Over the years, many people have told me they "don't know where I find the time" to sew and crochet. Many of them are parents with little kids, so I can understand their question. But many more aren't. The question always used to make me feel guilty, like I was supposed to be doing something else 'more important' with my time, like gardening, or cooking, or cleaning, or having lots of children. Later the question made me a little cross - like what I was doing with thread and yarn wasn't considered by people to be as important as other stuff they felt I should be doing.
Well, I'm here to tell you that playing with thread and yarn is important stuff, although I do suspect that I'm speaking to the converted! It's important for my health, my imagination and to keep my family warm. It's important because I want to inject beauty into my life and the lives of those I love.
I cook and bake and garden and work full-time and renovate and clean and wash. It's just that I fit craft into a major part of my life as well.
And it's amazing what you can do in front of the telly at night.
My creative space this week is right in front of said telly. After dinner, with a cup of lemon tea, listening to nothing in particular on the box. I'm just enjoying the steady rhythm of needle and thread and the anticipation of it being completed. 24 blocks, 15 half blocks. That's all.
See more creative spaces.
Great post. I have little kids and still manage to find time to craft and work and cook and (sometimes) clean. I think you just make the time for what is important to you. I know that my crafting is my time out, even if I am still surrounded by the kids. It is the one thing I do for me and I need that. The quilt looks great by the way - you are almost done.
ReplyDeleteYES! YES! YES! YES! Get rid of the guilt and enjoy your craft I say.
ReplyDeleteI totally hear you and with some child free time on my hands earlier this week said to hubby 'what ever did I do before kids?' as it was after kids I started paper crafting, sewing, knitting, crocheting ... I must have wasted so much mindless time!! Go for it and enjoy it! Can't wait to see!
ReplyDeleteKids or no kids, crafting is me time and it keeps me sane and like you I do alot of it at night in front of the telly. I get asked the same question "where do you find the time with four kids". Answer, you can always find time for the things you love. I never find time to exercise.lol
ReplyDeleteIt's true, people make time for what's important to them. I have little kids. I try to find time to create things (beyond, er, people) because it makes me feel more balanced. I don't always find time to clean the toilets. Alas, my toilets leave a lot to be desired at the moment.
ReplyDeleteMy mother-in-law used to knit and sew. Sometimes she sees something I've made and says, "Oh, maybe I'll get back to it...but I just don't have the time." And I can't help it--I wonder what is she doing when she comes home from work? She lives alone. Nobody to clean up after but herself; nobody to cook for but herself; what on earth is she doing? Makes me wonder every time she says it!
so well said. i have uttered just those words so often. it is important for all of the stated reasons. does anything else give you the same sense of achievement as walking past your latest completed creation and admiring your handwork. you go girl
ReplyDeleteOh yes....I have fought with a little guilt myself from time to time..But you said it perfectly....Craft on!!
ReplyDeleteI think some of those people think of making things as terribly difficult and requiring special concentrating time (which it sometimes does, especially when you're new). I used to take ages to get through DVD sets, now that I knit all the time I have less guilt about watching episode after episode of TV!
ReplyDeleteI have a few different thoughts for you:
ReplyDeleteThere is some saying, and I cannot quote it properly, but it was something like this... "Those who have a lot to do will find the time. Those with nothing to do, can't find the time." This is so true — if we really want something in our lives we have the power to make it happen. So power to you for doing what makes you happy. :)
And the other thing... I heard that Jane Austen would sew between writing her stories. Apparently the rhythmic sewing helped to fuel her creative juices. So a lot of good does come from sewing.
i guess some non-crafty people don't understand making time for something you really love. like you i do a lot of crafting in the evenings in front of the tv. i find it very relaxing & enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteyour paper piecing looks amazing, i would love to make something of that scale one day.
In my house if everybody has clean clothes to put on, a nice dinner on there plates at night and a house that they can walk around in without falling over to much stuff then I think I can take a little time in my day to do something that pleases me. If that is sewing or crochet or even reading a book I am happy and so are they. I also have the thought that the busy you are the more you tend to get achieved. Bravo to everybody who finds a time to do what they like.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the rambling, sometimes I just need to do it!!
here here I hear what you are saying and totally agree and your hexies are looking divine!!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant post. I hear you. It's so important to make time for your craft no matter how busy you are. I love doing it and find it quite meditative and therapeutic. It's important to my health to keep it up. Stealing 5 minutes here 1hr there all adds up . Most people would be surprised at how much you can get done.
ReplyDeleteI get that ALL the time too! But if you switch the focus from you to them, you soon find out that they do nothing with their time. Box-staring and the like. So, don't feel guilty, don't even feel mad, you should actually feel sorry for them. Just smile serenely knowing that you make good use of your spare time. :) K
ReplyDeleteHallelujah (or some such spelling)! I am also on the receiving end of that comment on a regular basis and the answer is always "in front of the tele" or "If I don't I'll lose my mind!" The attention to detail, the creativity, the preciseness of stitch after stitch all helps to take my mind to a different place even if my body isn't. It's magical and oh such an important part of keeping me sane! Can't wait to see the finished quilt, no matter the duration, the effort will be well worth it!
