Attention Retired Quilters
 

I'd like to direct this post to quilters who are lucky enough to be retired now. I've been hoarding fabric and patterns and kits, waiting for the day I have time to quilt. Tell me the truth on the subject:

1. Can you keep your sewing area clean and organized after you retire?
2. Can you put together Large blocks of time to quilt?
3. Do you actually use up your stash and happily keep from spending retirement funds?
4. Or, does your stash bore you and you keep right on shopping?
5. Are the floor-to-ceiling stacks of magazines being utilized like you intended?
6. Are you able to take the classes, or go to the Sit and Sews like you planned?

I'm getting ready to retire in 6 months and I'm always too tired at the end of the day to quilt. I am distracted at work daydreaming about staying at home with some music on and just humming along while I sew. Looking out the window past the sewing machine at the birds in the bird feeder and the butterflies in the garden. (All of which need to be planned and assembled!)

Tell the truth--- is it possible for my dreams to come true?

To be honest, you don't have time some days to sew. Life get in the way, people, friends, and the like are after you all the time. The senior centers is a fun place to go to. Some days you are too tired to sew. But make the most of you day. And enjoy the rest of your life. Been retired for 8 years now and I still don't sew every day, even when I try. Mary

Yes, Crispy_Frog, it is everything you hope for and more. We have been retired for 12 years now, built a one floor no stairs, 2 handicap bathrooms, a his and her bedrooms, a guest room and sewing room. Living room and dining room combined and short baking wall separates it from the large kitchen with an island. My stash flows over into the guest room a bit, but most of it is in the sewing room. I have purchased one new machine and sewing stands for each machine in the sewing room. I can embroidery with that machine, serge with the serger, or sew on one of two machines. I set aside days on the calendar that says I sew all day on those days.

With new friends, I go on the all Iowa shop hop in June every year. See new ideas and things and sometimes buy a few things. One store is closing down near by and we have hit it twice now. Medical trips to Des Moines, Iowa, means we have an excuse to include a few quilt shops with our journey from North Central Missouri homestead. I shop on line on some occasions, but enjoy trips with others who quilt. I try to finish from 8 to 12 quilts a year. I have given up on some fabric acquired before retirement and given it to charitable groups, but I have made up most of it. I don not enter fair or quilt contests, but new friends do and win prizes.

My dh and I keep a large calendar on the wall, so we know what is planned one each day. It fills up all too soon on some months, others gives more freedom of our choice on what we do that day. Never miss our jobs, just friends. We find time to relax and pursuit our 'hobbies'. May you find your way, too.

Make any big purchase while you are still working; its easier than trying to buy it in retirement. Always keep goals in mind to work toward for your happiness.

Sorry for this post....it got double with me hitting something wrong!

Crispy Frog, first congrats on getting closer to retirement. I've been fully retired for 3 years now. Here's my answers to your questions ........ 1. Since my sewing area is my dining room it does periodically gets clean, if I'm working on a quilt with a deadline or Bonnie's mystery ...... well lets just say hubby & I go out to eat ..... ;) 2. yes, I can and do put together large blocks of time, also since I do hand applique & hand quilt I can sew while keeping hubby company while he watches TV. 3 & 4. yes & no ...... :D while I do use my stash, there are still times when I need to add fabric, tools, supplies. My stash doesn't bore me at all. 5. I have organized my magazines into binders which I go through frequently. In fact, at this moment, I'm working on a baby quilt from one of the older Quiltmaker patterns I have saved. 6. yes, yes, yes, although I don't go to many classes, I have a nice library of Craftsy classes and I go to a monthly sit n' sew at my LQS (which I can walk to)

Have fun with your retirement.

I sew 4-5 hours per day 5-6 days per week.
I don't go to classes.
I don't babysit, youngest DGS is 15.
I have a huge stash, trying to use it up.
I am now making scrappy quilts
I donate quilts to kids in foster care.
My time is pretty much spent however I want.

It hasn't worked out for me. I find that other things seem to take up my time and I have to work hard to squeeze in time to sew. Kids, grandkids, church, helping other people and other hobbies take up lots of time. I don't know how I every had time to work, and yet I think I got more sewing done then than I do now. I still do some garment sewing as well as quilting. My biggest problem is getting quilts quilted. I have 9 pieced tops in the cupboard right now and want to start another one.

I wish you luck on your dream in retirement.

