Quilt drudgery

I dunno whats going on with me but cant seem to find the motivation to finish the whale quilt for my friend at work. I finally got the top done ,all I gotta do is sew the back and finish it but Im sitting here looking at it laying on the table and just dont feel like it. Does anybody else ever go thru a slump? If so what do you do to pull yourself out of it?
My sons birthday in sept 12th and I plan on making him a quilt but haven't even started cutting it! I love finishing a quilt I always feel so accomplished but for some reason I just dont care I have become lazy when Im off and do nothing but lay on the couch and watch tv. Blahhh thanks for letting me whine ,and complain Im done now! lol :)

I'm with you. I have to have a quilt quilted by Wednesday and I just go in my sewing room and nothing happens

I feel you. when I posted my happy green triangles I was so happy. But my sewing room is up in a loft and it's so hot! It's been so muggy I just don't feel like moving. I got a table back from dd so I think I might cut on the deck were it's cooler.

I'm watching a marathon of Indiana Jones. Pathetic lol

I think without a deadline I would probably never finish anything. I would just keep starting new projects. My sewing room is right off the dining room and I used to keep the door closed. It was easy to avoid that way. Now I keep the door open and I find myself in there so much more because I can't avoid it.

Roxy, Davidsgirl: Do you really want to disappoint someone? Now with that guilt trip maybe you can find some motivation?

Usually I do something small to feel accomplished because the large projects take a while before you see the final result and get boring. That will often pull me from a slump.

I seem to get motivated if I make myself get started on the task I am putting off. Once started then it keeps me going until I finish or run out of time. I sure understand not wanting to go to an area that is too warm though. That is no fun.

I sometimes have a finnishing off day. Today I finished a gift for my SS pal and completed another. I've decided what to make with my scraps - a postage stamp quilt using 2 1/2" squares and I've made a start on that.

This evening I'm finishing a binding.

I'm with you in a slump!!

Over on the sewing forum, someone will post a Flash type sewing "Let's GO"... Whoever wants to join in, we post we are in, what we will go try to accomplish and head to the sewing area. Get started and report back in later in the day. When I join it motivates me to do even 1 more row, or 1 more sashing - Once I get started I'm good... but today I really would like to sit and watch TV!

Dishes are done from my cooking for company last night, bed's made, and a fresh pot of coffee is ready... but, nothing is giving me inspiration... Wanna do a Flash sewing ??

If not I'll turn on Back to Back something -- wonder if there is chocolate or something we can use to motivate us? Sew 1 row, get 1 piece and savor it... sew 2 rows get another piece :-) or coffee, soda, a smoke - whatever motivates you?

I've got a 3/4th finished purse waiting, 15 bodices that only need topstitching, the quilt for our camper bed about 1/2 way done and none of them are talking lol

Debbie that is a good idea about the flash sewing.

I had some ideas that I have been thinking about,

Eat breakfast, just not coffee.
Get a timer and do a house chore for 15 min's, even just a toilet.
Take care of the animals

Then sew :)

Sometimes we all go through periods like you're having.

How do you make yourself do other things you're dreading? I HATE housework with a passion. If the guilt gets to be too much, I set a timer for fifteen minutes. I clean like a madwoman for fifteen minutes and then I stop, even if I'm in the midst of dusting a piece of furniture. If I really want to I set the timer for another fifteen minutes. It's amazing what I can get done in fifteen minutes.

Try the timer thing and see if it works for you. Or try to figure out how you can apply something you've used to motivate you in a different area.

I hope that helps. In the meantime we're all pulling for you!

hmm maybe having actual food for breakfast instead of coffee helps?
I like the timer 15 minutes! I rotate rooms, bathroom Monday, Tuesday beds etc... so once a week every room get's done, just not at once and me too Grace, I hate hate cleaning!! I could be happy living in a pig sty with clutter all around me if my cats are fed with clean water, boxes cleaned and my sewing area waiting.

I sew every single day or night... allergies here, and hot and humid and I just feel sucked dry of energy... maybe a day off is the ticket? I know about midnight I'll be right back trying to figure this quilt design out lol but not right now!

Thanks Lori -Tomorrow I will go for cereal or oatmeal as in real food instead of just coffee!

I like cinnamon toast and some scrambled eggs. You need, protein in the morning and a little sweet. :)

I like cold pizza or beef jerky or walnuts - Love protein, but lately my kick is brown sugar oatmeal?? Made with 1/2 and 1/2 and butter - gosh no wonder my cholestral is over 300!! ooops

And I'm still sitting here doing diddly!! 4 hours till hubby get's home hmm what to do maybe some Plants vs Zombie time lol

I am currently sitting here trying to will myself to go into my sewing room to work on some quilts. Problem is, I got home from work one hour ago and I am exhausted. Maybe I'll take a snooze first and then head over to the sweat shop.

I like the flash sewing idea.

Who wants to start it????

Flash sewing idea sounds good here too; breakfast - two cups of coffee, oatmeal and bacon...then 3-4 hours of walking through a flea market (huge) like in several blocks long; and then haircut and now more coffee....for energy...oh year forgot to mention the kettle corn popcorn (1/2 of a small bag) and a waffle dish full of ice cream with caramel topping.) All I want is a nap and I also took Sassi for a 4 city block walk and got my haircut....all I want is a nap but I need to shower...think heat and all that walking and then add in the haircut...need I say more...plus I need to get laundry done for work tomorrow..am working day shift as we are closing early for the holiday!

