Have you ever lost your quilting mojo? I found mine when I started playing in my scrap bin! This summer was a blur as we celebrated high school graduation, took a family vacation, and moved my only child off to college. I had some short bursts of quilting productivity, but there was a recent stretch when I didn’t touch fabric or thread for ten days.
(Okay, seeing it in print…I realize a 10-day dry spell isn’t much, but it felt like an eternity!)
Finding my sew-jo
I climbed out of the slump with a group sewing day at my local shop. Being around other quilters is a definite lift for the spirits! I didn’t really have a plan, so I grabbed my bin of 2 1/2″ strips on the way out the door.
And what do you know…I had so much fun putting together scrappy blocks, reminiscent of a Trip Around the World. I came home refreshed and ready to get back to work on thoose deadlines.
Here are my suggestions for a creative re-set:
- Change location. Sewing in a different space for a few hours allowed me to clear my head of distractions.
- Explore your scrap bin. Getting reacquainted with happy memories of finished projects can inspire a new project.
- Hang out with friends. It’s good for the soul!
Have you experienced a period of burnout? How did you overcome it? Please share in the comments!
Scrap Bin Inspiration
I was able to recharge my creative batteries by focusing on the scrap bin. Cutting leftovers to usable sizes is a trick I learned early in my quilting journey thanks to Bonnie Hunter. You can learn more at her site, Quiltville. I love a good jelly roll pattern, so I dug into my stash to find strips for my Beaded Curtain quilt.
This quilt is a great stash-buster! You can start with strips, or go wild with mini charm squares. What colors would you choose?
If you are a scrap-quilt lover, or just looking for some new pattern inspiration, then I have a great deal for you! This weekend only (August 28 – September 1, 2024), you can purchase the Scrap Bin Pattern Bundle!
This bundle includes 13 digital quilt patterns from some amazing designers: Patchwork Posse, Swan Amity, Stacey Lee, Gingerberry Quilts, The Crafty Nomad, Sew Much Moore, True Blue Quilts (that’s me!), Jacquelynne Steves, A Piece of Quiet Quilts, The Dizzy Quilter, Designed to Quilt, Suzy’s Sitcom Store and Kathy’s Kwilts.
There are projects from wall-hangings to table runners along with full size quilts that use a variety of techniques. I can’t wait to dive in and use my stash!
