Posted on by agilejack

Yup. I’m in a Dry Spell

I was thinking last night about my lack of motivation to hit my sewing room the last week or so and I realized that I’m in one of my creative dry spells.

I feel like I’m pretty aware of how I go through my creative life. I get interested in something and then jump in with both feet. I buy all the equipment and supplies I need and then I go crazy at it for some time, figuring out how to do it on my own, taking great satisfaction in seeing myself get better at it. It can be like heroin in this stage… I just can’t get enough. I think about it all the time. And then, one day, I might just be done with it and never have the motivation to do it again. And in fact never actually do it again.

My quilting and sewing seems to be different. While I definitely go through low and high tides in my creative drive, I always seem to come back to it with enthusiasm at some point in time.

So, what do I do about this dry spell? I’ve found in the past that these times are perfect for finishing projects that have been languishing too long. How convenient that I have a number of those sitting in my sewing room closet.

  1. I need to finish this jewel frames quilt that is for my new bed. All the blocks are done. All I have to do it sew them together and put on the borders. This quilt has been sitting in a box in this state for far too long.

2. This Japanese X & Plus quilt is for my guest room. I think I only need to make four or five more blocks to have this one ready to sew together. I know what’s stopping me… I got really tired of sewing all those squares onto corners. This quilt is going to be a little crazy, but I love it!

3. Here’s another one that’s been sitting for far too long — my second Ruffled Feathers Quilt. Every time I post this one I get people asking me for the pattern. Unfortunately, it’s no longer available. Well, at least it wasn’t the last time I checked. oS if you want the pattern, you might be out of luck.

4. And this aboriginal trip quilt… I barely even got started on this before it went back into the box. I think I actually only got five blocks done. I don’t know why I got bored with this one so quickly. This one is pretty chaotic, but I think it will calm down when I get more blocks done and a more definite pattern starts to emerge.

I also still need to make the backing for my KFC trip quilt. Maybe I’ll do that first and then finish the Jewel Frames top and get the borders put on. Then it will need a backing. It’s time to get that done and get some color in to my bedroom!

I had a work meeting yesterday that I found really frustrating. It bothered me all last night and I almost felt depressed about it today. I had a repeat of that meeting today and was sort of dreading it… worried that it would be another frustrating meeting. So to keep myself more peaceful and steady I made sure I had my English paper piecing ready to go. So I did hand-sewing through that meeting. I still participated like I did yesterday, but I felt so different. I was more relaxed. I felt physically and mentally calm. This is such a strong case for me to have handwork ready to go and pull it out during long meetings. Lesson learned.

During that meeting I almost finished one of the EPP flowers I’ve been making. And when I picked it back up after our walk tonight to finish it up, I promptly screwed it up! On the left is was I did. On the right is what I should have done. Damn it!

So I had to undo the seam attaching that Orange hexagon at the top. Damn it.

And then sewed it back together the correct way.

I’m trying to figure out a consistent way to sew these seven hexagons together each time that is efficient and easy. I’m pretty sure I do it differently every time. I’d love to find the best way, or have I already found it?

Here’s the finished block. I think this is number seven.

Saw a gorgeous patch of crocosmia on our walk this evening. It’s one of my favorite summer bloomers.

Those blooms are nearly chest high on me.

I was also very pleased today to see that my Rose of Sharon has one lovely bloom on it.

I swear that thing must have literally POPPED open! I looked at it yesterday and it was a small, tight bud that looked like it had days to go before it opened. And then today… BAM!

My Fridays at work are usually pretty quiet, meeting wise. For some reason my day tomorrow is packed with meetings, and I have a few key things I need to get done tomorrow too. Gonna be a wild day. I’m really looking forward to the weekend.

The husband of a friend of mine died suddenly today. She’s in shock. I can’t tell you how bad I feel for her. Please keep her in your thoughts and if you’re a person who prays, please mention her there too.

Send me some positive and creative energy to help get my creative juices flowing again!

62 Replies to “Yup. I’m in a Dry Spell”

  1. Don’t be so hard on yourself! You’re learning a new skill and are doing a remarkable job! All your hexi flowers are gorgeous!
    It’s inevitable an error will happen when your tired, your thoughts are jumbled or your mood just isn’t the best. But you roll with the punches, pick it out, sprinkling it liberally with fancy language and it turns out so good in the end that you’d never know anything happened.
    I think dry spells are really just your mind and/or body letting you know you need a break and to switch gears for a bit. Once you tackle one or two of those UFOs, you’ll feel accomplishment and be refreshed and be right back to your old self!
    Take a clue from Bender! When the chips are down go belly up on that doggie bed or his under the hammock. Either is a nice time out so you can chill.