I would say Yes!!! #1 - did you ever hear things like 'a place for everything and everything in its place!' While I haven't mastered that yet I diligently try to put things away once when I am done using them. (Hard to do but not impossible) Or.....'put things back in their place where they belong!' Somewhat hard to do if you've just rearranged your room to be more user friendly...this one is really important!!!....know why???? When you need that particular item next time guess what??????----you know where it's at!!!!!!!!! I know....crazy huh????!!!!!!!! Again, hard at times but not impossible! Trust me on this one - it is a habit that needs to be honed....but once you get used to it it becomes second nature. #2 I can set apart 3-4hrs. a day to quilt/sew mainly because as far as I'm concerned there isn't much on TV to watch. (however....Nothing comes between me and Gibbs!!!) I did have DH make me a small sewing table to setup in the TV room for the maybe 3 or 4 programs I might watch but for the most part I get movies from the library and watch them in my SR while I sew. #3 I have been working hard to use up my stash!!! But then there are always things I want to sew that I have to buy material for. Last week when JA had their Keepsake calico on sale I got about another 10yds. of things I have been waiting for a sale on. I would like to tell you I think I am set for a while which is almost true....but I think we all know....well....nevermind!!! LOL! #4 not an issue....at least not that I've noticed. #5 No....I have around 60 books and I Refuse to buy more....so far so good on that one!! #6 I haven't taken any classes, don't know if I will....but they have 'open sewing' days at the quilt shop near me I'd like to attend if not before the holidays then for sure in Jan. (just too busy right now). Once you get started with your retired time things will fall into place...don't forget you won't be working so you might not get as tired as you think.

I am retired for about 13 years. Before we moved to this house in a different state I had no good place to quilt. We kept a guest room because guests came and I didn't want to keep putting things away. Tried Sharing computer room with Mr stitchnripper but neither one of us liked that. I took over the dining room for a while but didn't like that either. I told Mr s that if we stayed in former state we would need different house. We moved here 2 years ago and I have a dedicated quilting room that I enjoy a lot. But there is so much to do here that while I quilt more I don't put in hours a day. Quilting is just one of the things I enjoy. I go to the quilt shop close by on Fridays and sew with some really nice women. I can keep my room clean. I don't have a stash. I can afford to buy what I want but don't want much. Lots of the women give me scraps so I can enjoy making scrap quilts. I take classes at the shop sometimes. All enjoyable but so are the other things I do. Do not have floor to ceiling stacks of books and magazines.

I have been retired now two months tomorrow and it is way better than I expected. I dearly miss my friends and boss from work, but have had some social times so that has sufficed!!!
#1 I have managed to keep my sewing room organized, ( one of my goals when I retired.)
#2 I am free to sew when I feel like sewing which pleases me greatly.
#3 Several years before I retired I was on a mission to accumulate fabric and kits and I am happily using them getting just what I need when I need it.
#4 Not at all bored with stash, and getting just what I need.
#5 Stopped getting magazines years ago only have my favorites that I use on occasion.
#6 No plans for classes other than my annual trip to Sewing weekend with Nancy Zieman, have no idea what I will do now, so sad!!!!

Oh yes, I do believe your dreams will come true!!!!

Hi Crispy, here are my answers:

1. Can you keep your sewing area clean and organized after you retire? Yes, but I make a mess every time I start a new project.
2. Can you put together Large blocks of time to quilt? Absolutely. I really think it depends on how important quilting is to you. For me it's a priority so other things slide.
3. Do you actually use up your stash and happily keep from spending retirement funds? I use my stash and just fill in with fabrics I need or can't live without. Also though,my husband is not retired.
4. Or, does your stash bore you and you keep right on shopping? I recently got rid of a lot of my stash that I knew I was never going to use. I gave it away. Love being able to see what I have and love now.
5. Are the floor-to-ceiling stacks of magazines being utilized like you intended? I got rid of my magazines and most of my books quite awhile ago. I just didn't look at them anymore- freed up a ton of space. But that's just me. I get more from Youtube, MSQC etc than books and mags
6. Are you able to take the classes, or go to the Sit and Sews like you planned? I haven't taken classes only because I haven't seen anything that interested me.
Now- having said all this, I don't have grandchildren yet. They would be a much greater priority of course but my kids are slow on this. Two are married, one is engaged :D

It sounds to me that you want to devote more time for quilting so make it happen!

