Help, I'm in a funk
 

I can't seem to get myself started after the holidays. I started working on Christmas projects around labor day and worked on them to completion until Thanksgiving. There is only one king size quilt that I didn't finish. It is about 3/4ths finished. I was able to present the unfinished quilt to my daughter, and told her I'd finish it ASAP. After Thanksgiving, my DH and I did a lot of unfinished projects in preperation for guests at Christmas. Now the holidays are over & I can't make myself get back to productive creating. It isn't that I have a lack of different creative projects in mind. (Can you believe 16 quilts with all the fabric purchased & patterns picked, etc) Does anyone else have this problem and what did you do to overcome it? I've tried talking to myself, setting deadlines, sitting down at the machine, and stroking my fabrics. NOTHING seems to hep. I just need other suggestions. Thanks in advance for listening.

When I am in a funk, I take a brisk walk every day until I feel better. I live in wisconsin and in winter that can be a very cold walk. Relax, quilting is your trip and if you don't feel like quilting don't! The quilt bug will bite you soon lol :)

Relax. Then make a potholder. Takes very little time and fabric but gets you away from everything else and focused on your machine.

sounds like burnout. Take a break till your muse returns. Quilting nowadays shouldn't be a chore.

IM kinda in the same boat... I have a few unfinished projects but I cant get focused... I feel like i really don't want to to be in my sewing room.. But I know I want to.. Ive pulled out my scraps to cut with my GO.. that lasted five min.. Ive ironed and folded my new fabrics.. Again that lasted five min.. I've re-arranged stuff, and I walk out after five min of whatever it is I'm doing.. It must be the 'rush' that came before the holidays to get everything done and now that I know there's a whole year to work on the next holidays projects I'm in no hurry to get anything done....

So I know what your going thru... I hope the FUNK goes away... SOOOOOOOOON !

Maybe set yourself a small goal each day, like working on a specific project for 30 minutes. Hopefully getting started will get the creative juices flowing again.

I clean and re-organize my sewing space. I'm talking removing just about all the contents, and starting over. Typically by the time I'm done I am highly motivated to do just about anything other than clean and organize. If that doesn't do it for me .. at least I have a clean space once the "mood" changes. Many times I just don't feel like sitting .. and the cleaning is the active moving part I am looking for.
Should yours space be tidy ... do go for walks as suggested, excersize is the best for altering a mood.

I made some Ladybug pins cushions. They all were sitting there looking at me as if to say, "Get cracking, Girl." Now who is going to argue with a ladybug? LOL Hope you rest relax and 'get cracking, Girl.' {{{Hugs}}}

When we push to hard to finish to much we burn out. I stay away from it all for awhile and do other things. Then the urge to quilt comes back.

I prescribe chocolate.....if that doesn't work, try more chocolate, if that doesn't work, well, you could always try more chcolate!

I would suggest as well this would be a good time to organize and do a good cleaning in your sewing/quilting rooms. As you focused on the task at hand and not in a hurry to get it done so you can quilt or sew which always seems to be my problem. I am sure after your many projects you have recently done your mind and body is saying we just need a little break and once we are refreshed..........we will come back in full force. Too bad when then went on vacation to the warm beaches they didn't take ya with them.....lol

Relax! Our minds and bodies need a change of pace sometimes! I haven't sewn for 3 weeks, but enjoying getting some much needed work done around the house and when I have my house in order I'm sure I will be ready to tackle my quilting list!! Happy New Year!

Take a break and breathe and do something else for a bit- If you're like me- you're brain will still be chewing on quilting projects while your hands are engaged in something else. For me, it's often sitting at my keyboard and playing music. Oddly, sometimes, even doing some housework helps. This is just part of the the ebb and flow of the creative process - we must allow ourselves time to refresh our creative wellspring once in awhile - your energy for quilting and desire will return. Have faith.

I have been feeling it too - lately I have been enjoying some of my other loves - I have been reading and watching old movies - just give yourself a break - pretty soon you will get back to it.

I am addicted to listening to audiobooks when I sew or quilt. But I only get to listen there. So get yourself a really exciting audiobook and I promise you you won't want to move from the area. Did you know that there is a netflicks like service for audiobooks called simply audio. But only get unabridged.

Thanks, ladies, for all the goood ideas. Today I will rest, cause I have a super gigantic headache. And I won't feel guilty. I know that is my number one obstacle. I feel guilty if I don't create something everyday. And I am going to seriously work on that. Later I will take my dogs for a long walk. It is beautiful here in Florida. Then I'll have some chocolate. Then I will make a list. If I have it on paper, maybe I won't have it rolling around in my head. Lastly, I'll clean my sewing room, as it looks like a small bomb went off. I know it had to be a small bomb because if it was a large bomb, it would have blown the "stuff" to kingdom come. LOL. I'll let y'all know what transpires. Again, thanks. Just getting some positive feedback helps.

okay, i'm lost....the holidays are incredibly busy and stress-producing.... is there some reason you don't deserve a break? wait for a few days, call a friend for lunch, do a little shopping, read a book...soon your recharged batteries will be fueling new ideas about the next project .... give yourself permission to be today what is best for today...

I live in Wisconsin too and the winters are always are always hard on me. I just give myself permission to do nothing. Then about the 3rd day I look around and say, "Boy what a mess," and it gets me going again. You're not alone.

If you subscribe to any quilting mags get them out to read or look for inspiration. I totally agree with the exercise suggestion. I didn't work out very much all during December and I could tell my mood was changing so I started going to the gym Jan 2nd and I'm already feeling more energetic.

I'm so glad that I'm not the only one in a funk. I have projects planned without ambition to carry them out. I know this too shall pass. I just wish it would pass a lot faster. Quilting with friends helps keeps me motivated.

Cut a few squares from your scraps. Just now and then, always good to cut those scraps up and then you have them when you need them. When I am in a funk, I just do this or just organize a bit in there and soon you will be back at it!

Excercise, vit. D and sun help me. As for the quilting, yes I believe you have 16 projects, I have probably more. I do better with some death line else it never seems to get done. Sorry I am of not much help.