need inspiration

Just hang in there, Taria. The motivation will come back. Another day, things will be better and you'll be ready. Try bringing that sm out and sewing in the midst of things. Sewing is actually therapy, and once you start you will forget a lot of other problems. Cheering you on in Wisconsin,

Betty in WI

Make something small, quick, easy and FUN!!

A doggy placemat for Georgis pup with a bandaid on the ear A simple iron-on wall hanging for the kitchen A easy applique for a calico shopping bag

Anything that is fast and fun will get you back in the swing of things again.

Wishing you more "boring" days so you can settle (HUGS)

Sending big hugs first. Second, you've been through a lot, give yourself a chance to breath. Exhaustion just kills creativity. I often start by just buying myself some chocolate and some quilting magazines and send everbody out of my hair. Either I find something I like or I start thinking along the lines of "Are they nuts? I'd never do it like that... I'd....." either way I'm at least considering it. Make a list for things you want to look for at Road to CA? Watch quilting shows online..... Fabric Shop.... and when all else fails.... swear you will never quilt again.... in the following 5 minutes you will come up with 3 must do's. Have you tried making the fabric postcards?? (see previous post on quilts.com head to send postcards to wounded soldiers.) I never thought I would but now I'm thinking that maybe that's a fun one to do with DD and it gives others a lift up. I know I LOVE the one Leslie sent us.

Hope you find your boring life again! Or... come visit my new quilting palace

Jan RCTQ Coffee Diva..... yes earthlink has locked me out again.....

Taria,

I am so sorry for the problems you are experiencing. Believe you me I understand. I mean, hey I have been collecting fabric, patterns, notions and all since August to do my first quit. The insurance man just left from taking pictures, and I am fixing to go find my Noah's Ark panel and materials and do my first cutting, or should I say I was, then I tested my blood sugar because I felt a little "nervous" Low and behold, it is down to 40. So now I don't want to play with a rotary cutter until I am feeling better from this low, which will more than likely be tomorrow. But there will be a tomorrow, unless the world comes to an end or I die and I will make my attempt again. I might still find the fabric today and read the directions again, but no cutting for me.

I am still worried about cutting that first fabric, what if I mess it up, or can't do it, or just all kinds of excuses to make me scared and put it off. But I have wasted enough time so tomorrow is the day.

I will lift your entire family up in my prayers and please know that I care and the entire group here cares.

Jacquel>Since I moved I have had a devil of a time getting inspired

When life gets distressing and distracting, being creative just doesn't seem to come, even if you do have a little time to sew. Why not cruise through your quilt books and magazines, find a block you've been wanting to try and give just one block a try. You'll either learn that you love it or hate it and the distraction will be good for your weary, unhappy mind. How about a Valentine? Polly

Cruising . . . . . . . Oh yes - nothing like a quiet period of vicarious quilting!

(sigh) I seem to be doing a lot of vicarious quilting myself recently.

(Vicarious - experienced or realized through imaginative or sympathetic participation in the experience of another)

Taria, I find sewing to be one of the most centering things I can do when things seem out of control (as you describe).

You can cut up scraps into squares; pick a size. (Strips are a possibility, too). Sort them into two piles: light and dark. Sew them as 9-patches or

16-patches, or into half-square triangles. Don't worry what you're going to make them into; just keep stitching. In no time your creativity will be re-lubricated!

Nann

Howdy!

No one says you *have* to stay in a sewing room, T. I use the "spare" room, painted green, of course, as a collection center. Several bookcases full of magazines and books and notebooks of ideas; some fabric collections, odds & ends, right now the gift-wrapping supplies are in there, and my boxes of Gutermann thread in a small cabinet so I can find it easily. Then I take out what I want, the sewing machine goes back to the dining room, my favorite place to machine sew, the hoops go to the front room where I love to quilt, the reading materials come in & out as I peruse them, and everything can go back in there if/when I do the white tornado clear-up. I could sew in there if I chose, but I don't have to. ;-)

With all the health issues on your mind (husband, b-i-l, smaller animals) how about a simple donation quilt? Just grab some scraps and throw together a little something for Project Linus or a preemie quilt or a lap robe for the local hospital/hospice/veterans' facility or soldier's collection. Just sew and quilt SOMEthing to get you back in the habit.

And if you don't really feel like quilting right now, that's okay. Relax. Enjoy being back in your favorite home.

Happy New Year!

Ragm> Since I moved I have had a devil of a time getting inspired

Blessings to you Taria, and hoping that each and every one of your "distractions" will turn out just fine.

