Hi! This is Françoise here.
As you know, we are having a giveaway to celebrate the publication of our book Twelve by Twelve: The International Art Quilt Challenge. Each day, for twelve days, we are asking you a different question. If you would like to have a chance to win a copy of our book, just leave us a comment with your answer to the question. You can play everyday if you wish. At the end of the twelve days, one lucky winner will be randomly selected. (By the way, it is REALLY helpful if your comment is linked to a profile or blog that includes your e-mail address so that we can easily contact you if your comment is selected.) The book drawing is closed. Stay tuned for the winner details.
I wrote the fourth chapter of our book. The theme, chosen by Karen, is
Water. In my chapter, I explain why I chose to work with a picture of dew droplets and I show how my quilt evolved. I also tell you where I usually find my inspiration and what impact being a member of the
Twelve by Twelve group has had on me and on my work.
Although my hubby made me a nice studio in a spare bedroom about a year ago, I still often have problems finding free time for my art. So here's my question for you today:
"How do you create time and space for your art?"
I have very little time to make art (with a young family, a part time job and a PhD candidacy) so I do it whenever I have a chance: when my kids (4, 6 and 8 years old) are in bed, when my husband takes them out for a few hours in the weekend, sometimes when the oldest two are at school and the little one is playing with the buttons...
ReplyDeleteDue to less orders from clients, there’s more and more time to spent on quilting. My graphic design studio had turned into my sewing space.
ReplyDeleteWhen I know I will have some hours to work on a project the next day, I will put everything I need together, so I can start right away. I always have a little notebook on hand to take notes of projects I want to work on and to sketch some ideas.
I've got the second bedroom transformed into a studio with all my textile stuff ready to be touched, manipulated,... that's the place to be.
ReplyDeleteTime ? television isn't that interesting, so evenings are certainly not spended unoccupied on the sofa. And every few minutes left in a day, is for my books, my magazines or my threads.
I really don't have a time management problem, I do have a problem with the limit of 24 hours in a day!
I often neglect things, to play in my workroom. I don't call it a studio, as I have to share the room with a wardrobe of coats and shoes.
ReplyDeleteI really do need the world to stop for a few hours ech day, while I play, so that I can keep on top of things. I'd love to be able to experiment and do more every day.
I have a nice studio space in my fourth bedroom. It is usually upside down with the current project on top of other projects. Time is limited while raising three young children, but I grab 30 minutes up to a couple of hours during naps or evenings. Sometimes I only have time to prepare what I will do later, but it's fun to have everything ready and be able to sew a couple of seams in a spare moment. It keeps me sane!
ReplyDeleteI have prioritized it. Before it was just something I did "when I had time". I look at it as a second job that I do and make sure I "get to work" each day even if it is only for a half hour.
ReplyDeleteI work full time, but each day when I arrive home I go to my sewing room and spend a little time unwinding. I quilt a little each day. It is my therapy and something I look forward to all day.
ReplyDeletelag110 at mchsi dot com
I have a combination sewing room/ office that I do not have to share. It is a real luxury after having a corner of various rooms for years. Since I am retired, I can pretty much spend my time as I choose, although hubby does like good food, clean clothes, etc.
ReplyDeleteAh yes...the age old questions. Finding time for art is not easy even when there is "time". I do have my own spaces...studio and a sewing room my wonderful hubby built me. But somehow I always prefer the kitchen table for the light and feeling part of the household. Great question. I really like your 12x12 quilt. Let's find time to make art!!!
ReplyDeleteThe whole house is the studio! LOL! I do my designing at the desk in the living room, sewing in the tv room, storage in a tiny back bedroom. I drive myself crazy trying to find things. I am retired, so time isn't an issue. Managing my time is.:)
ReplyDeleteIt's not easy with a family is it? But now only my youngest son is left at home I've taken over my eldest son's room to create in!!
ReplyDeleteI used to need to have the rest of my life in order before I could sit down to quilt. Now, the housework is left and the weeds are growing, but I am happy quilting. And I have discovered it really doesn't matter if the rest is in chaos. I'm happy!! I sew at my table in the corner of the lounge with a window looking out into a magnolia tree. I do dream of my own "studio" and hopefully that will come one day.