An old saying goes: "What can be done in no time, will not be done in anytime!" When I had 10 minutes to sew, I sewed for 10 minuets. Now that I have plenty of time to sew, I am not nearly as efficient with my time. But that's not bad as retirement is supposed to be more relaxing. Retirement also gives me more time to do other things, so sometimes sewing takes a back seat, and sewing room has a door I can close on the work in progress :)

I have to work at keeping my sewing room organized just like it takes effort to pick up around the rest of the house. As for time, if I am in the mood to sew, I can easily spend all day at it, several days in a row. But I do have some regular volunteering work I do outside of the house, and we can have frequent spurts of needing to help out with grandkids, and I still travel extensively on photo trips. So the first few years I was retired I sewed several hours every day, but lately for the last few months I have not sewed at all. I think it all comes down to your priorities—-you can do what you want!
As far as stash is concerned, I hardly ever use it! The new projects I start all seem to need brand new fabrics! I keep thinking I will use it, but it never seems to happen, so if you are like me, do not stock up before retirement but just bank that money to use later. I rarely look at old magazines and have cleared them out. I do have a small library of 30 or so quilt books that I have kept and still occasionally use, or have designs that are still on my bucket list to make.

I retired about 7 yrs ago from being manager of LQS...so I have a big stash and like someone else said...buy while you are working because $$$ is in short supply later. I did buy a HQ midarm quilting machine and I was able to quilt most of my tops that I had finished while working. I have been working at finishing some of my UFO's. I also quilt for others i am careful to keep my quilting room organized so when quilters come to bring their quilts I have patterns, threads and tables clear.

I don't get magazines anymore and have gone through the ones I had, pulled out the patterns that maybe someday will use and put them in a binder. I have only had one class given by out guild so I don't really enjoy them anymore.

Life does get in the way of quilting...but in a good way. Grandchildren to babysit, friends to take to Doctors and I love to work in the garden. I would say sewing is not one of my biggest priority but enjoying life as it comes.

I retired last June. My time is my time. My husband is still working and our daughter is away at college.

I have a room that holds fabric, my cutting table and ironing board. I go between that room and the room where I've moved my sewing machine. I last purchased fabric in August. I want to make the maze quilt for my dh. That's all I've purchased. I've completed my sister-in-law's and daughter's Christmas gifts. I made them each quilts.

My sister was here about a week ago and commented about a tote I had made. I made her one and shipped it today. I'm making the same tote for a girlfriend. I'm hoping to ship that by the weekend.

I gave up buying patterns and magazines long ago. The internet has so many resources and I have enough.

I haven't gone to retreats. I may take my stuff to my girlfriend's home.

Classes.....if I want to I can. I haven't found any I want to take.

I'm enjoying it, although there are times it's strange to be here and not at work. I've pretty much gotten over that!! Enjoy it. Make it what you want it to be.

I had no hobbies before I retired. Family, work, kids activities, and so on occupied all my time. DH was worried that I'd be bored after I retired, so, for a variety of reasons, I took up quilting after retiring.

Now he is sorry he wanted me to have a hobby...

1. Can you keep your sewing area clean and organized after you retire?

No, but I have never done "neat" very well. I seem to lack the 'put it back' gene.

2. Can you put together Large blocks of time to quilt?

Yes, and I do. Second largest block of time goes to grandchildren. Yay!

3. Do you actually use up your stash and happily keep from spending retirement funds?

Yes, I use stash. But the rest of the question is too broad. I happily spend retirement funds for many, many things, my favorite is grand kids. God has indeed blessed me.

4. Or, does your stash bore you and you keep right on shopping?

One of the of the reasons I quilt is so I have an excuse to buy fabric... But I am not bored with my stash.

5. Are the floor-to-ceiling stacks of magazines being utilized like you intended?

Very few quilting magazines in my home.

This has been just great! I've really appreciated the wonderful responses from all you retirees! I have one grown son that is not dating.....so no grandchildren to dote over. THAT would be a dream to top quilting I would have to say. I like the sound of meeting new quilting friends at the LQS. I am headed towards following your lead and getting rid of my magazines....donating, or whatever.

You Quilting Board quilters are the best! That will be a joy....getting to post on the Quilting Board more frequently!

Thanks again for all the responses!

I have been retired for several years....until this past June, I spent most of my time on my hobbies, which include sewing/quilting. For the past year, I could feel less and less interest in spending so much time on them, and began volunteering at the local animal shelter. Now time is much more limited and what sewing I do is making pet beds for the shelter animals. I have found a lot of balance doing this.