Maybe you're not liking the way your sewing room looks? Maybe it's not arranged it a manner that lets your "creative juices" flow? If "scattered" is what you like, and what your accustomed to, perhaps you should strew things about and rearrange to suit you? Or hang some new stuff on the walls? Perhaps one of those cork bulletin boards where you can thumb tack photos that you like, want to make or gives you a feeling of calm and well being? Or take one of the favorite fabrics from you stash and make something as simple as a chair cover or curtains or a throw pillow for your new sewing room to help make it "your" space?

Best wishes to you. Patti in Seattle

Taria: First, some hugs for you, the BIL, and the QIs. Also, congrats for DS ... WTG!

That leads right to my suggestion for 'boosting' your quilting. I saw several police theme cotton prints at Joanne's this week. Go look for a few of those and see if you can add some stash pieces to make a simple quilt to celebrate DS special achievement.

Take care. PAT > Since I moved I have had a devil of a time getting inspired

Taria,

It does sound as if you have much to be distracted about! However, it would be hard to get used to a new sewing room, no matter how nice, if that isn't how you operated before. Thinking back I can relate to it. Before my sewing room, I used to have projects strung out about the house, and did a lot of work by hand because it was a pain in the patoot to set up the sewing machine. However, I have found while I still like doing handwork while watching TV, it's very nice to have the sewing room where I can keep projects organized, and have the sewing machine set up full time.

Perhaps, just to get back in the swing of things, you should take one of the projects out and work at it as you used to--in the rec room, while watching TV or listening to music..., whatever. I know you get the idea. Just do as you did before, and I bet you'll find that sewing room useful in different ways than you expected. Having a sewing room doesn't mean you and your projects have to be confined there.

(((hugs))) The last time we were in the middle of a move, I had my SM and scrap heap in our transition rental apartment, along with a book of block designs. Started with the 1st block and worked my way through, doing one a day, or more if I felt like it, whichever block came next. No plan, except I made them all the same size. They are still sitting in the cupboard. Occasionally I add to the pile whenever I run into a dry spell creativity-wise. Doing blocks this way is pretty brainless and remarkably soothing. DH wisely commented that turning random scraps into perfect little squares was my way of controlling at least one thing, when life was otherwise out of control. Roberta in D

"Taria" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:5%ynh.3511$Pe7.3439@trnddc04...

I do sympathize with you Taria. How about making your Q I's a little blanket for comfort.It might spark you off to something more exciting in the

My studio (love that word) doubles as an extra bedroom when we have kids come and visit. That means packing everything up so they can see the bed, clearing off all flat surfaces and putting away stash. After re-doing my studio, it is hard to go back to sewing because everything is put away and way to perfect. I first have to scatter some fabric around - I usually do some auditioning for something, then open my machine and sew something together, anything, even 2 scraps will do. The tv is always turned on although I rarely watch it. Just the talking in the background does it for me. Anyway, once I am settled in, oh, did I mention a cup of coffee or a glass of d. soda?, I sorta slide into my sewing frame of mind and I'm off......... I usually sew for hours.

It is really important to try to re-create a comfortable sewing environment, even if the space has changed. If you want to change your environment, do it in small steps. I am a "messy" sewer. Gotta have lots of stuff around.

ooh tha

A very interesting notion, Roberta. I'll ponder that when I'm doing something mindless like unloading the dishwasher. It just could be that your DH is quite right. Polly

"Roberta Zollner" wrote> The last time we were in the middle of a move, I had my SM and scrap heap in

I usually start out doing family mending. Makes the family happy and helps me get back on track. The wip's are usually in a bin, what ever is on top is finished first, then continue until bin is empty. Sometimes I crochet for a bit if the sewing is just too mind boggling.

Start some of your favorite music, hang up sewing pictures and plaques, sort the mess into a workable system for you. (Anything not in proper place or bin is a mess in my world.) I usually made up a work corner first in a new sewing room. A place where I could easily reach the tools and findings without leaving the favored seat. Then I organized the rest of the materials into workable locations. In past years this meant locating a crib or playpen for baby, now it means locating space for my attack cat and toe nibbling puppy. The babies have become young adults, age 12 to 23.

Oy. That is way too much stuff to handle at one time. Good thoughts and hugs on the way now.

--Heidi

Plattsburgh (UPstate) NY

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Taria wrote:

Thanks Betty. Cheering is good as long as you aren't one of those 'girls gone wild' I have been seeing on the news

Taria

Betty > Just hang in there, Taria. The motivation will come back. Another day,