I feel like I've been
neglecting this poor little blog of mine and most of all my sewing machine! I'm
so flipping exhausted when I get home that I just need to have a little sit
down like a Nanna before starting dinner.
It's all totally self-inflicted,
you see. I had this marvellous idea (not really) to go to the gym after work
each day, and then come home and make dinner. But work being the way it is,
means I finish later than intended, go to the gym and end up catching the all slow
services home.
And then I keep
picking the most complicated things to make for dinner when really my dear boy
is just happy with having chicken wings and rice! Bless him.
And then there's the
pile of laundry that's sat un-ironed for the past 4 weeks! Oh yes 4 weeks. We
keep picking things out every morning to iron and wear and it gets
progressively smaller, and then a new load of washing is done and we start the merry-go-round
again!
 |
| How I feel every time I look at the ironing pile from here |
Two of these things I
somewhat enjoy so I need to manage my time a little better, but as for the
ironing, well that will get done when I'm good and ready gosh darn it!
No one is making me do
these things really, it's all for the betterment of myself or my boyfriend’s
tummy, which makes me wonder why I fret about these things so much when I have
chosen to do them!
So time management -
that's an interesting topic. How do you manage your sewing or hobby time around
work or chores? Do you sew whenever you can or have a dedicated time slot every
Sunday afternoon? Do you run to the machine once the kiddies are down for their
nap or do you do a little bit before work each morning?
I normally will sew
after work and on the weekends, but sometimes I think I have ADD and once I've
finished a line of stitching I'll get up and go read a blog or do something
else! Perhaps the projects I'm working on aren't engaging enough?
Hopefully this new
project will engage me enough to finish is quite quickly.
Because I mean, look
at that illustration!! Don't these 3 ladies look so chic in their lovely pinafores and little haircuts?
Miss Green on the left
there is looking every bit the art director’s assistant in her chic tweed and (let’s
pretend) film handling gloves, and red looks ready to take her class on a field
trip to the natural history museum.
Yellow I think is just
taking of her belt so she can pop down comfortably to play with her kiddies on
the rag rug she made last week. She also has a set of jacks in her pocket
Is it weird that I
want to make up my version and then go hang out with them discussing design,
nature and the best way to do puzzles with kids?
I think I'll cut this
pattern out tonight while watching Love Child. We're having left overs tonight
so I don't have to cook! Yay!
I also decided I'm going
to be a little fancy with the tweed pinny and do some Hong Kong seams.
The pinny isn't lined,
and it's a wrap style, so you’re more likely to see the seams, hence the need
for a nice finish.
Other than moping
around the house this weekend starring at the ironing pile, I managed to get a
fair bit of gardening done yesterday – apparently autumn is a good time to
plant things so that the roots have a chance to develop over winter or
something. I planted Rosemary, thyme and Chrysanthemum plants as well as nasturtium,
marigold, mint, sunflower and snapdragon seeds. My balcony gets full sun for
about 8 hours in winter and 10 or more in summer, so I should ideally be able
to plant anything other than rainforest-y type plants.
Here I am, post
planting and sweeping ready to water my new babies! And yes gumboots are
totally necessary on my balcony. There are quite few redback spiders (similar
to black widows) on my balcony and when I move the pots they try to run away,
sometimes at me! Plus gumboots are just easier instead of mucking up my
trainers
I also visited the church
fete down the road and found these three – a sugar bowl from Figgjo Norway with
a design called ‘Market’ by Turi Gramstad Oliver. I found the same one on eBay
for $89 so I'm pretty dang happy I spent that $1!
The jug and sugar bowl
- a dollar for the pair, aren’t so grand, but just as pretty – they are by Pontesa,
Castillion Collection
Well thanks for
reading this far! What did you get up to on the weekend? Any sewing or other
hobbies?
Cat xo
Yes, I love a pinny myself! I find the hardest thing is getting motivated to cut out my next project after work/dinner etc, unless of course I have an occasion that requires the garment to be made and then I can find endless 10 minute spaces to sew :o)
ReplyDeleteOoh! After work is my best time for cutting and sewing! Though even if I had time before work I'd hardly sew at all.
DeleteThose pinnies look like gorgeous transitional pieces.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I did when moving into my own appartment was to abolish an ironing pile, my mum always had one (and still has) and it is just so depressing. My closet is too crowded, so everything crumples anew and I have to iron it anyway before I can wear it. So after washing and drying I just put everything directly into my closet without any ironing at all.
ReplyDeleteThat pattern is lovely. And perfect how the illustration catches the major change in style of this century. I love your ideas of the different characters of the models, I never thought about it but it really is a fun thing to do.
