Do you ever feel depressed when you haven't sewn in awhile?It seems I have been sooo busy I haven't had a chance to sew for my self. Sure wish things could slow down a bit so I could spend days in my quilitng studio. What do you do when you get this way. I even dream about it and feel I could cry some days.......

I know how you feel. Seems days always go fast,, but take a deep breathe,,and take a walk to refresh yourself,,, hope ur mood goes away,,,

Is there any way you can set aside 30 minutes a day to spend sewing? Sometimes we need to schedule down time too :wink:

Sounds like it is time to take care of You. Just go in there and close the door. Do Not take the phone and let everyone in the house know that they have to take care of themselves for a little while.

Maybe take a few minutes a day to go and sit in there and just relax, even if you don't get to sew .

I'm kindof there right now. I've been keeping my grandson for a year and a half, so I have an apartment in Austin where he is. It's small and there's really no place to set up to sew. My sewing room is in Lubbock with my house. I don't watch tv much, get a lot of reading done, but I miss my sewing...a LOT! It's not as bad when my dh and dog are here, but they spend a lot of time in Lubbock, holding down the fort.

I hear ya! So what I have to help on those days when machine sewing is not happening. I have some sort of hand sewing available, applique, embroidery, or quilt binding. I can do this while at appts., in the car (as a passenger only), grandkids games or just relaxing in front of the TV. Which reminds me . . . I'm almost finished with my hand embroidery and need to set up my next one, always think ahead so I have one in the wings ready to go.

That usually helps my sewing depression for a while. But there is nothing that 'really' takes care of it until you sit down at the sewing machine.

My girlfriend and I have both lived in tvl trailers, she with 3 children & dh & me and dh. I have a featherweight sewing machine I keep under the table and cutting mat goes under box spring on bed platform. Tools go on upper shelf in closet. Nap time is good to take things out and evenings obviously. Remember, even huge projects are done one block at a time, one step at a time. I use plastic boxes (w/handles) thin ones for scrapbooking from Kroger and larger from Joann to keep projects together and organized and now j's has another larger project box w/the front clips and handle that go 40% off. These are stackable in bookshelves, etc. Under the couch is another good place for cutting mat. Good luck-keep sewing. We did - you can too. We also set up tables outside w/cords and lots of people interested, possible group near you?

That's when I look over my quilting books and magazines. I even scan in the quilting directions with the picture onto a file in my computer and back it up.

I'll also 'play' with my EQ6 a bit. Maybe even go through my stash to see what I could do.

If I am still not ready to seriously quilt, I make a charity quilt. a friend and I got together and bagged material for several lap quilts for charity.

I'll also look to see if a LQS has a class I want to take. Then, of course, there is always taking the time to browse this website.

Even if I'm not physically sewing/quilting my mind is always active in the field. Then when I do sew/quilt things seem to go much faster, easier, and better.

Hope this helps,
ali

Sounds to me like it is time for you to go to your own home for awhile. Take the little guy with you for a week.

I retired and had a great schedule set up where on M-F I would go into my room and quilt. Then my husband got hurt on the job, Feb. 20 this year. He has has his surgery (shoulder, 2 in 1)but is still not back to work. My entire world was turned upside down. So now, I tell him if he needs something to let me know but otherwise I do not want to be bothered. Besides it's funny how much he can actually do for himself now. So now I am up do about 2 days a week, but I plan to make it three this coming week. We just have to make time for ourselves. It's time for the caregivers to care for themselves. If we don't we won't be good to anyone!

Sometimes I don't realize how much I miss sewing, and then I go to my room, and it feels so great I lose track of time. And I always feel so much better when I get to sew.

i've been depressed for the last few years. mostly the last two. I got laid off and finally found a new job, worked there 1 1/2 yrs and got laid off again. my house is a mess, too embarrassing to invite anyone over. i could go on. sewing is good when i do it, which isn't often. i mostly sit and read books!

I feel that way too. Some weekends I plan so I have nothing to do but sew and other things just get in the way. I also cross stitch and get up so I can stitch about 1/2 every morning before I leave for work. Just having that needle in my hand is calming.

You can get alot done in segments, too. Don't think of it as needing hours to sew. Think of it in sections. Right now I'm working on potholders to better my machine quilting skills. I pieced them last weekend, one night cut the backing, batting, and insul-bright, and now they are waiting to be stitched. Even though I would have liked to get them done in one afternoon (the plan) if I had waited until I had the time to finish them I wouldn't have even started them!

I can be hard sometimes. I finally learned to say "This Saturday is mine. I will be sewing." My kids have learned to respect that and find I'm a much happier mom when I have a little time to sew.

yes, why don't you set a time every day for your sew time!

