I'm happy (and a little jealous) of those who can enjoy quilting anytime they chose because they're 'home full time'. I'm sure one day I'll be able to sit in their sewing chairs ... but 'I wannnnnnna' be there now! :(

My question is for those who 'work' 30 or more hours a week (outside or inside the home).

How do you appease the quilting bug inside you ...
when 'YOU HAVE TO' be somewhere else most of the time?
when 'YOU HAVE TO' do all the things necessary to run a home?
when 'YOU HAVE TO' do something for everyone else in your 'spare time'?
when 'YOU HAVE TO' get seasonal things done?

Do you sew something every day?
Do you set aside one evening/day/afternoon a week?
Do you feel strrrrrretchhhhhed between wanting to and doing?

What do you do?

Well, for years when my 4 kids were teenagers I went to work full time. Luckily I had a cooperative husband. He and the kids helped with the housework here and there. My husband cooked during the week and I cooked a big Sunday dinner. I found time to sew at night; made my DIL's wedding gown, sewed for other people making window treatments etc. I look back and wonder how I did it; have just decided that if you want to do someting bad enough you will find a way to do it. My husband recognized that sewing was a part of my life he couldn't take away from me. He didn't expect me to prevent him from playing golf or bowling. Now that I am "retired" it seems I am busier than ever. I babysit my grandkids and the neighbor kids at a moments notice, and do all my own yard work. I am a widow so I don't have help with housework any more, have to find time to do it when I feel like it. Just muddle through and try not to feel stressed about that which you cannot control.

Well Quilting, heres my story. I was working 40 plus hours a week and quilted/pieced for a half an hour every nite after dinner, if I decided to eat that day.(I lived alone) Then my hours got cut to 32 hours a week, so I took that extra day off I had, and sewed half of that day. Now I am married, and unemployed (not by choice, the unemployed part hehe), and find it difficult to find time to sew/piece/quilt, because Im cleaning, doing twice the laundry(hubby is worse than any woman I know about clothes)and everything in between. When I do get time(like when he has golf league nite)I rush upstairs and hit the sewing room. It makes me apperciate it that much more! :D

I office out of my home so ... the distraction of having my sewing room so close ..... it always seems to call me.
It is somethimes very hard to stay on the task that I have assigned as a priority.... but I do make a list either the night before of that day of the "chores" ... I find this is really helpful in keeping me focused. While looking at the list it starts to be come apparent where I might be able squeeze in some quilting time. But I use it as a reward or an incentive so I complete my other tasks.
Sometimes its only a few minutes for quilting and I will just do small things that make it more productive when a bigger piece of time comes, like cleaning the cutting area, winding bobbins( I hate having to stop and wind bobbins in the middle of something) , cutting one part of a project, pre-washing fabrics etc.
I get the most satisfaction out of those big pieces of time because it is enough time to really enjoy the process. but the small stuff I can do allong the way can contribute to a wonderful "real session".

I teach so an hour in a quiet room at night is therapy.

Unfortunately, 'home full time' does not mean I can piece/quilt any time I like. As someone else stated, there is always something to be doing for someone else. (I AM grateful for the 'someone else'!)

But I have a slightly different perspective on this. For a while I taught sewing/quilting. It was full time, and more. My projects, no matter the scope, were pushed to the side, left in the dust, whatever, of teaching and being at home for my family.

So now, allowed to be home and work on my own, I find I cannot spend all day piecing/quilting without revisiting the stress of previous experiences. I set priorities each day for the tasks at hand, factoring in the quilting as part of the day. I should have done this years ago!! :roll:

Thank you quilters for your perspectives...makes me feel like I'm not feeling this alone.

I do those small tasks like LORI does...I do appreciate the 'someone elseS' in my life...

I'll write those to do lists with a bolder pen now and make the time I need.

Thank you :)

I work outside the home, 40 hrs per week. I sometimes have withdraw symptoms. Before I went to work full time I sewed/quilted everyday; sometimes ALL day while the kids were at school. I no longer get to do that. There are nights when I just go into the sewing room and sit. I'm tired and really don't feel like sewing, but I feel better just spending time in there. I usually see something that needs to be done or organized while I'm sitting. Don't finish projects very fast, but I try to do a little at a time. They get done eventually and it satisfies my NEED at the time.

you snuck in after I posted above.

I found making crazy/crumb blocks helpful when I don't/can't think straight but need a fix. I have 54 'uncut' blocks done... without thinking!

Going now before I'm late!

Well, I've always worked full-time, not much help from the husband around the house, so needless to say my house doesn't get cleaned as much as I'd like. I also work a part-time job. I just started quilting but I am a cross-stitcher/needlpointer and have been doing that for about 20 years, I would take projects with me wherever I went (kid's baseball games, hockey games, auto races, etc.). Can't do that with quilting. I have my basement set up with my machines and cable TV so if I'm not too tired I will work from the time I get home till dinner, then maybe I'll go down after dinner until about 10.

