I have a long list of quilting and crafting ideas for inspiration. Anytime I see/hear an idea that I love but don't have time for yet, it goes on the list and I find it later!
I don’t sew professionally and have a full time job. I have more ideas than time. That alone causes a sense of pressure to get in my sewing room and burnout. I would spend time in my sewing room everyday if only to practice a technique for 30 minutes. I’ve taken the pressure off to enjoy the summer weather and spend as much time as possible with my two year old and newborn grandkids. I do keep my sewing room tidy and clean bc it’s pleasing to return to. Taking the pressure off is a liberation that later results in creativity. Good to see you, Kayla. I hope the issues with your hands are easily resolved.
Hello Kayla! Burnout is present in every job and non of us is immune! ☝ Creators,artists are most affected. 4 years ago my arm and left hand were paralyzed for a cervical hernia (i'm a left-handed professional seamstress).So I had surgery on my neck and I had a pretty recovery but I no longer have that ability and control of the hand... When I have inspiration I'm in bad physical shape and when I'm in great shape my imagination fades 🤦♀ A painter friend of mine says:"the artist's curse is that you don't manage inspiration but it is inspiration that manages you..." I'm 50 y.o. I learned that when these "crises" come I have to regognize them,accept them and in the meantime take care of something else.Be patient and then everything will return to "normal",I will start again where I left off...💪🤣 You have a new subsciber,greetings from Italy 🙋♀
My problem is I don’t know what to do with my finished quilts. I’ve given many away as gifts to everyone I can think of. I’ve made 80 blocks for Quilts of Valor and I’ve sewn 3 quilts with some of those blocks. I’ve got a stack of quilt tops to quilt so I told myself no more sewing until you reduce that pile. I’m only allowed to sew FQS Mystery Quilt which is one block per month. It’s so bad I went through my entire scrap bin, cut and organized by color. I just need a purpose other than finding more space for my quilts. I’m always looking for someone to give a quilt to but not everyone appreciates a quilt. My hands look like yours; long fingers, my hands are very flexible. I hope you resolve your hand pain problem.
Was working on a complicated top a couple years ago. Tiny pieces, points and seams not lining up. I got very frustrated and just stepped out of my sewing room. To get myself motivated to sew again, I grabbed a jelly roll and made a "jellyroll race" top. Fast, easy and it turned out great (it's one of my favorite quilts now). That's all it took to shake me out of my funk. Finished my "complicated" top (Lake House by Zelda Lawrence-Curran) and its ready to be quilted.
Last Spring I made 4 - larger than twin smaller than queen - quilt tops which I realized I could not quilt on my sewing machine even though it has a BSR - just too large to handle at my age. So I needed to send them out to a long arm quilter and they ended up averaging $140.00 each! So needless to say I became disheartened, though they were appreciated by the recipients, the cost of making them bothered me. Hundreds of dollars and time spent. I have a couple dresser drawers worth of fabric in my “Stash” not a closet to wall full like some and though I have a great regular machine and a nice set-up I’m just in a slump. I’m considering that maybe if I make some smaller lap size quilts, that I might be able to complete them myself. I also did recently go through the quilting books I have to only keep those that I felt I’d use the patterns out of. So hoping tidying /re-organizing/decluttering may help me get out of this slump. I have a supportive husband and find my worst critic is myself. He said it’s ok to take a break, but it’s been a year now which should be long enough. Sorry I don’t have any results yet to share on how to get out of the “slump” but I’m working on it and these are a few steps I’ve taken. Thank you for your post and I pray you have an answer to your hand pain so you can get relief. ❤
@@kayla_quiltsI hope it’s nothing more serious than your body telling you to take a break and feel good about it. It will be there when your sew-Jo returns organically. That’s the approach I’m using right now. Did the same last summer and my sew -jo returned in the fall.
A little off topic. Choosing a gluten free diet helped my hand pain measurably. Please consider trying it for three weeks to see if it offers a little relief. I also quit nightshades. Best wishes on a reliable diagnosis.