Quilt Drudgery.... I tried to start a quilt this morning, got out all my pink fabric but I couldn't see a pattern. I picked out fat quarters and some scraps cut them into 61/2 squares, I am going to sash them with yellow. I keep moving them about until I like the layout. Now to get sewing. 10.45pm here so it will need to wait until tomorrow. :icon_sleep:

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Originally Posted by HdWench

I like cold pizza or beef jerky or walnuts - Love protein, but lately my kick is brown sugar oatmeal?? Made with 1/2 and 1/2 and butter - gosh no wonder my cholestral is over 300!! ooops

And I'm still sitting here doing diddly!! 4 hours till hubby get's home hmm what to do maybe some Plants vs Zombie time lol

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Debbie I mix raisen, date, walnut pack and one pack of plain, then a little milk. It's not so sweet. I don't remember who showed me the milk part, but it's pretty tastsy.

Join the club! I always have to kick myself to get the motivation to finish a quilt.....any quilt. When the. Topis done, so am I! The rest is work....except handquilting, which I love.

I have been there! I currently have a finished bargello quilt top waiting for the assembly for my daughter, and have been doing other things instead. I just started mug rugs and totes and other things and haven't done a quilt in quite some time...and in a way lost interest in the long ordeal of a quilt! But I have to get started b ack again...I have a Civil War quilt going for my son...I have 4 of the 5 block designs done, need one more and then assemble. I don't know what to tell you as I dont' know what to tell myself! At the moment I am saying "Get those two done by Christmas for their gifts, you lazy mother!"....but....it isn't working so well!

~giggles~ I enjoyed reading all of your posts I LOVE the idea of flash quilting!!!! and as far as my slump I pulled out of that until i sat down here and read this all yall talking bout food and naps Im gonna go eat some cookies and take a nap!!! hahahhaha Thank yall I love this group ! Ill be back later tonight (my time) with a pic of the FINISHED quilt!!!! boooya!

I wouldn't worry about it too much. Sometimes we just need to veg out a bit. If I'm not in the mood to quilt, I just do something else...like looking at quilting books. That often gets me going. I'm sure you'll find your motivation soon.

I'm a binge sewer. I work full-time (more than 40 hours a week), so I don't sew every week. But when I do, I sew for long periods. I took Friday off and I sewed 12 hours that day. Also 12 hours on Saturday, and probably 6 today. I made a gift quilt from start to finish in that time. (Will post photos when I get a chance.) Now tomorrow, I'm going to relax!

It's finally getting cool enough to return to my sewing room and MIL is back in the hospital from rehab, but I've been in a slump for a month now. I started to come out of it after a good visit with her on Thursday and even started caring for the potted plants again. Then she was readmitted to the hospital on Friday and won't give the hospital staff any indication on what End of life care she wants other than having a DNR in place.

Would someone give me a good swift kick to get me going? I just realized I have three daughters' birthdays this month (12th, 15th & 18th) and haven't finished DD's handbag that was due back in June. Prayers would do instead of the swift kick!

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Originally Posted by KathieB

It's finally getting cool enough to return to my sewing room and MIL is back in the hospital from rehab, but I've been in a slump for a month now. I started to come out of it after a good visit with her on Thursday and even started caring for the potted plants again. Then she was readmitted to the hospital on Friday and won't give the hospital staff any indication on what End of life care she wants other than having a DNR in place.

Would someone give me a good swift kick to get me going? I just realized I have three daughters' birthdays this month (12th, 15th & 18th) and haven't finished DD's handbag that was due back in June. Prayers would do instead of the swift kick!

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So sorry to hear about your MIl Ill send prayers your way. I too have a kid whos birthday is the 12th!!! Im making him a quilt too!!
Sadly tho I wont finish my current quilt like I said I would tonight Im suddenly very sleepy and the kicker is I only have 3 sides left to bind before its complete !! Ughhh butr I sewed all day on it and its gonna be great....tomorrow ill post pics I PROMISE lol

What I feel: every quilt takes his own time to be ready. It is a kind of self-determination. What helps me in this circumstances: I take it to an UFO evening at our quiltshop or invite a friend to sew together.

Kathie! So sorry to hear about your MIL, yes prayers and strength for you while she thinks about her final wishes. Since I did nothing all day, decided doing nothing after midnight sounded just fine.

BUT, tomorrow we will have a Flash sewing time ! Get ready... On your marks...

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Originally Posted by Learner quilter

Quilt Drudgery.... I tried to start a quilt this morning, got out all my pink fabric but I couldn't see a pattern. I picked out fat quarters and some scraps cut them into 61/2 squares, I am going to sash them with yellow. I keep moving them about until I like the layout. Now to get sewing. 10.45pm here so it will need to wait until tomorrow. :icon_sleep:

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Finished quilt top.. Attachment 54977

I keep rotating on projects and my Landlocked Sea Lovers top is still landlocked on my design wall. :icon_rolleyes:

I tend to have too many projects in my head and on my table at any given time. Sometimes I'm paralyzed and overwhelmed by the scope of it all. I find if I can just do SOMETHING - even if it is a little piece, I can get back on track with a project. Sometimes it is indecision that keeps the project stalled.

If you are still in a slump and you still HAVE to finish that [fill in your least favorite project here] why don't you "make" yourself work on it but only allow 15 or 20 minutes. Set the egg timer and when the time is up, stop. You may find that you are really not ready to stop but do it anyway. It may pull you out of your slump.

This happens to me all the time.... I just ORT of stop.... I'm always fine when I finally sit down to my Janome, or pick up my rotary cutter..... It's just getting myself to that point...