I haven't sewn in ages.

How do you get motivated to get back into it?

I've had an incredibly stressful couple of weeks, and tonight when I should be sewing I'm sitting staring blankly at the tv watching a movie I have no interest in.

I've got to get my black and white blocks finished (have four left to do) and they need to be in the mail in the next three days. And have 2 miniature quilts for the swap to do.

And I just can't get motivated.

Help!

My neighbour's house burned down the week before last, very frightening, in the middle of the night as these things always are. He wasn't home at the time, but we didn't realise that for quite a while.

Then my partner had a "cardiac episode" the same night, bought on when he couldn't find me (I was helping the neighbour get their kids and puppies out).

And Friday just gone my 11 year old got rushed to hospital by ambulance, strapped to a back board, with a suspected neck injury. He's fine, thank god, it's muscular not spinal. But was another very frightening few hours.

I think I need a vacation!

I hear you and I am in the same boat. I have moved into my new sewing room and I should be all over it but I just haven't been. I have been looking for my inspiration in mags and books and on the web but I am spending hours looking and no time doing. SO tonight I just made myself go down there and start something I should have done a month ago and I have been up all night long. I didn't sleep Friday night into Sat and now I have been up for 24 hours straight and I could stay up all day I believe. I made something small so if my lack of enthusiasm ruined it I wouldn't be too upset. You just have to start and you will be glad you did. It is like exerciser or visiting the in laws. You don't want to but once you do you are glad you did.

Something small is probably a good idea.... all my projects at the moment are a bit overwhelming.



:-)

Oh my goodness...I can see why you're not motivated. I think you just need time for your heart to stop racing. Maybe quilting feels too frivolous when so much serious stuff is going on? Maybe you just need to give yourself permission to sew. :-)

I'm in the same boat...I haven't sewed since mid-April--but the equine are taking up all my extra time. :roll:

I've been the same way at times, but I find that I just have to force myself in there to get things done. Hate when that happens!

Maybe just do something little, then build back up to your big things.

BC, I think we've all ben in the same boat at one time or another. I'm just starting quilting again after taking about two years off. Just concentrated on my genealogy and other stuff. This board has been good for getting me back to the sewing machine. Start small, and if it isn't working, put it aside and just relax. It will come when all the other stuff is out of the way. It is hard to concentrate when you have all that other stuff going on. We're all here for you.

I know you didn't ask of a hug but I think you need one.

{{{{{{HUG}}}}}}

You'll find your happy sewing mod again. Go warp yourself in one of your lovely quilts. Think of it as a hug from all of us. :-)

I'm sorry that you've had all these trials and tribulations in your life recently, but hopefully that's all over now. As far as motivation, one of the members on board, said to spend just 15 minutes a day doing something in your sewing room(reorganizing your stash, sewing, etc) and the motivation will come.

There is a lot going on in my life right now and I can relate to all of your stress. Sometimes I just want off of the merry go round. I find that getting my sewing organized really helps. My life is sort of cluttered up with lots of responsibilities that will not be going away, so it helps when I can step into an uncluttered room.

Sit with a plain scrap and play with all your decorative stitches. I do that alot just to get me going.

So sorry to hear about all of the stress that has been in your life recently...glad to hear that your son is not hurt as bad as you originally thought...they can be the death of us!!!!
Sometimes I just have to tell myself to look at my projects like it is a job. I will go to "work" for X amount of time each day until I get whatever needs to be done, finished. Surprisingly, it can be the motivation I need to get back into the sewing groove.

BC, I'm so glad you started this thread, 'Sorry for all the upheaval that's been going on. Hope everything settles down this week , back to normal for you,

I can't get in the mood to sew either, and still need to do B@W blocks and a surprise gift and mini quilt. Tried to work last night , but stitches were awful and had to take them out. I just can't get going and it is driving me crazy,
I think amma may be right, see it as a job for awhile, I think I'll try that today.

Hang in there and know you are not alone in the way you feel, it seems to be a normal thing, after reading these posts! That makes me feel a little better :D

Make something small just for you. Hyacinths for the soul my MIL used to call them.

bc - wow - hope things settle down for you.

