Wednesday 12 February 2014

Organising My Me Time

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Me time used to be something that I would take for granted, frivolously disposing of it lying in bed on a Sunday morning with a soap omnibus. I might idle away an afternoon watching a film, or window shopping on the Kings Road. *insert a melancholic sigh here* And then me time became his-time, and her-time and their-time and finding me time amongst it all became harder and harder. And I became resentful.

Me-time keeps me sane. It gives me back a little bit of me and it is something that is entirely selfish. I can indulge, escape, break out of my routine and do what I want. It makes me happy and if I am happy, then my family get a happier version of me than they would otherwise which in turn makes for a happier family.

Me time is subjective, so for some it could be as simple as half an hour in the bath without anyone barging in needing a poo mid soak. For others is could be a weekend retreat somewhere luxurious involving gourmet food and 400 thread count sheets. My me time falls somewhere in the middle.

All I need is a couple of hours a week to be creative, to play and hopefully produce something that I can feel proud of. To escape back to myself I craft. I crochet, I sew and I make stuff. The ideas I have are always more than can be hot glued into the time avavilable and I struggle to decide where to start but once I am cutting, stitching or gluing I am on a roll and that is where I love to be.
Even better than spending my me time crafting is spending my me time shopping for craft. So imagine the pleasure it gives me to have a morning to myself, a 15% discount voucher for Hobbycraft (because I joined their mailing list), and a project that I am excited about.

Ten minutes of me time in the kitchen while cooking tea provided the inspiration via Pinterest, and a shopping list came together.


One hour of me time shopping in Hobbycraft provided the materials.

Taking some Me Time at Hobbycraft
Look, Hobbycraft are at the end of the rainbow :-)

Being Inspired at Hobbycraft
 Hard not to be inspired!


Corkboard - perfect!
Everything you could possibly need and a bit more.

Decoupage at Hobbycarft
I am imagining that decoupaged giraffe in my hall. Maybe my next project...

One morning of me time provided the time to create the ultimate organise-myself-to-ensure-a-steady-flow-of me-time noticeboard'. Yeah, I'm going to patent that. Snappy title isn't it?

I bought a simple cork noticeboard which was very inexpensive and decoupaged the life out of the frame with fabric from a fat quarters pack I also picked up at Hobbycraft. I've never decoupaged before and how much fun did I have? Loved slapping the glue on and then placing scraps of fabric over the frame. I have no idea if I was doing it right but I just got such a thrill about being messy with glue.

Decoupage at large!
 All parental controls were relaxed!

Cutting and gluing for adults
Let loose with scissors too!

A stitch at a time
Even the sun was smiling through my me time!

With the rest of the fabric I made a pocket section, laminated a piece to make a mini dry wipe board and stuck another piece straight onto the board for pins. I foresee this board having a very positive influence on my stress levels. No more rifling through piles of paper looking for school letters, no more tracking down that vital scrap of paper on which my plan to conquer domesticity was carefully documented, no more lost party invitations.

Ta-dah!

Pins and things
Pins, wipe board and calendar

Organising Pockets
Organised!

In all its glory
No excuses

This board will keep me organised. This board means I will be able to schedule more me time. And I will make sure it is clearly marked on the calendar for all to see.


I may even manage a few more trips back to Hobbycraft. There are still loads of crafts I fancy a go at!


6 comments:

  1. My me time tends to be blogging! I don't have your crafting tendencies but crafting without kids always seems more appealing and I would love to have a go at decoupage (partly because it looks easy and not too precise - I'm not good at precise!)

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  2. I am LOVING that board! And learning a new word - me time, I mean decoupage (hehe!). Congrats on your excellent crafting and lovely inspiring post.

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  3. I discovered decopatch recently and am a bit obsessed. We have a very cool lizard and I must admit to having been rather taken by that giraffe myself ;)

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  4. I love that board, I need one of those.

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  5. I've got some decoupatch to do with N but haven't yet got round to it. I love this board - I had one for Christmas 2 years ago that I requeste (a padded one) and it's still not been put up in the kitchen. Must do it!

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  6. Your all pics is very and your blog is very useful for all. Keep sharing and posting.

    ReplyDelete

Oooh, I do like a good comment :-)