Ok, let's just get things rolling with our discussion topic for the month of May. I know that in the past we did this weekly. But to be honest with you, sometimes it is difficult for me to keep up with the weekly stuff so I am going to try every 2 weeks.

Since May is almost over how about we do one this month and then start next month with every 2 weeks?

Let's start with something that for me is really turning into an issue since I started this online business.

Finding time to quilt

Let's just see how creative you all are. Share your stories, (or excuses) on how you make time for your passion. How do you tell your family/husbands that dinner or the laundry etc. will have to wait because I am quilting.

And if you don't have to make excuses, then share with us how you fit quilting into your daily/weekly routines.

If we get some good answers here, may I borrow them? Because my husband/family still don't get it after 8 years that I would rather be quilting, reading about quilting, watching quilting shows, videos and going to quilt shows more than anything else! So when nothing gets done around the house or the water bill is late it isn't because I forget it is because I am choosing to do what I love and not what is expected of me.

Let see who has the most creative answers here.

Chris Dahl
Check out my quilting blogs when you get the chance, there is more of what you love!
http://www.onlinequilting.wordpress.com
http://www.quiltingweekly.blogspot.com

First, I must say I have total support from my husband for my quilting. I go to some car shows with him and he makes sure I get to go to the quilt shows, usually with my girlfriend, but he has come too. He also doesn't complain about the purchases, but is starting to wonder about the growing stash, instead of shrinking. But then I was suppose to be retired and then make it shrink!!!
I find time to do my hand quilting for 1 to 1 1/2 hours on Mon/Tues/Wed mornings with my coffee. He leaves at 7 and wakes me then but I don't leave till 9 (and have Wed's off)
Thurs and Fri I don't quilt much.
Wednesdays, if I am not doing charity quilts that is when I do most of my sewing and piecing, between loads of laundry, doctor appointments, or whatever else comes up.
Sat and Sun I may get to sew and piece or I may get to clean, or we may go for a "cruise" in his classic car.
The first Sat of each month I go to a quilt shop where we make "quilts for healing hero's" or returning injured soldiers.
I do all the shopping, laundry, and most coking. John does bathrooms, most vaccuuming, and we share dishes.
We have some very extreme stress or depression or whatever in our lives, so this is how we deal with it, I quilt, he "cars". Saturday I woke very depressed, and made myself go to my sewing room and sewed all day, by evening I felt much better and went out with John to the car cruise, and that lifted his spirits.
So I guess it isn't that I look for time to quilt but for some peaceful quiet time away from stress and trouble and that is quilting to me. Some people garden, but I quilt. Since we don't know if we will wake up tomorrow we have to make sure that we enjoy today and make some time for ourselves, but of course some time for the "necessities" as well. Like the bills Chris!!! Do that first then enjoy the day.
Happy Quilting!!!!!!!!!! :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:

My husband never says any thing against me quilting. I haven't let quilting stop me from getting meals in a while.

Some other family members cannot quite grasp cutting up perfectly good fabric.

Some don't understand my being on the computer for hours each day and I am afraid it does cut into my quilting time.

In the summer gardening does take over from quilting as my way of relaxing.

Kathy

Sometimes I find it difficult to find time to quilt but at the moment I do not have a quilt on the go and feel quite bereft. The reason is I finished one before we left for Italy and did not have the time to cut and piece one before we left. We spend spring and autumn in Italy now we have retired. I only do hand quilting when away, I use my quilting time to use audio tapes to learn Italian (very slowly it seems)

In the UK I am trying to sew my way out of my sewing room, as I have not only my stash of material but have now inhereted my mothers as well as a friends. This mean I am trying not to visit shops which sell material very often. When I have a project on the go I fit in quilting most days in the evening when the TV is on and I am only half interested in what is on. As I do not use a frame it is cosy in the winter but I do much less in hot weather. Or/and early mornings when I get up first with a cup of tea and the Italian tapes.

Hello everyone, well finding time to quilt! my husband is very understanding and is extremely helpful when it comes to making templates for me, he is used to waiting till the table is cleared before I can start to do the cooking, and never clock watches for meals, we share the washing up. Both of us beng retired makes it much easier, he is an astronomer and we go camping (have a lovely Campervan) so he can watch the stars and this is great for me as can relax and quilt.
Also my sewing room is tidier than his workroom, (I hide the material in shelves which has a curtain) which when closed makes the room look tidy. He'll never know.
I hand sew in any place where I have to wait for a long time, Dentist, Doctors and Hospitals, kids are always fasinated too, mainly about the thimble on my finger, but I love explaining, you never know one of them might be a budding quilter.
My friends think it is madness to buy material and then cut it up and sew it all back together again, but they do like the quilts when they are finished.
Trisha

Hi ALL,
I try to quilt as often as i can,because i work mornings i do quilt on Thrusday afternoon and also on a saturday afternoon.
My husband is very understanding also,he does come to some of the quilting shops with me and helps pick out the fabric.
These 2 days (Thursday and Saturday)i do attend a lesson and some saturdays i go to workshops if there is any i like to do at the quilting shop in Warwick.
I would just like to say how funny it is to fine some else who quilts and their husband also is an astronomer. Can i ask Janet where abouts do you live in the UK.There's not many of us from the UK who uses this site and the sister site creative quilting.