I use my stash to make the pet beds (sometimes called crate comforters).

I love that idea about "crate comforters"!!

I love all the different answers! Everyone experiences retirement differently. I've been retired for 9 years, and fall into the "how did I get everything done when I was working?" category. We are busy almost every. I design/sew/quilt mostly at night. 1. My sewing area is my dining room, so it needs to be packed up for holiday celebrations. 2. No large blocks of time set aside unless I'm on a deadline, or working on an alteration or mending project. 3. My stash is good sized, but I never seem to have exactly what I need, so I shop! 4. My stash doesn't bore me, but I don't want it to be lonely, so I add to it! 5. I have lots of magazines and books, and no...so far haven't made much from them. 6. Classes and sit and sews never really happened. Tried it, didn't like it.

Here's the thing...your dreams are what you want them to be. Keep trying, and figure out what you want/need out of quilting. You just may find yourself staring at the birdfeeder and watching butterflies for hours on end!!

i'm disabled. i used to work many jobs, at time 5 at a time up to 102 hrs a week. i cut down to 3 at 80 hrs a week. i was disabled 7 yrs ago. my week is full of quilting. 4 days out of the week is quilting with different people. i don't have much time for shopping, i have to squeeze it in. I'm working on projects i only like now, being I've made over 300 quilts. if you love it you find time. while working all those jobs. i ate lunch and hand quilted at the same time i was chewing. if you want to do it, you find the time. you don't let anything get in your way. i'm running out of room, so now i do English Paper Peicing now. takes more time and i can use some scraps. Just got back a wonderful quilt from a quilter, it will win a prize, i'm sure. you may change your taste on what you bought awile ago. good luck.

I have been retired for almost a year. I love it and keep as busy as I want to be. I ususally sew 4 or 5 times a week. Check out the Virtural Quilting Weekends on this site. I’ve participated in a few VQW and that really sets out large blocks of time to sew. Great for finishing UFOs. I sew many donation quilts and help run our local chapter of Quilts for Kids. I also recently joined 2 quilting groups that meet at our LQS to “sit and sew”. I have met many new people. I do try and keep my sewing room clean and organized. On days I don’t sew, I may “play in my sewing room” a bit. I use my stash and I am not board with it. I do buy fabric as needed. I do not have may magazines, but enjoy the MSQC Block subscription. In retirement, I do sew often and my husband wonders if I will ever get tired of sewing. :D I really don’t think I ever will. I have so many “bucket list” projects I want to do!!

Retirement is great! You will love it. I have been to 1 sewing retreat and hope to go to many more. Have a blast!!

I retired 3.5 years ago and love it! My sewing room is never what I'd call "clean' like the magazines--but it's order and I usuallycan find things in it! Ditto where I LA. 2) I do put together large blocks of time to sew or quilt. I took a part time job teaching aquatic wellness classes at the local medical center in July and on those 3 days a week, my time is a smaller block--but yes--a nice block of time is possible. 3& 4) I do use my stash, but am glad that I didn't spend tons of money pre-retirement "stockpiling" fabrics--there's so many awesome fabrics coming out all the time that I see in great quilts and some of the stuff I bought seems rather blah now. But I do have time to work on more scrappy quilts now. 5)no--the stack of mags is just that, a stack! I go through my magazines and books yearly before the guild 'garage' sale and cull them--I have a rule that unless there are 3 projects in a magazine that I definitely want to make--it's gone. It's amazing how from year to year that means a magazine will go! 6)I am Heavily involved in my local guild--teaching beginner classes, an officer, etc. We do monthly classes or sew-ins and I'm all in! I also take classes at major quilt shows and also through my machine quilters guild (I belong to 2 guilds).
Good luck with your retirement and I hope you love it too! Best advice--don't commit to any 'jobs" for at least 6-9 months--you will be shocked how many organizations, people, etc approach you with "now that you retired...."!

