Lori Holt of Bee in my Bonnet has written two amazing books!!
I bet you have heard about them already somewhere in blogland!
In fact, many of you must be sewing along with her first book, Quilty Fun by now :)
Lori is an extremely talented, generous, and warm-hearted person I feel very lucky
to call my friend. Ever since I discovered her lovely blog, I have been a huge fan of her.
I use her beautiful fabric in so many of my projects, including the bag I showed you
last time and several projects in my book. I have a lot of her tutorials bookmarked
and have used some to make gifts for friends too.
She has this special skill to make me want to do everything
she does, so it was very exciting to hear about her books for Fat Quarter Shop!
I love her aesthetics and how she can manage to create fun patterns
without any difficult techniques involved. These two books are such great representatives
of her lovely work. I just love them!
I am very happy to be part of the book tour for both her books.
(I will be hosting a stop for Quilty Fun blog tour in a week! Eek!)
Today I would like to offer a copy of her new book, Great Granny Squared
for one of my lovely readers!
In order to enter this giveaway, please leave a comment telling me about
your trick to find the time to sew!
I would especially appreciate to hear this if you have managed to
sew with young children at home.
The giveaway will be open til the 22nd. I will be back to announce
a lucky winner on Monday.
a lucky winner on Monday.
Thx for the giveaway! I moved my sewing machine from my separate sewing room to my family room...with my machines, supplies and projects closer at hand, I've found I can do a bit of sewing in between chores and cooking and chauffeuring kids...
ReplyDeleteFirst, I do a little housework, then tell myself it's okay to sew.
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't have little kids anymore, but the laundry, dishes, and meals are still in my day to take care of. I just decide that a certain day I'm going to sew! Everything is set aside, and that's my special treat - i get to sew that day....and in between chores i sew at other times, too. Thanks so much for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI make sewing a priority. ;) The kitchen could look like a tornado ran through it, and the laundry could be higher than Everest, but there is progress on whatever project I'm working on. ;) Thank you for hosting a give-away!
ReplyDeleteSarah G
sarahmon90(at)gmail(dot)com
http://pintucksandpinafores.blogspot.com/
I don't have little kids any more, so I plan a day to hide out in my cave. On that day, the slow cooker makes dinner.
ReplyDeleteIt is very pleasant to participate in a giveaway chess! I have three children and I waiting for the fourth. Usually I houses with the smallest one and we with it do everything together. He sits next draws or plays on a floor, I talk to it, I sing songs if it is necessary I distract on its requests. I transfer the most part of sewing to an evening when all children sleep: )) ) )
ReplyDeleteI'm lucky to be retired, so I can sew all day , every day, or go a week or two without. But I love it, it's my favorite thing to do creatively. Thanks for the great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteDoesn't everyone avoid housework! Oh, don't have any visitors drop in- only answer the door bell to the mailman who has fabric!
ReplyDeleteI get time to sew now that my sons are off to university and it's only DH and me at home. (The cat doesn't need much attention).
ReplyDeleteI leave a sewing project out so i save time and don´t have to get it out of the cupboard and sorted. Some household tasks I just do way less to carve out some time for me like cleaning windows for example. And then I try to get as much housework done while my daughter is up, so I can use as much of her nap time as I can for sewing! She usually doesnt mind me doing housework as long as she is included. I let her `help`fold laundry for example. It takes longer that way but she is happy and I am happy when I have it ticked of my list and can sew later! =)
ReplyDeleteI feel so lucky to have my own sewing room where I can leave my projects out....then it is easy to slip in and sew for a bit here and there throughout my day. I love Lori's blog and designs too. She is so wonderfully creative and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI love these books. The only reason I manage to sew is because I have a room just for sewing where i can leave everything out all the time. I often get my sewing done with ten minutes here, five minutes there. The only problem is there is no heating in the room, so in winter it is very cold! Thanks for the chance :)
ReplyDeleteAt the moment I don't really sew at home (sometimes I can sneak some in during my daughter's naptime). My solution to get some creative time was to take part in a patchwork course. It's one evening a week and I can sew without interruptions while my daughter is at home with daddy.
ReplyDeleteWith three children, people always ask me when I find the time to sew. I always reply that the hours between 2-3am are always quiet at my house ;)
ReplyDeleteI don't have children but a job and my sewing time is limited to late evenings and weekends. I love to switch the TV on and 'hear' my favorite series while sewing so I don't feel like missing something. Truth be told sometimes I'm to lazy to sew and that's okay, too. Don't stress yourself I think that's one of the most important things:-)
ReplyDeletehildy(at)ebertzeder(dot)de
Thank you for this giveaway chance. As I get older, I find it harder to sit for too long, or stand for too long. This helps me to sew more in the long run. I sew for about 15 minutes, then mop or do dishes or laundry for the same amount of time, then sit and sew a little more. It all works out somehow. debbie
ReplyDeleteI have an 8 month old and I sew when she is sleeping on the days her big sister is at daycare. On those days we have easy dinner (sushi, from the freezer, salads) and no jobs or jobs I can do with a waking bubba. On the days both girls are home there is no sewing!! I also sew of an evening sometimes. It is never enough time though!!
