Diary of a ~Mad Quilter~
03-03-2017, 05:39 AM
#21
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Manassas, VA
Posts: 2,009
Do you clean house weekly?... skip a week and quilt instead.
Don't catch up with the family or shop one weekend a month and quilt.
Instead of cooking dinner one night a week, pick up something already prepared on your way home and quilt that evening.
I've found that as I age, I just don't have the energy for everything I want (or should) do. I just skip the responsibilities regularly and do something that I enjoy.
03-03-2017, 06:03 AM
#23
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: United States
Posts: 2,222
How to you tune up your quilting mojo? I'm a working 63 year-old that daydreams about quilting at work, then I go home exhausted and can't lift a finger. (Oh yes, I've ruled out medical issues.) On the weekends I catch up with the family or shop.
I have compulsively shopped for fabric, of every variety. Purchased tons of magazines, books and patterns, not to mention notions! It has been stacked in every available spot. I can't get to the sewing machines....I have 4. I don't make quilts, I buy stuff. I've slowed down yet I still have $300.00 on gift cards that I need to use because the quilt shops seem to be going out of business too frequently.
I belong to a guild and I get inspired but by the time I am back home (it's an hour away) the moment is gone.
What do you do to get you moving? I bet a neater quilt room will be a plus. Where to I start? I have tons of UFO's that all bore me now. What would you do? Is there a 12 step program for this?
All suggestions are welcome!!!
~Crispy~
I have compulsively shopped for fabric, of every variety. Purchased tons of magazines, books and patterns, not to mention notions! It has been stacked in every available spot. I can't get to the sewing machines....I have 4. I don't make quilts, I buy stuff. I've slowed down yet I still have $300.00 on gift cards that I need to use because the quilt shops seem to be going out of business too frequently.
I belong to a guild and I get inspired but by the time I am back home (it's an hour away) the moment is gone.
What do you do to get you moving? I bet a neater quilt room will be a plus. Where to I start? I have tons of UFO's that all bore me now. What would you do? Is there a 12 step program for this?
All suggestions are welcome!!!
~Crispy~
03-03-2017, 06:04 AM
#24
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Manteno, IL
Posts: 1,621
how 'bout this....osewme has put put out a quilt in another post that is done one block per week....it might inspire you to start and complete a block without being overwhelmed or wanting to quilt. I think I'm going to try this one....and I think I can stick to one block a week....lol!!! Sorry....reginalovesfabric has put out this post and osewme gave a link to get all the blocks....hope I got it right this time....if not....I apologize!!!
Last edited by Sew Freak; 03-03-2017 at 06:06 AM.
03-03-2017, 06:05 AM
#25
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Corpus Christi, Tx.
Posts: 16,105
I am in your shoes often. When I feel the need to sew "something" but don't want to use the machine, I grab one of my busy bags and take it to the kitchen, office or living room. The busy bag can be any size with a mindless project. I have found if I keep a bag/container/pile of scraps at the machine, I can grab a foundation paper (your choice) and just mindlessly sew strings. or get some graph paper and sketch a sampler. I have a bag of socks that I darn. Often though we go through more stress than we realize and just can't 'cut loose". Looks like a few of the commenters are letting you know you aren't alone in the boat.
03-03-2017, 06:31 AM
#27
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Canadian in Minnesota
Posts: 3,078
Those of us who buy fabric "for when I retire" should have a support group! I'm lucky enough to live in Minneapolis, where we have wonderful quilt shops in addition to a fabric warehouse. I work half-days on Fridays, so guess how I spend my Friday afternoons?
As for actually sitting down and sewing something with my yards and yards of fabric, I found a fellow quilter in my condo building and he and I book the community room one or two Saturdays a month, bring our machines and our current projects, put on the coffee pot and sew together. I've been getting so much more done this way, because I don't feel guilty if I'm just sitting reading a book for an entire weekend - I know that next Saturday I'll be spending the entire day sewing, conversing, and helping each other with our projects.
As for actually sitting down and sewing something with my yards and yards of fabric, I found a fellow quilter in my condo building and he and I book the community room one or two Saturdays a month, bring our machines and our current projects, put on the coffee pot and sew together. I've been getting so much more done this way, because I don't feel guilty if I'm just sitting reading a book for an entire weekend - I know that next Saturday I'll be spending the entire day sewing, conversing, and helping each other with our projects.
03-03-2017, 06:41 AM
#28
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Northeastern Indiana
Posts: 2,800
All of you are speaking to me. I'm in the same leaky boat. I've said for years that I needed to hire a person to stand behind me with a whip to keep me going.
Back when I was working and had $$ I bought everything. Longarm, sewing machine cabinet, fabric by the bolt. I even took the apartment next to where I live and made a huge sewing area. There it sits, and here I sit. I'm lousy at piecing too. So I analysed it and realized, with the help of those here, that I had a machine with free arm, and I needed one with a big bed. So I got that. Now that does not fit in my Amish maple sewing cabinet.
I'm going to post pictures of the options the carpenter gave me. You are not alone Crispy Frog, not alone at all. Maybe we need a group!
Back when I was working and had $$ I bought everything. Longarm, sewing machine cabinet, fabric by the bolt. I even took the apartment next to where I live and made a huge sewing area. There it sits, and here I sit. I'm lousy at piecing too. So I analysed it and realized, with the help of those here, that I had a machine with free arm, and I needed one with a big bed. So I got that. Now that does not fit in my Amish maple sewing cabinet.
I'm going to post pictures of the options the carpenter gave me. You are not alone Crispy Frog, not alone at all. Maybe we need a group!
03-03-2017, 06:45 AM
#29
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,430
I just donated 60 yds of fabric to our local 4-H club and they were thrilled! The girls learn to sew, quilt, etc., in the summer especially. Call them first. They sent me a receipt for tax purposes the next week. I was a 4-H-er myself so glad I thought of them first.
03-03-2017, 06:57 AM
#30
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,430
Pagzz has a good suggestion; have something laid out that you are working on so you can sit down and sew just 5 minutes on. It's not much, but it's a start. Tomorrow, do the same thing. Just a few minuted a day will slowly enable you to see progress. Have your tools within easy reach and your project laid out near the machine. If a kitty likes the fabric, cover it well and get back to your project tomorrow. Remember, SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE.
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