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  3. You seem to have a handle on your dry spells…I feel like it is something in us making us slow down for a good reason. I like to look at Pinterest and Instagram to see what others are doing, cleaning my studio helps too!
    So sorry for your friend!

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  4. Perhaps you could look at your current crafting “dry spell” through a different lens. Your forays into different crafting areas have been ways to increase your knowledge base and to explore what you really want to spend your time doing. It seems that sewing is #1 on your list. You’ve done lots of different projects within this realm – fabric cards, zippered pouches, Frankenbags, quilts… You’ve built a lot of skills that you use from one project to the next. Although many of us would like to continually go full speed ahead, it is nearly impossible to keep up the pace over the long term. There inevitably will be a crash and burn event. Right now, you’re just resting, catching your breath, and gearing up for your next crafting/sewing adventure. It’s your rejuvenation stage. Think of flower bulbs. Even they need to rest over the winter so they can come back beautifully in the springtime. Fiddle around with unfinished projects if you want. Give yourself permission to just relax and enjoy whatever it is you decide to do.
    I’m so sorry to hear about your friend’s husband. My thoughts go out to her. I’m sure you’ll be a great support to her in the days ahead.

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    1. I think you may be right… rather than a creative dry spell I’m just resting from a frenzy. I’ve really been productive since the first of the year. I need to take a breath!

      Anne

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  5. I am one of those rare birds who likes quilting and making clothes. When I get bored with one I get the creative spark to do the other. I am half way through a scrap quilt and I can’t wait to make a cute top from a pattern I just ordered. Plus I have my first sewing cabinet where my machine can fit flat and it makes a world of difference. Love it!

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    1. I sewed some clothes for myself when I was just out of college and working and didn’t have much money. But now I’m not crazy about sewing things that actually have to fit a specific body. But I do toy with the idea every now and again.

      Anne

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  6. Gorgeous jewel frames quilt! I would finish that one first, get it on the bed, then tackle the guest bed one. They are so close to being done 😊. I hear you on the dry spell. Sometimes I feel like too much is going on and can’t even focus and enjoy my sewing. Damn Covid has taken away my Dad and others who I still miss. Then my border collie mix, Callie, of liver cancer. I still mourn for her. We have sold our place and moving near our daughter and I feel that will help. Prayers for your friend for sure.

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    1. So many people I know have lost people to Covid. So sorry about your dad. And about Callie too. A co worker of mine had to say goodbye to her beloved dog today.

      Good luck on your move. It will be nice to be near family.

      Anne

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  7. Tip for not mixing up the order of your Hexies:
    Lay out your Hexies the way you want them to look, forming a flower ‘cluster’.*

    Now look at your Hexie flower on the diagonal and pin or clip the hexies for row one (top two Hexies diagonally), then row two (middle three Hexies), then row three (last two Hexies). You now have three pinned/clipped rows from working top right to bottom left.
    1. Sew the top two together, first row.
    2. Sew the middle three together, second row.
    3. Sew the bottom two together, third row.
    4. Sew the first row to the second row, creating a ‘cluster’.
    5. Sew the bottom row to the cluster.
    You now have your Hexie flower.

    *Another tip is to lay out the seven Hexies as you want them sewn, take a picture with your phone. You can print this for your visual reference or refer to it in your phone, whichever you find most convenient.
    (It is very easy to mix up your Hexies since the fabrics are all different and you are trying to be present in a meeting, don’t beat yourself up.)

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    1. I”ve done exactly what you said with taking a photo. I just laid one hexi on top of the other one and then sewed the wrong edge!

      I actually did think about sewing them together in rows like you detailed. Seems like a really efficient way to do it. Thanks!

      Anne

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  8. Very sorry for your friend and her husband – prayers go out to them.
    I agree about catching your breathe and giving yourself time to chill and reset! I absolutely love that jewel quilt for your bed! The colors are so amazing! Thanks for sending the beautiful flower pics – I always enjoy looking at those. I am also very sorry to hear about Pam’s loses – prayers for her. Sad to hear about Callie ❤️ – I think her dog was the same as mine, a border – pointer mix. Hugs and here’s some positive creative thoughts coming your way 🧵🧶🪡🎨

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    2. Thanks Lesley. I’m glad people aren’t getting tired of all the flower pictures!

      I talked to my friend today and she said she thinks her husband would be proud of how she’s powering through.

      Anne

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  9. Hello! I am so brand new to your blog and I am enjoying it ever so much!
    I’m pretty new at this quilting and find myself going for challenges as I get into more quilt patterns.
    I just began EPP this week and when my friend introduced me to your blog I was so excited! I love your creativity! You have inspired me!
    Your blog is so down to earth and packed with such helpful information.
    Love your hexie’s, Love your flowers, Love your dogs, you know I never thought of putting a large bowl of water at my drive for those who are walking their owners. 😁
    You are a blessing!