ReplyDeleteI like to make sure the household tasks are out of the way and then I don't feel so guilty about sewing.
ReplyDeleteMaking sure the kids are occupied is the key, that way we are all happy doing something we love....win, win !
Thanks for the chance, I'd love to win a copy of this gorgeous book.
therese.aiken@gmail.com
I don´t have children neither job so I could find sewing time almost every day; so I don´t have any tips for you. That book is gorgeous. Thanks for this giveaway
ReplyDeleteNo trick, I just need to factor it in to my daily routine otherwise I won't get any time to do it. There are always a million things to be done in a day and often sewing comes way down on that priority list. I work it into my routine, rush through my jobs in the morning and then the afternoon is mine to sew!
ReplyDeleteMy 4 year old 'helps'. Her 18m sister, not so much help, her nap time is mine to sew on preschool days and days with them both home we always craft so that helps the itch. Oh and my machine has found a permanent spot in our loungeroom so I can sneak in a few moments here and there. hayleymstephens at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteWell I'm retired and sewing is my business AND hobby so I probably spend too much time at it! But I do remember the days that I'd have to set up my machine on the kitchen table and put everything away at dinner time!
ReplyDeleteRetirement and an understanding husband!
ReplyDeleteMy children are grown and gone but I do have a husband and little dog. While I love them dearly, I relly enjoy sewiwng and quilting in a quiet, peaceful atmosphere. That's why I get up at 5am every day and sew as they're still in bed. I have the quiet house all to myself and I can dream and plan my next quilt in my head as my fingers do their thing.
ReplyDeleteMy children are grown now, but when they were little - I would get up early - about 4:30 and sew as long as possible. Once they were in school it was a bit easier to regulate my time, but then I was back in my regular day job again too. My worst enemy is 'guilt' - when I do find time to sew - I'm always thinking of what else I really should be doing - baking, cooking, cleaning. I'm fortunate I have a very supportive husband!!
ReplyDeleteI choose one day on a quiet weekend and plan in advance what I'm going to work on that day.
ReplyDeleteSewing time is hard found and precious - usually when the house is quiet and all small(ish) people are in bed. Needless to say, progress is very slow. Recently we went on a skiing trip to Austria, only on the condition that I could take my sewing machine! Bliss!
ReplyDeleteI have a sewing room which is set up and I go and sew whenever I have time. As I work, have two teenage boys, a wonderful husband, sometimes finding time is difficult, but having my own space makes it easier to get away and sew, but mostly on weekends, weeknights I do mostly hand work, ie: embroidery. Thanks for the chance to win, I also enjoy Lori Holts blog, I have created little projects from her fabric and have one of her patterns.
ReplyDeleteMy youngest just started school so I finally have free time yay before that it was nap time or weekends when hubby is around...somehow I just couldn't summon the energy to sew at night!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is just turning one here in a few weeks. She's finally learning to entertain herself a bit. I prep either during naptime or when she goes to bed, and then I sew during one of her playtimes - I can block off an area in the basement that includes my sewing area. She either plays with her toys or with my scraps... Sometimes I take mini breaks to read her a story or show her different toys to distract her a bit longer. I will even hold her on my lap if she's getting antsy and I have just one more seam to sew! :)
ReplyDeleteMy kids are grown, but I work full time. I find the best sewing time is in the morning on the weekends before my husband is up and wanting to do something or go somewhere. Thanks for the chance to win the book.
ReplyDeleteLove this giveaway!! My secret is to try to make myself spend some time with the sewing machine as soon as I get out of the shower and get dressed.
ReplyDeleteI have a 22-month old and started my first quilt when she was 8 months old. I find that I slip into my sewing room at various times and sometimes she just wants attention and I don't get anything done at that moment, sometimes I get 5-10 mins of sewing done (which adds up over a bunch of times, even if it feels frustrating at the time), and every once in a while she'll sit there and entertain herself for 45 mins and I take advantage of that time! The main thing for me is that some days I will get tons done and some days very little, but if I consistently go in and take advantage of even little stretches of time it all adds up.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I don't mind sewing while the rest of my house is cluttered (not dirty), and if she's letting me work on sewing near a mealtime we have leftovers....so other things don't always get done on the sewing days, but on a day when she seems to need more attention and not want me to sew I try to get other chores done and include her in them so that I'm being productive and she feels included.
One last thing. I have a sling and a Boba carrier and I find the sling useful to put her on my hip but free up an arm if she wants to be held while I'm at the ironing board working on pressing pieces that have been chain pieced. It makes me slower but still get more done than otherwise. And if she wants to be held and I have something to do where I can wear her on my back with the Boba (trimming up blocks, ironing, etc) that works out nicely as well. I'll plop her back there with a small toy and my iPhone playing a relaxing Pandora station and she's good to go for 30-45 mins. Wearing a baby on your back does not make for accurate cutting of yardage though, IMHO!
