There are times, many times, where I wonder if I will ever have the time, or even the inclination to want to do any kind of crafting again. Projects can sit on the backburner for quite some time while life and all it's daily list of things to do seem to mount up. Between all the daily jobs to do, the dishes to wash, the meals to make and the demands of being a mother, it can be so hard to find even just a little time to set aside. I have gone through many a day planning a crafting hour for the afternoon. Only to discover that other, supposedly more pressing matters end up taking it's place. Things do come up, and days don't often go to plan. So crafting goes by the wayside.
Lately I have begun to revolve my day a little more around the crafting side of things. Funnily enough the other things are still getting done. I think the difference has been to prioritise it just a little a bit more. So I have managed to set aside a half hour here and there to do a little knitting, a half hour to trace and cut out a pattern. It's often not a lot that gets done, but a little everyday (everyday being the key word here) can add up to something substantial over the course of a week. It's not only the crafty achievement at hand here, but the act of doing something just a little creative, and the satisfaction that that brings. It not only feels good to be partway to ticking something off the list, but also to have just that little chunk of time to yourself (which makes toddler napping time a good time to devote to a little crafting, no one to jump on the knitting!).
Days may be busy and time may be tight at times, but I know that I will not magically have that time if I don't find the time for it. It hasn't been easy to change my way of thinking, and moving crafting up in the list of priorities, because there is that old guilt of crafting. It can feel like an indulgent way to spend time. No matter how practical the project may be, I have found it hard to shake that guilt of doing craft when there might be floors needing to be swept or washing to fold.
So I am learning to take Rhonda's (of Down to Earth) advice on viewing sewing and knitting as a part of housework and not a just a hobby. By seeing crafting as a necessity for myself, I no longer feel bound to my old attitude of housework. Craft can most certainly be a daily part of (busy) life.
Do you get crafting guilt too?
How do you find the time?
LOL I have a cupboard full of them! Unfinished craft projects and craft supplies that is. Well it use to be a room full and at least they are all designated to the cupboard now. I think my blogs are my creative out let now so wonder if they will ever get used
ReplyDeleteHeaps of sewing projects waiting for me, but I no longer feel guilty about it, the time will come again. My youngest is 4 months and milk monster, feeding takes up a lot of time in my day. At last he is down to the 1 feed a night, I'm starting to come back to live again. I have a crazy quilt project waiting for me, nothing fancy and it only uses scraps, but it is the perfect project to work on if you only have limited time and attention span.
ReplyDelete(http://marijke-sander.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/sewing-for-sanity-crazy-quilting.html)
With a bit of luck it will be on our bed by next Winter.
Hang in there, no need to feel guilty about it, you're doing great work.
Cheers, Marijke
I couldn't agree more Tania. I've found that no matter how long I spend cleaning, cooking, or being with the kids, there would never be any time left over for things like crafting. Never. So I just do the crafting amongst it all as a priority. I generally do it in the evenings when the kids are in bed although today for example I just have the baby at home and he is napping so I've done about half an hour of knitting and now I've opened the laptop.....this period of time won't last for much longer though before the naps dwindle off. I don't feel guilty at all, I used to not indulge in any hobbies and I did start feeling a little resentful.... One thing I have learnt is that if I don't keep the momentum up on a project it kind of gets left so I only have one project on the go at a time and try to get it done. Having said that, I love the way others have a few things on the go as it seems that if you get sick of one you can go to another - you seem to do this really successfully. I think I need to try that. I have Rhonda's book too and really enjoy it. Have a lovely day . Mel x
ReplyDeleteI definitely have crafting guilt and once again marvel at how amazing we mothers are at the amount of things we can feel guilt over ;(
ReplyDeleteThe key is definitely to make time as you won't easily just find it.
Aghh, my comment reads a bit funny. When I wrote "you seem to do this really successfully" I mean you have a few things on the go at the one time and seem to get them done successfully, not that you get sick of one thing and then go to another successfully.....x
ReplyDeleteI've actually always been a bit in awe of the amount of sewing and crafting you do get done!I find it so hard to fit in since the twins were born and i do miss it but get stressed when i have to many half finished projects glaring at me! I like your thinking though and Rhonda's words as always are very wise. Perhaps i will try and think a little differently ans see what happens!!
ReplyDeleteIts a good time of year to find the time. For me, it is a quieter time for the animals and the garden, and with my kids at school, I've dedicated two days to crafting this week. I made it a priority to do the crafting work, and I loved it, and managed to not feel guilty. Instead I felt proud when I presented my pile of crafted work to my family. :) Good job setting aside time each day - it does need to be done.
