I have been experiencing a "slump" these last few weeks. After some awful "family stuff" i have not been able to get into quilting. My DH made my Beautiful sewing room and i need to get my ----back to making baby quilts for the local hospital. Any advise from my experts and friends. I have all the fabric i need and right now i have the time. I just need to clear my head and get back to what i love, but i am blocked. Today is the first day i have been actually looking at all the posts trying to get inspired. How do you move on and back to your old self????

i recently told my gf that after some family issues that the sewing room is where she needs to be to calm down and drive that sewing machine wildly down some fabric concentrating on other things that she loves helps her

Life is short and we need to live everyday to the fullest and I know how you feel been through a lot of awful "family Stuff" the last few years and just have to talk to myself all the time. I am not making any sense I know, so just Do It Girl

Tell yourself you're going to work on something for 30 minutes. Then just start something. After 30 minutes, if you're still not into it, try again tomorrow. But I bet once the 30 minutes are up, you'll keep going! This is how my housecleaning gets done sometimes! :-)

Make just one seam. Bet that turns into another, then a whole block.... :thumbup:

go "shopping" in your fabric for a blanket or hit the fabric stores. this usually helps get my sewing desire back.

My advice also. Couldn't have said it better. I do this all the time. Works most of the time. And start with something that you think will be fun. Don't start with something that you normally dread doing.

I can certainly understand, I went thru a slump that lasted several years. Sometimes you feel as if the world is crashing all around you. I think what pulled me out of it was wanting to do things for my granddaughters. I had always sewed for my daughter, and decided I wanted to make things for the little ones. Honestly the best thing, is just walk in that sewing room, and pick up the last thing you were working on and decide to finish it.

Eat some chocolate!!! that always helps me....then put on some of your favorite music and "rock out" while you sew!! Do you have a friend you can get together to sew with? If not check to see if any of the LQS have an upcoming class you can go and take. You need some companionship with another quilter to stimulate your creativity. Get out of that slump and we all look forward to seeing some finished projects in the near future!!
Happy Stitchin' crafty_linda_b

Elenore Burns show is my fix for no motivation. Sometimes it takes a few shows but she gets me over the hurdle.

Yep just one seam at a time :)

I had/have some awful family (mine and the in-laws) too and for a spell I could not even think about sewing. Then my DH reminded me how much I enjoy just being in my room. Once I went back in my room, I was soon back to the sewing table. Surround yourself with pretty fabrics and you'll be able to push the reality far away for a time.

I think finding a UFO group or something similar that you can just do your quilt thing around other quilters doing their thing helps. Good luck...been there def. What I did was take my sewing machine to a friends house and we both worked on our own stuff.

I've had times where being in my sewing room was the last place I went. But once I get there and see something I was working on, or picked out to start, I was able to get back into my routine.
Start slowly. Just walk in there and look around. If sewing isn't feeling right, put fabric with a project/pattern for another time. You'll come back. :)

Sometimes I need a break from a particular craft or hobby. Besides quilting/sewing, I also knit, play with beads, embroider, and draw. If I'm just not feeling up to quilting, I've got other things I can work on. When you have to force yourself to do something, it stops being a pleasure and becomes a chore. If you don't have anything else you already do, maybe this is a good time to learn a new skill.

It happens. Sometimes it gets worse when you keep thinking you should do it. Happened to me right after my Dad died, and it happened again after some major personal things.

I did something else - not quilting related. I have a great sewing area, and a lot of fabric, but I just couldn't "get into it" And I found that when I tried to do it, and my heart wasn't into it, nothing went right. So, I did something else, went out for a walk, sat on the QB all day, watched a movie, did something, anything but sewing. And one day, BAM, I wanted to sew again.

It happens.

Or even ten minutes, if thirty is too long... If you do end up working only ten minutues, (usually you will get into something and sew longer), but you would be amazed how much you can get done in ten minutes.

Start folding & straightening your stash. I love the feel & look of all the beautiful fabrics.

This sounds like very good advice. Hope you get over your slump soon. We need to see more pics!

There is no old self. We awake anew each day to discover the possibilities around us.

If you need time off, so be it. Enjoy other things for a while and keep open to and seek new ideas. Something may spark at any time. It may or may not be quilting. One never knows.
I do hope you soon find inspiration.
peace :D

I find that looking at quilt magazines/books (with nothing in mind except looking) and looking at all the beautiful quilts on this board (again with nothing in mind except looking at the beautiful work others have done) usually motivates me.

Sorry, this new Explorer is driving me nuts!

I do the 20 minute rule. I tell myself that I will sew for 20 minutes, which then becomes 30, 40....

I've had that problem before too. But as soon as I just force myself back into the sewing room, I get excited about sewing again. Can't figure out why that happens, though

I know what you mean by 'family stuff' - I was inundated by it for a couple of years but you just have to take all that garbage out to the trash can and get rid of it. Life is way to short to waste it on worry, so get your butt back in that gorgeous room your dh set up for you and start creating something fabulous!! You deserve to treat yourself better - get to it, girl!!

