Today Lisa and I were chatting about what to blog about today, and I thought about a conversation that we had over email yesterday. We were discussing our plans for the patterns we'd made in a custom T-shirt pattern making class we took at The Workroom...and incidentally, about the myth of the prolific night-time crafter.
From: Lisa
Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 13:16
To: Austen
Subject: !
Superaweseome thought I just had: You could totally use that Tshirt pattern to make a dress! The most awesomely comfortable dress ever. I'm doing that.
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From: Austen
Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 13:21
To: Lisa
That is a genius idea! So smart. Hellooooooo, summer wardrobe!
I am planning to try my pattern out tonight. But just for a T-shirt.
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From: Lisa
Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 13:26
To: Austen
I was thinking I might too. Though I often daydream about these things in the afternoon, and then when it gets to be about 8 p.m. and I finally have a few spare minutes, I don't follow through.
Excited to see what you come up with!
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From: Austen
Sent: Tue, 1 May 2012 13:30
To: Lisa
That happens to me too. For some reason I feel like I should be able to start something and finish it on the same day, and then when I know I can't, I get frustrated so I just don't start anything at all. And watch TV instead.
So maybe I should say that tonight I am going to cut out the pieces of a tshirt. Or, more realistically, tonight I am going to set up the ironing board. At this rate, I'll have a new t-shirt by Labour Day. Guess I should make it long-sleeved after all?
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From: Lisa
Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 13:34
To: Austen
Glad it's not just me! I always imagine that you go home every night and make or cook or write something
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From: Austen
Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 13:41
To: Lisa
Well, you know: make (a mess), cook (boil the kettle?) and write (a four word email).
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When I re-read this exchange this morning it made me laugh (and it sort of reminded me of this post on Dinner: A Love Story).
I think that sometimes – even to people we know quite well, people with whom we share daily routines and typical ups and downs – it looks like we're just effortlessly putting in the 9-to-5, then going home, taking care of business (dinner, housework, family, all the rest) and, oh yeah, no big deal, whipping up a craft or two on the side every night.

But we're not. Some nights, just ironing the fabric for that new T-shirt is as good as it gets. If we're really lucky and someone else is making dinner, sometimes we might get more done. But there are many many nights that end, not with some late-night sewing, but with a dead drop onto the couch.
Just thought you might like to know.