Well, hey, nobody says you HAVE to go in there. This is a hobby, after all, not a job. If it's not fun, don't do it. If it's not calling your name, do whatever else IS calling your name. It's getting to be summer; take a break, enjoy your summer world for a while.

Marti in Mexico

Do you know WHY you don't want to go in there? For me, it's often because I feel the project I have going is at a difficult spot, and I feel intimidated/overwhelmed.

When that's the case, I either start something different, OR, I DO "force" myself, and once I get going suddenly I'm enjoying the heck out of it.

Maybe you need a small, fast, easy project to break you out of your blahs -- like pot holders, pillow cover, etc.

Good luck. And don't worry, the mood will hit you when the time is right!

I agree with Marti! I know sometimes I have all this time to sew and I just don't feel like it. And the more I think that I should go do it, the less I want to! I've also found that if I force myself I usually make mistakes and have to do it again anyway. And if it's a particular project that I feel like I HAVE to finish, sometimes just saying no and doing a different project helps.

So - read a book, take a nap, watch TV, whatever...the urge to sew will come back soon! :)

Donna

I wish I could help you with suggestions, but I really don't have any right now. I think we all go through these periods occasionally. It seems that when I have lots of stuff to do 'out' of my sewing room, that is the time that I really want to be in there and miss it. I have been outside working in the yard everyday and I keep dreaming of what I will work on next when I get the opportunity to sew again. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder"....maybe.

Maybe taking up another hobby or two will make you miss your sewing room and quilting.

I'm kind of in that funk too but I know what it is, I'm a little burned out but I don't want to stop sewing and quilting. So I'm doing smaller projects right now. I'm having fun making the mug rugs that Islay reposted the directions for and I made 8 grocery bags out of the screening. I'm now going back to a chiropractor for my chronic lower back problems which are flared up now and my best friend had this great idea. I needed a new gel ice pack so bought one at the office Friday and she said it would really be cool if you could make a quilted ice pack cozy instead of using a towel to cover it. I thought what a great idea! So I hope to start that project today if I can sit that long at the machine. It won't take long though.

Kay

You are not alone Nancii I was the same way last week now going to try make some tote bags something I have never done before have some patterns ordered, finally realized I didn,t have to quilt there are other things a sewing machine does you will hit on something I,m sure.
Gillian

I'm doing a quilt now, but it's the first in quite a while I've done. After this I think I'll do some birthday blocks to get ahead a bit, then maybe something for Belle. I do have some shirts coming to embroider for a friend, so that maybe the break from sewing I need. I find the same with any hobby I do Nancii, I get tired of it after a bit. I rearranged my living room so now I have a decent light by the chair and have been quite content to sit and knit in the evenings!
It'll come, don't stress over it!!!
Lisa

You are not alone indeed. After all, this is for fun. Sometimes I just gotta get outside and play, but it was 99 degrees today and that made sewing look really good. Tomorrow should be only 88 so I will be back outside again. If you don't feel like sewing, you won't do a good job, so just don't do it.

beverly

I think we all go thru that once in awhile and Laura I agree when I get like that it is because I have to quilt the quilt and I hate fighting this machine on the frame...
and feel obligated to use the frame since I spent the money to get it LOL!This is suppose to be fun right!
Red

When I'm in a sewing slump, I get out my stacks of magazines and just thumb through them. I mark the pages with post it notes on the pages "to do some day" All of a sudden one will inspire me and off I go......

I find that when I'm in a slump, I feel better if I rearrange my supplies.

Last time I felt the need to sew, but didn't want to, I arranged my fabric by yardage. The time before that it was by color. The time before that it was by type (repo, batik, print, etc). I find that helps me get back into the grove and kinda gives me exercise, too.

~ Kit

I am kinda in a slump too. I need to start a new project- a quilt for DS wedding. I keep putting it off. I always find something else to do. I always say that once I get a few things out of the way I will start, but everytime I get something out of the way something else takes it't place. I am wierd- I hate the starting part. Once I start cutting I'm OK.

It will pass. Sometimes you need a break from things you enjoy, too. All the suggestions above are good. Finding another temporary hobby can be good...something completely different. Get out of the house. Enjoy the warm summer air.

I have hobbies that I go back & forth with. I'm in a rubber stamping slump right now. That's not good because I teach classes!

In about a month when the weather turns to Monsoon here & gets hot & humid, I'm going to have to find something else to do. My house gets sticky...no A/C...only evap & I am not in the mood for much during that time...except seeking places that have A/C. :)

Best wishes for your recovery from the blahs.

Nanci,

You've been making a big change in your life lately so maybe that's part of your blahs. I find that changes or worries tend to make me less likely to do things I consider "just for me", especially if there are a lot of other "should do's" going on.

Also, I noticed your conversations post (and am sending good thoughts your way). You've got a lot on your plate right now so maybe the energy you usually put in to creativity is being channeled to other things for a while.

Don't forget to take care of yourself, too.

Kelly (Nebraska/England)

I was on vacation for three weeks, just getting back last week so I just can't get back into it. So much gardening to catch up on, however I did buy tons of fabric on vacay and have been happily washing it all and looking at quilting magazines. It will come.

Nancii,
You will get back in mood soon. You just have a lot of distraction right now like Kelly said. I think the suggestion to consider a small project that can be done quickly is a good one. Something for 4th of July--a table runner or placemat.
I get overwhelmed when I have too many projects that I am working on or think I need to work on. One thing I do is put away things that will have to wait and sometimes I just choose something new that I see as fun and do it. I can then go back to other things.
You may not be able to do anything until you know what your SIL's prognosis will be. You are in my thought and prayers.
Sally

I do the same thing as Maggie Sue I look at my books. I mark pages with post-its. I have ring binders that hold pages from magazines in plastic paper protectors. I go through my ring binders and do some organizing like what Kit does with her supplies. Some of the pages I mark some I pull while shaking my head, "what was I thinking I'm never going to make that I don't want to work that hard". When I have the blahs and need to get something done I set a timer and work on it for only ½ hour at a time. If I force myself to work on it longer than that (when I donÂt want to) I usually make mistakes. The blahs pass and I find myself wanting to quilt longer than ½ hour. I also trade off between, quilting, sewing and crocheting. I've been lucky to not have the blahs with all of them at the same time.
Hang in there.
{{!gwi}}
Suellen

Hi,
I agree with Kelly and the others. You are in the middle of a time of stress and the things that usually comfort you may not right now. You also have done such a great job at quitting smoking. I hope that you can find something that takes quilting's place for the time being and don't feel any guilt about your beautiful sewing space. It will 'wait' for you and you will enjoy it again. I am going through a somewhat stressful time at work (nothing major, just a pain) and I am finding that I am doing a lot of recreational reading when I can find the time. I really should be walking to relieve the stress!

So it seems that there are the blahs and the blahs. The bored, just don't want to, need to take a break blahs and the 'my mind is so full of other stuff, I just can't focus' blahs. Don't force it...the pleasure will return...

Take care,
Kelly - NH

Nancii,
You have been under a lot of stress lately. Take some time off. Do something with that beautiful granddaughter. Take care of yourself. When I get the blahs, I try to get out and antique shop or junk hunt. I don't have to spend money, but getting out and having time to myself helps.
Carolyn