the perks and perils of work-at-home

These past few days I've been head down at my little sewing machine. I'm starting to feel a bit vibraty in my body, and the whir in my head matches that of the machine. I started to wonder if she was making strange noises and getting sick, but I think my mind was just rambling a bit.
Aside from making one tiny little mistake on my stack of 30 cushion covers (which actually equates to a whole lot of unpicking and re-ironing and sewing; 2 1/2 hours extra to be exact!), things are going quite well.Getting through the list of things that I have to get done for Stitches & Craft, all the things that have to be dropped off at the courier in ..... ummm... less than a week. Yes - you read correctly. We have less than one week to do all the screenprinting and sewing and packing and making and ironing and pricing and......
I'm actually feeling quietly optimistic about it. Though I do have some good child-minding lined up for the next few days. And some late nights planned, and maybe even early mornings. And the back-up plan of taking extra stuff in the car with us down to Melbourne.But I know that whatever we get done is all that we can get done. And it'll be amazing. And Sam and I will look at our work, and smile to ourselves and each other, knowing we've done a pretty fantastic job.
I'll let you know.

So, the little things that have been holding me up, and keeping me a tad bit behind schedule. Well, it's these little creatures.Yesterday we stopped work to have a glorious morning tea picnic. Baby cinos and baby pancakes, served on the new birthday picnic/baby blanket* and the cutest little tea set (which matches the picnic rug quite well). The smallest of us in a ballerina tutu of course.*These baby yoghurt pancakes are so easy to make, you should try them yourselves. We serve them with gloops of sugar free jam and yoghurt (because we rarely have cream in our fridge). To make them you need one cup of self raising flour, one cup of milk and about 3 tablespoons of natural yoghurt (you could use flavoured yoghurt or grated apple or blueberries, and add cinnamon or nutmeg or vanilla if you like - we do try to not add sugar, as the kids often want to smother them in maple syrup or golden syrup). Stir it all up, it will be like a thick slurry, with some small lumps. Add a tiny bit of melted butter - which means that you shouldn't need to grease the pan, and they shouldn't stick. Then dollop into pan, and cook for a few minutes before you turn. These won't bubble to let you know they're cooked the way that regular pancakes do. The yoghurt adds a lovely texture and flavour.Best enjoyed with loved ones, or on your own for a few quiet moments.
*Related post to come very soon.
PS - thank you for your lovely comments on my skirt from my past post - I'm really loving wearing it, and have plans (wishful thinking) to make some more skirts for our Melbourne trip.

list of things

Time is squashed up, in my head I can't see or think. I've got tunnel vision, and things are slipping off the edges of my earth / viewpoint. I have lots to tell you, so I'm going to try and condense into short points.

:: I have (finally) randomly chosen two winners for my magazine giveaway. Anna and Elizabeth, please send me your address details. (ellieabeck AT hotmail DOT com). We'll see how long it takes me to get to the post office.
:: Recently I joined in with this children's giveaway, sort of as a stand against the CPSIA that has been threatening the livelihood of a lot of handcrafters and small businesses. I think things have sorted out, for the meantime at least there's a bit of relief in the emergency of the issue. My swap partner is Bean.I have until Tuesday to finish and post my item. I *think* I will get it finished tonight (okay... umm tomorrow), as all I have to do is iron and then top stitch the last little bit. Photos so far haven't proven to be too successful (hopefully tomorrow they'll work out better). It's a fairly biggish doll blanket / wrap thing. I knew straight away that I wouldn't be able to make a softie or anything similar that I'd be happy with. I'm really happy with the way this has turned out. Saccharine pinks and blues and lavenders, and very pretty, but hopefully something that will be loved for a long time.
I am also making one for Mishi's 2nd birthday, which is on Thursday. I just know that she'll love to have a special piece to wrap her babies, or picnic with them, or put them to bed.
:: A dear blogland friend has started a very special project called Craft Hope. The current project is to sew pillowcase dresses for some children who don't get to have pretty and handcrafted items in their lives. Children from the Pan de Vita shelter in Mexico.:: This is a small stack of the first cards I've been sewing for the Stitches & Craft Show (S&C). Many many many more cards are needed to be cut and sewn, and then enveloped and packaged before the month is up. This is just the start.:: This afternoon I really loved walking home from work, wearing my own skirt. Designed and sewn by me, in a rush on Christmas morning, a frantic stress that I wanted something new to wear. I had this fabric, which my sister found for me at the second hand shop - a structured cotton, but like an upholstery fabric in a way. Very textured and ornate. The first time I washed it to red ran onto the white, but upon the second wash it came out, and I soaked it in some pre-coloured water, which gave the white this glorious redish brown sheen.This morning I was complimented for my skirt by my friend - magazine editor and her husband/stylist/designer. We were at a fashion shoot for the next issue. I wasn't modelling or anything, but .... you know, like, well my husband was! A skate board shoot - with my man showing off his board tricks. I'll show you when the issue has been published. Bit exciting, hey. (Think it's about time I got myself a full length mirror, this photo is taken from up on Ari's top bunk bed).
:: I want to write a whole post about this, but will mention it here (in case I run out of *time* to do the whole big thing). It's been almost two weeks now since Mishi has had any mummy milk. Yes, that means she's been weaned. I think I would possibly be sadder if I wasn't so pleased to have that extra bit of sleep it brings (occassionally). At the same time she's finished with nappies - though we still have some accidents with bed wetting.
:: I haven't had much time to check out all my regular bloggy reads as often as I would love. So, if any of you notice anything you think I really need to know in blogland please do tell me.
:: At work today I made a really long and quite unrealistic list of what I need to achieve in the next two weeks, at least, for getting ready for S & C. Tomorrow I think I'll rewrite it, and actually add things like have a shower, play with my kids, do the shopping, cook some dinner, wash the dinners, take the kids to the park, return the overdue library books, say hello/goodbye to my husband (as he races off to work, or I race off to work), talk to my family, plan a birthday party, make a birthday cake (or two), sew a new birthday dress, drink my tea even if it is cold, blog...... Busy month ahead.Okay. That's enough for now, hey. Thanks for sticking with me to the end of this epic update (written on my very slow 10yr-old borrowed computer).