As far as the sewing goes, how much of that is a MUST do versus SHOULD do versus WANT to do? What is the worst that would happen if you just closed the door on everything for a while?

Also, with all the stuff going on in your life, I appreciate your taking time out for the kind words you sent to me.

OMG! You have your hands full with LIFE! Praying that all will settle down and you can take a breath! Try a wannado, a small sample if you iwll. But don't force yourself. When health issues come up, everything else has to wait! Maybe put together some hand work that you can take with you away from the sewing room.

when i get into a sew funk i always make a handbag.

it always lifts my mood to have a cute bag to sport around town

oh, Blue, first thing you need is a HUG! ouch, you stepped on my toe...it's ok...they're only 1/4" long.
(compared to your 8-10 inchers :roll: :lol: )
well, we were talking about you coming to visit, and sew with me...now's the time...hop on a plane, don't try to 'wing' it, lol :D
I'll get you back in the mood, if we don't yack it up, too much! well, you'll be in the mood, even if we don't get much sewing done, lol!
we'll have you from :cry: to 8) in no time, dude! :XD:

sounds funny, but I mean it! what were those sex therapists names?
(years ago), they would have ppl that were bored do things, but
NO SEX...go, sit in your sewing area, with no pressure to do anything.
The urge will come back, eventually.
(funny, it doesn't always work that way with, sex, lol! :roll: :mrgreen: )

Blue Chicken,
I can certainly relate to your situation.
How are you feeling, after your bad cold?
Mine is getting better, but I still have no
energy to sew. I did finish my second set
of B&W blocks yesterday. Now I am working
on your Doll Quilt. I sure hope you like it!!
Give yourself a BIG {{{{{{{HUG}}}}}}}
:D :D :D :D :D :D

PS: It's 1:05 PM Sunday, June 14th, 2009

You can always make me something if you're stumped! I think all quilters get in those ruts. No worries, your quilting mojo will return. You're too talented to stop now!

Bluechick, with all the excitement and stress in your life, you need to decompress. I noticed that you started your sewing references with "I HAVE to" and I think that may be part of the problem. Why don't you put the "have tos" in line behind something fun (a "want to")? When I get in that mode, I go through my books and magazines, pet my fabric, and see what speaks to me. Don't worry sweets, everything will balance out again.

BTW - glad everyone is OK.

Hugs from CA. If that doesn't help, let me know and I'll send a kick in the pants. lol

THANK YOU! :-)

I knew you guys would understand.

I'm off to work in a sec, but this afternoon I'm going to start with tidying up and putting things back where they belong. And if I don't feel highly motivated, I'm going to do a little something just to get in the mood. I have a stunning piece of Japanese style fabric and a little metal purse handle waiting to be turned into a little purse. No piecing, just a straight bag shape and then attach it to the handles, how hard can it be!

The difference between "needs" and "wants" is a biggy.... and I have ditched the thought of doing two sets of b&w's because I know I just won't get it done. Unless I score a day off work this week.... hmmmmm....... *wonders how to swing that*
But everything else comes under the "REALLY want to" heading, so kind of qualifies as a Need! lol

It's actually a really good point.... having to do something takes a lot of the fun out of something, puts that little bit of pressure on. And some days I just don't do pressure.

Thank you again!

It's a lot better now... has turned into one of those nagging coughs that sneak up on you though! While in A&E on Friday night there was a woman in the waiting room getting yelled at by one of the staff, she had "flu symptoms" and Wellington has an outbreak of swine flu, so she wasn't supposed to be in the waiting room, was supposed to be in a special clinic set aside. I felt sorry for her getting yelled at, but at the same time was angry that she was putting my baby at risk. I have to be honest and admit that a week quarantined at home sounds mighty attractive right now! lol

*blush* I'm so glad someone else "pets" their fabrics! LMAO

Sometimes I like to just run my hands over them, pull out the pieces I really like, and put them into groups.