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  10. I know about those dry spells. I think my worst one was about 6 weeks, but then it came rushing back. My UFO’S are calling my name so maybe that’s what is next for me also. Definitely worth doing as there are a good many of them. Finish up “Ruffled Feathers”! One of my favorites of yours. Glad you have those hexies to work on during meetings – anything to keep you sane. Keep on keeping on. Sending patience and calm to you.

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  11. Seems like you’re a kinesthetic learner, so having something to do with your hands will make all you do more productive.

    Regarding the EPP, could you concentrate on the MIDDLE hexagon and make sure you are always sewing your new piece to that center one??

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    1. I’ve done a couple of the hexagon flowers by sewing the outer pieces to the center first, but I was trying to sew them together in a way that would allow me to do one longer line of stitching, rather than tying and cutting the thread often. I jsut wasn’t paying attention to what i was doing!

      Anne

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  14. All of your quilts are beautiful and you have a wonderful color sense. I love, love the Aboriginal trip and think you will too when you get a few more squares finished. I think you will feel better when you get your Jewel Frame off to the quilter and will be ready to move onto another project, be it finishing a UFO, or starting something new. I, too, am having a “dry spell” with quilting, and don’t know if I will get back to it. My husband and I downsized in July of ’21 and where I had an 18 x 22 sewing room with tons of storage and a huge cutting table, now I have a 10 X 11 room without proper storage or much of anything else. I know I was spoiled before and very fortunate, but I can’t seem to figure out what to do here. I made one quilt for a friend’s grandson that I felt I “owed”, as I had given his sister one of my quilts when we moved. That’s it so far. So, I’ve taken up more watercolor. My husband is a watercolorist and he’s been after me to paint more, so that’s what I’m trying to do. Lemons out of lemonade or sour grapes! I’m not sure which, LOL. Also, I like Kathy’s idea of concentrating on the center hexie. Maybe some peel off little kid’s stickers to put on the center of each one would help. You ARE wildly and fabulously creative, and that part of your personality is not going anywhere, rest assured!

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    1. It would be such a wonderful thing to have a large sewing room. Mine is very small. And I also suffer with not enough storage, but I’ve sworn I won’t allow it to overflow to another room!

      Anne

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      1. Your reply about having a small sewing room sparked a memory in me. When we bought this house, I had my choice of which room to make my very first ever sewing room. I chose the smallest because it had the best light and view AND I mistakenly thought it would force me to limit my purchases. HA! As we moved, I’d gather my fabrics from nooks and crannies at the old house and Chuck them in my sewing room at the new. Needless to say, when the dust settled that room was like being in a gopher hole! After wedging myself in, I could sit in the middle with my head straining to see above the mounds all around me trying to get fresh air! Lol
        It took me a couple months before I could wrap my head around it, but I eventually got it arranged so I now have a functional sewing room! Plot your necessary flat surfaces, then figure out what can go below and above to store what have you.
        I’ll never forget my gopher hole!

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  17. That first picture reminds me of when our lake was low and all cracked like that. It was kind of fun to explore.

    Love the quilt tops, so pretty! Especially the one with the Ruffled Feathers one. I had a gorgeous rose of sharon but it froze and died. It was so pretty. Mine was a dark purple

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    1. This Rose of Sharon was given to me by a friend last year. She is a really accomplished gardener. It’s so fun to see it blooming. It has three blooms on it today!
      Ane

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  19. Greetings! I have dry spells too. But maybe it’s more of not knowing where to turn. I have a bunch of UFOs that need finishing, but, I don’t want to finish them, so I just stew in my own juices. I cleaned up one CORNER of my sewing room and found all kinds of things that are almost done. Am trying really hard to tackle them. Since COVID has taken away my groups, I find I have a lot harder time being motivated to finish.
    I’m so very sorry for your friend. I hope that she can find peace and comfort from her family and friends.

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    1. Oh! It’s a little frightening to think of what I’ll find when I clean up my sewing room. But it’s past due. That would be a good project as I’m waiting for my creative spark to return.

      Anne

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  20. Sometimes when I get in a creative lull I find new energy in just cutting. That’s what I’m doing now. I need a LOT of squares for my next scrappy quilt. I’m going thru my scraps and cleaning it up as I use what I can to cut squares. I’m finding it satisfying even though I’m not actually creating anything new

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    1. It’s a really good idea to go through scraps and organize. But the thought of it is a little horrifying to me! I have a huge pile of smaller scraps (crumbs, strips and the like). I dug through it to find pieces to do my crumb piecing tutorial a few weeks ago and it was all I could take! I should just grab that bucket and sort through stuff in the evenings after I’ve slowed down.

