Too Busy to Embroider?
For me, hand embroidery is a "carrot," especially when life gets hectic and my schedule fills up. When you get busy, do you still take time to embroider?
I think most die-hard needleworkers do. I don't have the "luxury" of making my living with needlework (I wonder if it's really a luxury - I imagine those who do, work pretty hard!) This time of year, as school is getting underway again, I'm generally swamped, and the prospect of picking up a needle - as appealing as it is - seem rather remote. Oh, to have the time to just relax with a good embroidery project and stitch away, without anything else hanging over my head!
Alas, it isn't to be. But I refuse to give up needlework during busy spells. Instead, I use it as a "carrot." I plan out the things I must do during a given day, and, if I accomplish my goals, then I get the carrot - even if it's just a half hour or so of embroidery, without feeling guilty about neglecting the daily duties.
The only problem is, I can't start a project when I'm swamped with other stuff. The set-up of a new project always takes too long, and is most suited to weekend hours when I know I'll have a good-sized block of time. Since that won't be the case for a while, I'm contenting myself with a couple needlepainting projects I have had stored away, and with my summer silkwork sampler, which is progressing veeeeerrrry slowly.
So how do you schedule in your needlework when life keeps you extraordinarily busy? Do you give it up altogether? Or do you squeeze it in somehow?
On another note, today all the summer embroidery projects from my kids' classes are being displayed at a local Fall Festival. I'm excited to get everything set up and ready for that, and to give away a few prizes. I plan to take plenty of photos!
I think most die-hard needleworkers do. I don't have the "luxury" of making my living with needlework (I wonder if it's really a luxury - I imagine those who do, work pretty hard!) This time of year, as school is getting underway again, I'm generally swamped, and the prospect of picking up a needle - as appealing as it is - seem rather remote. Oh, to have the time to just relax with a good embroidery project and stitch away, without anything else hanging over my head!
Alas, it isn't to be. But I refuse to give up needlework during busy spells. Instead, I use it as a "carrot." I plan out the things I must do during a given day, and, if I accomplish my goals, then I get the carrot - even if it's just a half hour or so of embroidery, without feeling guilty about neglecting the daily duties.
The only problem is, I can't start a project when I'm swamped with other stuff. The set-up of a new project always takes too long, and is most suited to weekend hours when I know I'll have a good-sized block of time. Since that won't be the case for a while, I'm contenting myself with a couple needlepainting projects I have had stored away, and with my summer silkwork sampler, which is progressing veeeeerrrry slowly.
So how do you schedule in your needlework when life keeps you extraordinarily busy? Do you give it up altogether? Or do you squeeze it in somehow?
On another note, today all the summer embroidery projects from my kids' classes are being displayed at a local Fall Festival. I'm excited to get everything set up and ready for that, and to give away a few prizes. I plan to take plenty of photos!
Labels: miscellaneous embroidery musings
Posted By: Mary Corbet on Sunday, September 02, 2007
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2 Comments:
Hello, Mary-I did send a comment in as a response to this article-but it has not been posted. Did you receive it?
Hi, Laura - no, I didn't receive it! I don't have any un-moderated comments in the queue right now...! Rats! I'd like to read it! But thanks for letting me know. I'll keep an eye out, in case it suddenly shows up!
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