I worked a stressful full-time job outside the home for years --- am married and had 4 children at home.

Every Saturday all 6 of us did household chores for 2 hours....whatever got done, got done - whatever didn't...well, it didn't! With 6 people working for 2 hours was equal to 12 hours of housework - pretty much everything got done including yard work. I made a list for everyone and made sure no time was wasted.

I always took hand work to my job and worked on it at break and lunchtime --- that managed to get me thru the day! I would then take it with me to all the sport activities my kids were involved in.... believe me - I went to a lot of stuff all year round. I have the worst case of bleacher butt!

I am a night owl and run on very little sleep and I like my alone time. I always stayed up late to read or work on projects, that was ME time.

I have always lived far away from my extended family so I didn't have to deal with doing last minute favors for other people. But I always had a 24 hour household rule...if I didn't know about it at least 24 hrs in advance --- it didn't happen. No last minute sleep overs, no last minute baking for school, no last minute ANYTHING! This worked out great for me once the kids got used to it.

You may check with your local resources....some LQS offer sit n sew time or have monthly groups that pay a flat fee to use the store classrooms. You might be able to get into a scheduled routine away from the house and get a lot done that way.

I feel your pain --- I really do! Good luck --- where there is a will, there is a way!

I support the family at the moment, as DH's business has been VERY slow this past year or so. However, I have a sewing room now, so I can go in there when I have a few minutes that I have to myself and do something.

Before I had the sewing room, I would need to have a good few hours "free" so I could set up/break down and get something accomplished - so I would sew only on weekends or when I had a deadline for a gift that was more important than "other work".

sometimes I'm in the sewing room every night, and most of the weekend days. Sometimes I don't go in there for days/weeks at a time. It all depends on what else is going on in the house, and how much of the household chores and running kids around DH is willing to do at the moment.

Way back when I used to work full time I made "me" time. By 8pm stepkids were fed, bathed and in bed. I then got two hours of me time. First thing I did after getting up was to put a load of laundry in the washer, after getting breakfast ready and the kids up I put it in the dryer. Then the kids and I got dressed, they went to the sitter, I went to work. When we got home I did another load of laundry, fixed supper, picked up the house a little, helped with homework and soon it was my favorite time of the day---bedtime. After that I would paint, sew, or work on whatever I wanted to do. The kids helped sort laundry, do dishes, clean house so it wasn't all that bad. My DH was an OTR truck driver and only home for a day or so on the weekends so it was all on me and I still managed. You can do it, just organize it so that nothing piles up on you. And if you have children have them help. By age 8 the kids could sort laundry, do dishes, help cook supper, set the table, fold clothes, put their own laundry away, dust, etc. We really do our children a disservice by not having them help with daily household chores. My step kids have thanked me many times for teaching them how to do the things that we did. They said at the time they thought I was mean because none of their friends had to do things like that. However they appreciate it now. They even had to help with grocery shopping and putting the groceries away.

I work a 40 hour a week career that is an hour commute each way so 10 hours a day 5 days a week I am out of the house for work. Add to that a 4 year old, 3 dogs, a hubby and a home (as well as an illness that flares up when it wants too) it is very hard BUT I set aside one evening a week to go to my mom's house and sew with her. Some nights we get a lot done and some nights we don't. I have found though that taking that time for me, and doing something for me that I love, helps make ME more productive elsewhere. If life consumes you to the point where you do not get to do the things you love than you are living to work versus working to live :-)
Hugs
April

Good Idea. I'll have to try that for a quick fix.

:thumbup: :thumbup:

Raptureready, you are so right. I didn't work when my kids were little, but having 4 within 7 1/2 years makes you be organized. My husband also travelled. He got a job transfer when my oldest was 10 and youngest 3. I had to prepare the house for sale and get ready to move. I was in Mich. & he was in PA and only came home 1 weekend a month for 5 months. I used to buy the boys socks so that each had his own color stripe; and then when the laundry was done they were to take their own socks out and put them away. They all had duties from the time they were 3 or 4. Makes them very independant when they grow up. When they got to high school they often did their own laundry. And all were able to prepare their own meals.

Right now I'm unemployed - not really a choice, it's just that we recently moved and I haven't been able to find a job here. I have my DH, but no kids yet, so I find I have a lot of empty time on my hands (unlike most of you). This can be a good and a bad thing. Sometimes I get very lonely being home alone all day almost every day. The benefit is I can sew as much as I want.

I'm hoping to get a part time job (I applied at JoAnn's but haven't heard back) just to get out of the house and interact with people. But after we have kids I'll be a stay-at-home Mum, Lord Willing.

With just DH and me, the house is cleaned in about 45 minutes, and laundry doesn't take long at all.