Sorry so long but hope that helps in some small way and thank you for the book giveaway!
quick dot hannah at gmail dot com
I dont have any small children anymore. But Im working full time and still have housechores to be done. My favorite time to sew is Sunday mornings about 5 o'clock when everybody still sleeps.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance of that great give away
My kids are older so I schedule some time and tell them I am going to work and they are not to disturb me unless it is important (isn't everything important to kids and husbands?). When they were little I used to sew during one of their favorite tv shows. After the show was over we would do something fun together. They learned to expect something fun if they behaved and it seemed to work most o the time.
ReplyDeleteMy kids are grown now. At the time, my sewing machine & ironing board were set up in my walk-in closet. Available for those sewing time moments but not in the inquisitive kids eyesight. 5 minutes here & there do add up. Nap times - one napped, the other figured out quiet time. Weekend time also worked. I was never one for 2am sewing.
ReplyDeleteI sewed a lot of their clothes and Halloween costumes. The kids were always involved.
My 23-yr-old son made a flannel quilt last year.
It's much easier now to slip into my dedicated sewing room to sew for an hour or two.
Thanks for the giveaway.
This morning I found time before the school run to paper piece a number block for a quilt I'm making. Having a dedicated sewing space means that I don't have to get stuff out so sewing can be done when I have a spare 5 minutes.
ReplyDeleteI'd love a copy of the book, thanks for the chance.
When my children were all young we had a dedicated hour after lunch which was for 'quiet time', you could nap or read in your room while I became an adult for an hour and did whatever I wanted. Now I have time while they are all at school and it is much easier. Thanks for a fun giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI learned this from my very busy sister...she always leaves her sewing area with something "ready to go" for when she next gets a chance to sew. Even if her allotted sewing time for that day is spent preparing for the next time, it works for her. That way she can just sit down and start sewing! All these little 10 or 15 minute segments of time keep us all moving forward to a finished project! :) Thanks for the chance at Lori's newest book! I really would love to have this as the granny squares look like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteNaptime and after little ones' bedtime is my best time to sew. I do have to watch though because sometimes I stay up too late if I start after bedtime.
ReplyDeleteI always have a survival bag in my car. This survival bag has a handwork project ready to work on. I am amazed at how often I can grab the bag and work some handwork into my day. For example, the 5 minutes I wait in the parking lot for daughter to get out of school or the 20 minutes in the waiting room before a doctor appointment. These minutes really add up and I get quite a bit done!
ReplyDeleteI have my sewing machine set up and out...not in a corner in a back room... Front and center in the living room area.
ReplyDeleteI found that the only way I got any sewing done when my kids were small was to have a space with a door that closed. I could leave out my current project and sew whenever I had a few found moments without having to set everything up for each session. I remember sewing in a walk in closet before I had my current studio. It was small, but it served the purpose.
ReplyDeleteAyumi, I completely agree with your praise of Lori Holt's quilting aesthetic and her approach to quilting. Her blogs and new book are full of beauty and sophisticated clean design. It would be an honor to win your drawing.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I must confess that my own lovely Janome sewing machine has been very quiet. I have lots of plans, and a growing collection of suitable fabrics, giving me quilting inspiration. Time still eludes me! For the past year, my knitting has been a magnet for my spare time, as I try to keep my etsy shop stocked.
Best wishes to you and yours! xo
My favorite time to sew is in the quiet of the morning. After my dog gets me up around 5:00 (rain or shine) I've made it become a silver lining of my day by sitting at the sewing machine until the sun comes up and the activities of the day begin. It's been my most productive time to get projects done!
ReplyDeleteI have a 4 and 5 year old, and I have found "time" by having my sewing room and their play room be one room. When they play, I can sew and still be in the same room with them, interacting as necessary.
ReplyDeleteIf I have real, serious sewing to do, though, I sacrifice sleep to get it done. Gifts for my girls must be done at night, and sometimes overly detailed things are difficult for me to do with them there (but that is just me...I need extreme quiet to concentrate on certain things).
I wish I had a trick. The only time I find to sew with my toddler around is if he is napping!! Or in bed for the night..thankfully I've made his bedtime early (7pm) so that gives me plenty of time in the evening without having to stay up late!
ReplyDeleteI have a sewing box with handwork that I keep in the car so when I'm waiting for kids for any number of reasons, I can keep busy. I also keep my sewing machine on during the day so when I walk by I can sew seam or two--it only takes a few seconds. This doesn't work for small projects like bags, but it works great for quilting :)
ReplyDeleteHiya!!! I don't have children at home anymore, but I have 2 ACTIVE dogs, lol. I schedule time for sewing, just as I do for chores and meditation and meals. Thanks for having the giveaway. Blessed be, hugs!!!
ReplyDeletepamspretties57 at gmail dot com
My children are all grown up but when they were small a group of friends and I took it in turns to have each others children to give other mums a break!