Suzi...look for inspiration in everything...the magazines and books...the QB or any link online...through your fabric or just a few minutes of quiet time in your quilting space...check out your UFO's ..this all helps to turn your thoughts from the negative "STUFF" thats robbing you of the things you want to do...start small and soon you'll be back to quilting and enjoying what you really want to occupy your time. REMEMBER...People and things that dont matter...DON'T MATTER...they just try to rob you of the time meant for the things you love

Just do one seam and U====I'll bet you do more.

This always works for me...get out and about and on your return you will feel refreshed and ready to create again.

I have to agree with some of the other responses. Go to a LQS and look around to be inspired. Pick out some fabric that you just love and an easy pattern. Starting something new is always exciting.

This is what I do, too!

Well first I sit at my machine -- without any intention of sewing -- and change the needle, rethread it, pull out the bobbin and see how full it is, clean everywhere for lint/threads, dust all the non-sewing surfaces, and straighten all the area around the machine.

Then I pull out stacks of fabric, by color usually, and refold/restack it. I might fall in love all over again with a color or two, and set them aside to coordinate with ones I might choose from the next stacks.

If pulling out fabrics from my stash doesn't get me going, I sit for several nights with my quilt books/magazines and just look at pictures. Then I work with my graph paper and colored pencils for another few nights designing quilts I would like to make someday.

Now I have a clean machine and sewing area, a design i like, and fabrics I've fallen for again. There's the inspiration!

Jan in VA

Sometimes if you just force yourself to do it....after a few minutes it seems as if you are busy and time flies by...at least thats what happens to me.

Quilting is like walking..one foot (stitch) after another and pretty soon you just get going. If quilting is something you love; just start sewing a seam and the desire to create will return. Sorry for your difficulty!Repetitive "chores" like sewing, dusting, folding clothes are very relaxing and good for us mentally. Hugs!!

Invite a friend over to sit and sew with you. The chat,coffee and camaraderie will be good for all.

STOP!!! SLOW DOWN! TAKE A DEEP BREATH! Remember all the appreciative faces you have seen when you deliver those quilts... Okay... now, back to business.
Hope you get your zing back real soon. Push push push LOL

I think you need a little time, which is what I did. I had a lot going on all at the same time-some not so good. After looking at the piece I needed to finish, finally after a while, I am now tackling it and feel good about it.

go to the hospital and see Just one smileing face one of the child that has a new quilt, or doll made by somebody they not know but they know the love and comfort of the quilt,doll, book what ever.

Go into the room for 20 minutes. Put some fresh flowers in there. Dust a cabinet. Sort out a drawer or basket. Repeat daily. At least you are not neglecting your sewing room.

As someone who is living the family drama and discord every day, I know sewing is where my sanity lives. Good wishes to you.

"Family Stuff" is always there hiding in the shadows, peeking around corners just waiting to get in your head. Everybody has some form of family stuff, and some of it is truly awful. Sometimes it can spread around the family and do a number creating so much other nasty stuff that the family becomes enemies to each other and the fallout leaves your head mixed up and in pain. As if you have to make a decision how to fix it all. Some things in the family can't be fixed depending on what the problem is.
When I think of my family what comes to mind is "Family Stuff." Who can talk to whom easily, did aunt so and so across the street really not speak to her sister (my grandmother) for 40 years and why. Who doesn't talk to whom, blah, blah. My husband and I moved away from family 45 years ago which was quite a shock to our Italian, close knit (ha ha) family. Best thing I could have done. Oh, I see /hear from them regularly, but I'm not in their family stuff. Because you see, now our little family has its own "Family Stuff" would you believe. Sisters, and brother, still sibling rivalry getting in the way of harmony. I worried about this, tried to get them close together so they would let bygones be bygones, but these "kids" are in their 40's now!! It's their responsiblity to get over what's bugging them about each other. And I won't die trying to figure out their gripes with each other. I'm here with my husband who's survived cancer and we're enjoying our lives. My sewing is most enjoyable.
I realize there are various degrees of awful family stuff, and I've lived it as a child. I'm not minimizing what you're faced with, please don't think that of me. Please try to think of it this way: paint yourself in a protective bubble. Think of a guardian angel or the Holy Spirt right near. Go on and have a good and safe day and enjoy yourself. That bubble will protect you and give you strength to be yourself.
Tenderly,
Angela
A.

I feel your pain on June 23 After Many months of watching my 23 year old Daughter destoy herself with Alcohol, I did not sleep I did not want to do anything but control her from hurting herself or God Forbid somebody else. On 6-29 She was admitted to Hazelden Treatment Center. I slept all night long that night. Last Sunday after many hours of me crying and feeling that somehow I was to blame for her addiction, I got a call from her and her counselor, "Mom, I'm and Alcoholic! And IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT"
Im back to living a life I knew before she admitted this, Quilting Sleeping etc... I still worry, but when you put it into God's Hands All seems better.
Quilting is my Pscho Therapy, Let yourself mellow into your work. It is Therapy!!! Many Hugs Linda B