Monday 25 August 2014

Slow Going

It's been summer holidays here so I've had both my lovelies home with me during the days, and it feels like time for me has become a thing of the past. Sewing has been slow this summer.

Looking back I have managed real progress on a few projects though.

My quilt for my sister's really coming along, over 18 months since I agreed to make one.



                                    


I've finally finished my butterfly from mud, pies and pins off, and now have a finished cushion for my husband's grandma.




I've even got a back made and a border chosen for my winter geese cushion



Partly this progress was because I snuck a couple for days home alone by taking annual leave and sending the kids to childcare anyway (bad mummy!).

However, it's also thanks to a a blog post from Ellison Lane, Girl interrupted. Somehow I'd been imagining that all these amazing creative people must have peace and quiet to focus on their crafting. How do they do it? Do they have time alone in the house? Can their kids entertain themselves for more than ten minutes without fighting? Do they have super human powers in organisation or the energy levels of a 5 year old?

Girl interrupted had some of the answers. Its about learning to work in a way that I can do a little and often around the rest of my home life. So I've worked out where to keep my cutting mat and rotary cutter so I can sneak in a few cuts without risking the kids reaching when I turn my back, I've found a spot to leave my ironing board up, so I can leave my work out, and press a little if need be, and biggest change of all, I've got the machine out and sewed while the kids have been playing.

One lovely side effect of this is that they've been enjoying this. The little one's chosen scraps and made me sew up some pockets to play with, while my lads been displaying his favourite scraps art gallery style to show his daddy.


  

 I'm totally sold on it.

4 comments:

  1. Sounds like a plan! I never did learn to use small bits of time well. Love the kiddos gallery.

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    1. Its definitely working so far, but term time is on the way, so we'll see if I can keep it up!

      ps - I'll tell the boy to keep it up too :D

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  2. I don't have small kids at home but I embrace the 'use small bits of time' process to get sewing in each day. I'm lucky enough to have a dedicated room for sewing and can leave my projects out....I love to sew or iron a bit and then move on to a chore that needs done. It feels like a win/win - housework gets done and I get some sewing in!

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    1. A room just for sewing sounds divine - I would certainly manage to be more productive. I have to admit that using small bits of time for sewing does mean the small bits of housework are suffering. I think I can live with that some days though :D.

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