How much time would you estimate you spend doing leatherwork?

[abn]

Lately, with everything that's been going on both at work and at home, I'm lucky if I'm able to devote even two or three hours per week to leatherwork. My entire production for the month of October was one wristband. (Good thing I'm not relying on this hobby for any income!)

For the other hobbyists on this board, I'm curious... How much time would you estimate you spend each week doing leatherwork? When do you usually do it (evenings, mornings, etc)? And what are your strategies for setting aside time for this (and getting motivated, considering all the other things going on in your lives)?

Just wondering how the rest of you balance this...

Regards, -Alex

[Johanna]

Does time working on leatherworker.net count?

Zero, otherwise.

(Good topic, abn!)

Johanna

[abn]

Does time working on leatherworker.net count?

Nope. But as an aside, lately I'm sure I've been spending more time on this board than actually doing leatherwork. I wonder if that's a bad sign?

[ClayB]

I know exactly how you feel Alex. With a full time job, family, household stuff, neighbors and friends that want help with cattle or putting up a garage etc., it's hard to have any left to do leatherwork. I try and take a least one weekend day for myself to do some leatherwork. I tend to get more done in the winter with shorter days to work outside and colder temps. And I spend some time each morning and evening here on the forum trying to keep up. My leather work is for my own benefit, it helps me keep my sanity although I think it may be a losing battle these days.

[Art]

Hi Alex,

Lately I am lucky if I can get 3-5 hours a week and I am going to have to take a week off the day job to get the stuff done I have promised people for Christmas; and it is NOVEMBER, where did the year go. I keep promising myself the weekend is mine, I'm going to knock some of this stuff out, but that rarely happens anymore, and the Christmas season is ahead where we have to go to this or that relatives house for some function and all of them live more than three hours away. Hmmmmm, I have five extra hours a day if I don't sleep, and I can cut back on sex, that's an extra hour a month; I wonder how long I can do that.

Art

Lately, with everything that's been going on both at work and at home, I'm lucky if I'm able to devote even two or three hours per week to leatherwork. My entire production for the month of October was one wristband. (Good thing I'm not relying on this hobby for any income!)

For the other hobbyists on this board, I'm curious... How much time would you estimate you spend each week doing leatherwork? When do you usually do it (evenings, mornings, etc)? And what are your strategies for setting aside time for this (and getting motivated, considering all the other things going on in your lives)?

Just wondering how the rest of you balance this...

Regards, -Alex

[Zilla]

I'm lucky enough that my real job is only 4 days... So depending on that all nasty item called money I can get a days worth of playing in. As a side note everyone on my Christmas list is getting something leather instead of knitted LOL I noticed in the new TLF sales flyer there a lot of buy 3 at this price for belts and purses and all the basket weave tools are $5.

Kev

[gunfighter48]

Right now I'm spending about 4 - 5 hours a day making belts. But there is a big gun show Dec. 8th and 9th near me and I'm working on 32 heavy duty gun belts to take to the show. I will also be making some mag carriers and a few holster to take to the show. Between my full time job and taking care of my handicapped wife, I'm burning the late night oil!!!

[Washroad]

Several years ago I developed a sleep disorder. Too many years behind the wheel of a truck causes it. Anyway, I have a funny pattern. I'm awake all day, sometimes 4:30am, next day, 6:30am.

I have a lot going on at my house (constant state of remodel, which is what I get for buying a "fixer-upper"). So, on the weekends, if up early, I get coffee :coffee: :coffee: :coffee: , feed the dogs and at least look at the stuff I'm doing/supposed to be doing. I'll stay out there until my wife wakes up, sometimes 3 hours.

I get home from work before my wife usually, gives me an hour or so. She likes to go to bed usually 9:30pm, I'm not able to sleep yet, so I get another hour or so before I can finally fall asleep. (Been to the clinic, had the sleep test done, can't deal with the machine, lost 60 lbs and I'm better, lose some more I'll get more better. )

I'm posting from work right now. Sometimes when I have lacing to do I'll bring it to work and instead of going out for a smoke I will lace.

The thing I need to learn NOT to do: when I come home and feel like doing something with leather, it is best not to pour 3 ounces of Jack Daniels into a glass before starting.

Edited November 2, 2007 by Washroad

[rawhide1]

I'm glad i'm not the only one that has trouble finding time. Ya would think with my job scheldule 24hr on 48hr off I would have time. But with my wife working 3rd shift as a RN and three kids 8,4 in Dec,and my boy turning two in Jan. I spend all my time chasing the two little ones especially the boy. So the wife gets up at 2:30 or so and then we pick the oldest one up from school and get home and I cook supper and make sure homework and the kids chores are done. So my wife can ride her horses and do chores (5 hayburners,4 dogs,4 cats,rabbit, and a fish) it's dark thirty and time to put kids in bed and the wife to go back to work if she's scheldued. Now my wife does aplenty around the house (pay bills,laundry,baths for kids ect..)So i'm not griping about it and I feel it's important for her to have time with her hoss's. Because I diffently married a hell of a lot better than she did. But trying to braid especially rawhide while trying to watch those two little counter monkeys just doesn't seem to work real well and I can try to braid while on duty after 17:00hrs but calls always seem to come in at the wrong time. So I usally just braid at home after 22:00hrs for a couple of hrs. With all that said I wouldn't change a thing if I could. Kids are great the wife is great and i'm finner than frog hair. Sorry for rambling so much but it's nice to know i'm not the only one with no time. Mike

[freak]

I'm like most, there is no set or norm for the number of hours i get a week. Sometimes i get mucho time in and some, like most it seems, i get none a week. I try to do what i can on Saturday and hope to finish a piece up at nite thru the following week. If it's raining i'm at home and if i have my to do list done or at a point to where i can take a break from it i do my leather work.

I find that many times i can waste all my leather time on just drawing my design, over and over and over and over and over again.....

A project always takes twice as long as i think it will all so. What up with that ?!