"You can judge a nation by the way the people treat their most vulnerable citizens." Aristotle

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Organized quilting...Part 1

I've been asked how I can get so many quilts made so I thought I would share how I do it.   Because I treat my quilting as a job which I love and I'm passionate about, it's quite easy for me.   Organizing doesn't come easy for me, however I realized a couple of years ago that if I wanted to make quilts and make lots of them that I'd have to become organized.

Here's what I do:
- I have a to do list that I write out each night.   I fill the list out a few days in advance has well if I know there are specific things to do for that day.
- I volunteer 15 hours a week, no more.    C and me had been volunteering at the local Humane Society however it was adding to those 15 hours along with taking away from family time, so we quit.   
- I don't quilt on Sundays or evenings.   Sundays are for church and scrapbooking with C in the afternoon.   Evenings are for my family...we watch movies, play games or read.   I've had to be very careful that quilting didn't become more important than my family or my God.
- I cut my hours on the computer BIGTIME.    I'm not on Facebook or Twitter and seldom will you find me texting.    You also won't find me spening hours on the phone.   I have a specific amount of blogs I follow and no more.
- we downsized BIGTIME to a small mobile home.   C is responsible for her own room so all I have to clean is the bathroom, our bedroom, living room and kitchen.    We have very little furniture and I don't have many trinkets or gadgets.   I've never been much of a trinket girl.   The ones I treasure are in a cupboard that had glass doors that I can enjoy yet don't have to dust continually.
- I cook everything from scratch, however I use my crockpot 90% of the time.   I also usually make double so that I have enough leftover for the next day and don't have to cook on that day.  

Next I'll share about the quilting part and how I've organized that part...

7 comments:

Tonya said...

I love the way you do things, makes perfect sense. I've always said I wish I got paid a salary for the amount of time I'm in my sewing chair. Wouldn't we be rich?

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

I'm glad you are sharing how you can get so much done, I have often wondered just how you can do it. Except for babysitting my grand children now and then I don't volunteer at all anymore as I've found that standing on my legs for a long period of time is impossible. I used to do a lot of that. I don't quilt as you know, but I'm thinking your tips might just help me too.

Debbie said...

I am so glad you posted this...I have always wondered how you got that many beautiful quilts finished. Love you my friend.

Mermaid's Purse said...

I really look forward to your next post as time management is so not my thing ....... I really need to sort it out!

Barb said...

Oh...I love my crock pot, one of my sons friends said I was the Queen of Crock pot. Great organization. I have been spending less time reading blogs....it does take up alot of time. I also don't quilt on Sunday....it is a day or rest for me and church.

Gill - That British Woman said...

I like how you think Carol, and I am glad you have got a system that works for you,

Gill

Love Bears All Things said...

How do you watch movies without a TV?
I don't twitter or do much with facebook either. We have cell phones and do not spend time talking on them. I do chat online or text my daughter and granddaughter when we're making or confirming plans.
Mama Bear