ReplyDeletei have two grandsons that keep me hopping, but i try to sew when they are napping or after they leave. they are not here every day, so i get busy on my off days and sew as much as possible. i don't get a lot done, but it works for me. most of my projects are for my boys anyway!
ReplyDeleteI'm semi-retired and it's still hard! The only solution is to make it a priority. You can't just save it for when everything else is done and perfect--because it will never happen. Novelists say the same thing--to write, you must AAS....Apply Ass to Seat. Otherwise, it ain't gonna happen. Grab every 5 minutes you can and sew something. Don't wait to get organized...just DO it.
ReplyDeleteI like to put myself in mommy time out, just kidding but I'm lucky my kids are old enough to entertain themselves for a short period of time when we're stuck inside because of the cold. Once it gets warm enough and school is out they'll be outside playing all day and I get to open my window and just listen to them with all their silliness while I sew. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMy only tip is to leave everyone set up, so you can sew for a few minutes whenever the opportunity comes!
ReplyDeleteI don't have a dedicated sewing room, so I try to leave my sewing machine set up on the dining room table when I'm working on something. Then I can quickly get some sewing done in between work and the kids' activities!
ReplyDeleteI have a small TV in my sewing room, so I sew at night and watch TV when I sew. I don't have kids, so I'm lucky enough to have more free time than most of my friends who have little ones running around.
ReplyDeleteit has been years since I had little ones in my house but when the kids were growing up, I worked 8-3 every day, spent the hours of 3-5 running errands, laundry, grocery shopping, and cooking meals (with the kids) then once the kids were in bed - 8pm sharp - it was me time - I sewed, painted, and on Thursday nites I did a major housecleaning for the upcoming weekend. Usually by Sundays, I would ask each family member to give me 15 min of their time and assigned each (I had 3) to a specific task and we just picked up the clutter that seems to happen when everyone is home on the weekends - amazing what can get done in 15 min!
ReplyDeleteI work FT outside the home. I try my best to get all the errands, grocery shopping, cleaningm, etc done in the evenings and on Saturday so I can have the luxury of a full day to sew on Sunday. The kids are grown and gone, but when they were little, sewing was only after 9pm. Thanks for the chance to win this great book!
ReplyDeleteI sew at midnight.
ReplyDeleteHola, yo trabajo, estudio, los chicos, la casa y la mascota, así que cuando realmente quiero coser algo, lo pongo donde más me estorbe para no perder la ilusión de hacerlo y con eso lo he logrado. Gracias por el sorteo.
ReplyDeleteSaludos,
Ale
Costa Rica
Hello, well, I do have two small boys (3 and 1) and I get to do some sewing, mostly on the weekend when my husband is home - or during the day whilst my boys play along in the sewing, eh, family room. :-)
ReplyDeleteI have made designboards - Lori's great idea! I find that if a block is cut out and ready to sew, I don't need much time, it usually goes together quite fast. And it is easy to store unfinished blocks on the designboards as well! So this is my (actually Lori's) best idea!
ReplyDeleteI have two teenagers that keep me quite busy and admittedly haven't been in my sewing room much lately, but once I have a project started, that is my inspiration to stick with it. I love to see all my hard work develop into a finished project. I plan to sneak in time during the evening after dinner and chores have been done so I won't have any interruptions. I love all of Lori's projects and the quilt a-longs are so much fun. I would love to win one of her books.
ReplyDeleteHELLO, sometimes I sew after the children are asleep at night. Problem with that is I'm tired too! Until they are all in school it is quite a thing to figure out when to sew ? In one neighborhood the Mom's shared 'baby sitting' for 'a sewing day' which is really nice among friends.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing a neat giveaway!
msstitcher1214@gmail.com
I don't have lil' Kiddo's at home anymore...all grown & home's of their own now. But did sew with 7 Kiddo's when they were lil'. Sewed when I could squeeze in a bit of time here & there. Or they played where I was sewing. All worked well for us. Now I sew after everyday chores are finished up....or in the evenings. :)
ReplyDeleteI sew in the evening once the children are in bed, or sometimes while the baby naps :-)
ReplyDeleteWe recently lost our 4 1/2 yr old dachshund and our 7 yr went into a depression...So on the scene comes our newest addition, a 2 yr old dapple dachshund that a breeder (if you could call them that) had no use for since she wouldn't get pregnant... She weighed in at a whopping 7lbs when we "rescued" her from these horrible people. So our newest baby "Mollie" has really come into her new surroundings and her new lease on life and wow...is she a handful. So I'm trying to get in a new routine of sew a few minutes, chase Mollie, sew a few minutes, take Mollie out to potty, etc. etc.....
ReplyDeleteI stay up until long past time to go to bed. Not much of a trick. If I need a trick, I ignore the toddler and let him think I don't see him getting into the buttons, ribbons, zippers, scraps, whatever else it is he likes to just wallow in when he thinks I'm not looking. Thank you -- this book looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI sew at night after my kids are asleep. I find it quite relaxing...unless I'm picking out stitches :)
ReplyDeleteI am an empty nester so I have plenty of time now. I did sew when my son was young, mostly when he was napping and later when he was in school. No special tricks here.
