johnette

I am so glad that this thread was started. I have been feeling so guilty because I don't sit at the sewing machine but a couple of afternoons per month. I spend some time every evening in my chair watching TV and surfing this board and other quilting sites, but not being productive. I work minimum of 45 hours per week, and when I get home I'm cooked. By the time I get supper and clean up the kitchen it's over for me other than sitting in my chair. I feel better knowing I'm not the only one with big ambitions and no time or energy.

cindyg

I work full time, I'm involved at church, we have an RV and boat so for 8 months out of the year we are at the lake about every other weekend. We are empty nesters. We both are good at keeping the house neat and now (finally) I have a cleaning lady that comes every other week. I do the laundry when it's either do laundry or run to WalMart for underwear. When I get home from work I cook for the two of us but most of the time it doesn't take over 30 minutes. I limit myself to one project at a time. I like to start one and finish piecing it completely before starting another one. If I walked into my sewing room and had to look at several different projects, I would feel rushed and overwhelmed. Quilting is my hobby so I want to relax and enjoy it. I'm tired in the evenings but I have found that if I just walk back to my sewing room and turn on the machine, that I find the energy to do a little sewing. Sometimes I have a "TV work" project or camping project going on such as locker hooking. The main obstacle though is the computer and the quilting forums that are there. Now I've found this wonderful site so it means more computer time. I get a lot more sewing done if I don't turn on my computer when I get home at night.

P.S. - I admire those of you who make the bed every day. I only make the bed if company is coming - I'd rather be quilting. My grandmother would tell me that I should be ashamed of myself for not making the bed every day. I'm NOT. LOL

May in Jersey

I began quilting about 10 years ago after I retired, kids all married so it's just the 2 of us. I'd love to spend time everyday sewing and/or quilting but that doesn't always happen. Love having a sewing room where I can leave stuff out until I can sew again. I sometimes sew every day for a week and then other 'stuff' has to be taken care of, you know, food shopping, cleaning, lunch with friends, dr. appointments, etc. No matter what our schedules are we all would like to spend more time sewing and quilting.

Tiffany

When my children were at home and I worked, I only made 1-3 quilts a year, and those were only tops. I discovered the wonderful world of applique, which meant I could sit and watch tv and quilt. I could also take my applique with me to ball games, doctor appts, and to work on while waiting for the girls to get out of school and get in the car. Now, with my girls grown and me unable to work, I spend several hours each day quilting, at least 3-5 days a week. I'd say 7 days a week but my health is such that there are simply days I'm unable to do much of anything. I find my quilting time is something I have to organize. I get up, feed the dog and hedgehog, do 30 minutes to an hour of work out (bleh!), and then spend several hours cleaning the house. Hubby comes home for lunch and I feed him. Once he leaves I play on the computer (sometimes I do that in the morning and ignore some chores) and then head downstairs to quilt. Once hubby comes home I head upstairs, make dinner, and spend the evening with him. I do my applique in the evenings when we watch tv. This allows me to get a great number of things done as far as quilting goes and I've found that in the past year or so I've been able to do a lot more projects, and best of all - I'm actually finishing some of them. :lol: Without a schedule I would be lost. My house would be a wreck (which wouldn't be a biggie except I'm allergic to dust & molds & pretty much everything else and HAVE TO clean!) and I'd get a lot more quilting done! Lol.

I've also found that a great motivator, at least for me, are the various Bees and the local quilt guild I belong to. I have 1 bee I attend once a week and 2 others that are once a month. My guild meeting is also once a month and I'm starting a bee at my house, which will be twice a month. Without my friends, I don't know that I would be able to maintain the quilting pace I do.

I don't get much quilting done in the summer. Winter's here are usually filled with several feet of snow & bitterly cold, which is a perfect time to hang out in my quilt room. In the summer I am usually too busy with my garden (I have to raise a lot of my own food) to do much quilting.

Honey

I totaly agree. Belonging to a quilt group helps tremendeously.We meet from very early spring until rite before Christmas. During the winter months we are usually on our own and only meet occasionally. We meet once a week for about 4 hours. It's great and I really get great ideas, input and a lot done.

CindyBee

I am amazed at the productivity of this group as well as some members of the guild I belong to. Except for the occasional garment I didn't do much sewing during the years that I worked. I'm OCD about housework and never had any energy left over. I started quilting when I retired, the last child left the nest and I could claim a bedroom as a dedicated sewing room. Now I devote mornings to my exercise, housework and errands and spend afternoons and weekends in the Woman Cave sewing. "To everything there is a season". I do admire those who juggle work, children and housework and still find time to sew.

ddrobins1956

I didn't spend nearly as much time sewing, when I had a life....lol. You know, when you are working and raising kids and volunteering at school and driving everyone around; there was never enough time for me things. Now that I'm retired and can pretty much do as I please, everyone grown up and on their own , it's my time to play. Now I truly have the time for all the things that I love. Your time will come too. Enjoy what you are doing now. I'd do it all over again , if I could.

charvan

ddrobbins-ditto.

lots2do

Not so much time for sewing, plenty of time for fabric buying! lol,
lots2do

littlehud

I am amazed at the quilts some people can create. It takes me forever to do one.