It has been a really hectic crazy last couple of months but things have finally started to slow down. I really thought that I would be able to get busy and work on my wips and ufos but for some reason I can't seem to find the energy (for lack of a better word) to pick a needle and work on any quilting! Can anyone please give me some great words of wisdom to motivate me? I just don't know what my problem is!!

Just lurking for good answers. I suffer from this also:) I'm thinking it is just the downer after the push for getting ready for the holidays (being focused) and now no focus.

I suffer this also. My way out is small steps. I force myself to do something toward a quilt 15 min. tonight, 1.2 hr. tomorrow night and so on. Usually by the 3rd or 4th night I'm getting excited and the rush takes over and I am on my way. Hope it helps, it works for me.

A cup of hot tea. A to do list in order of some kind. Start with a small ufo and the bug will bite you again.

Maybe you are not in the mood to do any thing on them. If I am not in the mood I won't start as I know I will make a mistake!!! So no big deal if you don't sew everyday!!

If I'm not in the quilting mood, I generally make mistakes. Sometimes it's best to just take a break for a few days until you feel like quilting again. Look at some of the pictures and see all the fun stuff you could make!

Let me know when you find the answer.... I too am having a hard time getting back into quilting..... maybe it is the jet lag of Christmas... what do you think???

To every thing there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.

Maybe it's not time for quilting for you. Maybe it's time for introspection, reading, decluttering, yoga class, visiting friends. Think about what would make you happiest and most fulfilled right now and try to find some time to do that.

I bet the urge to quilt will return to you some time.

I think we all suffer from this at one time or another. The worst is when you really have a deadline for a quilt, and you just cannot get "into" that project!! YIKES!! It about kills me!

Anyway, just browse some quilting magazines or look online for a small fun project that catches your eye and imagination. Do something really small...a pincushion, needle case, etc. That may help inspire you to something. Or, try organizing your fabrics...just putting groups of fabrics together can spark some enthusiasm.

Good luck. I've been in the doldrums myself several times. Not a nice place to spend much time!! :-)

I can't seem to get back into the swing of it either. Maybe I need another trip to the LQS?

listen to the weatherman! its early Jan and a cold front should be comming ur way around Tuesday of next week...get ready to quilt! its suppose to last around 5 days brrrrr u will want to snuggle in and quilt when the cold winds blowing, at least this works for me :)

My cold feet inspire me to quilt really quick.
Look at some pics from this site, it works wonders for me.

Make something small with instant results it will get you into the mood to tackle a bigger project that is what helped me.

some times the mood must strike us

Instead of pushing yourself to start something, use this time to look through all of your quilting books, magazines and patterns and see if you don't discover something you wanted to do but forgot about. Or maybe you just need to take a break and a rest, until the desire and passion comes back. It's okay to take a break!

Thank you all for the sound advise! Maybe you are right, the high expectations are over, the decorations are down (almost) and time to get back to reality. I will definately start with the quilt books and pics online!! I am so glad I found you!!
Michele

I am having the same problem. I have my 55 year old son here that I am taking care of since he had a stroke 2 months ago. Also, I look after my 87 year old brother. I guess I am using that as an excuse. Problem is, it seems to pick me up when I purchase material. Not a good thing.

Seems like a lot of people I know are having energy problems lately. I have Sjogren's and some times I don't have the strength to even think. This week I finally got back to a Fun 'n Done I started before Christmas and because I was so eager to finish I made some very foolish mistakes. I am now 'one' with the ripper. Why did I think decorative stitches would be a nice finishing touch? Oh well, it's still good to be back in gear, so I say take a step. Sometimes we just get in our own way.

Sometimes when I hit a block like that I do not fight it. I close the studio door and do other things for a week. Then I open the door, sit in there with a cup of tea but do no work, just saying hello. Then I go in and work on something small.

What normally happens is I just get right back in the groove.

Painter, writers all hit walls occasionally.

I have days where I wake up wanting to get at my quilting and days when I don't want to see the sewing machine. I like to go the the LQS when I'm in a 'long' dry quilting spell. Seeing people excited about their projects helps me get excited.

