I managed to go one month without buying any fabric - that's an accomplishment - just keep telling myself I need to save my money for the Dewing Expo coming in March.

Well today I looked at my WIP (about 10 quilt tops done but need quilting which I hate to do).

Then I looked at all the "kits" or "bundles" of fabric that I've bought over the past few years - many of those just sitting there all nicely bundled.

And of course, there the "stash" of fabric and patterns and books sitting on the shelves nice and neat.

But I'm just not in the mood to do anything -- I need motivation. There are days I actually unplug the computer so I won't be on it all day, but apparently that's not helping either. I have a list a mile long "in my head" of all the things I want to do and I have the time and the materials to do them, just don't know why I can't get "kick started".

Does any one else have this problem or solution.

I am wasting my days and that's not too smart.

Karen

some times it takes making something small (instant gratification) to get the creative juices flowing again, but don't be too hard on your self...it is a commen ailment for the month after the holidays...the winter is dreary, the holiday---rush=== is over and it is just time to....well, you know...but go make something small, done in a couple hours, like a new tote bag maybe decorate a sweatshirt.

Call a quilting friend. Maybe you two could swap projects. You do something she doesnt like to do and vice versa.

Or try doing something a different way. Like the poster who cut the D9P on the diagonal or do a project PP'd.

If you cant buy any new fabric, can you swap a kit with somebody so you have something different to work on? That's not technically buying!

I know how you feel. But somethime you just have to make yourself sew something and before you know it you got your grove back :lol: :lol: YOU CAN DO IT :thumbup:

I've been in a slump several times and this is what works for me. I usually give it a little bit of time, then I just make myself pick up a project, figure out what needs to be done, and then finish it. Usually it doesn't take long to finish and then I pick another one and so on. After a project or two I'm back into the quilting mood. One time I made a list of my UFO's and then asked my DH to pick a number between 1 and 10 and whichever number he picked, I finished it.

i joined the block of the month swap and the doll quilt swap, it keeps me sewing when i am not feeling up to it, gotta fill my obligations, and i find myself really enjoying it. When Steelers won, i made my neice a tote of their fabric, and it got me wantting to sew more, so i started a 4 patch posie, i love making it, each block is so different. Hopefully something will inspire you.

you can do it, we will motivate you to get back into sewing and quilting, work on a small project, good luck

I suggested earlier to someone else that you make out a list of your kits and pick the one that will be done the quickest! You'll get your mojo back in no time! =)

Write yourself a list. Put down everything you have to do, then when it's done, cross it out. That will make you feel better, even if it is "run to the bathroom and shut the door before the dogs/cats try to get in with me" and then you can mark it off and feel good about yourself.

On second thought, knowing how fast my Koko the cat is, maybe you should just write down "run to the bathroom and shut the door on the cats/dogs when they run ahead of you and go have a candy bar."
Then you'll feel better after eating it and marking it off your list.

This time of year is always tough for me. I am finally starting to work on simple projects and finish UFO's from the holiday to get back in gear. It took me almost all month to get where I am at!

Oh my I thought I was the only one that had a pain in the neck at times pet. Everytime I go to the bathroom my dogs (2 Havanese) think that they have to go outside. There are times that I actually "sneak" to the upstairs master bath and close both the doors so they won't know - and I'm 58 years old !?!

I am determined to start something tomorrow. Thanks for the encouragement ladies.

Karen

I love it!

I just looked at one of my oldest photo albums and found 16 tops still unfinished. 10 years ago!! now that's bad!!

I have a Border Collie mix who thinks I don't know where the bathroom is. The minute I reach for the snaps on my jeans, she shows me the way.

Who needs a lap quilt, mug rug or a table runner? There must be someone whose life you can brighten with a handmade gift.

Buy a sun lamp. That's been one of my best purchases ever.

I'm guilty!

To get me wanting to sew I try to take 15 minutes a day and sew a block, sometimes I end up in my room for 2 hours and I get so much more done.

find a local charity that accepts quilts. giving does a lot for my spirits. I always get more in return!! Hugs and love go along way to make a soul warm! Finish a project and donate it. then perhaps your creativity will get a well earned lift. God bless and remember Jesus Loves you!

Just sew or quilt for 10-15 minutes,set the time, then go something else, next day the same thing and pretty soon you'll be in the groove again and if you work on something small, you'll have a completed projects, maybe start with one of those "kits".

yep, yep. yep

Oh are you going to the Expo in Cleveland? I'm going too - also to the vedor weekend at the quilt show at Lake Farmpark in Kirtland. So I'm saving my moolah too. ;)

My problem is I have so many UFO's sitting around that I feel too guilty to start anything new. I've got about a dozen tops that are just waiting to be quilted and probably twice as many unfinished tops waiting for me to find my motivation. ;)

Perhaps you could set yourself a 'sew-daily-challenge'. 15mins./1/2 hour may be enough to get started.

We had a speaker at our guild who talked about "virtual quilts" . All those quilts we plan in our heads that never really materialize. So you're not the only one! Keep dreaming!

I'm having a problem right now because I need to finish my son's wedding quilt and I'm not motivated to finish it. If I work on anything else I just feel guilty that I'm not working on his quilt.

I do this not only for sewing but also for ....housework....chores etc that I can't get motivated to do. Especially those really "icky" jobs.

I set the timer on my watch for 10 minutes and say "I'll just do it for 10 minutes, then I can quit". Most of the time, I've gotten far enough along in the task that I just keep on going....or if it's sewing/glass work I'm starting to enjoy it, so keep on going....and if not, at least had a really productive 10 minutes and more is done than before I started!

