The Working Mom, Time Constraints, Money and UFPS (unfinshed projects)

I have been a mom for 29 years and I have almost always been a working Mom. In fact out 29 years I've only been a stay at home mom 7 of them.  When I had my first child, I was in college and we all know that school is a full time job.  When I got married 5 years later,(to a man with 2 children) I was able to stay at home for a year and had another child.  I had more Time to craft but no Money.  Isn't that the way it always goes, Time but no Money or Money but no Time.  Anyway, I ended up going back to work while my husband was in college (and had 3 more children), so a little Money but no Time. Then I was a stay at home Mom for six years (had out last child).  Plenty of Time but definitely no Money.  Back to work for a company that was supposedly part time, Time and Money?  Alas No, It became full time.  But my schedule was somewhat flexible and I was able to work with the 4H program and did teach some craft classes for them. Then we moved again. This last move placed me in Southern Georgia, with a full time job that isn't flexible and has a 1 hr commute each way.

I am short handed at work and so I putting in long hours.  10 - 14 hours a day plus the 2 hour round trip commute.  I may loose my craft fiend status but I have to admit that by the time I got home these past 2 weeks the last thing I could have been was creative.  I haven't really worked on much of anything.  I did get another strip of my chevron quilt done but that was about it.  Now don't get me wrong I really did want to be creative just didn't have any energy to be creative.

I did get some inspiration on Saturday though.  I slept in until almost 8:30am (4 hours later than I had been getting up) but got up in time to watch Fons and Porter Love of Quilting.  I love the show. Sometimes I learn a lot but other times it is a way to waste time. This episode was Binding Boot Camp.  I am not a great quilter (or even good), but I do love to quilt though and so I have more than one UFP.  One in particular is driving my daughter nuts.  It is a full size quilt that only needs to be bound.  It has been waiting for almost a year to be finished. Since I struggle with binding, I put it off. 
In this episode of Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting:

1. I learned that binding does not have to be cut on the bias 
2. I learned that 2 1/2 inch strips are wide enough for thick batting.
3. I learned how to figure out how many strips to cut.
4. I learned that to get really nice mitered corners you need to take the quilt out and move it.  (this is one area I really struggled with)
5. I learned to trim the edges after sewing the binding to the top.
6. I learned that experts (Liz Porter and Maryanne Fons) didn't stitch in the ditch to finish the other side but actually did it by hand because it gives you a nicer finish.  (I thought I was inept because I couldn't get it to look right)
7. And last but Not least I learned how to end the binding properly. 

I am hoping to get to work on the binding for the quilt this week.  I feel much more encouraged after watching that single episode.  I would have started it yesterday but spent the day at my husband's company picnic and then we started planting the garden (larger than most people's yards but hey I married a farm boy) Today we had church and then a hospital tower dedication.   Then it is back to working on the garden.  I am hoping to do some work on the quilt tomorrow.  If I can find the time.