Now if I told you it wouldn't be a secret!! I don't work maybe that is it :)

Get out of the house to sew with friends and groups--no distractions like at home. And the cleaning fairy never comes here so I get stuck on the chores. I try to sew every day even if for an hr--sometimes only 15 min and some days it is most of the day--those days are special. I don't sew at night and even if I can't sleep I don't get up to sew.

Yes, this board can eat the time up. I try to keep it to a minimum. I have been trying to read the same book for over a week now--have only a few pages done. Find it difficult to read and relax when the sewing room is calling me.

I spend too much time on here lately but I love it! I sewed many quilts when I could stay home all the time. I work now so my quilts are really piling up in my head instead of on my machine!

Not that I get lots of projects completed, but I find that it helps to get on the computer only at night while "watching" TV. Also, DH helps with chores. He doesn't argue or fuss, so he gets the dishes and sweeping. I have clothes and bathrooms and we share the cooking. My time in the studio is precious, so I fight for it!

I'm the most productive if I sew a lot of the same thing at one time. I like to make baby blankets with matching burp cloths so I'll make 2 or 3 blankets, then I'll make matching burp cloths, I usually make 3 burp cloths for each blanket. Then I move on to several of something else.

Being retired helps! I set limits for myself. I clean my house and do all the laundry. Then I prepare several meals that I can freeze, large enough for leftovers too. My husband does the shopping so that helps. Meals are easy and I visit with DH while we eat. When all of this is done, I sew, and sew, and sew. My computer is behind my sewing machine which lets me check in on this Board OFTEN!!! When the meals are all used up and the house needs dusting, I start all over again. I will work on projects (various stages) for 10-12 hours per day for at least 4 days. This includes time on the QB. The other 3 days are days where I clean, cook, bake or take care of things outside the home. And I love it!

I browse this board while having my morning coffee, while my DH is having is coffee,at his computer. I am really fortunate, I can quilt as long as I want, on my days off, or depending on my shift, for a couple of hours in the morning. We do the housework together, and he does most of the cooking. He knows quilting is my passion, just as music is his. We tend to spend our days together off, me in my sewing room, him in his music room (basement) and then around 2pm, we put away what we are doing and spend the rest of the day together. It works well for us. Don't forget, life does get in the way somedays, and there is no avoiding that. Most days I get to quilt, but, there are somedays, you never turn on the sewing machine.

I love quilting and sewing and the one thing I am not going to do is burn myself out! So if I get three hours here or 15 minutes there I will be happy I got something done. The dog helps. In and out, in and out. I do what I can, and I will not do anything under any kind of pressure to be done at a specific time. If I make another cancer quilt this year, it will not be due until August. I may start it in January. I also may skip around a bit. I don't like WIP's, but sometimes I manage to get two coals in the fire. But, most importantly, I will not allow myself to get burned out. Edie

Like the tortoise I plug away even working full time 4 grown children and 2 grandsons. Basically have no interest in TV so I persist and love to be a finisher. Make all sizes of projects machine hand and occ send out for quilting.