ReplyDeleteEvery day I make a list of what I need to accomplish that day. Sewing is on it, and it gets as much priority as anything else. I sew a little almost every day. I have to admit that things were much harder when my children were little.
ReplyDeleteI don't have children but I have wheels on my sewing table so I can move it out in the same room as my husband and we can still be doing something together.
ReplyDeleteI didn't get much sewing done when Elise was a baby, especially since I work a real job when she was napping. So I can either get up a bit earlier or work when she has gone to bed. The trick is getting her to bed early. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThese days I have the ability to sew whenever! Lucky me! However when I had children at home, I sewed mostly at night after they went to bed. Always surprised at how much I got done and how I could operate on little sleep!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway - this new book of Lori's looks wonderful! I always make sure I have a little hand-stitching project next to the TV so that even if I'm feeling lazy and just want to relax in front of the TV, I'm still able to get a little bit of sewing in :)
ReplyDeleteMy children are grown but when they were young I would sew during nap time. Later when they were in school and I worked, I would sneak a bit of sewing in while they did homework.
ReplyDeleteI tend to sew early on Sunday mornings while my husband is sleeping in. I'm not very big on sleeping in so it's the perfect time to have some quiet time for completing projects.
ReplyDeleteEven though I don't have small children at home, I need to define my quilting time and space. I (now) have a dedicated sewing room and tend to work at it mostly in the mornings. Thanks for the chance to win Lori's new book!
ReplyDeleteI have three kids (1, 3, and almost 5 years old), and I generally sew after everyone's gone to sleep. :} Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteI don't have a trick...I just do it....but I don't have kids, so maybe that's why :o)
ReplyDeleteI am able to make time to sew simply because I don't have small children. I don't know how the sewing mums manage to find time and can only assume they have magic powers.
ReplyDeleteI am teaching my 4 kids to sew, so that while they sit with me, I can sneak in some time on my projects! Win-win for all!!!
ReplyDeleteHaving recently redirected my life (closed my clinical practice), my new "job" is quilting/sewing! I love having all the time I need to do all of the projects I have started! No young children at home...maybe a grandchild in the near future!!! Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteNap time and after bedtime. Just make sure they take nap until they are old enough to leave for college because their bedtime is now later than mine. Good luck and thanks for the chance to win
ReplyDeleteI had to choose between sleep and sewing - guess which one won - sewing!! I would rather sew than sleep.
ReplyDeleteRosemary B here:
ReplyDeleteMy girls say the sound of the sewing machine is a comforting sound for them. I was sewing and sewing through sniffles, chickenpox and playing with pots and pans and the "talcum powder incident".
They are 27 and 29 now....
Many many fun times.
You just forgot about house work, turn on the house fan, that blows all the dust around really well so it does not settle in. Why vacuum? you have to clean up all of the toys to do that so never mind.
easy dinners, always simple food.
At present, I am taking care of my 90 year old parents. It is a lot of work. Reading your blog is fun and makes me happy. I work on quick simple quilts now.
I quilt at night after everyone has gone to bed and the house is quiet.
ReplyDeleteI sew at least 15 minutes after work. My rule at home is that I either cook or clean, but not both. If the kitchen is a mess when I get home, I'll sew while my kids clean it, or, I'll clean up and sew while they figure out dinner. (My kids are 20 year old twins. No issues with them being under fed or neglected)
ReplyDeleteLaughing because I have Quilty Fun but have not made a single project! Ha. But I do sew more in the summer, I teach college and have a nice long break. Thanks for the giveaway- have been eyeing this book! Hope all is well.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a trick but I have a necessity. Even though I have a sewing room, I still bring everything downstairs to the family room table to sew because of my 13 year old dog (that's like 90 in dog years I think . . .) who isn't allowed upstairs and I hate to leave her lonely for so long in order to sew upstairs. So it's a big procedure when I do get a chance to sew!
ReplyDeleteI am a grandmother to an 8 years old fulltime had since birth, everyday and a 1 year old a week a month so during that week they keep me hoping but I sew in the diningroom while the 8 plays xbox she watches him and plays in her playpen for 30 minutes a day.
ReplyDeleteI just sew when I want to sew. I'm lucky. I had my child young at 17, so now I'm 34 and able to sew in the evenings when I want. It was a hard start, but I am now getting the rewards I didn't have when I was younger and my friends were partying. I wouldn't change it for the world! Thanks for the chance to win. ksmith8@emich.edu
ReplyDeleteMt trick to finding time to sew is 32 years of teaching school and then getting to retire. I sew whenever I want now and it is great, but I remember sewing when my kids were small. No good advice except keep a good eye on them. Once I was sewing and my daughter wandered into her daddy's bathroom. I found her standing on a chair with a razor in her and and a little blood trickling from her chin. What a scare! She survived and is now a mother of a little one too. She says "Mom, How did you do it all?" I remember those feelings.