I have to admit that when I worked I got a lot more done!! Now that I am laid off there just doesn't seen to be time. Also when my 5 boys were little I did tons of crafts taught 4H sewed all their cloths and mine. How I did it is a mystery to me!!

i always have hand projects to work on during breaks, or any time i have to wait...dr apps, car trips...i hand appliqued a beautiful queen size black wool quilt during 10-15 minute breaks at work when i worked in a factory. i don't smoke so when everyone else was heading for the smoking area i would sit in the lunch room and sew. you will be amazed how much you can accomplish in a few minutes. out of 365 days in a year i bet i sew 355 of them (there may be 10 days a year i don't sew...but that could be my imagination...i think i've skipped a day or two though :) when i am home and have access to my machine i sew//quilt but i do spend more time at work than at home, so hand projects satisfy my (addiction) and need to do something with my hands. i never just sit and watch tv, if i'm watching a movie i am also sewing on something, or cutting, or preping...always something.

Thanks for all your stories. They're a real eye opener.

I will not complain or whine anymore! I will do what 'has to be done' quickly and quietly and then have more ME time.

Making a schedule and (kinda) sticking to it. Will control what I can. You know life gets in our way sometimes.

Thanks again

I work shift work and full time. On my day off I clean the house and my sewing room and then set up my sewing machines for the projects I am interested in working on. I lay out all the pieces or instructions and have everything cut out and ready. On the days I am working I can sit down for 5, 20, or 15 minutes and just sew as everything is all ready for me. i also have a DH, and a DD and a DGD living in the house with me so cleaning is a constant battle.

I work from home- on my computer- it's only part time, which is nice. I do find that I have one eye on my laptop on my work but it seems the desk top is always on the QB drawing my attention. I've learned a lot this way.
As for sewing, I wake up early most a.m.'s so I generally get up, have my coffee and check out the QB, and then go to my room and sew. That is usually for 45 min. or so.
My husband, after work, likes to putz around in his shop, so I may sew then. But, when he's inside, even if he's just watching TV I like to be there. So, I'm trying to figure out hand piecing. Thought that'd be a good compromise. I don't think he'd like me moving my machine next to the TV in the LR. LOL!
We also devote 70 hours each a month to some volunteer work- we do that together, so we get lots of time with each other, so he's OK with me in my sewing room and him elsewhere.
I guess we just have to establish what's important to us and work everything else around that.

I admire and sympathize with you all. I worked full time for years and frequently found myself to tired to even want to sew. Unfortunately that didn't keep me from buying fabric, notions and books. Man did I accumulate! Now I am retired and can quilt when ever I want. Love it! Still am accumulating fabric etc. but using it too. Remember, she who dies with the largest stash wins!

Here's how it goes. Clean house, no time to quilt - I'm cranky. Messy house, been busy quilting - happy camper. Oh P.S. I work 30 hours a week and teach quilting classes some evenings/Saturdays so just not enough time to do it all. Excepting the "I don't want to be super woman" has really helped me not feel quilty either way.

I work 40 hours per week. On my weekend I quilt. I quilt before I go to work every day also, as I do not have to be to work until 4pm. Yes, I get so wrapped up in what I am doing sometimes that I wish I could stay home. I do my household jobs first thing then quilt. I can always do laundry in between. Love it!

I used to spend my spare time doing what "had to be done" and then any time left was mine. With kids, work and house/yard chores there never seemed to be any "me time". I always thought - when things settle down/when the kids are older - I will have time for me.

Then I had a serious health scare and I decided it was time I did some things I WANTED to do, not just things I HAD to do. I now choose to sew/paint/garden before washing floors etc. instead of the other way around.

I still have to go to work, but the kids have now grown and left home which has given me a sewing room so projects can be left out which enables me to spend some time (even if only 10 minutes) in there before I leave for work in the morning. I also try to spend some time in there after work before dinner. Once it is dinner time, DH and I spend the evening together - but we both usually have some hand work to do in front of the T.V. (Hubby cross-stitches, does sashiko, knits.)

Thank you for your stories and suggestions.

It really has me thinking....:)

I work 50-60 hours a week. I have a DH and four kids but now some are away part of the year at college. I don't get a lot done during the week but sometimes just go into my sewing room and cut a few blocks or something so I am ready when I do have time.

I, like Bottle Blonde, assign all cleaning chores on the weekends to everyone who is living at the house at the time. I have my list but it isn't terribly long. I can spend quite a bit of time sewing on most weekends if I want.

When my kids were little, I got very little sewing done except on vacations. Between my job and their activities and all the other things they needed, it just didn't happen.

I work on call (12 hour days), so don't always get 30 hours a week. Our girls are grown and on their own. We get the grands every Friday night (unless I have to work on Sat), and I have a housekeeper once a week. DH works 7 on, 7 off 2-midnight. So on his week to work, I can get lots of sewing done. I must say, I am very fortunate.

