I want to sew. I really do. There are days I look at my stuff (or mess as my kids call it) and really want to sew. But the motivation isn't there. I sit in front of my stuff and just stare at it not knowing were to start on most days.

Not from a lack of things to do. The kids and I are so far behind on this Famer's Wife Sampler that we won't be getting it done this summer unless a mircle happens. But that's ok. I will work on it once school starts up and get it done.

But I have a dozen other projects I want to do. The Imperial Diamonds from F&P's site, the scrappy braid from the F&P TV show. The GFG that the hexagons were given to me for.

But I just can't get the urge to go. The urge to sew is tehre but not the urge to go. How sad is that? What can I do to bust that urge?

As a writer, this happens all the time. The solution? Kick yourself in the booty and make yourself do it. :P Not necessarily the best solution, but it's the only one that works for me when I'm in a rut. I actually had to do it to myself with sewing last night--my OBW quilt has been waiting around for me to finish piecing the blocks, and I've just been a lazy pants. Well, today I'm going to finish them if it kills me!

I know your feeling. This usually happens to me, when I'm in dire need of rest. I want to but I don't have the energy to. What I sometimes do in this case, is make something very small. And I mean small... placemat, mug rug...

Instead of looking at the whole project make a small stack that you will do for that day. I am in the middle of a slow time right now. I have several blocks I plan to sew on for today and that is it.

I have a stash of 3 inch squares. I make myself sit down and sew a few together at random. It will be a scrappy quilt someday but it gets me started and feeling like something is accomplished. My machine is always set up and ready to sew again before I leave it.

Yesterday I had to babysit my DGD most of the day. did not get enough sleep the night before, so wasn't at my best. I ended up making Christmas scrappy strip blocks; no stress; they came out great! I did get enough sleep last night, so I'm going to start on a new block today.

I am in the same slump! I feel lazy but I can't get over it just yet :) Every evening I think tomorrow will be the day but it passes and nothing. I'll watch this post and see what helps- Thanks :)

Are there any other areas in your life that you are behind in your achievements? How about your laundry? Your housework? Etc? Rather than motivation, you might be low on thyroid or just needing some vitamins. Are your periods heavy? Maybe you're a bit anemic. Don't kick yourself when the problem might be physical and essentially be fatigue from one reason or another. Otherwise you might just be tired from having the kids home all summer and need some pampering and some "me" time. Try giving yourself a spa day (or two or more)or whatever seems wonderful and spoiling and rare and delightful. Then see how you feel about motivation. Sometimes a woman needs to be spoiled; sometimes she needs to see the doctor; sometimes she needs a slight kick in the pants to get going. Good luck.

when i`m in a rut so to speak...i just do a little bit everyday...even 15 minutes...sometimes just a bit of cutting or even hand quilting...doesn`t take long before you just want to get going...

When that happens to me I shift into another mode: designing or reworking or rewording a pattern. I might strongly encourage myself do a very small project, even if it is mending a shirt. I relax.

Usually there is a reason. When I force myself I find I am more dissatisfied with my finished product.

When I do this gentle pondering I often later realize what it was that was 'bothering/blocking' me. It might be the fabric I chose. it might be I didn't like the directions given. Or even that I wanted to think more about the borders or actual quilting.

The fabric I wanted to use in the OBW. I couldn't make myself work with it. It turned out it reminded me of some not so pleasant things - sick baby poop or bile. It made a beautiful fabric bowl, which I quickly finished and gave away as a gift to a friend.

I figure if my best friend wouldn't beat me up about my dithering, then why should I.

ali

I think I have Fall fever, if there is such a thing. Glad to hear that I am not the only one who gets in a slump.

I was in a slump where taking care of the yard was conerned...but as Brynn said, You just have to kick yourself in the booty and do it...so yesterday, I started weeding just around the 2 light posts, then along the house, then down all of the sidewalks and around all of the flower beds...well, needless to say, the place where I "kicked myself in the booty" is the only place that doesn't hurt today...lol...but I can see the improvemnt in the yard, so I feel that I did accomplish something...Each joourney begins with a single step...Naomi :thumbup: :thumbup:

I am very bad about getting things done when I have all the time in the world. When things get hetic I get moving. But get yourself up and finish something. You'll feel better and accomplish something. Get moving!!!!

I think most of us feel that way at some point so you are not alone. Sometimes I just tell myself I have to sew for only 15 minutes and I usually end up there for an hour or longer. If I don't do some I feel guilty and that's worse than feeling unmotivated.

This happened to me a while back. I finally realized I had so many things on the to-do list that I was just feeling like I couldn't decide what to do first, so did nothing. I spent about 2 weeks just putting the fabrics together for each pattern, then putting everything for each project in a big ziplock bag and on the top shelf. When I fiished it was still like "I want to sew, but what". I explained to my daughter who does not sew and she thought it was crazy. I said I guess there is just so many I can't motivate one to start me. She casually walked over to shelf and tossed a bag on table and said - don't do anything else till you finish this. It worked. I didn't feel pressured to get them all done. Now as I finish she just gets me another one except now she has discovered bow tuck bags and wants one in every color.

Forcing yourself to go into your sewing room is a start. Usually when I'm not in the mood to sew, that's when I clean and reorganize the sewing room. Often that's enough to motivate me to get my butt moving.

Sometimes I just have to START doing - I find myself in your quandry a lot lately. I think it might have to do with the warm weather. I have a project waiting that I MUST get started on or it won't be done by Christmas.. Can't do it tomorrow, but will definatley START on Thurs.

If you just pick one project and work on it maybe 15-20 minutes a day, then do something else like walk, clean, whatever, then the next day do the same, and before you know it, you'll be back to normal. Maybe someone else can help you.

Even 3yrs after moving,my seewing space are a disaster site. Quilting Joey gave me a suggestion. Do it by 3's!!!! so make a list ! Big things, little things any thing that you feel you did to do. Do 3 thing on the list, By doing just dooing 3 things I felt I made a more in the right direction. I'm slowing getting things done. I can't Thank JoAnn enough for being my GB Buddy Tinker/Shirley