ReplyDeletekdavis1@centurytel.net
Well...my trick is that I got my children raised!! I really have just been sewing a lot for about a year. I homeschooled, so it was hard to find a lot of time! Now I just hold myself up in the school room turned sewing room now!!!
ReplyDeleteI get some time right when the kids leave for school a few days a week. I prefer not to be in my sewing room when the family's home, so I trysts get it in right away!' Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love these books, too! I am helping raise 2 granddaughters and time seems to always be limited since we live in the same home. Lately I have tried to get into my sewing area on the weekends, but then the 8 yr old wants her "sewing lesson" and I end up teaching her to sew. Just try to sneak in a little time here and there when time allows. Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeletesuedemasellis@yahoo.com
When I had small children, the best time for me to sew was at night after they went to bed. It seemed like there were too many interruptions when I tried to sew during the day when they were up and active. That's what worked for me. Now that they are grown, I kind of miss the interruptions!
ReplyDeleteMy kids are grown and I have retired. I honestly did not get much sewing done when they were young. Now, sewing is my priority. Cooking, cleaning and shopping have taken the back burner!
ReplyDeleteLike many other moms I sew somewhere between 1 and 3 pm. My oldest one is a fifth grader so she's in school but her siblings are 3 year old preschoolers. They don't nap anymore - unfortunately - but we invented quiet time. They stay in their room for one hour and listen to cds and look at books. They get their much needed downtime and I find some time to sew. Thanks for the great give away!
ReplyDeleteI love the witching hour. Everyone in bed and I can sew without disruption!
ReplyDeleteMy children are grown now, but when they were little, I used to cut everything I planed on sewing in the evening after they went to bed and had the pieces of my blocks pinned and ready to go so I could sew for a while before they got up in the morning. My children only napped in the car so I didn't get a chunk of time without them during the day.
ReplyDeleteI don't know that I have a trick but you have to make time. (not that I'm real good at that) I'm down to one at home, a high schooler and had hoped to sew the other night until I got guilted into going prom dress shopping instead (it is a ways off). I just keep in mind that she won't be here much longer and try to enjoy the moments that she actually wants to spend with me.
ReplyDeleteMy children are grown and I'm happily retired…that's how I find lots of time to sew. When they were growing up I didn't sew, however, I did do lots of crafting and they got to join me and they loved creating their own works of 'heart'!! Thanks for the sweet giveaway…I'm doing Lori's Quilty Fun Sew Along and having a great time..look forward to your week :)
ReplyDeleteI take a small project with me just about everywhere. You never know when you will have a little free time.
ReplyDeleteI married a trucker. He is out 12 days straight. Home for 2 to 3 days, then back out. If I had it my way he would be home every night, but where we live there are not day runs. I have A lot of time with the kids all grown and gone.
ReplyDeleteI am retired, no problems
ReplyDeleteI try to sneak in sewing time whenever I can. Sometimes its squeezing in some stitches before the littles get up. Other times, its me running into my room to pin here and iron there. And in the rare moments when I can get both boys down at the same time for nap, I bask in the hour or two I have and indulge myself in a full blown project.
ReplyDeleteI have my machine set up and ready to go so if I have some time I can sew.
ReplyDeleteThe book looks great. Thanks for the chance to win.
I have a sewing room on the upstairs floor that is just for me. I can leave my things out and run up to work whenever I get a minute!
ReplyDeleteI try to stay off the computer and budget my time. Clean one room of the house each day, not all at once, it goes faster. Learn to say no to all those people who want you to do the extras. When you cook something, double it so you have some for the freezer or some for leftovers. Most important delegate and then live with how they do the job. In the end it really won't matter. Those dust bunnies or big pieces of lettuce just aren't going to matter and that extra hour of sewing time will be heavenly for your mental state.
ReplyDeleteI sew almost every day and (unless I forget) I carry a hand work project with me. I also do hand work while my DH is watching TV so I can be with him and still be productive.
ReplyDeleteI would love to win this book. I don't have kids at home so I can't tell you how I work with kids at home.
ReplyDeleteSusmelvin@comcast.net
susmelvin@gmail.com
I have found that having a hand piecing or hand quilting project to work on at all times lets me get my sewing fix in every day. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteTime - well.... soon we are moving house and instead of the garage we will have our own little sewing room - can't wait - it will be so much fun!
ReplyDeleteHi- I'm not sure if the giveaway is open internationally- but I'll try anyway since I love your blog :)
ReplyDeleteSince my work room (with the computer) is in the same room as the sewing machine- once a week I "offer" my daughter to watch a children show in the computer and promise to "sit" next to her... its a trick but I get the pure sewing hours (usually it ends that she is asking me to sew her a dress while I'm there, so she earns from it :))
Last year, I had two total hip replacements, and since my sewing room was in the basement we had to move it upstairs. We had a desktop already upstairs, so we moved that to the living room. I cut out a few quilts ahead of time, because I was unable to do that after surgery. I was able to finish 3 tops during my recovery. Now I have plenty of time to sew as I'm disabled, according to my doctors and potential employers.