ReplyDeleteI try to schedule it- sometimes more successfully than others. My children are all raised, so I can neglect housework and cooking with little guilt. If I could only neglect the full time job!
ReplyDeleteHow do I make time? Well, I have lupus, so for me it is more about having the energy than having the time. When I am able to quilt, I quilt. When I'm not up to it, I plan quilts. I've begun English paper piecing, so I can get some quilting done when I'm resting in bed.
ReplyDeletewordygirl at earthlink dot net
Some days I'm brimming with ideas and going into my sewing room is a natural extension of that feeling. Other days I choose not to enter that room since I have no feeling for creativity. It works for me but I don't always produce a large amount of work.
ReplyDeleteI'm fortunate to have two rooms to work in: My little "handwork" sewing room with all my embellishments, embroidery threads, charms, ribbons, etc. The second room, our guest room, holds my fabrics and a wonderful, huge, old-fashioned oak desk for my sewing machine. Everything is in place, so I can go in a spend whatever amount of time I might be able to spare.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn
I might not be able to create time, but I am able to set aside moments when I am able to use up minutes sewing patches at the machine. It only takes a few seconds and I've created a nine patch. Before I know it hours have slipped by and another scrappy piece of art has been created.
ReplyDeleteI don't work well when there is a lot going on around me so I try getting up early and working on a project when I know I will have no interruptions.
ReplyDeleteI have to work arouind the day job and I also make things to sell, which is taking quite a bit of time (but the sales are paying for all my supplies, both for retail and personal use). Space: I have a sewing space in the "guest room" which also has a king size bed taking up a lot of space. Since my daughter is in her own apartment now, I have taken over most of her room as well. Now, if I could just get my son to move out, his room would be the perfect studio, & it's large enough to (maybe) get everything in one room.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it the other way around? How do I create time and space for life? Art comes first.
ReplyDeleteI agree- I try to squeeze everything else in around it.
ReplyDeleteI am much to grumpy if I don't use my hands to create every day. A schedule has helped me.
I try to do a little bit of work each evening after work. Also I try to set aside a day on a weekend if there's something bigger I want to do.
ReplyDeleteI work full time in a job that takes me out of the house for 11 hours a day minimum, so my creative time is mostly at the weekends. If I am really caught up in a piece then I do sometimes work on it in the evenings too, but I'm often too mentally drained to do so.
ReplyDeleteI do use my time driving to and from work to think about the pieces I am working on and have had so good ideas doing so.
As my pieces take a long time to come to fruition they have time to develop and sometimes take some surprising turns because of this.
I live in my art studio -- a tiny, 300 square foot affair -- so I'm immersed in my art all the time. I only work 15 hours a week and have 4 day weekends (sometimes 5 days) so most, if not all of my non-work time is devoted to my art! No husband, no kids, just my kitty = no distractions.
ReplyDeleteIt's not always easy to find studio time. Somedays I find myself saying, "I should clean the house instead." Most often now I tell that voice to soften and head out to my studio. Even a 30 minute session at my drawing table makes me feel like I've accomplished something. I always feel better. Now knowing that, I hope to get much better at finding my creative times!
ReplyDeleteI have 2 big problems with time and space. The first one is seizing enough time and the second is using the space I have effectively. I'm still trying to figure out how my brain works so I can choose an organizational method that works for more than a few weeks.
ReplyDeleteDH naps every afternoon...that nap becomes 'me' time and I head for the art supplies!
ReplyDeleteIt has always been a priority to play with color and techniques vs. anything else going on. I have the whole house at my disposal now after years of only having a small corner to work in.
ReplyDeleteAn hour or so in the evenings after work and try and try to alternate 'creative' with 'chore' weekends.
ReplyDeleteHaving a dedicated 'studio' (biggest bedroom) helps - I used to have to climb a ladder to the loft space.
It's not hard finding time to create; it's finding the time to do dishes, clean, etc... Now that the kids are grown up, my art gets top priority most of the time. We all have the ability to decide how to use our time. This can change to fit the situation we find ourselves in at various times of the day/week. Even when I was beyond busy with kids and farm work, I took a few minutes every day to create art. It was as essential to me as air and water.
ReplyDeleteWorking on it
ReplyDeleteTrying to figure our if it is best to schedule a regular time or just do it when the muse strikes
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