Sew ready for Spring

So I have well and truly got the sewing bug back!

I attended a brilliant sewing workshop ran by my uber talented friend Mieke Hartland last week and I finally learned how to sew a zipper cushion cover. Now for the more competent seamstress, this may not seem like the biggest achievement in the world, but to me it was a vast improvement from my previous unsupervised efforts. I have made several cushion covers in recent years but they have always ended up sewn in rendering them pretty unwashable, and highly unsuitable to a house filled with boisterous boys with sticky fingers!

We had the option to sew bunting or sew a zipper cushion, and in anticipation of the spring I decided to update my soft furnishings with some new scatter cushions. I must say, the zip was far easier to insert than I thought it would be, and under the watchful eye of Mieke I had it sewn in place within minutes. The second cushion which I completed at home went equally as smooth, despite me having a muddle with my zipper foot for a short while!

The only thing I struggle with in regards to sewing is TIME. Now any mom or working woman will probably be able to relate to that, regardless of how 'quick' I think my sewing task should be I frequently find that I need at least a good two hours solid sat at my machine to set it up, thread it, wind the bobbin if necessary, select materials and that's even before I have sewn one little stitch. This means that invariably I am never going to get any sewing done during the week days, especially when the boys are awake, and even if they are being angelic then I wouldn't want to risk unattended needles becoming a health hazard.

On the flip side of that, I think this is why I love sewing so much, because when I do get to do it, it is purely for me, concentrated uninterrupted me time. And when this is accompanied by good friend and good wine that you know you are on to a winner! My offerings may not make waves on the Great British Sewing Bee, but they certainly look pretty on my sofa :)

Roll on next month's workshop!

R x

Multitasking Mommy

Any one who has ever stood in the playground having a conversation with a fellow parent whilst keeping a keen eye on two children knows the importance of multitasking.

In fact, without this skill, I would go as far as to say that parenting would be nigh on impossible unless you are a hermit who is happy to live a solitary lifestyle for the next 18 years. Mom's, I have discovered, seem to have this skill finely tuned by the time their child reaches 18 months, and certainly it is honed to perfection when a second, third (or fourth!) sibling comes along. 

It is quite amazing how much you can achieve with a baby in your arms or a toddler on your hip. I have been known to cook dinners, wash floors, make phone calls and do multiple grocery shops in this exact position, and when you are sans child your productivity goes into overdrive. Who knew you could prepare the evening dinner, answer emails, write blogs, hoover carpets AND paint your nails in that two hour window? 

I don't think that multitasking is something that is a natural gift bestowed only to women (contrary to popular opinion), however I do think that we have to use it far more often than our male counterparts, and as the saying goes, practice makes perfect! Women are expected to be an awful lot of things, I can switch hats six times a day between wife/mother/writer/friend/daughter/pastor and although I cherish each and every role that I have been entrusted with, I often have to stop and think when do I get to put the 'me' hat on? So this evening, when my boys are in bed and my chores are done, I will be curling up on the sofa with a good book and a hot chocolate to indulge in some much needed me-time. Why don't you join me?

R x

Mince Pies and Mommy Moments

So the countdown to Christmas is officially on!

Every day my 5 year old asks if Santa has been, which is getting more than a little tedious despite us being only 4 days in to his advent calendar.... I turned my hand at making a fabric calendar this year which was fun as I haven't sewn anything on my beloved machine for literally a year!! Definitely got the bug back and am looking forward to getting a bit more crafty as we wind down to Christmas.

The Christmas presents are sorted (please don't hate me) and the house is decorated so I feel very organised this year! Work is as busy as ever, but I am trying to get a better work/life balance as the past few months have seen a lots of late nights and laptop bound afternoons while the little one sleeps. The only nights that remain untouched are connect on Mondays which is our weekly meeting with fellow Christians who live locally, and Friday night which is our date night! We are very protective of date night, and although we rarely actually go anywhere, we always have a nice meal, some treats, sometimes a bottle of wine and we curl up on the sofa for a movie. *heart melts*

But what about 'me time' I here you ask? My immediate reply would be 'what is that?' Seriously, my days are so jam packed with attending and helping out at toddler groups, going to midweek church services, completing the school run twice a day (usually on foot), running a household, buying groceries and trying to keep up with our pastoral area that we look after at church. Oh and holding down a writing business!

I wouldn't change a thing about our life as I love being busy (although a cleaner or ironing lady would be sooo appreciated to keep up with two boys and two cats!) but I am aware that to be a good wife and mom I need to do things for me too. My perfect day would be a trip to the hair salon or beautician for some pampering followed by a couple of hours of uninterrupted writing in Starbucks or Cafe Nero, then maybe squeezing in reading Hello, House Beautiful or Country Living magazine or one of the many novels on my bookshelf.

Writing my blog and reading all the other amazing blogs on the circuit gives me so much joy, so in absence of my 'perfect day' being possible right now I am making the most of a mince pie and a mommy moment while my boys entertain each other. Life is too short to spend all our time working, once in a while close down the emails, let the dishes pile up or stick on cbeebies (shock horror) and indulge yourself in some you time.

R x