Putting your worries in God's Hands makes Him happy. Someone once pounded into my head that it makes God happy to know you need His Help. He'll direct you and your daughter.
Blessings,
Angela

That "family stuff" can really drag us down at times. You know what helped me? I ask a gf to come over and quilt with me. We sewed we laughed and we cried. It was so therapeutic and fun. Do you have a gf that would do this?

SuziC the Lord did not give us sad, blue, gray skies, etc. He wants us to enjoy everyday to the fullest. Remind yourself that you need to get busy sewing baby quilts...they need you. God loves you and will not allow anything to happen that both He and you can not handle. You are in my prayers. Have faith.

:-D Just the thing I was going to say. Hang in there girl this to shall pass.BrendaK

go into sewing room and pick something to sew and concentrate on it .it will get your mind off of everything.

I've been there and done that many times. My heart goes out to you. 1, you will get through it. . . 2, something beautiful will come from it.
At times like this, I look at new patterns and fabric. Something will hit you or it won't but keep going. Sometimes we just have to "Act as if" and start a project. You would be surprised how many time this soothes and boosts your mood gets your interest and enthusiasm back. Good luck

The sewing room is exactly where I head when life gets tough. It is my refuge and after sewing for awhile I usually feel better. My husband, bless his heart, will sometimes suggest to me that maybe I need to spend some time sewing. Tactful guy, isn't he!

D something simple at first. Then you will wonder what the hold up was. Usually it is just that first cut or that first seem. That is my hold up and then after that I start to feel better. Hang in there girl and just go sew.

I have found quilting to be great therapy for me! Try it! I can clear my mind of everything while sewing away. Good luck! :)

I have been in a slump, too. Have the time, and certainly the "stuff". A wonderful place to sew. Made the mistake of watching the Casey Anthony trial. Sad, Sad! I am going to 2 retreats in 2 weekends. The laughter always
Makes me feel better!

Everyone here hs given you such great advise. It's o.k. not to be in there sewing. We all need a break to get the juices back. Family issues will always be with us. Let it go. Make a pillow case to use on your pillow and let go of what is bothering you! Let it all out!

Eat some chocolate, go to sewing room and start playing with fabric, the feel of it might get you inspired as to what you want to make. Quilting is very calming for me, maybe it would help forget your issues for a while. Hugs and lots of em.

I've been trying to do the same thing after my mom passed away a couple of months ago. She would always sit and crochet while I quilted and it was a great time together. I've had a tough time getting back to quilting, but I try and do it for just a little bit each day. Family stuff is always difficult to deal with, just be patient with yourself and try to take baby steps each day.

Hugs,
Carol

Anyone who has been in your shoes knows EXACTLY what you are saying - and understands!!! So, don't feel like you are not making sense of the situation - just delve in- go on and life will begin happening again - put the "stuff" behind you when you walk into your sewing room - let it consume you! I do - it works!!

My sewing room has gotten me thru some tough times. Just go for it! Wishing you the best

i'm having a terrible time myself right now.. my room is such a mess it's scary... we are pretty "social" here in my comm... and that can be a real problem for me... i like to spend "the whole day" when working on things,, i'm not one to "multi task" anymore... beenthere, donethat... i'm retired, so i just need to get going... for me it's go in and shut the door... pick up one thing and start... perhaps a good tv cooking show , or music..it will work for me.. (if only i could dig down to that point)..LOL... but stay positive.. it will happen.. i'm rooting for you girl!!!!!!!! :)
OH.. and i forgot to mention... i love it here, but the COMPUTER is part of my problem.. so many people, patterns, freebies to see... i need to be TWO people!!!!!!
my legs are starting to swell!!!!!

I am still struggling with health issues, and my sewing buddies have been such support. So, have one of your buddies over and share a brain..............calla

After my mom died unexpectedly in the middle of March, then sending my daughter to Afghanistan for her deployment the end of March, while I went across the country to house/pet sit for her while she was gone, I found myself quite unable to do much of anything except pace around her apartment. I had no support group of friends here and just felt myself spiraling down. I found that if I forced myself to do 15 minutes of something quilty a couple of times a day, within a week I was back to cranking out the quilts. Sad, but at first I actually had to set the timer to make myself actually stick with it the whole 15 minutes :(

Quilting can save our sanity by giving us a way to create something of beauty for someone - I'm always thinking of the person I'm making a quilt for - pulling me out of myself and getting my focus readjusted. May God bless you and I'll be praying for you!

This is a great strategy! You don't want to force yourself to do something that should be fun. By setting a short time limit, you allow yourself to see how it feels and then stop if it isn't working for you.