Maybe that long list in your head is overwelming you. Take it one thing at a time and don't put more pressure on yourself than that. When you get the first thing done you'll be motivated to get the next one done too. I retired this past year and spent a couple of months just walking in circles trying to figure out what to do first!

I must be a freak...if I am in a slump I bake something. For some weird reason that makes me want to sew! I am a freak...but I'm okay with that! Good luck!

It's really okay not to quilt if you don't feel like it. It's supposed to be fun. I often see posts like this one concerned by a lack of motivation. Maybe you need a temporary change of pace. Read a book or do something else. It's your life and your time. Spend it doing what you want to do--not forcing yourself to do what you DON'T want to.

Maybe you need to get out. Depending on weather and road conditions go to an art museum, historical museum, gallery, the library and check out an art book or whatever you are interested in. Visit a friend that lifts your spirits, meet for lunch or invite her over.
Any change of pace might help.

I think we all get times of inspiration when we can't stop quilting but we also get to a point were it is punishment to even look in our sewing room. When I get like this I look through my stash and pick the fabric that is my favorite (at the time) and start designing. This usually starts my motor to running.

My friend and I Skype while we are working on projects. We just got off and she sewed binding on a baby quilt and I sandwiched a toddler quilt while we visited. It was great. Another thing is to have an engagement calendar. Write your UFO's on cardstock and use as a bookmark for the calendar and use the date space as a journal for your quiltmaking so you can see how you are progressing. This system can also be used for quilt ideas, other ideas. You get the drift. Often motivation comes from seeing progress. On The Quilt Show Forum one moderator has been giving us cleaning and organizing assignments and that has helped motivate some people. Hope this helps.
Diane/Wyoming

When I get like this I like to pick up a book and change the cyle. It doesn't take too long before the mood strikes to begin sewing again. Others have posted lots of great ideas as well!

I'm going through the same thing.I have trouble getting motivated this time of year anyway.Winter blues I've been told. I also lost my mother just before Thanksgiving.Her Birthday was in January.So I'm missing her terribly. I'm having a new grandson here soon and feel terrible because I just can't get motivated to make him anything. Any ideas would be greatly appreciate.

When I get overwhelmed by all of what's ahead, I try to make a list of them - the projects, the tasks, etc. It doesn't matter if I don't get them all on there, just the better part of them.

Then, I label the tasks either A, B, or C, with A being the ones I want to do first.

Make a second list of the two or three top "A" items and work from that. You might want to do one at a time or alternate between them, but stick to your list. If you get one done before the others, replace it with another "A" item from the main list.

I take my two-three item list and put it up on the bulletin board or somewhere where I'll see it each day - keeps me focused.

Then, if I want to play on the computer, at least I know what I'll do when I get back in the groove.

Might be a silly little game I play with myself, but somehow I get more done this way.

a couple of mug rugs, maybe place mats, a table topper, or something small. That will usually get me back into gear

I am in the same mode. I have so many actually too many things i Like to do, have to do, want to do. I keep saying in my next life I will like to do one thing and that is it. I love to read, sew, knit, snowshoe play on this computor reading on the forum, watch tutorials plus the things you have to do around the house. I am semi=retired and go go go the minute my feet hit the floor in the morning. So I guess we are not alone which is a help. LOL If I could only split myself in 4 pieces. Hope it gets better for you. Hang in there and pick a kit to make.

I have the problem and in looking back have found I have the same problem each year right after Christmas. It seems to have to do with the amount off natural sunlight. It was really bad when I lived in MN, but in CA and TX still have the winter doldrums. I do a lot of reading and it eventually goes away. Hate it. Bobbi

I think it's the "post holiday mid-winter blues" cuz I have it too. I just got back from Mexico where it was sunny for the 7 days I was there. I felt Sooooo much better with sunlight! Could you take a walk midmorning or at noon? Perhaps that would jumpstart you. When I'm not motivated I can't even make a list of what I want to accomplish! It plays over and over in my head until I'm overwhelmed--and then I do nothing. I tend to be an "all or nothing" type person so that doesn't help either. LOL Take comfort that you aren't alone and hopefully we'll all be seeing longer, sunny days soon and start cranking out those quilt tops! :)

:)

I did get in a slump! What I did was to change my routine. I did not turn on the TV or computer. I got some books on CD from the library(That I had wanted to read). Turned them on and it got me going.It was like having someone there talking to me but yet I did not have to answer or even entertain. Now I can't stop...... 3 projects done in one week.
I also had too many projects that I could use in my home so I found a few places that were doing fund raisers. Finished projects and then donated. They were all worthy causes and it made it made feel so great!!

I think at this time of the year, we all need to just sit back and recharge our batteries. I had been busy with moving, and painting, and papering, and then entertaining almost nonstop from Sept. til Jan. quilting all kinds of stuff and then all of a sudden a couple of weeks ago, I hit that wall, and could go no further. I have taken a few steps back and am doing some different things. Doing some crocheting, lots of reading, watching tv and some other mindless things. Today, I spent an hour in my sewing room, and that was good. I figure it will take a few more days of doing nothing really worthwhile except relaxing and I will be ready to get back into the wing of things.
Just go do something else for a few days or however long it takes, and when you are ready, all those ufo's will still be there. No one else is going to them right? LOL
Don't sweat the small stuff!!!!