ReplyDeleteLove this book Ayumi! My children are grown up, but I worked full-time when they were little. It didn't leave much time for sewing. I made costumes for them, when needed in the evenings and weekends- I hadn't discovered patchwork and quilting then. Now I can sew whenever I want, which is great!
ReplyDeleteWhat awesome looking books! I do most of my sewing late at night after the kids are in bed. Sometimes I regret it the next day.
ReplyDeleteWe have 5 kids and when they were young the only thing I sewed were clothes, and that was most happening in the evening :-) I've started quilting 4 years ago, but still need more time :-) What a nice giveaway! Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeleteGreat book, I would love to win a copy! I make the time to sew by locking myself in my sewing room.
ReplyDeleteI would love to win this book for inspiration. My trick is I am now retired so I can craft whenever the mood takes me.
ReplyDeleteWhen my children were small I would sew while they napped. Now they are grown and I have a full-time job so I sew a little at night and a lot on weekends! I love Lori's first book and would love to have her second as well! Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletei love lori holt,i have her book quilty fun but not great granny squared!! it looks fantastic :) i have 3 children.....an 9 year old, an 8 year old and a 7 year old...my trick is that ive never closed my quilting off from them its not 'off limits' no touchey zone, i can leave anything out and know its 'safe' and ive taught them WHY they mustn't touch things unsupervised (the dangers and consequences) my trick is ive allowed them into my world, its not a mystery and i let them help when they want to even from toddlers they sat on my knee if they wanted too...timewise....as i can leave my sewing out i grab 5mins here n there by offchance or i givethem something crafty/sewy to do alongside me :)
ReplyDeleteWe have no children at home anymore but I do work outside the house and we farm. I am lucky enough to work only a couple of hours in the morning and again in the afternoon (I drive a school bus). So I take the time to sew for a couple of hours during the day if hubby does not need me on the farm.
ReplyDeleteI work full time, so I do a bit of house work or laundry every evening after work. That way, I have no chores to do on the weekend, and I can sew whenever and how long I want to for 2 days. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI would love to win Lori's new book.
ReplyDeleteI have two children and I usually sew as soon as they go to bed.
Thanks for the beautiful giveaway.
Laura
I'm retired and am usually at my best in the morning -- so I just go to my sewing room and close the door! You ladies that have small children -- I don't know how you find time to sew! Thanks for the chance to win this book -- looks like lots of good ideas.
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful give a way. thanks. when the kiddos where young I would sew when they napped or after bedtime. when they where in elementary school it was while they where in school. now they are gone from the house and I work outside the house in the evenings now so I will sew for a half hour to forty five minutes in the morning. time changes things and I have learned that being flexible is the key.
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for the great give-away!
ReplyDeleteI don't have small kids, but I have a 16 yr old at home and I'm a graduate student with work. My only tip is that if you have kids old enough to help around the house, pay them a weekly allowance to do basic maintenance chores to free up more sewing time for you!
My main trick is that before I finish a sewing session I set up for the next step in my project. If I find even a few minutes free I can just jump in and start sewing, without having to "waste" time setting up. Many thanks for sharing the book with us!
ReplyDeleteI'm lucky enough to be able to leave my ''mess'' out so that I can dash into my sewing room anytime I get a few minutes to sew. It is a blessing everyday to feed my creative soul.
ReplyDeleteI now am fortunate enough to have a room for me and all my sewing things so I can leave it out all the time. The 'hard part' is to get the house cleaned once in awhile! I can forget to come out of my room!
ReplyDeleteI didn't take up quilting until our only was moving out of state for school and my husband was working shift work. Now after I come home from work I have a couple of hours about two nights a week to sew. It lets me create, give to others, and settles my mind. I am fortunate to have a space with room for a sewing table, built-in shelving for my stash, an ironing board that can stay up, and a tv. Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteI love Granny Squares, and the picture of this book looks SOOO inspiring! Thanks so much for offering this give-away!
ReplyDeleteWhen I had young children, I sewed in the evening after they went to bed. Now I'm retired and I can sew anytime I want! It's wonderful. Thanks for having a lovely giveaway!
ReplyDeleteyoyopattycakes at hotmail.com
I have had my eye on this book for a while now, I think I could be a Granny addict. I didn't used to think you could achieve much in a short time but I manage now when I babysit and it's nap time - it's surprising what you can do in an hour here and there.
ReplyDeleteLuckily for me I have lots of time to sew just about any time I want!
ReplyDeleteLove Lori's designs ~ thanks for the chance to win this wonderful book!
I do laundry & sew at the same time, I place a portable timer near my machine, so (1) I don't forget the laundry and (2) reminds me to get up and move. Thanks for this opportunity to win what looks like a great book!
ReplyDeleteMy sewing machine is at the dining room table....no eating done there....I sew alittle cook a little. It is causes some chaos but it is worth it. My mess seems to creep into dinner, dishes you know stuff the kitchen should be used for. Thanks for the giveaway!!