And I might need the kick in the pants, have so much other stuff to do as well! lol

I find that quilting can help relieve some of the stress, of course when it is causing some of the stress you need to find something to help with that as well. After loosing my sewing room Feb 08 to a fire of all things, luckily that is all it took, it took some serious work to get back into it. Even today I find it hard sometimes, But i forge ahead and keep going, it is too important in my life to give up, and in the past it has helped a lot, my DH suffers from PTSD and so that is a daily stress that needs to be relived. Working in small bits sometimes helps me, do a few seams take a break, do some pressing take a break, do a few more seams. Sooner or later the stuff will get done. That is how I did the top that I am working on now. I took more breaks than sewing time. But now all it needs is it's border.

Can I have sex IN my sewing room?!? ;-)

Oh my goodness that must have been devestating!
I was mildly surprised during the fire next door to realise that my "stuff" wasn't as important as I thought. We had the kids up, dressed, and ready to go, and had the animals sorted ready to shift quickly, but never gave the "stuff" a second thought. At that point though, we believed the neighbour was inside, and beyond help, so nothing else really compares to that.
Glad you're doing ok now, it must have been a hell of a time!

Hmm BC Now that sounds like my kind of motivation ;) ;)

DOH! I'm such an idiot!

Hubby just rang and said he's going to have to work late, and I said "that's ok, I'll just spend the evening sewing".

*lightbulb moment*
Part of my not sewing lately has to be not wanting to be away from him right now. Nothing else matters as much as him in my life. My sewing room is down the hallway, and it's winter here now, so to sew in the evening I have to shut the door and turn my little heater on. Normally I love it, I'm cocooned in my little room in my own little world. But after the scare the other night, I want to be able to see him, or hear him at least, and know that he's ok.

I'm sorry to hear about all your troubles lately. That'll do it! I find I sometimes get overwhelmed when I have a lot of WIP lying around. I don't know where to begin, so I do nothing. When that happens, I put everything out of sight except for one small project - even if it's only a block. That I can handle! Once I get going on that, the momentum is in full gear and I can go ahead and tackle other things. But, don't be hard on yourself. You've had some hair-raising dramas lately and you can give yourself permission to rest up.

I recommend sex in the sewing room if that is what motivates you. The big worry about the fire was my son was home alone when it happened, it wasn't really until the dust so to speak settled and having to look at the devestation afterwards that it really sunk in. And then having to look at it for 7 weeks while the insurance company was trying to decide if they were going to cover it or not. Going through the stuff was torture at it worse. Just this Jan Feb I opened some of the boxes that the quilting fabric got saved in, they decided that they couldn't get the black out so they didn't clean it at all, that I opened them and tried to deal with it, I picked out few pieces that I wanted for my daughters quilt and sat on the kitchen floor in tears, black and smelly. My DH washed the rest for me.

Do you have enough bare spots in your room? I don't.

If I move a little of this and a little of that, I can make room on a table or two, depends if the cutting table it clear, and there is always the chairs

Ah Blue

You certainly have had alot to deal with recently. I do hope both your DH & Son are recovering now - oh & your neighbour also.

I was feeling like you afew weeks ago so I decided to go off & have a good old rumage through my magazines & books looking for inspiration. I sat up until about 3am one time as I just couldn't settle. Then I got that feeling - yes you know the ....... pulling out the fabrics one.
So there I am rooting around in my stash & looking for fabrics that match or compliment each other. I found just what I was looking for. I started making myself a Scrap Catcher, that got me back in the swing of things. I have since added the Scrap Catcher to the UFO pile. :lol:
Your get their - even if it means starting off by just going into your room & stroking your stash - it worked for me :wink:

I'll be thinking of you - Take Care. Tisha

Bluechicken, I am sorry for you that you had lots of things to get throgh.
Would the Japanese craft magazines and cocolates be good mojo to cheer you up?? LOL

Yumi

Oh Lordy, QnC, I reeeeeelllly hate to admit it, but it was Masters & Johnston. Crud, I'm old.

BlueChicken wrote:
...It's actually a really good point.... having to do something takes a lot of the fun out of something, puts that little bit of pressure on. And some days I just don't do pressure.

Thank you again! [/quote]

Do I hear you!!! sounds like your getting a handle on it, lol!
you can't keep a good bird down...take care of you, Blue. We may have to go on another manhunt, or have another sneak in a quilters closet...LOL...did you ever get that off your foot? :shock: :lol:

Whatever motivates you! Just be very aware of where the pins are.

:-}