Thursday, November 13, 2008

Time Management

This post is dedicated to Rachel.

Rachel said...
I love the skirt and the jeans. You are so talented. Can you write a blog on how you manage to accomplish so much in such a short time? It takes me a week to get a simple dress made. I work full time outside the home, but you have two children which I would think would take up much more time. Help.


Here is my day for those of you who are wondering. This is a typical day. Remember, my kids are not old enough to actually go anywhere. There is no soccer, basketball, hockey, or football. Yet.

5:30 Wake/Shower
6:00-6:45 Sew
6:45-7:30 Three kids get up (4YO, 2YO and 2YO), get breakfast, get dressed, etc.
7:30 Babysitter comes and I go to work. I'm a science teacher.
4:00 Return home to my cherubs.
4:00-6:00 Make dinner, wrestle with kids, shovel driveway with kids, eat, etc.
6:00-7:00 Girls go to bed about 6:45 and I clean the kitchen up.
7:30 Son goes to bed
8:00-9:30 Sew

I can usually get in about two hours of sewing a day. I don't have to go grocery shopping b/c my wonderful husband does that. I am a pretty efficient sewer and don't normally make mistakes so I very rarely have to rip things out. I like to visualize how things go together (I know it's weird)which really helps when it is time for the actual sewing. I cut lots of things at one time and I'll sew several things at once so I don't have to change the serger from one stitch to another. I try to batch items by color too. Changing thread, needles, and notions takes a lot of time. I also have a dedicated sewing room so I never have to get things out or put them away.

Hope that helps Rachel. :)

13 comments:

Myra said...

You are able to sew when they are not up. I have the baby here all day, but the others go off to school. By evening, I am too tired (my eyes are, at least). My time is about 1 hour during her nap before they hit home and sometimes not even that. I do admire your dedication.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for breaking down your day. I didn't know you were a science teacher. I teach science also.

Meg said...

I am a pretty efficient sewer and don't normally make mistakes so I very rarely have to rip things out. And you're slim too! Ok, I officially despise you. ;)

Melissa said...

You're so productive! I think my lack of productivity stems from me not sewing in the evening (I'm usually too tired) and during the day when I can sew, I usually clean and such because I'm too much of a neat freak. I guess we all have our weaknesses! lol

Jacqui said...

You're awesome and inspiring! =)

AllisonC said...

Jeepers! I really must try and learn to like getting up earlier!

Elaray said...

Your schedule looks a lot like mine. And I don't have any kids at home. I should be getting a lot more sewing done.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the insight, and I've found the error in my ways... the kids have to go to bed earlier!!!
I've also found that I don't watch nearly as much tv as I used to, and the more I stay away from the computer (i.e. the blogs), the more I get done!

Sigrid said...

Oh, to sew without making mistakes. Can you teach us how?? :)
Admiring your schedule, it never worked with me when my children were the age your children are now.

Lisa said...

Holy cow, if I had put my girl to bed at 6:45 she would have been up at 2am! You lucky thing-to have children that actually sleep more than 8 hours a night.

Your jeans look good!

Gretchen the Household Deity said...

I don't sew during the week (usually) and I don't even have kids! I'm impressed with your schedule.

Kat said...

Yeah, I think my kids are my biggest sewing killers. They're 16, 14, 12, and 9 and all into sports. Even as a SAHM, I try to do my house activities after coming back from the gym, and I'm usually making dinner between 12 and 1 p.m. 7 months out of the year I'm out the door at 3, not to return until 9 about 5X/week. Sports schedules kill my schedule. This coming summer we have 8 weekend softball tournaments 8 weeks in a row and one is a 4-day tournament in Virgina. And that's for just one of my kids. No wonder I keep thinking about them going away to college--I have no life! And little time to sew.

Anonymous said...

Dawn, your schedule is incredible as is, but you did not include your blogging, PatternReview posting time and reading! If I look at PR or a blog or two, I am cutting into any sewing time!