[quote=flowergirlWard17]

I noticed you just joined us today. Welcome! Glad you've set aside time to make quilting a priority.
Joanne

I work full time and never had time or energy to do much of anything else, and then I found the FlyLady. She is a wonderful real person who teaches you how to get organized and keep yourself that way. She has put together an entire community of support people. Lots of great ways to get things done and find more free time to do the things you love to do. Hey her system even helped me to organize my sewing room. It isn't perfect, but it is getting there. Her website is completely free and worth taking a look at. You can find her at www.Flylady.com.

I was telling my daughter about some of her suggestions and DD said, "I didn't know grandma had a website." My mom used a lot of her methods. :lol:

Joannes i've never bought and used crockpot liners but a friend of mine has and it was kinda like a big clear plastic bag stuck down in the crockpot and the food stuff put in the bag.

I would make time to sew. I also have hubby to his share of home care as I am not a cookie cutter homemaker "June Cleaver" type. We both live in this home and we both do our share. We're coming up on 37 years of marriage. If he cooks I clean dishes, we each have our little duties to do. Hubby also realizes I must have sewing time just as he must have his fishing time. When our son a kid, he had his chores to do. when I was growing up my sisters and brothers had their chores too, parents couldn't do it all. Hope this helps you.

I agree with the lady who said you'll have time in the future. I raised four kids, worked outside our home and attended college part time. Life was difficult and hectic. There was never a moment just for me, nevermind quilting or sewing. Now though, it's all different. I'm retired, my kids have kids, and my time is my own. What I need, or could use, is a little more money to spend on fabric. But then, there could never be enough money for all the fabric I'd like to buy. All I can say to the younger women who have no time for themselves is, YOUR DAY WILL COME! 8) :lol:

I teach sewing and quilting three days a week, have a new 1st grandchild but quilting is my love. I sew every chance I get. I also keep projects going all the time. If I have a few minutes here and there, I'm sewing. I never watch TV so I have lots of time that others use on TV. I just finished my daughter-in- law's wedding dress, 3 bridesmaids dresses, flower girl's dress, all since Jan. along with at least five quilts. You can make the time. Of course my house is not spotless but my husband doesn't mind as long as it is somewhat clean. :lol:

LOL. When I make time for quilting the cooking, cleaning and laundry suffer and the children wander over to the neighbor's house!

TY dojo. Sounds like something to try - get DH out of the kitchen faster! LOL

Sounds like a great idea! I guess then you can serve that meal, then put the bag in the freezer with the leftovers for next time?!

K x

Wow. You ladies are awesome.

Have been retired for 7 years and should have all the time in the world to garden and quilt, but it ain't happenin'. Must learn to say No to family and friends or they will take over my life.

Then, too, I procrastinate, because I have all the time in the world. :oops:

And I've read that this is the time that your body uses to heal your mind AND TO LOWER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE. I need more of that time. I keep telling myself "next week, maybe...."

Yep, that's what's happened since I retired (almost 12 years now). Also I procrastinate because I just know that the phone will ring as soon as I get started on a project. :? I think I sewed more when I was working. AND I had papers to grade, etc.

Since your retirement, have you noticed time behaving differently? It seems very elastic, almost as in childhood. I believe it is the way it was meant to be. :?:

(Since your retirement, have you noticed time behaving differently? It seems very elastic, almost as in childhood. I believe it is the way it was meant to be. )

I'm not sure about it being more "elastic", but it sure does behave differently. Even though my time is my own, it seems to flit away very quickly. Sometimes when I'm in my quilting room, working on whatever, the hours just slide by and before I know it it's supper or lunch time. I don't accomplish nearly as much in the way of housework as I did when I was employed and caring for my kids. If the cleaning doesn't get done I just mentally say, "oh well, tomorrow's another day," and that's it. I couldn't do that when the kids were little because tomorrow brought a whole new set of problems and a ton of different work to do. 8)

The FlyLady has quite a large following. She is very interactive with all her members and it has made a difference for me. Now when I am in my sewing room, at some point I stop and set a timer for 15 minutes and put things away and usually it gets cleaned up before the timer goes off. But I also use my timer when I am doing something on a project that repeats over and over again, like chain piecing. I do it for 15 minutes at a time, and then switch to something different for 15 minutes. The timer also reminds me that I have to check dinner or the laundry. It is surprising how much gets done 15 mintues at a time.
I also like to sneak up to my sewing room early in the morning before anyone wakes up and before I have to get ready for work. Sometimes I can get a half an hour or even an hour of sewing time in.

I quilt in lieu of cleaning house. You'd be surprised how much time you have!

Anna - how did you discover my secret! heee heeee !!!!!!!!!!

Make that three of us!

Although, I DO push the vacuum cleaner round once a month, whether it needs it or not! :wink:

K x