Inspiration Needed

[Heather]

Hello all,

I am stymied. I need inspiration. I have several projects still unfinished and a plethora of ones that are still in the planning, but I don't want to do anything. Nothing calls to me. Nothing makes me want to pick up a needle. Nothing iinspires' me.

Any suggestions for getting my 'groove' back.

Thanks,
Heather

[worksofhands]

I know how this feels like. I am sure there are other serious matters happening around you other than lack of inspiration. Looking back now, I believe my experience was more of a rest. Before the stitching pauses, I usually had intensive stitching hours which I really enjoyed. I guess my eyes, my fingers and my brain needed a break too.

when I was studying music, my piano teacher told me one of the greatest lesson I have learned in music: The rests are as important as the notes.
Imagine how tired our ears would be if a song doesn´t have pauses nor an end, or a coda. The rests in music contributes to the beauty of the song.

The negative spaces around the object is part of the beauty of an artwork.

Enjoy your break while it lasts. :)
Vincent

[Liz in Kansas]

That is such good advice! I find I can get caught up in worrying about the next project (or lack of) and forget that the rest is important as well. Thank you for the reminder. You said it quite well!

[Judy B]

I remember the same music lesson!

And yes, it is true in the rest of our lives. A rest, or at very least a change, from any activity brings new enthusiasm when we get back to that activity.

Sometimes all we need is a coffee break, sometimes a year off! Sometimes all we need is a change to a different project, sometimes we need to put down the needle and go gardening, read a book, or play with the kids.

[Elizabeth]

I like this musical reasoning, Vince! Very nice.=)

[Barbara Lockwood]

Eat chocolate!!!!

Read a quilt magazine.

When I get stuck in a rut I drag out one of my many UFOs...which I did this morning. Rainy skies made me gloomy, but I determined to finish that baby quilt for charity I started 2 yrs ago - AND I DID ! !!!!! Yay! Next project - a deadline of tomorrow for an exchange...finished it too! Still gloomy out, but I'm leaving the computer soon to start a new project - got inspired at a quilt show this weekend - 800 quilts on display at PIQF here in California.

[Elizabeth Cameron]

I find it's often 'guilt' that chokes my inspiration. What I do is work out what is the most important and then work on each for a day, progress may be slow, but at least 5/7 projects are making some progress! Usually this leads to new ideas.