I retired in September of 2009. These are my answers:

1. Yes, my sewing room stays organized, although some might call it organized chaos when in process. At the end of each step, everything from that step goes to its place. In our Florida p,ace, my sewing room is a tricked out armoire, so the only things there are those in use.
2. Yes, if 3-5 hours is a large block of time. Mornings is my time to quilt. Afternoons I play bridge. Evenings I do hand work, talk to DH, go to dinner with friends, watch TV.
3. In the last two years, I have bought little fabric, usually things that I just cannot resist—a panel of a decorated Christmas with the northern lights behind it, a blue heron panel perfect for our Florida place, pieces of batik that will go into my Bali star eventually.
4. No, my stash doesn’t bore me. In fact, I often find fabrics while pulling a color that I had completely forgotten. To be honest, I was gifted with about 500 yds of fabric last year. She has taste very different from mine, so shopping her stash is like going to the fabric store.
5. I never developed floor to ceiling stacks of magazines. Instead, I will tear out the one or two patterns that I like and put them in binders. And cull the binders every year.
6. Seldom take classes, because they are not on topics that interest me. Do sit in on charity sews sometimes.

My advice would be: you now have the time to concentrate on stretching your quilting boundaries. Do something that you said, “But I could never do that”. You now have the time to do it right.

I think most people find the time to do what they really want to do -

unless there is some kind of family emergency or someone needs long term care - which totally changes things.

I retired a few years ago, bought a new sewing machine, and began teaching myself how to quilt. For a while I was able to quilt 3 or 4 days a week almost all day long ... and loved it. Unfortunately, my mother had some serious falls and also developed dementia, so she has required a lot of my time. Since I've had no time to make quilts, I've been doing some hand embroidery in the evenings. So, "yes" you can sew as much as you want ... as long as life doesn't get in the way.

I try to keep my sewing area organized but I'm usually looking for something. Don't buy magazines. The only reason I have a fabric stash now is because Hancock's here closed and I had $100 in gift certificates to use up. I typically would only have enough fabric on hand to do 2 or 3 quilts. Nowhere nearby to take classes ... not that I'm much on doing that anyway with all the info available online.

Just go for it ... see what works for you ... enjoy and have fun!

Just have to be a little careful with sizes....I make 24 x 24 inches. I always end up a little shy, especially when I use fleece which launders so nicely at the shelter.

I was forced to retire 3 yrs ago due to my disability. I am a stage 3 Melanoma Survivor, and I also have fibro and Psoriatic Arthritis. I am ever so thankful for my small stash as well as scraps that generous friends have given me. I do buy occasionally to fill in empty spots for a particular project or even for a whole project (gifts). Living on a fixed income does not allow for many extra expenditures. As for time??? Some times, I get to sew a lot, some times not. I am taking care (driving, shopping etc) for my parents. I belong to a guild, and I do go to my LQS sit and sew weekly

I technically retired 3 years ago, but it took a couple of years to slow down and get organized. Right now it is a mess. I can't even find the vacuum.

I am amazed at how little of the stash I am using up.

I have been retired about 12 years and didn't start quilting/sewing until a couple of years into retirement. The first two years I had a part time job and no hobbies as such. Needed something to keep me out of trouble....little did I know LOL

Can you keep your sewing area clean and organized after you retire? If you aren't neat before retirement, you won't be especially neat after retirement. At least that has been my experience. I try but I have a little sign in my sewing room that reads: "you know that feeling you get when all your UFO;s are finished and your sewing room is neat and tidy....... me neither"
2. Can you put together Large blocks of time to quilt? I can put together large blocks, but I still have to cook, clean, do laundry, grocery shop, etc. I live alone but those chores still take my time. plus my 87 year old Mom lives next door and she is beginning to need a lot more attention. I also go to the gym 2-3 times a week. So I can stay strong, not fall down, and put on my clothes without leaning against something. Take care of your body! and you will be better off in so many ways.
3. Do you actually use up your stash and happily keep from spending retirement funds? When I first started quilting, I bought a lot of fabric mainly because it was; one on sale, or two I just liked it. Now I find that a lot of it does not coordinate very well and I have to buy more to put with it to put together a quilt. I suggest buying what you need for a quilt all at once and storing it together.
4. Or, does your stash bore you and you keep right on shopping? As I said, it doesn't bore me, I just find it hard to put pieces togeher. I buy basically backs and solids to make any quilt I want to make. Every once in a while I see something I simply must have but basically, I don't buy much fabric anymore.
5. Are the floor-to-ceiling stacks of magazines being utilized like you intended? Got rid of my magazines, again subscribed to about 3 or 4 in the beginning, saved them all and then found I didn't want to take the time to go back and look at them again.And they were taking up valuable real estate in my sewing room. Stopped all subscriptions, donated magazines to guild Quilt Show, and get my inspiration from the internet or guild activities.
6. Are you able to take the classes, or go to the Sit and Sews like you planned? I belong to two guilds and when they offer a class, I will take it if it appeals to me. I have several close friends and we just plan sewing days and get together at each other's homes and sew for that day, sometimes making individual project, sometimes we all make the same thing.
Retirement is the best thing ever. I wish you luck and much enjoyment in it. But remember, you worked a long time to get to this time in your life, don't let a hobby become a job.