And no, no fixed times. I always plan to sew when coming home early or when I have a day off, but as you said, somehow I start the computer and when I finally check the time, half the day is already gone. I can't say if it's lack of motivation, I certainly am motivated, I don't know why screens have such power over me^^
love ette
When I first moved out of home I totally didn't have an ironing pile either! But I'm usually really good with the laundry process, just lately it's been easier to watch tv then do housework! Haha
DeleteI always like to imagine little stories for the girls on the patterns - the more vapid or vague they look the better!
I managed to have 2 computer free days last week! That was the only way I managed to finish the tweed pinny!
My bloglovin was a little scary to look at after that though!
LOL at Norman just wanting chicken and rice, so asian.
ReplyDeleteHaha your know you miss your mums fried chicken and rice!
DeleteI know I do!
I admire you for going to the gym after a hard days' work! Have you ever considered doing some meals in a crockpot? (like chili or stew...etc) I use mine every once in a while when I know I'm going to have a full day and won't feel like cooking later! Just want to say I really enjoy your blog over here in Austin, TX!
ReplyDeleteI try to sew whenever I have some extra time, but somehow I always seem to fill my extra time with other stuff that I think needs to be done. I need to actually schedule it in my day so I get to it! For some reason, even though it's the thing I love most, I always seem to find other things I have to do. Maybe it's guilt about doing something I love when there's other things I "should" do?
Thanks for checking out my blog! Texas wow, that's so cool! I actually bought a slowcooker (same thing I think?) last year and I used it a few times but I can only really use it in winter food. It's too hot for heavy stodgy food. But I think some lamb shanks or ragu will be good to make in there!
DeleteAnd yeah I totally have that guilt too! I wanna sew but like I feel bad cause the boy is hungry or there's blog comments to reply to! ;)
I guess we just have to fit it in between prepping the crockpot and everything else!
I love that picture of you in your wellies, you look gorgeous (not sure about the spiders!)
ReplyDeleteMy time management is dreadful, I cook loads and loads, freeze it and I've a month's supply of sauces, pre-cooked lentils, pulses and beans and home made soups. sewing is just when the fancy takes me, unless is mending and altering for a vintage fair and then I'm up at 5 am to get it done.
Love that pot. I'm sure my friends at Boomerang Retro have a series of plates by that artist! xxx
Ok that's a good idea! I do like making big soup batches in winter and then freezing them, but I should maybe add curries (if I ever manage to make a good one) or stews to that maybe? I'm not sure my boyfriend likes stodgy food much so that's another thing to consider.
Deletethanks Vix! xo
I have also been trying to get back to my exercise routine, taking some classes and running, training for a ten-mile race--I do find that it cuts into my sewing time dramatically! What kind of nice dinners are you making? I just got a copy of Craig Claiborne's New York Times Cookbook (from 1961!), which I have been making some dinners from with varying success :) Your tweed pinny will be perfect for fall!
ReplyDeleteWow! 10miles. I did 5km today and I am pretty proud of myself! =D
DeleteI've tried switching exercise to the morning and that actually helps free up my evenings for sewing. But I also have to wake up at 4:30am. Ugh!
I like to make Jamie Oliver dinners! And that's it! Haha I don't really stray from him much. I have all the books and his app so it's pretty hard not to use his recipes!
xo
Hello, dear Catherine! That's a terrific picture of you tending your outdoor containerized herb garden. Just yesterday, Mrs. Shady finished work on her own herb garden and called me outside to have a look. The picture also reminds me of my old flat which had a second floor balcony where I kept my collection of cacti and succulents.
ReplyDeleteTime management is an important topic for bloggers to consider. Blogging and other forms of social media give us the unique opportunity to form lasting friendships with different types of people all around the world. It's an ironic fact of life that the more successful we become as bloggers the greater the demands on our time and the harder it is to maintain some of those friendships. The goal of many bloggers is to attract the highest possible number of followers, but at what cost? How many genuine friendships suffer or are completely lost as a result?
I believe that genuine friendship transcends the theme of any given blog or any specific post. I knew absolutely nothing about sewing before I began to follow your blog. To be honest, sewing did not interest me in the least. However, genuine friendship DOES interest me. I soon discovered that I enjoyed your personality and found your posts interesting, educational and entertaining. That's why I have come here month after month and at least tried to find something intelligent to express. It's a key point. If all my blog friends held back and waited until I posted the exact music they know and like best, they would probably have a very long wait. What's to be gained, what's to be learned if we only have friends who are clones of ourselves? Blogging offers us a whole world of possibility. It feels good to stretch and challenge yourself to establish a friendship with somebody from another country, another culture, a different generation, someone with whom you ostensibly have little in common. The joy comes from discovering how much you really do have in common. Friends who don't know and perhaps don't even particularly like the music and subjects I present on my blog but who nevertheless demonstrate their loyal support by showing up and leaving a friendly comment - those friends are keepers.
