Giving up your crafty/creative day job to be a SAHM.... How do you satisfy the creative urges??

[monkeybump]

I worked in a very creative field for 10 yrs before having DD (2.5). Im pretty content being a SAHM but do really miss 'making'. I try to do bits at home but struggle with time, I'm amazed and impressed but those who sell on etsy etc...

Maybe I'm just too unorganised :)

Anyone else feel the same?

I hear ya. Try to channel it into what you do with the kids. Luckily my dd likes painting, cutting, sticking etc (just turned three).

Have a look online for projects you could try together (pinterest is a good resource), will help immensely. Also, ideas that kids come up with can help you look at things differently spurring more ideas for you.

:-)

I do it all at night. I have to be a stickler for bedtime....once it's 7.30pm that's it...Mummy's clocked off and nothing bar vomit will induce me to go upstairs.

Literally. Their Dad goes up to them if they're really whinging or something...otherwise I would GO MAD!

I craft all evening and write too. Now my DD's are older (8 and 4) I can do some things during the day...I give them some fabric and glue...or the older one can sew and they get on with a bit themselves.

Why don't you do things in the evenings?

Thanks for the responses peeps!

I do try & do bits with my little one, it usually ends up with me going off on an elaborate tangent meanwhile she's wandered off hours ago to do something else, ha.

Unfortunately DD bedtime is not til 8.30/9ish so there is not much evening left after that, but hopefully it will get earlier (she's bit of a sleep dodger!) as she gets older.

If anything you both have inspired me to stop making excuses-- I guess where there's a will there's a way!

I have become a yarn obsessive since having dd. I knit, generally in the evenings once she's in bed, even if it's just a couple of rows. I always have a project in the lounge ready to pick up and do a bit of.

But my main discovery has been crochet. Much easier to do with a lo around and if the pattern's simple then I can do it in the car too (without feeling sick).

I find sewing around her much more difficult and need OH to take her out for that.

Good luck!

Been there done that (Fashion Designer for more years than I care to mention) & gave up partly for DD & partly for health reasons - early years where difficult, but at 2.5 he's getting to an age where you can do more for yourself, but yes organisation & strict Mum time is the key

I still do a bit of design work etc at home, but on the back of my DD I have also fallen into Face Painting & I love it - at 2.5 your DS may well too & you'll be very popular with nursery (he'll be there soon) & later School fetes - where your DS will have a wail of a time with others watching him, so you get to do them a fund raising favour & satiate your creative need at the same time

HTH

Thanks for the tips-- it really does help and inspire me.

I've been trying to do the evening thing-- but until I can shift DDs bedtime (currently 8.30pm) it's a bit tricky. Doesn't help I'm pg with DC2 so am shattered by 9!

I love the idea of face painting.. Seems like something I could turn my hand to and also a useful skill to have I imagine. I think I'll get practising on DD tmrw!

I think I just really miss creative company too. I've made some lovely friends since having DD but not one of them does any kind of creative hobby etc. Maybe I need to start persuading my old work friends to have babies :)

I'm loving facepainting too, its now turning into a bit of a mini career for me, something I would never have predicted a few years ago - I'm going to PM you a good site that might interest you. - they have get togethers so that might also help with creative company - I've been lucky with that in lots of our friends are creatives - though that brings its own downside as it has in the past made me miss doing it even more so

Also what about mural painting - something you can do with DCs rooms & again expand to do it for others too, but fit it around your kids - sugar craft is another.

& how about joining a class - are any linked to any local baby/toddler centres - they are some around here, so might be worth checking out - that would be another way of making creative friends outside work - or it thats not possible - how about STARTING a class in something YOU can teach others - business AND creative company

Rockin I have pm' d you :)

Got & replied :)

I was going to suggest private teaching too.
I've just given up teaching textiles/fashion and freelance work to be a SAHM and i'm thinking of private teaching one day a week. If i can cover childcare and have a bit left over i think it will really help. I miss the fast pace of the creative field and have a few ex students in good universities that would be interested. Just trying to decide whether i would mind having them in my home? I have the equipment and space, just not sure whether to just focus on my 9 month DS.