Finding Your Creative Self

There are times when creativity and ideas flow like water and there are those times when the well runs dry.  For the past few weeks I have been in a slump as far as creativity and motivation go.  In trying to get things completed amidst a very busy time and jury duty I think I may have discovered a couple things about myself.  A creative stopper for me is when I have too many things that need to be done and I don't know where to start or how to get it accomplished.  The second is lack of exercise and not getting out and about with people.  The snow and subzero temperatures have kept me home and inside.

When creativity comes to a screeching halt for you don't try and force it to be there.  Let it go and do the things that bring motivation and creativity back.  Here are some ideas for you.  What can you add to the list?

1.  Listen to your favorite music and let your mind go.
2.  Keep a journal.  Draw inspiring things you see, write about incidents you experience, meaningful    
     quotes, song lyrics, etc.
3.  Go shopping;  shoes, clothes, window shopping, fabric, boutique shops, etc.
4.  Have lunch with a friend.
5.  Get lost for a while on pinterest.

Last night I went to my first meeting at the Modern Quilt Guild of Ann Arbor.  This should be an interesting way to bring new creativity to my quilting.

Create Friendship Piece by Piece!

Blessings,
Dee

I So Agree

My sentiments exactly!!!!!

Sampler Sew-a-long Block #9

Step 1:  You will need 3 fabrics for this little basket.  Background, floral and a dark for the basket.

Step 2:  Cutting instructions:

Background fabric;  cut one 4 7/8" sq.,  four 2 7/8" squares, two 2 1/2"x 4 1/2" rectangles

Basket fabric;  cut one 4 7/8" square, one 2 7/8" square floral fabric;  cut three 2 7/8" squares

Step 3:  Make the HST's by drawing a center line and two stitching lines 1/4" away from the center line and sew and cut, press. You will have 6 floral HST's, 2 small basket HST and 1 large basket HST.

Step 4:  Arrange as shown above and sew together in rows.

Enjoy!  Dee

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

Yeah!  I lost five pounds over the last week and a half.  The bad news is that it was from shivering.  Not a recommended form of exercise.  Two weeks of subzero weather and wind chill is enough but they say it isn't over yet.  Today it got up to twenty degrees and it felt warm.  Crazy!!

Finished up the gifts for everyone attending the February retreat today and started cutting for a new quilt.  After a busy week with work and jury duty it felt good to have a day to myself.  Jury duty here is a two week stint so I will have to call in tomorrow to see if I go back next week.

Block #9 will be up tomorrow!  Have a blessed and warm day!

Dee

Friendship is a long,

sweet prayer

made up of kind acts that 

reach heavenward.

Sampler Sew-A-Long Block #8

Fabric requirements:  1 dark, 1 medium to med. dk, and 1 light

Cutting instructions:  

From the dark fabric cut one, 1 1/2" x 12" strip, cut two 3 7/8" squares

From the medium fabric cut one 2 1/2"x 12" strip, cut two 3 7/8" squares

From the light fabric cut one 2 1/2" square and four 1 1/2" squares.

Sew the two strips together and press to the dark side. Cut this strip into four 2 1/2" segments. Make four HST's from the dark and med. squares.

From the 2 1/2" strip segments sew a 1 1/2" square diagonally to each side of the medium fabric.  Cut away excess fabric and press before sewing the other square on.  These will become your center star points.  Arrange your units as shown below and stitch rows together.

Too Long!

The last month has been a whirlwind of activity for us.  My husband and I took a 3 week vacation to visit family and friends in CA.  When traveling I always think I am going to get so much more done than I ever do with the "extra time" I will have.  This trip was really no different-I did not get any posts done for the blog, I did not do any of the hand work I took along to accomplish and now I feel very far behind.

We spent our first week or so with Steve's Sisters in Sacramento.  What fun to be together.  It has been a while since all of his family has been together.  Next we visited friends in Mission Viejo that feel more like family than friends.  Barb and I found a few quilt shops to peruse and we got some much needed quilting done for her.  To finish our trip we spent time in San Diego with our daughter, LeAnna.  It was a joy and privelege to be in her kindergarten classroom, help her with lessons and some planning, reading stories and just watching the children.  She has a wonderful staff to work with  and a great bunch of kids.  We miss LeAnna and Brett very much but it is good to be home and back to routine.

My CA quilt retreat is fast approaching and am working diligently to get everything completed for that. Plans are also underway for the MI retreat in April.  I love putting together the retreats and being with everyone.

Block #8 is coming tomorrow!

Blessings to all!

Dee