I have a theory on this...
When we are this busy, we are very scheduled and know we have to JUST GET IT DONE! When we have more time, " I can put that off until tomorrow," and sometimes tomorrow does not come until next week.
However this goes, I think with few exceptions, that women are alway better at getting it done or multi-tasking than most men are.

Happy Day!
Susan

I used to work five eight hour days and had to check on my dad most evenings. That and housework cut my sewing to a couple hours a week if I was lucky. Then my hospital downsized the workforce and I went to three twelve hour days a week. Now I have four days a week off and use two days for running and housework and my other two days are sewing days. I'm a lot happier this way. :-D

i work 40 hours a week. i'm pretty new to quilting. i want to do it everyday after work but that doesn't always happen. i try to make sure i get at least half a day on the weekend to quilt/piece.
my kids are grown but i look out for my parents who have moved in. that means i do have dinner to prepare every night and then the usual odds and ends of stuff. if i don't quilt i look at my fabric, patterns or try to organize a little.

A friend once said to me "If you need something done, ask a busy person. They know how to prioritise and schedule - so it will get done".

I think this applies to most women who work/have children/are carers etc.etc. and have generally busy lives. They need to be organised to take care of everything.

As Angellight said "women are better at multi-tasking and getting it done".

I totally agree. I get my best work done when I am under pressure. I know I have an especially busy week ahead so I am up early today so I can get next weekends gift done today.

When the kids were small I had the luxury of not having a job outside the home. However, they all learned to pick up their rooms, make their beds, help with cooking and cleaning, do yard work- etc. Now they are all self sufficient. DS#2 is not married and knows how to keep his home clean, cook a meal and do his laundry. In fact I think his house is cleaner than mine, of course he doesn't have to deal with fabric threads etc. grin. Each had one night a week when they cooked dinner-(this was from about age 14-moving out-they just assisted before that) We didn't care what they made but it was their duty to cook, serve and clean up. Sometimes it would have been easier to do it myself instead of listening to them grump about how mean I was, but all in all they are raising their kids the same way. Kind of feel I did something right when they are having their kids be responsible for ordinary chores.
Just a funny-when oldest grandson went into the Air Force, his drill instructor called him into the office after the first few weeks. He was scared as he couldn't figure out what he had done wrong. Anyway, the DI asked him why his area was always up to par, when most of the others would slack off and leave things undone. He just looked at him and said, But Sir isn't that the way it is supposed to be? The DI asked how he knew to do it that way, and Dan said, But Sir that was the way my Mom taught me! The DI started to laugh and told him, "I would love to meet your Mother!" Then he got promoted.
To this day he tells DD she is what got him his first promotion.

Quilt3311, that is the way I raised my kids. I always did all my running around on Friday, grocery shopping, whatever was needed at the mall, etc. By Friday suppertime I was in no mood to cook, so I made it fend for yourself night. One Friday the then 9-year old asked if he could cook supper for the family, and I happily accepted. He announced we would be having grilled-cheese sandwiches. So when my husband walked in the door from work I whispered to him to just enjoy supper and don't complain. Well, they were the best sandwiches we ever had. From that time on they all wanted a turn at dinner. My middle son made pizza from scratch (he worked in a pizza shop on weekends), my daughter always made salads, and my oldest son made spaghetti. When the boys were all bachelors they ate very well. The youngest one is single with his own home and does very well cooking for himself. It is very gratifying to see what we did raising them was the right thing.

I, too, work full time and share caregiving resp w/DH for my mom. My sewing machine is in the corner of the dining room...only place to eat...so I'm able to sew when ever I have 10-20 min to spare. Sewing/quilting truely is my therapy and keeps me calm. Just counted up quilts and in the past 2 years have given away 30 lapsize or oversize lap quilts away to fellow workers and even a couple family members! Sure hope the therapy is working!

Sounds like it is. Good for you. I am busier in my retirement than when I worked full time. My grandkids are always needing me for something since their parents work full time and often need a ride to some game or something. I love doing it. The quilt I just made for my grandson to take to college was his request. That feels so good. Our wings are being made as we speak, quilted of course.

I took early retirement at 56 to be a nanny to my 2 GS, one of whom is autistic, so my DD could go to med school. They live with me and DH til she completes med school. Anyhow, I just got back into quilting after a 20 year "hiatus." I made my dining room my sewing room so I could be with my GS. If the boys are "cooperative" I get a little sewing done-maybe 2 or 3 blocks machine pieced in a day. If they need/demand my attention more, I sew on the weekend when they visit their dad. It takes me a LONG time to finsh anything, but that's okay. I just enjoy the process!

I tought school for 37 year and quilted most night it was my way of relaxing even if it was only 15 min. I all ways had a project going. Some times it took months to finish. My time.