When I began as a blogger nearly six years ago, I made a commitment to provide "service after the sale." If another blogger is nice enough to follow me, take an active interest in me and my life, read my posts and regularly comment on them, I am more than happy to reciprocate. Every year at this time I perform what I call spring cleaning. I take an honest and objective look at the bloggers on my reading list and determine which ones are making a genuine effort to keep me as a friend and which ones are coasting, letting me do all the work without bothering to reciprocate. I look back over the last few months and ask myself which bloggers have been there for me week after week, post after post, and which ones have lost interest in our friendship even as I have remained faithful to them and have continued to spend substantial amounts of time reading and commenting on their blogs. Reluctantly, as part of my annual spring cleaning initiative, I abandon those bloggers who have abandoned me, even though they might be people that I admire. The fact remains that, like every other blogger, I have a finite amount of time. I am at the saturation point with a couple dozen blogs to read. I have no choice but to make time for bloggers who make time for me and eliminate the rest from my life.
I was overjoyed by your comment on my blog the other day, Cat. As you can see, I took a considerable amount of time writing this comment because I admire you. You are important to me. I am counting on your continued support as we move forward. Thank you, dear friend, and enjoy the rest of your week!
hello! apologies for the late reply! ive had no internet and then of course i was to snowed under to reply!
DeleteThank you for this comment, i know time management is such a tricky thing to master, especially with all that life throws at you and i agree, i try to spend time on other blogs who spend time on mine - but also being a blog reader for many years ive also gotten used to those bloggers who never reply and write to a vortex awaiting a stream of praise, and for those i tend not to comment because i dont even know if they'll read it!
You're brave going out on that balcony, I have a terrible phobia of spiders so you wouldn't catch me out there!
ReplyDeleteI just sew whenever I have the time, I've got lots of things that I want to make though so I should really make the effort to do it a bit more.
I just love the pinafore pattern - so cute!
Oh dear! Yes, maybe don't come to Australia without have some hypnotherapy first or arming yourself with big spray and a fly swat. I saw one causally walking on the train ceiling this morning like it was nothing and no one else seemed to care! Sorry if that grosses you out but it's better than cockroaches! They have no boundaries! Yeeeckk
DeleteOh my lord! You would not believe what my parents gave me a couple of weeks ago - an entire dinner set in the Pontesa but in a blue and white colour way! It was one of their wedding presents and they don't use it anymore. My husbo is away for a few days so it's the perfect time to sneak it into the house (it's currently sitting in my car boot). How freaky is that?! Ps, time management is very hard these days. That's why I've made a conscious decision not to join twitter or Instagram, and I'm very selective about how many blogs I follow. Like Mr Shady I always try to comment on posts that engage me (as I love it when people take the time to comment on mine) and then there is the all important sewing that needs to be done so I don't want to waste too much online time! I tend to sew on my day off (I'm very fortunate to have every Tuesday off) and I have a long lunch break 2 days a week where I can get home for a couple of hours. I also try to cut patterns out in our lounge room when my beloved is home, so we are officially spending time together in the same room (rather than opposite ends of the house). Hope you get your sewing focus back soon! :)
ReplyDeleteOh my! I hope you've managed to sneak it out of the car!
DeleteI totally have that worry too! ive never joined twitter - mainly cause i dont often just have 140 character statements to say, and i even shirked away from Flickr for awhile until i found some really good people on there to follow! there's only so many social networks you can keep up with!
we have Easter holidays coming! yay! lots of sewing for me!
I'm a shocker for loading myself up with things to do and then having a spazz about it!
ReplyDeleteI try and do at least half an hour/day in my sewing room, but often don't. I am also making a huge effort to just have one thing going at a time. Time management can be tricky, and we're very busy at work and home, so I value every seocnd I get to myself, to sew or otherwise.( I also love to plan special meals for my boy!!!)
I love the jug and sugar bowl, so SO pretty!!!
You have a wonderful balcony...it SO says Sydney to me, seeing your balcony. My Aunt had a similar one in Hurstville some years back, but smaller. I've eben getting into some gardening this year, it's so rewarding. But I'm very lazy-I must get out there tonight!
