My Twelve Tasks, or 15 Minutes a Day

Vogue 1415

  It's always inspiring to see what other people want to make. I always get ideas and change my wish list accordingly. so I thought I would share my list. This will also remind me what I wanted to do.
I can't be the only person who finally gets an hour of unscheduled time and can't remember what it was that they wanted to do. Lists are helpful that way.
I had very good results when I made a 12 part list of monthly goals. I didn't do it last year and didn't get much done.

Twelve Ideas, to be chosen at random every month:

Sew a scrap quilt - in progress
Make something out of silk
Use a  border print
Sew a Hawaiian shirt (Mr. Hunting Creek is very happy about this!)
Make pajamas Make T shirts
Make a Wall hanging or other Art
Make some potholders and pillow covers
Finish something (plenty of unfinished projects to choose from)
Use a Vintage pattern
Use a new pattern
Make a Holiday decoration

Patterns I want to make:
Vogue 1415

This is the prettiest blouse and I have added it to my list to remind me to make it. Both views appeal.
I'd like to make a leopard print tee shirt. I haven't picked a pattern yet.
I'd like to make some silk drawstring pants.

That's a manageable enough list, I think.

I've already got 1/5 of my scrap quilt done. Yet the tub of scraps looks the same! Scraps defy the laws of physics. No matter how many I use, there are always more.
I'm allocating 15 minutes a day to just hang out in the studio and do just one thing. Surely I can do that.

Making Time

I was talking to my BFF from high school earlier today. She asked what may be the Eternal Question which has been asked by women since the Dawn Of Time: "How do you balance so much?! I have NO hobbies or businesses. Does doing laundry count?"
I realized I don't balance at all. I am BAD.
When I am sewing, I am NOT doing the following:
I'm not doing laundry [although I'll confess to throwing some in while I pass by the laundry zone. Triple Laundry Score if I get to preshrink some fabric while washing clothes.] Physics question: why do guys make so much laundry? Especially 17 year old guys? Just asking.
I'm not vacuuming. Although with two dogs who shed [shedding is THEIR hobby] I could legally vacuum three times a day.
I'm not letting the dogs out AGAIN.
I'm not mopping the floor, polishing the furniture, dusting, or watering plants.
When I am sewing, I am happy. I am an artist. I am in the ZONE, as psychologists say. I read that being in this happy zone has tremendous mental health benefits.
I would like to confess here that I am never in the zone while cleaning.
Nowadays I have to make time to sew. When other things keep me from sewing for too long, I go into withdrawal. So I try to take sewing breaks. At lunch I'll sew for fifteen minutes. I'll save handsewing for after work and do it while listening to music. I find this relaxing. At night when the family is watching some scary movie, I read about sewing.
But like a true addict, I dream about a day when I can sew all I want! Yes! That Magic Day when all fabric is preshrunk, I will always have enough of any fabric to make that new pattern, and never run out of thread that matches.
And the dogs will let themselves out.
Until that day arrives, Happy sewing!