Help!!!

I have spent the last two weekends puttering in my sewing room and just can't seem to get any inspiration for projects.

I keep looking through books and on the web for ideas. I have projects to make - but seem to have a block. I can't get an idea or start anything.

What do others do when you have a block?

How do you start the creative juices flowing again?

A\Suggestions are greatly appreciated!!

Sometimes I just have to force myself to pick out something and just start sewing it... usually a smaller item :D:D:D

Welcome to the group!

Look through some of the pictures here and you will come away with more ideas than you can possibly accomplish. lol

Join a swap. Whatever you end up doing, welcome.

I have been having this problem too. :cry:

I usually force myself to do something...anything! And then again...sometimes I just let myself hang out with hubby and watch the tube! ;) You don't always have to be sewing, or at least that's what I tell myself!

Maybe try something new to you?

Have some chocolates. Amazing what comes to mind.

O.k. girl, what are you mixing in those chocolates, and where can I get some? giggle giggle :lol:

Ditter

I've been looking through the old pictures posts, it is giving me some ideas.

I certianly love the chocolate idea.

I do the swaps. I have finished my April Doll Quilt and signed up for the May Doll Quilt nd the Table Runner Swap, but am having trouble getting inspired.

I keep charm square packs and leftover batting squares on hand for times like this - I'll pick them up and make coasters. No thinking, just sewing - but seeing something accomplished, even something small, seems to spur me on.

Oh! I like the coaster idea!!

If I'm stuck, I will pull fabrics from the stash and try to make a purse or totebag. That's usually enough to kick my butt back into gear.

=)

I want some too!!!! :roll:

Whenever I have a mental block or just plain want to loaf I'll start looking through the Quilter's Cache blocks. I always end up inspired from there.

ReRe

All I have to do is visit this board! Lots of inspiration here! :-)

I usually find a fabric that I love, that I have wanted to use in something. I have many but the one that calls to me wins! From there I will start looking through patterns, magazines, books, etc. I will also look through my stash for fabrics to go with the "star" fabric. That's all it takes for me, and that can lead to an all-nighter if I'm not careful. I have a bulletin board with lots of ideas for quilts I hope to make someday. So spending some time looking at that will always lead to a new quilt to start.

If you don't have anything pressing that "has" to be done, give yourself a break... take a walk clear your mind and say its ok to take a break :lol: if the block is really bothering you, you get more upset about it and it can cause a pattern of frustration. Does that make sense ?

I know when the weather is yucky outside it causes blocks for me .

That happens....everyone needs a creative holiday....a holiday from creating. Give your brain a rest...keep looking through quilting magazines and maybe resort your fabrics. You will get inspired again....just wait it out. It'll be worth it.

I have been experiencing the same thing. Can't figure it out.
I have to finish the April Doll Swap and can't get beyond the piecing. I have been doing some English PPing when in the car or when my brain hurts from too much studying. Now finals are coming up and ...

I decided to pick up my crocheting to keep me busy. Maybe a week of that and I will be back in the groove.

I agree. Maybe you're just burnt out on quilting. Give yourself permission to take a break and come back when you really want to.

I have times when I loooove quilting, and others when my passion is photography, writing, scrapbooking, or (LOL) sleeping. Just let what is be and don't beat yourself up over it. When it's time, your creative juices will come back.

that's what I do too.

I have gone to my stash and picked out material for a baby or children's quilt to donate...sometimes sewing for others takes the stress and pressure away from doing a "creative" or "challenging" quilt. I know we love the challenge and hunt for a fun new project.

This is why I keep some hand sewing around all the time. Whether it is embroidery or my Grandmother's Flower Garden. There are just some times when I don't feel like setting at the machine and sewing! Sometimes I have to MUCH time to sew and I get board with it. Then there are weeks like this when I really really want to sew but my sewing machine is packed up so I can't! Thank goodness the move is almost here and I will be able to unpack my machines and sew again!

You want to sew because the machine is packed up! That's just like me and driving...I never want to go anywhere (unless it's to a fabric store) until my car is in the shop or I have loaned it to someone! :lol:

Sometimes I just need a "little" visit to the LQS. I have a system. Look over stash, look over looseleaf notebook with saved patterns and try to just pick up one piece to compliment something(s) already on the shelves.

For several years, I've been cutting out pix of quilts from catalogs and stuffing them in a big plastic zipper bag. There's usually a backlog of quilts I want to make, so I rarely get to a point where I need to look for inspiration, BUT if I do, that's the first place I look. I've accumulated hundreds of pictures and it's not very organized, but I don't care. I also have lots of magazines, but not many quilts in them that I like except a few prize winners that are waaaaaaaay beyond my skill level and always will be. And of course, there are quilt patterns stored in my computer ... the free PDF downloads.

