Diary of a ~Mad Quilter~
 

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've been in a bit of a slump myself lately. I have a lap quilt that I've been working on for 2+ years now sitting here laughing at me as I type. I'm down to the last bit of hand quilting. If I put my mind to it, I could probably have it quilted in just a few days and it would be DONE! But here I sit, typing instead. Sigh.

Sorry - no words of inspiration - just commiseration!

I have times I feel the same way. I have found that sometimes if I tell myself I can either sew or do something else I am dreading, it gets me into the sewing room. Then I get interested and keep sewing.

I agree that an uncluttered space helps a lot. Go through your fabric, and see what you don't like anymore. Get rid of it. Look through the WIPs and be honest about whether you will finish each one. If not, get rid of it. Sometimes we are paralyzed by our 'stuff'. It overwhelms and makes it hard to do anything. You'll feel better to reduce it, even by a little bit. I always feel ready to sew after I've purged a bit.

Then pick a fun quick project and make it. A baby quilt for a niece or nephew or Project Linus. Nothing complicated; just fun. Good luck - you can do this!

Maybe just accept that now is the time to shop and dream. Later, maybe the actual quilting will take place. Cut yourself some slack. I'm of a similar age and do some of the same things. I actually finished only 2 quilts last year, both just lap quilts. However, I bought lots of fabric, read lots of blogs, did several "I spy" swaps and bought quilting books and magazines.

After I work all day, "kind of" clean the house, socialize some, cook some, do laundry, answer my email and all the other things life takes, I don't have a lot of energy left over.

However, I enjoy buying the fabric, etc. and plan on getting some quilting done when I get to retire. The chase and the plan brings me lots of pleasure, so I probably won't stop.

If you really want to get a quilt done, do it for someone else for an occasion. That's about all that gets me through to the end. The DH said a few weeks ago, "How old is that kid you're making the "I spy" quilt for?" which got me going to the finish. It still doesn't have a label, but I'm going to gift it without one if I don't have it figured out by the end of next week.

Bkay

Maybe you're working too much! Try scheduling one day a week OFF to stay home and sew.

Hi Quilter from Garland. I live in north Dallas and attend Quilters Guild of Plano. PM me if you ever want to sew with someone else to help with mojo.

I believe our mojo waxes and wanes. Don't be hard on yourself. We allow painters to accumulate supplies etc.

I think having a quick project can give you a jump start on other things.

If you can leave your project out so it's ready to do the next step without the work of setting things up it helps.

Sometimes if you make yourself do something for 15 mins per day good things happen...you get caught up in it and want to finish it or you finish it slowly at 15 mins per day.

Join guild members at a community sew day for donation quilts and just have fun with fellow quilters.

Also look at yourself and check to see if the projects in your mind are all perfect and you don't trust yourself to accomplish what you can envision. Give yourself permission to play.

Peggy

Pick a small project: a bag or a table runner.

I am sometimes that way. I will have periods of time where I am super productive, some where I am totally unmotivated to do anything more strenuous that read these board comments, and some in between. If you want a small project to get you going, National Quilter's Circle is having a 9 block, 9 week challenge. We are making one block a week. If you're on Facebook, check out their page.There are over 18,000 people from around the world participating. Above all, enjoy.
Happy Quilting,

Jeannette

Part of it may be too much of what you know you don't want anymore being in the way. Is there a women's shelter, half way house, rehab center or something similar nearby that would accept your least wanted machine, fabric and notions nearby? Or perhaps a Salvation Army site that could keep an eye out for someone who wants a sewing machine, fabric and notions but can't afford them? Just trying to think of motivators that would be an encouragement to help you pare things down so you could breath, than organize a little at a time until you like your space. Then see if you feel like planning something small. Helping someone else have the opportunity to create can be an encouragement to ourselves as well. Just a thought, we all have times like these too you are far from alone!