I find myself almost overwhelmed with work and things going on with my personal life and yet if I can just manage to find an extra hour somewhere then I can work on quilts and I can find a small ounce of peace.

Does anyone else have trouble squeezing in time to quilt?

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Since I don't work anymore I have lots of quilt time. I remember the days when all I had time to do was work, sleep and eat. I don't miss them at all.

When I got sent back to work in february...I found that all I did was come home and sleep afterwards. I barely had time to take my dog for a walk. Now that I will be off work for 6 months due to an upcoming surgery...I may never be able to do the things I once did....due to the possibility of decreased range of motion and residual pain. I hope that you are able to get settled and squeeze some time in for your sewing again.

I am retired, so I can pretty much quilt whenever I want...but before, I found that I had to schedule "me" time just like I scheduled every thing else :D:D:D

I just want to wish you good luck on your surgery. I hope whatever it involves they offer you physical therapy afterwards to optimize your healing. Please keep us informed so we can send good wishes your way. :wink:

I find that at various times of the year I have trouble doing anything in my sewing room. For example, I have been on spring break this past week and have worked on several sewing projects and, hopefully, I will also do some rearranging in my sewing room today. Tomorrow I am hosting Easter (at my FILs house...it is the first anniv of my dear MILs death) so maybe tomorrow evening I will sew, as well. Then for the next 2 months there will be very little action in my sewing room. I teach kdg and this is a very busy time of year...finishing up this year and screening kids for next year. In addition, it is the time for lots of yard/garden work to get ready for summer. Other than doing my BOM each month, I will not sew much at all. Once I am on summer vacation, I will get back to it. I generally work in the yard/garden/house all morning and then sew in the afternoons when it is hot outside.

Sorry your schedule has become so hectic. Do we have trouble finding time? You bet! My MIL lives with us and has Parkinson's that has progressed to the point some days she cannot walk. My time has become quite limited even on days I don't work. Plus, she goes to bed by 8:30 and my sewing room is next to her bedroom, so late night sewing is out. I have had to schedule my quilt time into my day (usually on Thursday) and let DH take care of his mom for a while. Spring and Fall are my seasons to be outside (summer is just too hot for me) and I really have trouble then. When I get really stressed, just gotta work it in somewhere, somehow. For my own sanity (and the sanity of those around me).

DH was on the computer the other day while I was quilting on the frame. He said you look so happy when you are playing with your fabric. Well, DUH, yes I am.

ABSOLUTLEY, POSTIVELY, YES!!!!! My sis's quilt is still not done, keep changing my mind, its just not coming together! Found out the quilt I was designing for my son wasn't going to be able to be taken to college (college won't allow it - military) made me want to cry!!! Now I got a new machine just wanting to perform and EQ6 on its way. Fixed up sunroom to take over as sewing room and now waiting for EQ6 to come in.

Besides, I'm working on the house, yard and everything else for son's graduation, which my parents are coming in for and haven't ever seen my house. Plus all this college stuff and school ending!!!

So I started a BOM applique that I can do in evenings!!!
:lol: :lol:

I have times when I go months without touching my machine. Between a hectic job that has a lot of travel, four kids and a DH, a house and all the needs that come with it, I often find the thought of sewing to be more of a chore than an enjoyment. But I always come back eventually.

This board has been great about getting me re-energized to get back in and create. It's motivated me to move sewing higher up my priority list and ignore some other things and I'm glad.

I just get up a bit early and spend as much time as I can in my sewing room. You sometimes, just have to make time.

BellaBoo wrote "I remember the days when all I had time to do was work, sleep and eat. I don't miss them at all"

Neither do I but I sure miss that paycheck, LOL! May in Jersey

I also teach school, and by the time I get home I am much too tired to sew. I used to try, but when I'm tired I make lots of mistakes, then have to spend time "reverse sewing", so found it's better to read the board and work in time on the weekends. I am looking forward to summer vacation, 1 more year of teaching, then permanent vacation and not so many worries about finding time to quilt.

It used to be a big problem with me when I worked five days a week, but now I work three twelve hour days I have four days a week off so I can spend at least one day a week quilting.

Yes. I teach as well. This coming summer should be my first without any coursework or other commitments for quite some time. I am really, really looking forward to it! I have been able to finish a few small UFOs lately and surprise, I really am not finishing-phobic after all, it's all been a matter of finding the time to relax and enjoy the process.

I work a 40 hour a week job and have 3 kids under 9, one of them with disabilities. I only have 2 days off a week and I try to dedicate some of them to stitching. Because one of my sons is very "time" oriented, we have scheduled my stitching time into our activity schedule. I can take anywhere from 4-6 hours a day, with breaks, to stitch the 2 days I have off. I can get a lot done, at first it was very robotic and I had to come up with things to do to fill my sewing time, but within a couple weeks I was used to it and I can get a TON done. With that schedule, I cranked out 14 quilts last year.

That's just machine time. During the week, after the boys are in bed, I hand quilt in front of the tv, or do some type of handwork, for an hour or two to relax before I go to bed.

Just make time each day so you can quilt! Happy Quilting!

i'm with you, i don't miss those stressful days at all when i worked full time, had 2 kids and a sick husband. so ladies, whatever your ages, nothing ever remains the same, time passes, kids grow up and leave home, husbands die, then you're old and alone and have all the time you want to sew and quilt. seems like i can waste more time and not achieve anything as it takes me longer now to clean house, have to rest often, frequent breaks. so enjoy your youth even if you are run ragged. just enjoy every day no matter how rushed you are cause some day you won't be able to rush, lol.
donna

I thought when I retired I would have plenty of time for quilting. Wrong!!! I take care of my 15 month old grandson during the day while my son and DIL teach. By the time he leaves in the afternoon I am exhausted. I love the precious time I have with him however it is a full time job. During the summer I try to visit my other grandson in KY. On the weekend I try to squeeze in time.