Comments on: balance

By: cathygaubert

cathygaubert — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:41:08 +0000

i’ve only just read this so-close-to-my-own-heart post, two months after you wrote it, and i hope that your frustration has eased a bit. with the christmas season upon us, though, it more than likely has intensified! :) i wish that i had words of wisdom to offer, but really, so much of what you said is what i feel each day, too. and really, jenn, it makes your enchanting creatures all the more dear…the felted ones, too. ;)
xxx
oh, and i forgot to tell you…you are amazing. :)

By: jeanne

jeanne — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:24:52 +0000

Thanks for sharing your thoughts here, it is very nice for me to read that crafty moms struggle to be crafty and be a mom, but it is good to hear that your kids come first, as they should. I think doing something is good because if you do nothing… which can be fine sometimes, but not permanantly… it is hard to get into the swing of things. I tend to scare away from doing projects and haven’t for a long time really. I too would love to hook a rug! I found a cool book from a library book sale that is really outdated country crafts, but some are wonderful and timeless! Some day I’m going to try something!

By: Laura Zarrin

Laura Zarrin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:43:29 +0000

I remember those days. I used to keep a journal nearby for when I had a moment or was nursing my youngest. I taped pics, postcards, color swatches in it. Scribbled little thumbnails of ideas. Sometimes I just wrote the idea down. This kept me feeling creative when there was no time to draw. I still have it and refer to it for ideas. I found I was very creative during this time. It was a very frustrating time. This period will pass and you’ll find more and more time to create. Hang in there.

By: Sandra

Sandra — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:45:20 +0000

Hi Jenn! Check out http://www.123stitch.com if you are looking for a new, inspiring project. They have a huge selection of cross stitch patterns, I like the “sampler” section. I crochet all the time and when I went through a dull phase, I bought some really cute samplers and a bunch of these…
http://www.123stitch.com/cgi-perl/itemdetail.pl?item=05-3048
Sometimes you need to have a project you can work on while curled up in bed too!

By: elma

elma — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:31:49 +0000

Hi Jenn!! Love the brown bear:) I would just say take of your babies and yourself as you will find out the littles grow up soooo fast and then you will have time and energy again for crafting. Being a mom is more important:) Have a wonderful weekend:)

By: vivian

vivian — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:01:17 +0000

Hi Jenn, I so remember those days! I do have a thought for you though.. why not hire someone (responsible teenager type) to come to your house for a few hours a couple days aweek. You can still be home and be around if really needed and that person can play with the girls. I used to do that a couple times a month. It is so hard to find balance in life.. when the kids are little and even when they are grown and mostly gone!
Well.. good luck and happy halloween!
hugs
vivian

By: Nancy Cook

Nancy Cook — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:13:53 +0000

Jenn
This is a wonderful and heartfelt post.
I think mothering needs to come first like you said.
What works for me in getting crafty things done is skipping around crafts and not just trying to make things to sell. Stealing time and doing what I can. Sometimes I push myself too hard.
Take your time and take care of yourself. Two children under 5 is no easy task.
xoxoxo

By: Jennie

Jennie — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:56:12 +0000

Hi Jenn-
I can completely relate with the mothering vs. creating thing. When my two boys were little all crafting was put on hold for about 5 years! I found that decorating/fixing up my home bit by bit was about all the creative opportunity I had. Our house at the time was even too small for my craft desk and it and all my other goodies sat in the garage forlorn for the four years we lived in that little house (800 sq ft with 2 boys!)
But it turned out to be just a season and now that my kids are 10 and 7 I have rediscovered my love for art and creativity all over again. There is so much more time when they are older, and now they even want to learn how to sew and quilt and stuff because they see how much I enjoy it! I don’t recommend stopping all the crafting like I had to do. That was how it went for me, but I REALLY appreciate the time I have now (and I homeschool them, too) I have way more energy then I did when they were younger. I would encourage you to remind yourself that it’s just a season. And as they get a little older, let them learn to entertain themselves so mom can have some creative time. It will probably benefit all of you!
ps- your daughters are so lucky to have such a creative and talented mom who puts her girls ahead of her “career”- what a statement of love you are making!