recharging your batteries

I often have to throw a quilt in a corner for a week or three or more just to cope with that particular project. sometimes I can go on and do something else but sometimes I find myself crocheting or more recently beading to take the edge off the quilt. it's harder to not get back to a quilt when it's a commissioned one but sometimes these projects end up in the UFO file and will eventually get finished (well at least some do LOL) I find that it's easier to get on and finish more smaller projects than it is to do a series of larger ones.

Oh yes! I get 'burnt out' when working on something non-stop for several hours. It helps me to do something different (like shop!)=20

Since I work full time, getting out of the house and to the job also helps restore the creative juices.

-Irene

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

--------------

That's why I always have several projects going at once. Some pieces just whip together in a few days and require no deep thought (and as a result they are mostly pretty boring). But most have areas of concentration that can be exhausting. Frequently it's the free-motion quilting at the end, which can also be physically tiring if it's a large piece. Some days I can't manage more than a half hour of that! Roberta in D

"John" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@m58g2000cwm.googlegroups.com...

I quite understand how you feel. I had to leave my quilt because of Christmas holiday looming and a thousand and one things to do. Then Granddaughter dropped her bombshell that she is getting married in September and wants me to do her cake and all her wedding stationery. I have got the cake stand and the decorations sorted and cannot do anymore with the actual cake until nearer the time. The stationery consists of wedding and evening invites over 100. Menu cards and order of service plus place name cards. All individually made and my own design. So I keep doing a bit then leave off to do something else. Owing to my heart problems I have to work on things early, cannot leave to the last minute because one never knows what is round the corner.

I had a break today to make one of My Tree of Life jewellery pendants for a swap with a member of the group. I get fabric and she gets the pendant. Fair swap.

I hope to get my quilt basted in the next two weeks. I have been told I can use a large table in a room where I go for my computer classes. I will be going to my Digital imaging class tomorrow so may find out when the room is free. They will allow me because I am their star pupil at the moment. I started classes two years ago wanting to learn how to build my own website. I was the only one who was successful in doing so and I also got my CLAIT diploma last year. Not only that in December I was at top position in UK's google with my website. I had more than 7000 visits in

5 days. I am way down the list at the moment. I did get to 13 on the www. At the same time. So they are quite pleased with me.

Some days I do nothing at all to charge my batteries. It is natures way of saying slow down, and I listen to it. Right now I am back to the wedding invites.

So yes I do change activities. Shirley

In message , John writes

I do get the same with garment sewing, in the middle of a big project like a wedding gown. Just half a day to do something silly and light, or to play with an old sewing machine does wonders. As I puzzle out the intricacies of the machine, and stuggle with grease fossilized in place and rust and seized bearings, my mind chews over the major project in the background, and I come back to it refreshed.

And sometimes I feel the urge to sew madly into the wee small hours, and nothing can stop me! With quilts, especially when I get to the quilting part, I try to devide it up into segments so it isn't all one huge task. With garments I might think of it as a pattern altering task, then a cutting task, and then tackle the body or sleeves or whatever, each as a segment of the whole, rather than allowing the whole huge project to swamp me.

I just went thru this while making similar wall hangings for my 8 grandchildren. After finishing 4, I knew I couldn't get them done for Christmas so I put the last 4 aside and worked on RWB blocks for Quilts of Valor that the Carol Doak Yahoo group is making. I went back to the wall hangings and finished them yesterday. Since I had black thread in the machine, I worked on miniature blocks for a swap until the bobbin went dry. Those will be put up now until I finish the RWB blocks.

I think in my case the burn out at previous endeavors, revolved around the fact that I was working for somebody at whatever I was doing. When it was for "business" there was the added dimension of the money involved. I seldom felt that when doing something for myself. It is probably the case with quilting, that I am still in the learning phase and needing to correct mistakes as they occur. Added pressure in that regard. At least that is my thoughts on the matter. I am also somebody who likes to do one thing at a time. My wife has 2-3 books going when she reads. Not me. One book start to finish. Obsessive compulsive, I know. I have been approach by someone to see if I would be willing to quilt something for them of their design. This is one of the reasons that I retired. I got tired of doing other peoples things. I have made the decision not to turn this into a commercial thing. Keep it for me only. Maybe, if I get good enough; quilt competition, or charity work, but that's it. That way the pressure stays off.

John

John wrote:

I usually have "at least" 2 or 3 quilty things going at one time. If I am working on something that is causing me lots of problems, I will put it to one side, and work on something else. I try to keep one handwork project that I can do while watching television or take on a trip. Sometimes I am tired of all of it, and might go a month without touching any of it.

Sherry Starr

Howdy!

I loved reading this, Shirley. Understanding the medical situation you're in, still, I find nothing wrong with your Heart. Good luck on that wedding, and all your other projects.

Encouraged and warmed by Shirley's Heart, attitude, spirit, Ragmop/Sandy-- handquilter and quilt Finisher ;-)

I find I do need a break after a stretch of concentrated P & Q. I've done a few tiny things in the past 2.5 months, after a long stint of hard working; but my mind is getting attuned again! and I am going to be designing 6 quilts (already in my mind for ages) during the AQW and putting together the RCTQ BOM I did with 3" blocks instead of 12" >g

Shirley, you are a wonder.

(You don't go into telephone boxes and change your costume, do you?) . In message , Shirley Shone writes

I don't have as much time to quilt as I'd like, but in order not to get burnt out on a particular project, I usually have several going at once in different stages. That seems to help if a particular project proves a little more challenging (or frustrating).

LOL, It would be Blunder woman if I did. Shirley

In message , Patti writes

While I applaud your really working hard and finishing one thing at a time, I could never do that. In the first place, I'd be bored to death if I worked on only one thing till completed. At last count I have 17 projects in the works, and if I really got serious about counting, I'm sure I'd find more stashed away. That doesn't count the machine embroidery projects lined up waiting their turn. Gen

I only have that issue when I'm trying to finish something (quilitng or other) for a deadline. Otherwise I have too much going on to have a problem. I have 2 boys (6 and 3) that take up most of my time. When I do have time for my hobbies, I have differnt hobbies (quilting, crochet, cross stitch, embroidery, general crafting and others on a list to try) to pick from. And then I have at least a couple of projects for each one. So, I just work on the project I'm in the mood to work on. And when I'm not in the mood to work on a project, there is always looking at books/mag for new project ideas, reading the newsgroup, or surfing the web for new info, patterns or inspiration.

John, I think that you are right about the intense concentration needed. And I think that is part of the reason so many of us have several projects going at a time. Enjoying the process is as important, or, sometimes, more important than finishing. I am handquilting a quilt that took me about 2 1/2 years to piece...by hand. Had to think for a good long while about how I was going to quilt it. But this is a very special, to me at least, quilt. There are parts of most quilts that are almost mindless, and can be downright boring.... those parts need to be interspersed with parts that require thinking and figuring and seeing if there is an easier/better/more efficient/?? way to do them. As always, these are my opinions and what works for me. Your mileage/responses may be different.

Pati, > As I mentioned in another post, after a long stretch working on a quilt