ReplyDeleteI generally stay up late watch my movies or listen to books, love my sew time
ReplyDeleteI work full time and also part time on the weekends so sewing time is a treat. I usually try to get in an hour before going to bed. I cannot see the TV from where I sew so I listen to my shows rather than watch them. The book looks lovely. I really enjoy following your blog.
ReplyDeleteThe secret is PREP work. Say you have a pattern you want to make. You can read through it while helping kids with homework or while cooking dinner. Then, when you have 15-20 minutes, you can cut all the fabric and put it in piles all ready to sew when nap time comes. Or--take our your lightbox out and trace some embroidery designs so they're ready to grab and go to work on at doctor's appointments or Little League games. Love your blog!
ReplyDeleteI have two old teacher's desks that I use for sewing. One is set up in my sewing room and one is in my family room. I do the messy parts in the sewing room, but if I need to work on a project I can take part of it to the family room and be with the kids while they are playing. That way I can have a few things going at a time. Works for now!
ReplyDeleteI do pretty much all sewing after the kids are in bed.
ReplyDeleteMy kids are all at school so in theory I have time to sew in the day but i work day a week and am doing a college course, so the week disspears very fast!
ReplyDeleteI usually sew on Monday and Wednesday and it feels good to see a project slowly take shape. My neck gives me problems so I can't do it as much as i like but there is nothing more satisfying!
ReplyDeleteI find time to sew when my kids are in school and my husband is at work.
ReplyDeleteI love to sew early on Saturday mornings before the day begins!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway!
amyd14_1999@yahoo.com
I work full time and have no kids but I still have to make the time to sew on an evening or on the weekends. I tend NOT to dust the house anymore!!!
ReplyDeleteMy kids are all in school now, but it is still hard to find time to sew with all the chores and cooking, etc that needs to be done. During the weekends, the kids usually get about an hour or two to watch TV or play video games, which keeps their attention focused and allows me some (mostly) uninterrupted sewing time. Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteI work full time from monday to saturday and i'm a proud mom of a 1 year old girl. As you can imagine , finding time to sew is nearly impossible. I use to sew during her naptime and in bank holidays. My trick is getting all prepared, fabrics cutted, patterns ready, and partially fixed with needles and pins.
ReplyDeleteAnd how did you manage your time with Honoka?
thanks for the giveaway ♥
Since I am retired, I should have all the time in the world to sew, but somehow it doesn't work that way. There always seems to be someone or something to need my attention. However, I do have my small sewing room close to the kitchen and I can snatch time throughout the day to get some quilting done. My favorite time though is from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. when the house is quiet and there are NO interruptions!
ReplyDeleteI only get a chance to sew at the weekends, but I don't have children, so can't help you tehre
ReplyDeleteI am able to find extra time to sew by not hitting the snooze button on the alarm. I was wasting about 30 minutes every day that I could have been sewing.
ReplyDeleteI sew on the train on the way to/from work. I have a little sewing tin filled with EPP hexagon supplies that goes everywhere with me.
ReplyDeleteI multitask stitch a little, pick up around the house, stitch, start dinner etc.! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI try to sneak in sewing time whenever my boys are taking naps and of course, when they go to bed at night! The key is to send them off to bed early!! =) Benny is in bed by 6:30pm - 7pm (mostly because he gets really cranky if he goes to bed any later), and Brandon goes to bed at 7:30pm. That leaves me time to eat a quick dinner with Mike and then run downstairs to my sewing room! And on the nights when I don't have to work the next day, I stay up really late (mostly because I totally lose track of time once I get sewing!). =) Thank you for the giveaway, Ayumi!!!
ReplyDeleteI have 3 kids and the youngest is 4 years old now. I usually start with a project in my mind and then I'll read/find out about it whenever I can. Once the project is more or less established in my mind, I'd start my plan to sew. I'd say copy the pattern on one evening after dinner, cut the fabrics the next evening, sew for an hour each evening thereafter. It's very tough to only sew for an hour because most of the time i just want to keep on sewing! It has already occurred a few times that I ended up not wanting to make dinner (oops) because I cannot (rather do not) want to stop sewing. So this is really the best way for me and my family!
ReplyDeleteMy kids are older so when we go to the park I can sit on a bench and hand sew/crochet while they play.
ReplyDeleteMy children are grown now but I did sew while they slept many nights - an hour even while they are sleeping is very therapeutic!
ReplyDeleteMy trick to find time to sew is to get up a little early before anyone else is up. I always have several projects in progress, so I'm pretty much guaranteed to find something to pique my interest on any given morning. A few minutes of sewing everyday adds up. -- soparkaveataoldotcom
ReplyDeleteIt's Sunday night for me. All the weekend chores are done, I love to go down to my little piece of heaven, my sewing room after dinner
ReplyDeleteWhile so many people are complaining of the snowy wet winter I am sewing and quilting because I know this opportunity will pass. Otherwise after chores are done.
ReplyDeleteMy sister and friend usually set up a date for us all to get together, eat lunch and sew. That way, it's pre-planned and you make the time. Thanks so much.
ReplyDelete