Happy days are here again for you!

I was forced into a slump because of broken ankle. I did do a binding on a quilt yesterday.

I wonder which is worse; being in a slump when you are able to quilt, or being unable to quilt and wanting to. LOL. We have both been discombobulated and are happy to be back in synch. I am cutting a little with my arm, and sewing a little. Cutting is much harder to do and a little too much pressure reminds me instantly to back off. OUCH!!!
So happy you are back in the swing of things! Smiles and hugs

woo hoo, and she's off ----->wheee :thumbup:

Glad you are back - pictures please. It is a great feeling when you have renewed enthusiasm. I think we all need a break now and again.
Wildyard - I definitely think wanting to quilt and not being able to is worse - the withdrawal is terrible
Colleen

I too, have been in a "dry Spell" as we say in Virginia..I have come alive again and resumed hand piecing a Grandmothers Flower Garden.. Old Quilters never die, they just stitch away. Anne in Richmond,Va

alright, I have been there before.

I agree that it would be terrible to want to quilt but are
unable to because of a physical problem. I know how
very strange this is going to sound, but my problem
seems to be that I am physically capable of making
a quilt, at least as far as my arms working right, etc.,
and I have a mental desire to see all the fabric and projects
I have waiting to be made into quilts, but my 'mojo' just
can't seem to put my physical capabilities and my mental
desires together. However, as I said, this week I have
begun to make myself start cutting some things. I hate
it that I'm having to force myself to so what I used to
love so much, but at least the effort is being made.

Also, I am seriously thinking about signing up for a class that
is out of my comfort zone and taking it. So, like I said -
baby steps. Hopefully I will be running soon!!!
Marcia

Hurray!! So very glad for you.

Y E S!!!!!! I do that, too. I seem to have 2 speeds in life: full tilt and stopped! I never see it coming either! I am stretched out at full speed and then I crash and burn... I pray for balance a lot... ahem...

Double huggggggs for you Marcia, I so understand how it feels. 3 cheers for each step you take and for your determination to keep moving. I hope it helps to know that there are many of us right there beside you. Smilesssss, Linda aka wildyard

Not in a slump, but getting overwelmed with all the project I am doing and those coming up.

That must be what has been happening to me! I have several vintage sewing machines (well, many more than 'several') and I just have not been wanting to sit down and sew. Thanks for the lift! :thumbup:

Thank you so much, Linda - all hugs gladly received.
It is because of encouraging remarks like yours that
invigorate me.
Marcia

......and mine.

yes I think I can get back to mine when it cools down some.

I hope I never have a 2 month slump again! Today was not as productive as I had hoped. I cut, recut, sewed a couple of pieces backwards, ripped, sewed wrong pieces together, ripped it out again, and cut some more.

After all of that, all I can say is... I'M BACK! Tomorrow will be a better day. WooHoooooo

Yes, now you got all that out of your system and out of the way, you can move on into the good stuff, LOL.

Hey, two lovely women in one post! Just wanted to say hello and it's great to hear from you Marcia. Haven't noticed you posting for a week or so. Wow, what a heat you are enduring in Texas! Hope you get a break soon. I'm so glad you're feeling like doing a few odds and ends in your studio. Can't wait to see some of your patterns!
Take care and hugs to both of you,
colleen

C'mon Marcia, join in, I'm having soooooo much fun! I don't know why I thought my skills would improve after taking 2 months off.

BTW...1/4" seams still SUCK!

I always did cross stitch before I learned to quilt. Now when its spring and summer I take a quick break from quilting and go back to my cross stitching. My mom couldn't understand because she loved to quilt all the time. Hey, sometimes you gotta take a break and get excited about something else.

Hey, two lovely women in one post! Just wanted to say hello and it's great to hear from you Marcia. Haven't noticed you posting for a week or so. Wow, what a heat you are enduring in Texas! Hope you get a break soon. I'm so glad you're feeling like doing a few odds and ends in your studio. Can't wait to see some of your patterns!
Take care and hugs to both of you,
colleen[/quote]

Colleen, you are such an encourager. I always know you will
have something uplifting to say. Yes, this heat is horrible.
Tomorrow it is supposed to be 99 - WHOOPEE!!! Then, back
up to over 100. But I just stay inside and run that AC.
Have a Great Day!
Marcia

good for you, think the heat has not helped.

I wish I could turn up the original topic I saw last week about how we have dealt with our own slumps, but I cannot. This place really moves along fast! LOL

Anyway.

I had a long dry period with my own creativity during the past year, due mostly to RL problems. Usually I can overcome my mental blocks by going back in my room and playing with my fabric, or poking around in my quilt books, or even just cleaning up in there. None of that was working.

Then I happened to see one of Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek quilt novels on display in the local library and remembered that I'd always meant to read the series. About half way through the books, something sprung free and I got busy again.

It wasn't that I wanted to make any of the quilts in the books, I don't know what did it really. It doesn't matter. It worked for me.

I have found a website that lists novels including quilters or quilts. Surprisingly, there are quite a number of them. I am saving the rest for the next down time. Perhaps some of the rest of you will find some inspiration here:

http://infohost.nmt.edu/~breynold/quiltfiction_adult.html

[quote=Marquilt]I wish I could turn up the original topic I saw last week about how we have dealt with our own slumps, but I cannot. This place really moves along fast! LOL

Hi Marquilt,
This may be the one you are looking for: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-57283-1.htm

And thanks for the tip and the link!

Hi again, Marquilt,
Just wanted to say what a splendid avatar you have!

Thank you Twilliebee!

The photo is weird, and I'm glad you could overlook that. I need to have another go at it. It's a picture of my first convergence quilt - from the book of the same name by Ricky Tims. The other two were not this successful, but they're still fun to do sometimes when the muse has flown off.

The crane was cut from a piece of Oriental fabric and fused and machine appliqued on. The part under the crane was verging into checkerboardedness, and was jarring to my eye. So I covered it up. That always works. *G*

The whole thing is hand quilted, and the quilting in the borders follows the images in the fabrics there. It's a small piece, about 32 inches square.

More than you wanted to know - right? LOL

Welcome back! Have fun quilting

Hi Marquilt,
Thanks and I really appreciate the detailed information. It's actually pretty difficult to tell me more than I wanted to know LOL! It's lovely and I'll be checking out the book.

Congrats!! Hope you share pictures of your creations! :)