I am there too. The last two months, because I have pain in my left elbow, I have been limitd to sewing. So I have been reading old quilt mags and loving it. Even pull our a pattern book and browse. It's impossible to make a time to do it everyday, between dr appts, etc. So my favorite time to sew when I do is from 9 at night till 3 or 4. Then I still get up no later than 9 and start over.
Native texan. I understand, and most people who do not deal with depression won't, but I was thinking you could maybe put your mind to it to get up tomrrow nad set up an easel and just piddle and paint. It will come back. Same with quilting, get a project out and do a little at a time. Surely the joy you once felt while you did this will come back. Maybe if we don't give in to the depression, we can start to enjoy what we like again. I wish you luck. Let us know.(((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))

pvquilter...maybe you will get into the santa blcok and renew your interest in quilting. I know how busy one can get and sometimes I get overwhelmed and "crash" then I read a few books, watch some old movies, and pick up the needle again. Scedule around your quilting, it will work out slowly but surely. Instead of coordinating a swap, join in head first. I wish you happy quilting moments again.((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))0

Thanks everyone for all your advise. This week I plan on taking some time for myself. I have a Dr. appt one day, plan on cleaning my house, doing some sewing and then go to the Minnesota Quilters show on the weekend. I hope this will help.

I am trying to get a tote bag done before my straps break clean through, lol...so yes...I know what it's like to sew for everyone else and just dream of your own projects waiting for you!
My grandbaby is 6, and just got a new bedroom and I'm dying to finish her princess quilt, and "frame" the castle I have on fabric.
I really want to help her with it sooo badly. I did get to buy her some of those wall stickers that are moveable and she loved them, but mom and dad said she can't put them up till they move some furniture in :hunf:
Geesh!...they are moveable!
So, I told her to call me when she does get them up, and Nana will come over and look at her decorating.
I kind of hop around on projects unless one needs more attention...gives me a little bit of something to keep me going! hugs...take some time for you. ppl won't fall out, and the sky will still be there. :thumbup:

Oh, boy, have I ever been there! Sometimes I get so busy (with one thing or another) and get crabby/sad/depressed because I have so many things tugging at my time. Even my husband will tell me "you need to get in your sewing room"! How's that for a good hubby?

Oh, boy, have I ever been there! Sometimes I get so busy (with one thing or another) and get crabby/sad/depressed because I have so many things tugging at my time. Even my husband will tell me "you need to get in your sewing room"! How's that for a good hubby?

Amma, what a great idea. I agree b/c if we wait for the time it doesn't seem to come. I have a friend who quilts 30 minutes every single day and she gets an amazing amount done. It adds up! Thanks for the reminder! :thumbup:

Yes, then my husband says, GO SEW!!

I love your plan. As a beginner will you tell me how to make the pot holders and what is insul-bright?

I made a mad quilt once. I called it that because I was so mad one day I closed myself in my room and sewed for as long as it took to stop being mad.I don't remember why I was so mad but I finished a baby blanket and cryed the rest out.

Remember the saying: If mom's not happy, no one is happy!
Take time for yourself.

It's so easy to forget to look after yourself sometimes...and things do look overwhelming when you are so busy and everyone needs a piece of you. There's been some great advice on this thread, so you know you aren't alone.

I try and break big jobs into smaller more manageable tasks and take 30mins every day to sew, potter outside or just sit and meditate (that's meditate...not stew over stuff!). Like many others I always have a portable, handwork piece to work on, so if I have appointments or have to wait around anywhere, I can chip away at my Grandmother's Flower Garden.

Hope you feel better soon.

I'm in the same boat. I got laid off from work. Slightly depressed but looking forward to quilting. Then I got a phone call from my aunt asking that I come out and be with her during her final days. I spent almost all of last summer in Albq. being a care taker for my aunt who had cancer. I did a lot of quilting while there because she slept a lot. After she passed, I came home and suffered a herniated disk in my back, had surgery and could not sit at the machine. Plus, didn't feel like sewing or quilting because I missed my aunt. I finally got to feeling like getting back into it, and wham, two weeks ago was in a car accident. I spend time reading my email, quilt books and Nora Roberts. I'll get back to sewing soon - but it won't be soon enough. I had a great push by two quilting friends who said my aunt wouldn't want me just sitting around (as she was a fantastic sewer)to just get up and quilt. I did make a small tote bag and a little wristlet purse right before the accident. I just need to get in the sewing room again.

Depression goes along with Fibro and CFS. So I live with it every day. I was fine at the start of today. But something got me off the wagon from this site....snuff said about that. SO here is a little pick us up to make us say OHHH! How cute!