Something else that works for me is to move my machine to a different place. My sewing room is in the basement and it's dreary down there sometimes. I put my small machine near the kitchen and I can sew a lot more often. I still have to go downstairs to press or cut a bunch of strips but I can sew where all the action is..... try that!

What helps me get back to UFO's is knowing how good it will feel to have them finished. But I also have "brain bunnies" for future quilts and may make something small in between.

I am on my winter break and didn't want to waste any time. I posted WIP to give me the push to do more each day. It's a mini deadline, I can't wait to get the sections stitched so I can post the pictures AND it seems to be working!

I have had ths problem for several months now. I thought it was due to being a full time student and not carving time out for fun. Here it is almost time to go back to school, and I have not pieced, cut, stitched, sewed all vacation. I like the quote above. I turned my attention towards other things to pass the time and also relaxing as I did not do much of that during the semester..

Take a break sometimes we just need a rest. Visit a Quilt Shop or get together with a sewing group.

I just heard on the news that the month of January is the most depressing month of the year. I guess it's the letdown from all the holidays or it may be just the weather, usually cold and rainy/snowing unless you live in FL. :)

go touch your stash :0 It helps me :0

I felt the same way. I finally bite the bullet and went into sewing room and cut out a tablerunner and now I am ok to sew. No more lazy days--in fact I think the sewing machine said I MISSED YOU

I call it my Jan. Blahs!!! However if I have an applique piece of some sort I am happy :lol:

I took a few weeks off after Christ mas to re-energize, then someone gave me some upholstery fabric, in less than an hour I had a tote bag ready for my charity. Don't know if it is the easiness of the project, or that is for charity, but I am back in the (sewing machine) saddle. Maybe something easy, or for someone (or something) you love will kick start you? Or a challenge?

The easiest way is to do something NOT fun, like cleaning. I go into my sewing room to clean and end up stitching!!

I have been getting dressed!! You know out of the pj's and have socks and shoes on! I work week-ends (x-ray tech small hospital) so do not have to dress if I don't want to Mon thru Fri!!!
I read about this in "Hillbilly housewife.com" I like her web site! Accidentilly found this tip on the e-books she has on sale this month!

I joined a few swaps! Now I have a commitment! I am doing bullfrgs and cupcakes ( from another list) and a 101/2 in swap from here! Can't wait to finish and get them in the mail!!

For me I figured if I finished some of my UFO's and I did'nt actually like them I thought I could donate them and that might bring joy to someone I didn't even know. For some reason that made me very happy so I finished a few things, gave them away and felt better.(I actually liked 2 of the purses so much once they were finished I kept them)

Problem may be that you need a little break. Take a few days to just do nothing, then go in there and just touch some fabric to feel how nice it is to have in your hands, then visualize a finished ufo. That ought to get you going

I have the same problem with even thinking about starting something new or finishing any UFO

I also can't believe it is 2011 - Where did 2010 go?

I'm quilting like mad but you should see my house! The Christmas tree and all the Christmas decorations are still up. My sewing room has totes of wrapping paper, bags and ribbon to be put away yet. I did clean bathrooms yesterday but the rest of the house could use a good clean. I"m working on a baby quilt for a baby born last July and I want to get a quilt done for my grandaughter's birthday by Feb 19th. However We're leaving in 2 weeks for a 2 week vacation in Arizona so my time is limited. Yikes! I have to get back to the sewing machine.

When this happens to me, I make myself do something quilty for 15 minutes a day. It doesn't take long for 15 minutes to turn into hours! You can also reward yourself for working on your WIPs and UFOs by giving yourself permission to give equal time to a new, exciting project. Somethings I think we get bored with a project that takes too long and need something new to get our mojo going again!

When I get in a quilt slump I go to flickr and type in quilts.
Just looking at all the beautiful quilts that have been made by others usually gets me inspired.

do NOTHING for a while , I`ll bet in a short time you will be bored ridged and then you wil enjoy sewing once again.

I agree with sewbizgirl. If I'm not in the mood to sew, I go to my quilt room, go through my patterns, start straightening things up, move stuff around and before you know it, I'm back in the mood.