. A few days ago when it was a really warm day, Anouk was wearing it and it looked really beautiful and summery and happy.

It then went into the wash with new jeans... Anyways, a couple of days in Oxyclean and here it is sans the blue stains:

And last but not least, a little quilt, or at least the beginnings of one. This was really simple: two pre-cut charm pack, sewn together and voila:

(now I just need to quilt it...)

So, I've been busy and happy. It's a whirlwind at the moment, but I feel full of energy and confidence.

Good night everyone, my vodka lemon is empty and I am ready for bed.

Schlaf gut internet (as Anouk would say).