Episode 4: Lose The Muse

[@auntielhandmade2099]

When i have lost my sewjo, I dive into my shoebox of 2.5x4.5 inch scraps and mindlessly sew Potato Chip Blocks

[@danielpellish4299]

Goto sew jo restoration: a trip to any museum, looking through a book or magazine with amazing illustrations/advertising, window shopping where there is design id

[@SewOffKilter]

Thanks for sharing! That is a great way to help jump start that sew jo!

[@BarbaraCook-b4o]

Becca & Ian - Do what is best for you; I don't care what your videos are about, I love your company. I learn so much from the Podcast and the videos, you talk about life, life happens everyday. Listening to you now, I realize that what has happened to me is ... I lost my muse, for many things, I spend my free time thinking about what needs to be done and what I want to do and I just don't want to do anything. I will figure out what to do now that I know what the problem is. Thank you. Becca - I knew you loved quilting and it was probably the issue for you. Do what is best for you. I would love to watch you on your quilting journey or piecing or making a loaf of bread, whatever. Take care of yourself. Ian - I hadn't lost my muse until recently. I retired, had set my goals and was on the road to enjoying life. Less than two weeks into retirement I had to find a new home for my mother and life continued to throw more things my way for the last three years ... my muse started to leave slowly until now, I am almost paralyzed. All will be well, I will keep watching your podcast and videos, I will get my muse back; I will do what needs to be done; I will sew, knit and read and send you a photo of something I make ... Thank you for everything you do.

[@jennyharris2993]

I like how you guys have different quilts on you every time.

[@LambChop00S]

Really enjoyed this podcast. Ok, I have enjoyed them all. Thank you both! Love all the tips. My muse has been struggling because work has been way too busy and I think like Becca, I have decision fatigue. Listening to y'all talk I realized that the clutter is really getting to me plus all the WIPs too. I have the next week off for the holiday and I'm going to focus on trying to reign the chaos in as I think that will help a lot. Thank you!

[@SewOffKilter]

You are so welcome!

[@loribauer7295]

Fun!! Hope to create a good space to kick start my sew-jo for the new year. Thanks for the motivation 🎉🎉

[@SewOffKilter]

You can do it!

[@cyndikarp3368]

Thanks for sharing with us. One thing I do is to get everything ready for next stage of project. So when ready, I go for it.

[@SewOffKilter]

That’s a great tip!

[@cyndikarp3368]

@@SewOffKilter Tip from Cindi at Fabric Patch in Washington State. Works Great. /everything is ready to go. Sit Down Ready.

[@Leeanne1962]

Great podcast, I really enjoy listening to you two. I can’t relate to what you discussed. I have times when I want to sew, but just don’t know what. Thanks for the tips and tricks.

[@jennystrahley927]

Becca, if you don't do this already--before you put the pieces of batting on your shelf, measure and write the size on a piece of washi tape. I just put a quilt on my frame and because I had sizes written on my batting pieces, I easily found pieces that I can use for franken-batting. Ian, I have horizontal syndrome big time! I really enjoyed this episode, and love the title!

[@guesswhonancy9028]

Thank y'all for all the tips to get my sewjo back

[@janetrothwell4448]

Thank you!!! I have been struggling with a mystery quilt with lots of half square triangles and flying geese. The pattern writer did not allow any extra to square up the pieces, which, even though I have precisely cut them, are always off a bit. I have decided to set it aside to work on a table runner that I really want do. I'll get back to it in the new year.

[@joanreed2821]

It's fun listening to you both and actually interacting in the chat. A lot different then just the live. I love it.

[@lindseyendris7713]

I got the motivation to finish some projects when we were purging the house for a move. They were small projects I finished, but it gave me some excitement to finish them.

[@SewOffKilter]

That is awesome!

[@ettakaynickel6148]

Hello from San Antonio. Cool snap going on this week. Heading out with friends to do Rudy Reindeer Shop Hop tomorrow morning in 39° weather. Good choice. 💕

[@charlottehippen7677]

I like to cut my extra backing into 2.5 in strips. I often then have a binding for another quilt this way or they can be combined with others to use as a jelly roll for a quilt top.

[@trinataco4493]

I get where you’re coming from. I haven’t sewn on my sewing machine out of exhaustion. I too am deep into a major project and are working 12-16 hour days. Just to stay engaged, I sew a few pieces by hand. EPP gives me the feeling of still doing something I love without being overwhelmed. A few hexies every night. My current hexie project will be done in a few years at this point and I’m okay with that.

[@ninadukette3340]

That is called a long term project.

[@trinataco4493]

@ I guess I don’t see it that way. I’m not following a pattern, just grabbing a few scraps and sewing. My version of a long term “project” is having a specific vision for a finished quilt. This is literally just scraps of all kinds.