ReplyDeleteI used to get craft guilt, especially when my children were little even though I was making them something, but now I see it as part of my work life instead.
ReplyDeleteSewing is a part of me. Its the only selfish 'me' time that I get and I do often become a grumpy monster without it. I seem to sew most at night when the kids are in bed and rely on coffee (or wine) to keep me up :)
ReplyDeleteMy hubby is also supportive and very occasionally, when he reads those angry signs, will take the kids to the park so I can have time in my sewing space.
I don't wait until the jobs are done to do it and often wait until dinner to clean breakfast dishes!
Try not to stress too much about it too much. Work with what you can and ask the hubby for a break when you need it.
Glad you got the pattern!
i was fully prepared to give up crafting for a year when our baby came along. i missed it too much, i almost felt bereft, so now, even if i only do a little of it, it does a lot for me. no deadlines though, and small achievable projects (the braided rug has been put aside), i get bust when the 3 year old goes to bed and the four month old has his first sleep of the evening x
ReplyDeleteYes the desire to craft/sew comes and goes. I've been pretty productive this past week making a couple of cushions, bunting and a beanie. I think this was partly due to finishing and submitting an assignment for the immunisation course i'm doing. i didnt have the stress of knowing that sewing time should have been studying time.
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I make time to knit evry day. It is part of who I am and it is important. It is often how gifts are made.
ReplyDeleteI have four children. One is grown and gone and the other three are late teens. It goes so fast and over the years more time does open up. Just enjoy every minute of their young lives and squeeze in as much as you can of what you love. Carla (Socks Ahoy!)
I haven't been crafting at all with the reno going on and I miss it dreadfully. I remember reading your blog 2 years ago when I had a two year old had who dropped her day naps and being so in awe of everything you managed to fit into your crafting week. Push through and squeeze in some of that guilt free crafting time, soon your littlest will probably be working alongside you. mel x
ReplyDeleteAs a kid I know I was inspired and empowered with a 'can do' attitude by my own mum's crafting, and I think my kids get that now from seeing me craft. It does get a bit easier to find the time as they get older and can go for longer stretches without needing direct attention. For some reason I don't feel guilty about crafting at night time - maybe I will throw a load of washing on as well - but don't feel the need to be doing as much housework as I would if I had 'free' time during the day. I guess because mostly at that time I would otherwise be zonked in front of the telly or computer so in contrast, sewing seems rather productive! I like Rhonda's approach to the value of housework, crafting etc, too.
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading your post, I was thinking "just think of crafting like Rhonda does!", then up pops her name.
ReplyDeleteBut I also think of it as necessary for my health - as in mental health. I get great satisfaction out of producing something, and just as much out of the process itself - creativity, and a kind of meditation.
Hi Tania,
ReplyDeletethis post has prompted me out of lurker-dom here! I love your blog aqnd now often pop in, I so love your pictures & your life seems to be the type we're slowly moving towards. Anyway, the topic, no craft guilt here anymore! It's a necessary part of me. Without it, even just a little each day, I dry up, become stressy, snappy, no fun for anyone to be around! Much better to give myself some daily sewing or other creative time, and be a happy mum and houseworker rather than martyr-mode which I go into otherwise! When my girls were babies I found knitting easier to fit in, but the regular sewing has been happily back since my youngest was about 1, and I'm much healthier for it x
Thank you for the advice. I've been thinking lately that it's time to get the sewing machine back out. With 7 children I rarely do any crafts, but I try to nurture my creativity with small (very small) but soul-satisfying things (like picking wild flowers for the table or putting a ribbon in my daughter's hair).
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder, time to reread Rhondas book I think. I suffer from the guilts if I knit during the day and am usually too tired to knit at night, probably because I haven't taken a rest break during the day! Nurturing the soul is very important.
ReplyDeletecheers Kate
I love your blog
I also have let crafting fall by the wayside and need to start again. However, I am inspired by, but seemingly ineffectively, by my mother. She had 10 , TEN, children. She grew all her own food, for the entire year. and every single day she made art. She got up at four in the morning to make woodcuts and quilts. She, despite the reality of her life, was a prolific artist. I need to follow in her footsteps.
ReplyDeleteI need to take on board your way of thinking as I always fail to make time for crafting, thinking other chores are more important. I like Rhonda's suggestion to think of sewing and crafting as a part of your housework... that's what I need to do :)
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