      Anne

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  21. We all go through dry spells. I think your solution with the UFO’s is perfect! I just found renewed enthusiasm when I cleared out my entire studio for the carpet cleaners and found lots of UFO’s and am now excited about finishing several!

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  22. When I get in a dry spell I just want some mindless sewing and usually I get some creative ideas while doing that. Sometimes it takes 2 or 3 days but that gives me enough parts for a bonus quilt before I take off in an intended direction.

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    1. Oh! You’re lucky! My dry spells tend to last weeks or a couple months.

      But I’m already starting to think of new things to do. I’m getting some ideas so that feels good!

      Anne

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  23. Are you the other half of me!!When i read your blog ,it feels like ive written some of this…love the same colors,patterns…flowers…those red croccosmia are one of my favorites…i also hit the wall with dry spell….and since covid started and forced into retirement..ive made 7 quilts….and knitted articles….and now just want to knit for a bit…..and i think its seeing the outside so pretty ,makes me think i need to be out ,instead of at sewing machine….so I stopped feeling guilty ,that Im not making better use of a new machine and taking a break… and knitting is easy to drag along anywhere…sudden lose is hard,i lost my daughter suddenly..nothing can prepare one for that lose and time does help but oh those first years….thoughts for your friend…

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    1. I went crazy with making quilt tops when teh pandemic hit. I think I made 10 in the first year. Slowed down a bit in year two. It might be time to make another one.

      And yes! I need to take time to enjoy the glorious weather we’ve been having. Our summers are so short here it’s a shame to pass them indoors.

      Anne

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  24. Hi again Anne. It’s agony when you hit a creative dry spell, isn’t it? I t always leaves me feeling adrift and abandoned. I try to fill the void by ‘playing’ with a new media, some sketches and paper collages in a sketch book; maybe some simple lines of stitch onto patches (useful to create some larger spreads). I’m into ’art quilts’ and hand stitching , so my little diversions often stir my creative pot!
    I hope your muse returns soon, maybe she’s just trying to get you to take a break?

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  25. Luckily I love to cook so when I ‘hit the wall’ I go to the kitchen. Today I made a batch of Blueberry, Almond, Coconut scones for the local fabric shop and cowboy cookies for the neighbour’s kids and Hummus for another neighbour.By then I had sorted out in my head what I needed to do in the studio and was happy to get back there away from the mess I made in the kitchen. One can only knit so many dish cloths !!!!!!

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    1. I do enjoy cooking but am not much of a baker. It’s a good idea to get a little more creative with my food prep. I tend to eat the same thing over and over.

      Anne

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  27. Anne,

    Okay, here’s your positive energy for today: You’re super creative and you seem to have nailed down how to get through your dry spells. I found it rather enlightening to read how you manage your time, especially through stressful work meetings and occasional boredom with a current project. I am sending you tons of positive energy and a reminder that you really kind of have it together already! And now I know that I’m not the only one who gets totally into something and then need to set it aside, possibly for a long time

    Be well, carry on, and give yourself the space and time that you need.

    Leslie, a faithful reader of your blogs 🙂

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    1. Thank you Leslie! I guess it is good to know that these creative cycles are somewhat normal. At least we’re having gorgeous weather so I can spend some of that free time outside with the boys and enjoying the short summer.

      Anne

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  28. You just described ME! I’ve gone through a “deco mesh wreath” spell…and gnomes (all the gnomes) but sewing is my “go to” that never seems to wane. Maybe it’s all the standing required to do the other projects vs. sitting at the machine and be able to think in solitude while it whirrs away? Glad to know I’m not the only person to go through these cycles.
    But, you should know that I am tackling my first bucket hat today and that’s because of the inspiration from YOU! So, your efforts (albeit ones you may be bored with now) were not in vain. Keep on keeping on my friend!
    Lynn (a great fan of your fur sons)

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    1. Oh no! You just reminded me that I have around 8 hats all cut out, fused, and ready to sew! I should chunk away on some of those while I’m waiting for a spark!
      Anne

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  29. I just saw a cute EPP hexagon zipper pouch on pintrest by fabric ninjas.
    I immediately thought of you! I just might try it! Or – put some on a few placemats. That would be a quick way to use them!

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    1. I think letting them sit in a pile for fifteen years it a great thing to do with them! Phew… that’s probably what will happen! Maybe I’ll make them into a baby quilt.

      Anne

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  30. Have you thought about focusing on your empathy for your friend? Perhaps some creative energy will come for a small artistic project in memory of her husband, like a fabric postcard. Something just for her.

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