baby, miscellaneous, musings, planned projects

A week between posts

This may have been the first time that I’ve gone a whole week between blog posts (other than when I’ve been away on holidays).  I’ve been doing a little bit of crafting, but haven’t completed any projects.  Currently I’m working on a chain of crocheted loops, a crocheted scarf, a cot quilt for a friend’s new bub (yes, the one I visited a week ago – this will be a late baby gift), a bag for a friend’s sister, another bag for a friend who just turned 40 (the party was on Friday night; the gift will be very late), my kitten embroidery from Brown Owls, and the back of my Churn Dash quilt.  Lots of unfinished items there – but they are works in progress rather than UFOs sitting in the back of the cupboard!

I visited the Quilt and Craft fair on Friday with my parents and Stella.  The quilt display was incredible.  I am astounded by the amount of time, love and work that goes into making quilts!  I found it really useful as a way of crystallising what I like in a quilt.  Although there were many that I can appreciate, I really like quilts that are pieced, rather than appliqued, and I prefer traditional designs but in comtemporary fabric prints.  And I like a lot of white!  Now there are a few new quilt ideas percolating in my brain.  And would you believe it, with all those stalls at the fair, I didn’t buy ANYTHING!  Nothing at all!  I had too-much-choice paralysis.  I did collect some business cards from places that I know I’ll go back to one day, but otherwise I was overwhelmed with the variety.

Generally I try to stick with crafting in this blog, but this post from Pip really struck a chord with me!  My life is flat chat at the moment.  I’m not doing a particularly stunning job at anything.  By the time I work two long days at my regular paid job, do the books for our businesses, do the washing, ironing, tidying, sorting, shopping, bill-paying, etc, my kids and hubby aren’t getting the time and attention they deserve.  I’m taking multi-tasking to a stupid level (even now as I type I’m playing a game with Clare – and I should just stop typing, give her my undivided attention and play).  Superwoman I’m not.  But I have so much internal conflict about what I SHOULD do and what I want to do (and they are sometimes the same thing).  I need time for myself, but I don’t want to be taking it at Clare’s and Stella’s expense.  Like many women, it doesn’t seem to matter what choice I make; I end up feeling guilty.  I feel guilting about the amount of time I spend blogging too, of course.

Enough navel-gazing!  Stella has a cold and is asleep at the moment and Clare is occupied with a puzzle, so I’d better get to the shower and make a proper start on the day.  I’ll be back later with normal programming!  And because I don’t like to post without a photo, here’s one to finish off.  Stella has this thing about climbing.  Since she’s only 13 months old, it’s not such a good thing.

Stella the climber by you.