I'm sorry about your family problems. That can definitely stifle one's creativity for a while.

family drama or not, you can only live 1 life at as time and your life is that life. No matter what else is going on, sit in your sewing rm, its your island of peace, and tell yourself, this is where my life is - whatever goes on outside of it is for other people to live.
I must say, no matter what went on w/ my husband and myself neither of our moms took sides, or even had anything to say about what was going on w/ us. They had their own issues in their lives. It kept holidays sane, it was like their homes were neutral to our drama, which wasnt allowed there.
What you do making quilts for hospitals is a good, happy, productive thing, do not let anyone get you down to the point you give up something so good in your life. Follow the true heart in you, look at your fabrics, touch them, sort thru them, design something - you will come away refreshed for it.

Tactful? The man is a genius! :lol: :P

Turn on some music you enjoy while being in your sewing room and sew to your hearts content. Like somoene suggested sew for 15 - 30 minutes. Kind of like a chip-you can't just have one....can't just sew for a short period of time. :)

I think we all go through slumps. Just dive back in and think about all those little kids that you are blessing because of you sewing. That is awesome! ;)

Hugs,
Angie

He sounds WONDERFUL! :thumbup:

I know what you are going through. My mother(she's 89) and a 25yr cancer surivor has been told she has cancer again that has moved to lymph gland, and because of her age its not a treatable cancer. They will be doing a cat scan to just how involved the cancer is.
A few years ago my father passed away and it was six weeks or so before I felt like I doing much of anything. So when we got the news about my mother, I felt distracted and couldn't get interested in what I had been working on. Then it acquired to me that maybe I was in a grieving process much like what I had experienced when my father passed away.
It's not taken as long as it did and I'm thankful that I recognized the symptoms and was able to say to myself, its okay and you will get through this. And hopefully, the cat scan will show that the cancer was only in the one gland that was removed. Its almost like taking one day at a time and not letting the hows' and mights' that are in the future control me.
Things are more or less back to normal now, more like a normal range! I know things may change but I feel a little more prepared( I think I am!!!) but I'm just concentrating on what I can do today and God will take care of the rest. Without that faith in Him, I know things would be alot harder to face. Chris

Ahhhh, families! 'Nuff said. :roll:

Everyone has shared such good advice I am re-inspired too! Take it slow. Maybe start by making a cup of coffee/tea and thumbing through your quilt books/magazines with a pad of post-its by your side.

Give ALL your problems to the Lord and He will give you only what You and He can handle. Try making something small, like a mug rug. You are in my prayers.

sweetie, just go in where your fabric is and start trying to match up material - that always excites my quilting brain and fires me up - good luck and remember we are all behind you - prayers your way!

Your sewing is the best therapy in the world. Try siting down with a quilt book and do some planing on a quilt you always wanted to make but never did and give your self permission to make and begin to plan colors and pattern and size.Just go through the steps one by one as the journey begins you are quilting again.

Make a list and then start with the easiest item on the list. That is the best way for me to get started.

Thank you

I felt like that for nearly a year and couldn't even go into my sewing room, but one day I just went in and haven't looked back since. Don't beat yourself up over it, family things are bound to take time to work out!

How abut taking a trip to the hospital, and look at all those loving faces waiting for quilts?

This ought to do it! If not, call a friend to come sew with you or go to the friends' house and sew. Just make a square..a sweet happy one.

I have also been through family tragedies and I also quit sewing - literally - for a couple years. Had no desire to sew at all. I thought I would never want to make a quilt again. But time went on and I eventually got back into and now love it again. Your emotions will heal and you will be ready to quilt again someday. Be patient and let time do it's thing.

I never thought I would touch something as small as 3 1/2"
crumb blocks----but they are my salvation. mindless sewing, picking colors, something done right away. and pretty soon
I am lost in the process & my mind is cleared. agree with
everyone that just sitting in the room,reading books or sorting colors of fabric seems to soak the calmness into you.

This is so back handed but for me it works. I force myself to do something like deep cleaning, yard work or cleaning the garage and oh, my goodness quilting becomes so much more interesting! I am not trying to be flipant becuase I know that anything that happens to distract your from your passion must be taken seriously. I just works for me to take on a task that I really don't like to do and my quilting all of a sudden becomes so much more relaxing, interesting and fun again.

A lot of good advice has been given here. Answers to a problem we all have or will have at one time or another. Thank you all. Praying for you SuziC

I think the idea of 30 minutes at a time should work. I too think that is something that I will try as I've just been to lazy to get started again.

Sewing is my lifeline and the awful family stuff is part of life. If I can get in and stitch a little (mug rug or small block), I find my mood lifting and the slump disappears. The awful family stuff: not so much. Quilting only helps me...wish I could find a cure for the rest of the family!!