One great way to start sewing again is to have muslin squares ready. I just sit down and sew prints to muslin 2", 2-1/2", 3", 3-1/2", 4", whatever for 10 or 15 minutes. It really helps me sort out what I want to work on next and pretty soon I have a cool checkerboard quilt.
I don't, although I may invest in one once I finish my remodel. I'm trying not to do too much in my studio until the walls, ceiling, and bathroom are finished. There's already too much stuff to move or work around right now for construction.
Have you had your doctor check if this is the problem (thoracic outlet syndrome ) I spent months trying to get diagnosed I was at the point where my hands and up my arm was numb finally a female doctor who listened to me sent me to a specialist 3 days later I was in surgery , This might not be your problem but if nothing else it can't hurt to ask.
Stop eating sugar/carbs. My hands hurt so bad I could barely cut out a pattern..I thought I had arthritis…turns out I just needed to get rid of sugar in my diet. I no longer eat breads or starchy veg and very little fruit. Noticed a huge difference in just a few days. I don’t know if it will help you..but it sure did the trick for me.
I am glad to hear that you were able to learn this sooner than later. Even just eliminating added sugar gave my skin a more refreshed look. It has been 15 years and now that I am just over 70 I am still seeing great results. I also avoid packaged foods 100%. A lot of roasted chicken, asparagus, broccoli. I also rely on homemade chicken broth.
take it or leave it I think your nails are beautiful but your body may have got to the point where the chemicals they use are giving you an inflammation reaction. You can go your whole life doing something and then all of the sudden develop a reaction. I would try going all natural for a while and see if your hands don't feel better. I will keep you in my prayers!
I have a long list of quilting and crafting ideas for inspiration. Anytime I see/hear an idea that I love but don't have time for yet, it goes on the list and I find it later!
I don’t sew professionally and have a full time job. I have more ideas than time. That alone causes a sense of pressure to get in my sewing room and burnout. I would spend time in my sewing room everyday if only to practice a technique for 30 minutes. I’ve taken the pressure off to enjoy the summer weather and spend as much time as possible with my two year old and newborn grandkids. I do keep my sewing room tidy and clean bc it’s pleasing to return to. Taking the pressure off is a liberation that later results in creativity. Good to see you, Kayla. I hope the issues with your hands are easily resolved.
Hello Kayla!
Burnout is present in every job and non of us is immune! ☝
Creators,artists are most affected.
4 years ago my arm and left hand were paralyzed for a cervical hernia (i'm a left-handed professional seamstress).So I had surgery on my neck and I had a pretty recovery but I no longer have that ability and control of the hand...
When I have inspiration I'm in bad physical shape and when I'm in great shape my imagination fades 🤦♀
A painter friend of mine says:"the artist's curse is that you don't manage inspiration but it is inspiration that manages you..."
I'm 50 y.o. I learned that when these "crises" come I have to regognize them,accept them and in the meantime take care of something else.Be patient and then everything will return to "normal",I will start again where I left off...💪🤣
You have a new subsciber,greetings from Italy 🙋♀
My problem is I don’t know what to do with my finished quilts. I’ve given many away as gifts to everyone I can think of. I’ve made 80 blocks for Quilts of Valor and I’ve sewn 3 quilts with some of those blocks. I’ve got a stack of quilt tops to quilt so I told myself no more sewing until you reduce that pile. I’m only allowed to sew FQS Mystery Quilt which is one block per month. It’s so bad I went through my entire scrap bin, cut and organized by color. I just need a purpose other than finding more space for my quilts. I’m always looking for someone to give a quilt to but not everyone appreciates a quilt. My hands look like yours; long fingers, my hands are very flexible. I hope you resolve your hand pain problem.
I’m making wheelchair quilts for nursing homes. I’m like you. I love making quilts also and need a place to give them.
Thanks!
You are in my prayers; your hands are healed. No disease .🙏
Thank you so much!!! I did test negative for Lyme, so that's great news.