Jingle, I could have written that post.

Say no a lot because everyone thinks they are entitled to your time. Set boundaries right away.

Socialize with other quilters whenever possible. They understand your priorities whereas that Sunday school group that wants you to join a book club don't.

Don't volunteer to become an officer in any clubs.

I could go on. Enjoy your retirement, you've earned it.

Congratulations on your retirement! I ask myself why did I work so long? Sewing room is orderly chaos. Pull from my stash whenever possible but still shop as well. Thought I would quilt more than I do. Since retirement have developed neck problems which limit me to sessions of about 2 hrs at a time. Working Bonnie Hunters mystery now and love that I have time to finish each weeks assigment. Life happens go with the flow and enjoy your free time!

In a nut shell ...
My sewing been so clean and organized.
I schedule my time to quilt each week. So I can still do lots of retired activities.
Using my stash up as much as I can. It feel great to make charity quilts too.
I've only been buying fabric for backs of quilts an batting. Not really buying to much fabric.
Taking lots of classes and sit and sew which I couldn't do while working.
hope this helps you out!!!
Happy Quilting.

Although I'm retired, about 5 years ago, I started working a part time/on call job, so sometimes I don't have time to sew, now for your questions. 1. Fairly clean and organized, depending on what I'm working on. 2. Yes, I get up early every day and after checking the "important" things on the computer, I go to my sewing room and work. 3. I try, but I can't say that I'm successful. 4. My stash doesn't bore me but the reason I've been adding to my stash, is that the shop I've been going to, for the last 3 years is closing, so everything is on sell. 5. No, but have gone through them and gotten rid of ones that I know I'll never use. 6. I haven't take any classes but have taught classes and yes I can go to sit and sews, IF there's any going on, but because of my location, there's not a lot of that. We're a minimum of 100 miles one way, from any "big" towns.

I retired 20 years ago this month. I did have a small stash and large pieces I purchased from a local quilt store that went out of business. I am still working on using that up. Found that it is sometimes hard to find fabric to coordinate with it because colors change from year to year. That said I still need to purchase backing and solids to go with it. Also need to purchase special fabrics for special quilts for grandchildren and other children quilts I make.

I have disposed of most of my magazines that I had saved from before retirement. Most of the quilts I make now make use of the free patterns on the internet.

Also, quilting has changed since I started quilting in 1989 in ernest. So many beautiful quilts using jelly rolls, charm squares, etc. Much easier to get a scrappy quilt without purchasing multiple fabrics. Haven't purchased them because I am trying to use up my stash.

I have purchased four new sewing machines for various reasons; including a sit-down long arm which I love. I love quilting all my quilts.

I continued to quilt. However, I find that my life is busy and I have problems putting together the time to spend an afternoon or day quilting. I now live with my daughter and her family. Have been involved with them since I reired and would not trade the time with my family for anything.

How much quilting you do in retirement and how much money you spend on this "hobby" depends on you.

Congratulations on your upcoming retirement Crispy. Thanks for starting this thread it is very interesting.

I suddenly went from working long days to a busy retirement situation with foster kids. Two of the younger children have been adopted by a wonderful family and I now feel like I am really retired.

Cleaning and decluttering is progressing slowly.

On the question of will you be happy with stash - I think part depends on what type of quilts you make. I make scrap quilts so my stash is very helpful and occasionally I go to a quilt store and buy a fat quarter or two and I am satisfied with the small additions.

On productivity I find that if I sew for at least half an hour every morning it sets a nice tone to my day. I often do more sewing later in the day.

Also on productivity I joined a small sewing group last Feb and we meet twice a month. We now do one day a month at a local retreat center where we bring our machines and can sew from 9am to 9pm though no one seems to stay that long. The 2nd day we meet at someone's home and mostly do hand work. This has upped my productivity because I feel like I need to have something prepared to work on for the meetings.

I belong to Plano Guild. Plano and Dallas guilds are using http://bestlittleretreatcenterintexas.com/ for many of their workshops. You can go on the guilds websites or the retreat center and see what upcoming classes there are and how to sign up.

