So my little discussion today is about finding time when you have kids underfoot. I currently have a 8yr old a 7 yr old a 5 yr old and a 11mth old. So things can certainly get very hectic. I try very hard to be organised which allows me more time to ‘play’. Everyone needs play time, as I call it, whether it be reading, sewing, playing on facebook, watching tv or making jewellery.
I’m actually writing this today while waiting for my eldest at tutoring as I have just realised that I have left my ironing board set up in our bathroom, yes the bathroom, it seemed the safest place to me as the baby can’t get in there, despite his best efforts and neither can the cats. Although I don’t know what the other kids will make of it when they get home with dad and discover it, they’ll probably just think mummy is having one of her ‘crazy’ days. Oops – at least I’ll get home before bathtime and can put it away it after their bedtime.
One thing that has always puzzled me about people is when they drop everything and completely change their lifestyle to suit others, whether it be a new boyfriend, a baby, kids or pets. I will on occasion change my mind about sewing because there is a certain cat looking very comfortable curled up on the fabric I want to use, but she is 21 now and I think she deserves a little dispensation.
I have always planned that we would work family members into our lives and not the other way around, all of my kids could sleep anywhere, we never made the house ultra quiet when the baby was napping and we never choose to be at home at certain times just for the baby to have a nap or a feed.
I feel that my sewing and crafting shouldn’t be any different. I certainly take precautions, I won’t sit on the floor with a bucket full of beads when the baby is crawling around and climbing on me. By the same token when the kids get home from school I’ll stop what I am putting together to help them with their homework. Mind you while they are reading to me, it is the perfect opportunity to do any hand sewing I have. I hate hand sewing, it drives me mad. I think it has something to do with never being happy with the results.
Once again it has to do with being organised or at least thinking ahead. If I know I’m going to be helping the kids with homework, I’ll put aside any hand sewing that needs to be done, just for that time. Hand sewing is always handy to help keep busy when you are waiting for the kids at an activity or watching them play sport. I used to do a huge amount of cross-stitch (that was before I discovered beading and jewellery making) and I took one everywhere I went, whether it was my boyfriends house, a friends place, even work. It raised a few eyebrows at different locations but I seem to be happiest when my hands are busy and I can’t knit to save myself. It even became a conversation starter and I made new friends this way.
So for me I have everything I use in bags or boxes that are easy to locate and move, I sit down and plan what I am going to do with my next project, even going so far as to write a step by step of what I plan to make, this helps me think about what I am going to need. I then locate the bags and boxes in which the things I need are and haul it all out to our living room. We have a desk set up behind our lounge facing the tv, it was initially for our PC but since going to the laptop it just gets used as a dumping ground. Now I have my sewing machine on it and room to get creative. I have some ideas saved on Pinterest, it’s a great place to save ideas but be warned if you haven’t delved there before, you can lose ABSOLUTELY HOURS!!!! . I have a couple to get you started - http://pinterest.com/elayinej/dreams/
I’m actually writing this today while waiting for my eldest at tutoring as I have just realised that I have left my ironing board set up in our bathroom, yes the bathroom, it seemed the safest place to me as the baby can’t get in there, despite his best efforts and neither can the cats. Although I don’t know what the other kids will make of it when they get home with dad and discover it, they’ll probably just think mummy is having one of her ‘crazy’ days. Oops – at least I’ll get home before bathtime and can put it away it after their bedtime.
One thing that has always puzzled me about people is when they drop everything and completely change their lifestyle to suit others, whether it be a new boyfriend, a baby, kids or pets. I will on occasion change my mind about sewing because there is a certain cat looking very comfortable curled up on the fabric I want to use, but she is 21 now and I think she deserves a little dispensation.
I have always planned that we would work family members into our lives and not the other way around, all of my kids could sleep anywhere, we never made the house ultra quiet when the baby was napping and we never choose to be at home at certain times just for the baby to have a nap or a feed.
I feel that my sewing and crafting shouldn’t be any different. I certainly take precautions, I won’t sit on the floor with a bucket full of beads when the baby is crawling around and climbing on me. By the same token when the kids get home from school I’ll stop what I am putting together to help them with their homework. Mind you while they are reading to me, it is the perfect opportunity to do any hand sewing I have. I hate hand sewing, it drives me mad. I think it has something to do with never being happy with the results.
Once again it has to do with being organised or at least thinking ahead. If I know I’m going to be helping the kids with homework, I’ll put aside any hand sewing that needs to be done, just for that time. Hand sewing is always handy to help keep busy when you are waiting for the kids at an activity or watching them play sport. I used to do a huge amount of cross-stitch (that was before I discovered beading and jewellery making) and I took one everywhere I went, whether it was my boyfriends house, a friends place, even work. It raised a few eyebrows at different locations but I seem to be happiest when my hands are busy and I can’t knit to save myself. It even became a conversation starter and I made new friends this way.
So for me I have everything I use in bags or boxes that are easy to locate and move, I sit down and plan what I am going to do with my next project, even going so far as to write a step by step of what I plan to make, this helps me think about what I am going to need. I then locate the bags and boxes in which the things I need are and haul it all out to our living room. We have a desk set up behind our lounge facing the tv, it was initially for our PC but since going to the laptop it just gets used as a dumping ground. Now I have my sewing machine on it and room to get creative. I have some ideas saved on Pinterest, it’s a great place to save ideas but be warned if you haven’t delved there before, you can lose ABSOLUTELY HOURS!!!! . I have a couple to get you started - http://pinterest.com/elayinej/dreams/
My Thread Wall
What do you have as your set up? .....
Are you lucky enough to have a dedicated craft room? .......
I’d love to see pictures if you do.
Do you have a favourite storage idea? .......
Mine is an adaption my husband made of the thread holders you can buy. He made them so that the sticks are long enough so that I can fit the matching bobbin on top of the thread. That way I don’t have to go hunting for nor make another bobbin every time I get out some thread.
Are you lucky enough to have a dedicated craft room? .......
I’d love to see pictures if you do.
Do you have a favourite storage idea? .......
Mine is an adaption my husband made of the thread holders you can buy. He made them so that the sticks are long enough so that I can fit the matching bobbin on top of the thread. That way I don’t have to go hunting for nor make another bobbin every time I get out some thread.