That pinafore looks super cute, and doesn't appear to be a long winded project! Hurrah! I'm hoping to finish a frock tonight....
Take it easy on yourself, lovey!
XXX
Thank you lovely! I am so like that. I have a little cry and then everyone says, stop being so nice to people and say no! (In work situations) and my boyfriend just says "it's ok you don't have to cook/iron/clean" I'm a silly duffa.
DeleteThat's the good thing a about some Aussie builders. They understand the need for a big balcony! I couldn't live on one of those pokey balconies with the 1x2 meter space.
Gardening is super fun! And New Zealand is in a good spot for rain and sun and lots of good soil. My mum would always complain how crappy Sydney soil was as she was quite used to the lovely dirt of country New Zealand. xo
I entertain a fabulous fantasy that involves me having a sewing room so that I don't have to pack projects up. I sew on weekends that Darling Husband and Bike Boy are away racing so I don't have to put anything away (or stop to make meals!). So I don't sew nearly as much as I would like, so I have lots of time to sketch and plan and think up fabulous frocks to make ;)
ReplyDeleteOoh! After work is my best time for cutting and sewing! Though even if I had time before work I'd hardly sew at all.
DeleteI hear you lady cake about the time management. I try not to fret too much anymore because life ebbs and flows and so do the things in it. Some months you'll sew up a storm and then others you struggle to get a stitch. I think as long you're not being pulled in a million directions and you're happy you're doing okay. If you a feel bit gah I always think it's worth sitting down and having a look at your week and planning out a project and some nuggets of time in a week so you can do a half hour here and there. By the way I think all that you've sewn so far is epic and you should be super pleased with yourself.
ReplyDeleteThanks lady! Life can be such a poo sometimes you begin to think "is this how it's always going to be?" And then I work myself up into a state and regress into teenage rebeldom and nothing gets done and and my co workers wonder what happened to me! Haha
DeleteI think finally things are getting better though! xo
Oh dear. That does sound very tiring. I think you are in need of a break! And I am quite ashamed to say but I've been there on the ironing pile-up. Isn't it terrible! I find the best way to get a whole pile done is to have a record listening marathon. You look adorable on your lovely little balcony, but my goodness you are brave to keep company with red back spiders! I hope that your plant babies grow, it sounds like they will get certainly enough sunlight. And what a lucky find with the sugar bowl. I love the design.
ReplyDeleteAww that's a good idea! I like to put on a movie and see much I can do in that time - usually an awful lot!
DeleteThe planties are very happy, we've had so much rain, but unfortunately so there is now teeny mushrooms popping up! Eek!
The spiders are ok as long as I don't touch their webs! But on this day I was making them homeless so they were pretty angry!
What is time management? I ask myself all the time and it just feels like I come up with more things to fill my time with, therefore sabotaging all my efforts to be an efficient modern lady...
ReplyDeleteWhat discourages me with my sewing more than a lack of energy and time, is not having a proper area to cut. My poor boyfriend sits on the futon, trying to play video games, while I take up the entire floor with fabric..but I do hear yah with the after work exhaustion.
Your garden looks lovely! I wish I had a green thumb :)
Oh I know! They always have these workshops at work on time management and crap and their techniques are so dumb to me. I just struggle till I can get air! That's my technique
DeleteA good cutting space is really a bummer. Do you have a dining table your can clear off to cut on? I have a stupidly big extendable one that I bought for this very purpose. But now the varnish is ruined by pin scratches! It only cost me $150 for the whole set though so I'm ok. Not having a proper space to sew and have the ability to leave things out without packing it all up is something I'm so happy to have. If I lost that and had to pack up every time I don't think I would get as much done
What a timely post! Only today did I tell myself to focus on just the two baby blankets I need to work on, finishing up some kids clothes for my shop and finishing a blog post of a dress I just made when instead what I actually did was make a completely new dress for myself for NO REASON! And that is totally normal for me and drives my man crazy! He has counted up to 25 projects that I've got on the go right now (with more being constantly added!). Is that one of your problems too or are you better with not being distracted? Time management is such a massive issue now especially when there is so much world wide interaction to keep us occupied. Personally I do my sewing in any spare pockets of time I can, between baby sleeps and grade two homework and the like:) If only we didn't need sleep hey?
ReplyDeleteHave you been loving the fashion on Love Child too? Arghh so many inspirations.......
yay for sewing things for no reason! im about to start a new big project, but im thinking i might make something easy first. another skirt maybe! i dont have as many as 25 - though i think i have about 6 right now. one that sat around for 2 years almost!
DeleteLove child! omg that reminds me! i must do a fashion appreciation post!