ReplyDeleteFantastic post - Unfortuantely, as much as crafting is a massive part of my life & my days, I am often saying exactly that to people I see as more prolific crafters - especially Mamas of 5+ kidlets, as I just have one & can't get everthing done that I want to!!
ReplyDeleteIn front of the telly is a MAJOR crocheting time for me - as is when I'm a car passenger! We find time to do what we love to do - what we NEED to do! I don't know what people do who don't find the time to craft - maybe they have a much cleaner & tidier house than mine and possibly they do more exercise...looking forward to seeing that quilt complete Michelle!
ReplyDeleteFabulous post Michelle. It's all about making time to nourish yourself with whatever your passionate about. Maybe it's going to watch sport on the weekend or maybe it's craft. Horses for courses & good on you for making the time.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't have said it better myself. I loved this post, obviously it's hit a cord with others too. Love your blog too xo
ReplyDeleteI hear you. People say that to me too. And sometimes I don't know where I find the time, either, but the beauty of this crafty stuff is how easily it fits into the little cracks in the day when I have a minute to breathe. I like to think sometimes that people who say that are just a little jealous that I can be so fabulous in the rest of my life *and* make amazing things. ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat post. There's nothing on the box any way!!!! Thanks when its my time to.
ReplyDeleteI totally hear you and if I don't craft its because I paint and draw too much...but I am staging my 'comeback' to crafts(I used to knit with a passion during my teens- but I don't think it was just hormonal!!) You are so right and very, very often I just want to throw the box out the window...
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely guilt-free crafting day!
Annamaria
Yep preaching to the choir but so good to hear it 'verbalised'. My theory is that 'self-ishness' is necessary. If I cannot look after 'self' and do the things I need to survive, if I spend ALL my time making someone else happy - partner, boss, kids, family, dogs, garden, etc then I will explode and no-one will have me. Kind of like the thinking behind airmasks in a crashing plane and the small child or useless person beside you, YOU FIRST then tyhem or nobody makes it off!
ReplyDeleteHurrah for you - love the way you explained it. I also craft for my mental health... there's so many things that I can't do, but as long as I'm crafting I don't care.
ReplyDeleteI do the same thing every night - I craft in front of the tv. I'm actually looking at the craft and just listening to the tv, or like i'm doing now, reading blogs with Glee on in the background.
Brilliant post. Craft is my sanity too
ReplyDeleteOh yes! I read plenty of blogs by women with small kids and they still manage to do lots of crafting (and cooking etc). I hate it when people say they "don't have time" to do x. Or they "don't know where you find the time". I reckon if you really want to do soemthing, you MAKE the time to do it. And also I often ask them if they watch tv. If they say "yes" then I tell them they have time to knit or crochet or sew.
ReplyDeleteAmen sister! It's about prioritising the nourishing things isn't it? If I didn't make time to craft everything would suffer (although I'm sure the house would be lots cleaner, but that's not high on my priorities right now!).
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post. I have children and dont work (well I sort of count being a stay at home mum as a job - because sometimes I think that being at work would be easier) But crafting (whether it be knitting or sewing or something else is always apart of my day - I think that I would be admitted somewhere if I could not do it (is there somewhere for the insane crafter?) Enjoy it I say - my nights are often like yours - it is a good way to relax.
ReplyDeletefeeding the soul....and those around you...if only they knew...i am sure they'd be there in a flash...enjoy :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post. As a mum of two, work full-time etc etc, I make time to do the things I love. I look around and wonder what everyone else does with their time!
ReplyDeleteI'm new to this crafting and creating world and the process of making things has done wonders for my health and outlook. Life is so much better when I'm creating.
ReplyDeletei know - the question used to bug me too. have since decided that those asking are usually just different personality types and just say 'i make the time' smile politely. done.
ReplyDeletelovely post :)
we used to live in Canberra - miss it still!
Ditto to all the above...finding time for it helps make me a better worker, wife, mother etc...and the converse also happens - I get very cranky and crappy at all my other roles when I can't get to it!
ReplyDeleteyou said it! it is critical to find time. much more important that a clean house - which a visit to me will prove!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree. If you really want to do something, you will find a way to make time for it!
ReplyDeleteso true in all you say and your patchwork looks amazing : )
ReplyDeleteI think that you make time for the things that are really important to you - you can find the time if you want it badly enough!
ReplyDeleteLove the progress too - soon you'll be showing it off all finished & gorgeous!
Phew, look at all those little squares. Personally I think that crafting is the best (and cheapest) form of therapy that there is. It's good for the soul.
ReplyDeleteI fit it in too - I think of it as multi tasking - and I could fit in more If I ddin't spend so much time on the computer reading about crafts! ROFLMAO! - and I fit in fitness and children and cooking and family and washing and all that (but I can't be arsed with the cleaning really!)
ReplyDeleteI use the evening for sewing too. My daughter has a 1 hour and 10 minute ballet lesson once a week and I sure get a lot done there...even if I do get funny looks from the other moms ;o)
ReplyDelete