Was working on a complicated top a couple years ago. Tiny pieces, points and seams not lining up. I got very frustrated and just stepped out of my sewing room. To get myself motivated to sew again, I grabbed a jelly roll and made a "jellyroll race" top. Fast, easy and it turned out great (it's one of my favorite quilts now). That's all it took to shake me out of my funk. Finished my "complicated" top (Lake House by Zelda Lawrence-Curran) and its ready to be quilted.
Last Spring I made 4 - larger than twin smaller than queen - quilt tops which I realized I could not quilt on my sewing machine even though it has a BSR - just too large to handle at my age. So I needed to send them out to a long arm quilter and they ended up averaging $140.00 each! So needless to say I became disheartened, though they were appreciated by the recipients, the cost of making them bothered me. Hundreds of dollars and time spent. I have a couple dresser drawers worth of fabric in my “Stash” not a closet to wall full like some and though I have a great regular machine and a nice set-up I’m just in a slump. I’m considering that maybe if I make some smaller lap size quilts, that I might be able to complete them myself. I also did recently go through the quilting books I have to only keep those that I felt I’d use the patterns out of. So hoping tidying /re-organizing/decluttering may help me get out of this slump. I have a supportive husband and find my worst critic is myself. He said it’s ok to take a break, but it’s been a year now which should be long enough. Sorry I don’t have any results yet to share on how to get out of the “slump” but I’m working on it and these are a few steps I’ve taken.
Thank you for your post and I pray you have an answer to your hand pain so you can get relief. ❤
Nice to see you back. Hope you find a cure for your hands.
Thanks! I will update when/if we find out what's going on
@@kayla_quiltsI hope it’s nothing more serious than your body telling you to take a break and feel good about it. It will be there when your sew-Jo returns organically. That’s the approach I’m using right now. Did the same last summer and my sew -jo returned in the fall.
Another question for you . . . How did you cover your plastic drawers in the background? I need to do something like that with my shelves.
Do you have any tips/tricks that have helped you when you've lost your sew-jo?
A little off topic. Choosing a gluten free diet helped my hand pain measurably. Please consider trying it for three weeks to see if it offers a little relief. I also quit nightshades. Best wishes on a reliable diagnosis.
One great way to start sewing again is to have muslin squares ready. I just sit down and sew prints to muslin 2", 2-1/2", 3", 3-1/2", 4", whatever for 10 or 15 minutes. It really helps me sort out what I want to work on next and pretty soon I have a cool checkerboard quilt.
I have a Pinterest board of fun quilt blocks which I have a look at :)
Do you have an Accuquilt? Mine really saves my hands and shoulders.
I don't, although I may invest in one once I finish my remodel. I'm trying not to do too much in my studio until the walls, ceiling, and bathroom are finished. There's already too much stuff to move or work around right now for construction.
Have you had your doctor check if this is the problem (thoracic outlet syndrome ) I spent months trying to get diagnosed I was at the point where my hands and up my arm was numb finally a female doctor who listened to me sent me to a specialist 3 days later I was in surgery , This might not be your problem but if nothing else it can't hurt to ask.
I have less trouble with my hands after switching to the Martelli cutter.
Stop eating sugar/carbs. My hands hurt so bad I could barely cut out a pattern..I thought I had arthritis…turns out I just needed to get rid of sugar in my diet. I no longer eat breads or starchy veg and very little fruit. Noticed a huge difference in just a few days. I don’t know if it will help you..but it sure did the trick for me.
I am glad to hear that you were able to learn this sooner than later. Even just eliminating added sugar gave my skin a more refreshed look. It has been 15 years and now that I am just over 70 I am still seeing great results. I also avoid packaged foods 100%. A lot of roasted chicken, asparagus, broccoli. I also rely on homemade chicken broth.
take it or leave it I think your nails are beautiful but your body may have got to the point where the chemicals they use are giving you an inflammation reaction. You can go your whole life doing something and then all of the sudden develop a reaction. I would try going all natural for a while and see if your hands don't feel better. I will keep you in my prayers!