Browse through your pix and your fabrics and you'll probably find inspiration.

I find when I am working on a quilt that my mind goes nutso and I start planning what I am going to do next. Then when the quilt is done and ready for the quilter's shop I am all ready to start on the next one. My break comes in when I fix the boxes that I have thrown my colors into. I separate the scraps from the larger pieces of fabric, throw the scraps into labeled baggies and they all go into a box. I found the neatest block to make from Quilter's Cache - 12". It is called Depression and it is a perfect block for the scraps. I think I will make a table runner next. That'll get rid of a lot of the scraps. All the patches are either light or dark, all different, whatever. So I always know what is next. I just put the sewing machine back in the case for a while and let it rest. It has been the busiest. Oh yah! I give it a good cleaning before it goes on vacation. Edie

Tale a short drive with your camera and then you can do a landscape quilt = go to an old building and look at their floors - alot of designs are out there! Use our world for inspiration.

I keep a list of quilts that I want to make as well as a list of UFOs. I rarely get to my "to do" list because there's always a quilt that I see that I want to make, but in the rare occasions when I'm "stuck" I look at my list and then go to my stash. I have pre-bundled fabrics for future quilts, and have about 30 of these bundles just waiting for a pattern! I have soooo many books and patterns I've taken from magazines that I can always find something I'm just dying to make. If all else fails, I'll go through my UFOs and just seeing them makes me anxious to get one out and start working on it again. But there are times when I just don't feel like sewing, so I'll take a break and do some knitting, or gardening, or read, or just watch tv.

It's the middle of spring here everywhere I look is inspiration. Take a walk maybe you too will see something inspiring.

WOW lots of great suggetions. I love the swaps, and maybe after the May Doll Quilt I'll take a little break. I have several ideas for other quilts (besides the swaps), but just can't seem to get myself in gear.

Quilting is a form of tension release for me. Each day after work I spend an hour secluded in the room sewing etc. However for the last week it has just been moving fabric from place to place -leafing through books - nothing with a purpose. Instead of releasing tension, I'm getting all tense.

Maybe I'll take a few days off and not even enter the room and give both my brain and eyes a rest. (I can always finish up some cross stitching projects)

At least I know I'm not alone when it comes to a block and I won't worry to hard about it.

What helps me pick a pattern, or even a color scheme-
Is to think about the person I am making the quilt for.
Is it a baby shower gift/birthday gift/Xmas gift?
Or is it a quilt I am making for myself? Of course when making a quilt for myself I use my favorite colors.
If I am making a quilt for charity, I go to my scrap box, so it will be a scrappy quilt. Whether for a crib/lap quilt will decide baby prints or not. Good luck!

Maybe try a new technique that you have been wanting to do, like paper peicing or applique. See where it goes from there. I find if I pull out something completely different, I get inspired as my mind goes in another direction.

I get on the Internet and google quilting sites. It's great entertainment and often very inspirational.

Maybe you should just do other things now til the quilting urge returns. I go through stages when I don't have any desire to quilt then all of a sudden I get quilting fever & ideas keep popping in my head & I can't wait to get started. When I'm in this stage I even have trouble sleeping because I keep designing quilts in my head. Don't know if this helps or not but I think if I didn't go through "stages" I'd never get anything else done.

We all get them - those mental blocks. I do a number of things - gardening, fabric shopping, stash sorting or just a great walk in a local park or trail with my camera close at hand.
Backing away from the item is the most important thing, in my opinion.
I liked everyone's idea of making a tote bag, pot holder or coaster. Make it play time how ever you can.

I, too, sometimes get "quilter's block". I fondle my fabrics, shuffle through patterns and review all my books. I get mad at myself for not being able to select a project to begin. Whenthis happens, I find that if I make something easy, like a purse or tote bag, I get that instant gratification that I seem to need. As soon as "something" is finished, I'm ready to get to stitching again.
For the last two weeks, I've "wasted" time between projects because I just "couldn't decide". Last night I made a Bow Tuck bag and now I'm ready to go. Weird huh?

what a great idea, I just started cutting a new one today

Maybe you just need a "break" from quilting. Use the time to read that book you always wanted, sort your clothes for the less fortunate, try that recipe you always wanted to try..... the possibilities are endless... Just might be a case of "spring fever" - so go for a LONG walk, take your camera for some inspiring future quilt color ideas........

I think everyone has that problem once in a while. I just went through a spell of 'no project blues'. Suddenly, my daughter wants a candle mat and a table runner. The guild I belong to is having a challenge quilt event which won't be due until next March but something moved me to start working on a small wall hanging (never entered before) and I am enjoying that. Don't worry - just keep looking at magazines and pretty soon you will have so many projects you won't be able to keep up with them!

Well, scrubbin and cleanin seems to inspire me to get back to my quilting......in a hurry!