Thursday 3 September 2015

Squeezing it in

I often get comments about the amount of 'stuff' I churn out of my very own hands and where I find the time. Here are a few little insights into how I(try to)do it:



1. I don't watch TV very much and our children go to bed at 7pm (ish)That helps.

2. I craft with my girls so valuable time parenting and chatting with the children doubles up as making fun. I craft on the go in small snippets of time with them too. Waiting at ballet, trips to the park etc.


3. I craft with my friends. I go to knit and natter every other Wednesday and my crochet classes are full of great friends and fun company.


4. At the moment, my family are fit and healthy so I am very lucky.

5. I am a pretty effective domestic drone. Start at the top, get to the bottom of this nine room house as fast as I can while listening to fast music and exercising then I can get on with making something.

6. I hate washing so I do it all on one day (Mundane Monday) load after load, then I drop it into the driers at the launderette on the way to getting the children from school, pick it up 20 mins later and scrupulously fold it when I get in. I put it straight in the drawers and only the most crumpled items make it to the ironing pile!

7. I iron for one hour, when that hour is up, tough. It has to wait until next Monday.

8. Bloke shares lots of our jobs. The male sort mainly but he joins in with most things. Bins, lawn cutting, dishwasher, putting girls to bed, sometimes he does the launderette run on a Monday if I don't get chance. etc. He is quite simply ace.

9. I make lists so that lots of jobs can be done on one trip. Posting, recycling, shopping, picking up children, lunch time jobs, birthday presents etc.

10. I simply love making things and it is only me who can make sure that I have the time to fill my heart with what I like to do, so I make it happen for myself.



So there you have it. Pretty brutal but it works for me!
Jo xxx

17 comments:

  1. Good Morning Jo, You have your routine organised so well. When my daughters were young, I seem to be able to organise my time better, as I also made lots of clothes and knitted my daughters jumpers. Now I am older I have all the time in the world and I can get a bit side tracked with this and that. I need to take a leaf out of your book and organise myself better.
    Mmmm when shall I start..... Monday is a good day.
    Best Wishes to you.
    Daphne

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  2. I love this! I'm glad I'm not the only one who uses cleaning as aerobic exercise and listens to music! Washing wise I do mine throughout the week but only iron what needs it. And ironing only happens when I've got a TV program to watch! Or until my coat hangers run out! X

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  3. First of all, I don't think that you churn out anything!!! I think that you make and create and craft lots of beautiful things and that is not churning!! Sorry, but I had to say it! Your strategies are great ones, I love that you do little bits here and there too, that is like me. I do sit and have the TV on in the evening, but at the same time I have a crochet hook or needle or something in my hands and I am busy working away and the TV is background entertainment. I am big on lists as well!!! I also do my laundry on a Monday, but am lucky enough to haver a drier so I don't have to work about that. I just love to make things and it sounds as though you are just the same!! As for the ironing, I only do it once every two weeks! xx

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    1. I love a list too. I have found an open one really useful where both Andy and I can knock anything off it if we like. He crossed off cleaning the fish tank the other day and I crossed off gardening ones.

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  4. Really impressive. I to try to make in small chunks and nearly always have something in my bag or the car for those otherwise wasted moments. But I have found the summer holidays have completely derailed me this year. I just don't seam to be able to keep up with the torrent of messs my kids make. I think my problem has been feeling unwell, which has had knock on effect on everything else. I enjoy the kids being around but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to them going back to school. They can't make mess if they aren't here!

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  5. Love this post. I constantly hear 'how do you find the time?' Well like you I don't watch TV and if I do I have a crochet hook or needle in my hand. I also take projects with me to football, rugby and when I am sat waiting in the car for them to come out of school.

    I agree with you it's about priorities. I would rather craft than play candy crush or browse Facebook

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  6. I am selective with the TV, I only switch it on if there is something I want to watch. Both my husband and I laugh since we both took early retirement how we had time to go to work, there is never enough hours in the day for all we want to do.

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    1. I have heard retired people say this before - don't spoil my dream!!!! ha ha Jo x

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  7. I do watch a bit of tv but always have sewing, knitting or crochet in my hands. I sew every day, regardless of what "needs" doing, it has to wait. The house gets cleaned, laundry is a hate but I do it as and when the basket is full and get it dry, ironed and put away the same day. Shopping is weekly, with a fresh stuff top up if needed, no school run now so most of my time is my own. I used to read 4-7 books a week but now it is more like 6 weeks a book. When the sun shines I am in the garden or walking Ben. Living life to the full to suit me. I often get asked how I fit it all in, usually by telly addicts who sit with empty hands.

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  8. I try & fit knitting & crochet in after I've caught up with whatever housework job I have scheduled after my day job. You can get a lot crafted in an hour if you put your mind to it x

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  9. Carrying a project with me is something I like to do as well. [I have completed a lot of dishcloths that way :)] Your other organizational plans and your husband's teamwork are brilliant! Thanks for sharing your idea, Jo! xx

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  10. Hi Jo, what a great post! I totally agree, I never leave the house without a current project. I crochet regularly on every bus and tram ride to and from Antwerp. I even take crochet when we drive to the supermarket (10 min drive). Like Mr Tesco says: Every little helps!!! This goes for snippets of time throughout the day!
    And needless to say, I love your creations... ;))
    Ingrid xx
    Myfunkycrochet.blogspot.be

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  11. I get this all the time too! I wouldn't want to give up anything I do so I just 'squeeze' it all in. Having a sewing machine permanently set up and a crochet project always on the go helps me to do just this. And anyway I see it as relaxation, without which I'd go mad.

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  12. I am with you on all of that yet I still seem to be lacking in time to get things accomplished. Maybe I should get off the computer?
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  13. Oh how I like this post. You must have Swiss genes in you, you are most efficient. I am pretty good with time management, too. Although I now work full time, sit in two PTA's, help run a community club, have four kids and a big house, I still have time to do things I like. I am always puzzled when I go to book group (about every 8 weeks) that so many have not managed to read the one book. I outsource work, the older kids iron their own school shirt and cook family meals two to three times a week. Bloke is really really great, too. He does all the grocery shopping (which I hate). Here's to us well organised women! Shame I can't type and knit. Have a happy weekend. xx

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  14. Fantastic! Manage things in a very similar way so that i can get time to sew too!

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