Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Out of the cave and into the light

I have to cut down a little. I said in my last post that I didn't feel like I was all that productive in January, but I churned out 10 garments anyway.

10. How much time did that take?

Apparently my lack of productivity occurred in other parts of the house: kitchen and bathrooms are a mess, laundry piled high, trash and recycling completely forgotten this week. I'm not getting to the gym near enough, the man is neglected (though claiming not to be, but how much TV can even he watch?) and I don't feel like I've been paying enough attention to the beasties. I know that none of their various illnesses could have been averted by my paying more attention to them, but perhaps I would have noticed something wrong a little sooner if I wasn't always locked away in my playroom.


It's hard to stop cold turkey, and I'm not planning to, but there are a few changes I can make. I have an extra cutting mat, which I can bring into the living room for pattern tracing purposes. There's no reason to isolate for that - I can mostly keep the cats off the tracing paper, and I can still keep up a semblance of being a social creature instead of a sewing-obsessed one. For smaller items, I can cut fabric out there. I can do hems, handwork, buttons, etc., out in the living room like a normal person instead of the sewing-cavedweller that I have become.

The computer is in the living room. At least I don't have to cut down on that.

BTW, in case you didn't get it, it snowed yesterday - these are just random pics from around the 'hood.

8 comments:

Elaray said...

I see you beautiful photographs (especialy the El) and I think: SNOW DAY!!!!!

-E said...

I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum :) I daydream about becoming a sewing recluse...

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

The best thing about being older and not having young kids anymore is that I can pay someone to handle alot of that...and I have a lot of things delivered! I think you should enjoy your productivity, cause it's not something that's going to happen every month!

Gretchen the Household Deity said...

Love your photos! We got a dusting in the morning but it melted away almost instantly.

Evelyn aka Starfishy said...

My Nana used to say... Moderation in everything. People often wonder how I get so much sewing done - and I tell them it is a "nervous" habit. It soothes my nerves. Even my 5 1/2 year old boy recognized this fact and sometimes tells me - Momma, go sew! I don't smoke, don't do crossword puzzles in the newspaper and don't watch much TV. I sew. That is my habit. And I enjoy it. BUT, I do have a schedule - and that includes a housekeeping and cooking schedule. And I am flexible. If my darling boy gets a snow day from school - well then - we hit the sliding hill! I used to always wonder about Nana's saying, but now - I must say - I really understand!
Cheers! Evelyn

Unknown said...

Beautiful pictures!

I agree with Carolyn that as long as it makes you happy, there's nothing wrong with your productivity. I've always seen January as a hibernation month, anyway. The days are getting longer now, and I'm sure you'll find your way back to the outdoors, the gym, and everything, quite naturally!

Hope the beasties are better.

Kitty Couture said...

Oops, Isabelle was me ;) I commented from the wrong Gmail account!

Kat said...

Okay, Karen. Now I'm feeling better. Something's got to give--housework LOL. Although my house is still a mess and there's only, maybe 3 garments to show for the month of January on my end. And DH whines that I don't talk to him enough. I need help...