The center is where my small group meets for a sit and sew day. Yes you have to pay but we don't have a home to meet in where we can all bring sewing machines. I am not affiliated with the center. My group will be there again on Dec 18th and I will be there probably from 9 am until 6 or 7 pm. If you want to come sew with us you'd be welcome.

I did not start sewing until I retired. And I have made pretty fine use of it since then.

1. Can you keep your sewing area clean and organized after you retire? At first I was sewing in a quest room. And then I moved my sewing machine to a hallway that was never used. It became my sewing room. Now we have moved closer to the grandchildren, and I have a sewing room. Much better. It gets cleaned up from time to time. Right now with Christmas projects it is a little overwhelmed.

2. Can you put together Large blocks of time to quilt? Yes definitely. Your time is your own. The grandkids get their time too. But I often sew in the morning when the kiddies are in school. And I have found other things to do that interest me. I joined a book club and am attending a new church I enjoy. I was in a Guild before I moved, but have not joined a Guild in my new home. Maybe next year.

3. Do you actually use up your stash and happily keep from spending retirement funds? I use my stash and I happily spend my retirement money. I have time enough to do both. I didn't have a stash before I retired, but I have developed one in the last ten years, believe me.


4. Or, does your stash bore you and you keep right on shopping? See above.

5. Are the floor-to-ceiling stacks of magazines being utilized like you intended? I have them in book cases but I don't use them a lot. I did at first. I don't buy them much anymore. I did put together a notebook of quilt projects I hope to do someday. But there is always more hope to's than even I can find time to do.

6. Are you able to take the classes, or go to the Sit and Sews like you planned? I took a lot of classes when I retired, because I was a new quilter. Now I take one or two classes a year. This year I took a Tuffet class. We made stools with fabric strips. I have now made four. You can take a class if you want or you can You Tube your classes. You will have time for classes if you want.

I like retirement. I highly recommend to friends and relatives. The time fills up, but you will have time to enjoy many things including quilting.

You will love retirement!

1. Can you keep your sewing area clean and organized after you retire?
I've always been fairly organized, but you have to be disciplined enough to put things back after each project, even though you have a stack of future projects in your mind or on your desk.
2. Can you put together Large blocks of time to quilt?
I choose to quilt almost every day, but the key word is "choose". My DH and I both have hobbies, his is woodworking, so each of us are busy a good part of the day doing what we love and choose to do. We moved upon retirement so I was not in a hurry to "join" clubs or guilds and took my time deciding how I wanted to give back. I chose sewing for the local hospital, and donating quilts to our churches ministries.
3. Do you actually use up your stash and happily keep from spending retirement funds?
I will be the first to admit, I don't shop from my stash as often as I would like. I still shop for new fabric but don't spend nearly what I did before retirement. If I don't cut and organize my scraps by size and color, I would never shop from my stash as I hate pawing through the unknown LOL
4. Or, does your stash bore you and you keep right on shopping?
It doesn't bore me...............just don't always have the correct shade of color I need and don't tend to do scrappy.
5. Are the floor-to-ceiling stacks of magazines being utilized like you intended?
No, should unload most of them and hope to clean out a large portion this winter to the local art recycling center.
6. Are you able to take the classes, or go to the Sit and Sews like you planned?
I'm not a class taker. I have way too many projects I want to do without signing up to take someone else's project. I do go on a quilt retreat every month for 4-5 nights however and love it. We have the fortune of being able to buy an annual pass for $450 and can go as often as we want. It is a great place to share your love of quilting, gather new ideas both in patterns and fabric combinations, and learn new techniques.

Retirement is great, but be selective in what you really want to do the rest of your life. We are all different and have different priorities and life challenges whether it is money, grandchildren, health issues, etc. besides all the temptations of things to do with this new found free time. Take your time to decide your priorities and learn to say No to others if it doesn't fit with your vision.

Crispy, I forgot to mention something:
I used to sew at night but these days I don't enjoy it. I like to do handwork while watching a movie or something good to listen to, like music or an audiobook. It works well for me because I can sew as much or as little as I want during the day.

I bought so many kits to get ready for retirement and I haven't used one of them. Some are so vintage or highly sought now that I sold most of them on Ebay for many times over what I paid. It's hard to keep my sewing room organized but I wake up every morning and do what I want to do that day. I love retirement.