[@Memessewingstation]

I absolutely love these you guys please continue to do them. Have either of you ever considered selling quilts, bags, whatever, on Etsy as a side hustle?

[@lisapoirier9863]

If I lose my motivation I make a burrito pillow case, instant gratification. Also people love homemade pillow cases, awesome gifts especially for children.

[@szelop]

I’m in Fort Worth & it’s still warm during the day!

[@sammid9569]

Flat surface syndrome! Huge culprit to my loss in sewjo. Especially when it's my sewing stand. I now spend 20 minutes a day cleaning and organizing one area to help.. it usually helps.

[@SewOffKilter]

Yep! You got to watch out for that FSS! It will sneak up on you.

[@MissyFannin]

Hey Sew Becca, I received the wall quilt and it's now hanging up I, my sewing room?. 😊

[@karenink]

I am so happy to find you two on tonight!

[@MaryTheCraftyPanda]

Thanks for the shout-outs guys!! Great Podcast as always!

[@SewOffKilter]

Our pleasure!

[@Ohio_Memory_Bears]

Great show ❤ I use coloring books for fresh ideas ❤

[@SewOffKilter]

That's a great idea too!

[@martibrown2993]

Right now I have lost my Sew Jo because of the holidays, I feel pressured and don't want to do anything. It is snowing, which I hate and just brings me down further. I know I have to get these done but I want to do them in my time not to hurry. BTW love your videos. Have a ggo one.

[@SewOffKilter]

I think a lot of people lose it around this time of year because of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

[@emandahagenhoff4347]

Great episode! Love the tag line. You should keep it. You all had some good tips in this episode.

[@SewOffKilter]

Thanks! Will do!

[@cherylchristopher4315]

Hi guys here from Texas

[@purposeinmind]

ADHD makes me hyper-focus and also lose interest on things - not forever if it is knitting sewing or crochet related but everything else needs to watch it's back 🤣 Anne ❣au

[@bobbimiller7593]

Oh that is so me. I get upset if every time I move I bump in to something or if I need to iron and somebody put something on my ironing board

[@SewOffKilter]

Right? That’s the worst!

[@mollyrisewick8088]

I have horizontal surface syndrome too!!! 😂.

[@SewOffKilter]

It happens to the best of us.

[@roseclearwaters8461]

Hello from very rainy Southern Oregon

[@DS-ic5ps]

Here's an idea for practicing your quilting on a domestic machine ... Make kennel quilts! You can use scraps, amd no one cares if it's perfect.

[@SewOffKilter]

That’s a great tip! Thanks for sharing.

[@rosemarywinter1840]

Hi ya , I know you don’t want to customise quilt but here’s an idea. I do Linus quilts for the hospitals, and a lady over here bought a long arm and needed practice so she said she would quilt my Linus quilts , a. It’s her contribution to charity b. She got lots of practice. C. I get my quilts finished , win win . Love you guys Rosemary Norfolk England xxxx

[@SewOffKilter]

Thanks for the suggestion! That’s a great tip ands I’ll have to keep this in mind.

[@debthill8285]

I took a 6 year timeout from quilting…which I regretted big time…my sister-in-law got me in to papercrafting…it was costing me a lot of money and it got to be not fun anymore

[@MissyFannin]

Thank you

[@gloriaperez2782]

Good ideas

[@SewOffKilter]

Glad you think so!

[@laurag8641]

OMG, my husband accuses me of that….I get into something and focus on it intensely. I do put my whole self into it until I burn myself out, then find something else that inspires me and I move on into it. For me the problem is I don’t feel I really master any one thing because I get bored after a length of time being repetitive in any one venue.

[@HeatherTheMadQuilter]

I have a major problem when things dont come out the way they are supposed. It's easily manufactured, so it will still work. However, because it's not exactly as it's supposed to, i lose my will to finish.

[@CheriYurtin]

Thank you so much for this video. I have a quilt to Longarm that is jewel tones , Egyptian still fabric very busy. Client want custom quilting . The fabric has been overpowering my creative ideas. Any ideas to open up creativity ? Maybe I’m just not liking this quilt

[@SewOffKilter]

Oof! That isn't fun when you just don't wanna! Wish I had something to help. Instagram is a great place to see what others are working on, might help you find your mojo!

[@rosemarywinter1840]

We all need a Mary xxx

[@SewOffKilter]

Right?!

[@bobbimiller7593]

I have hss and pns (project not started) and so many more

[@catcy90]

Know the lost muse thing. For me, it's Dragon Age: Veilguard instead of minecraft. It's only been out a couple of weeks.

[@BeckyQuinn-wh6xh]

Lol! Guys my mom has admitted she has “horizontal syndrome” she calls it “open counter-itis” she HAS to put stuff on any open counter or table space! 😂😂😂

[@SewOffKilter]

Ha! Love the name she gave for it.

[@juliewilson1867]

It is not so much, that I lose my mojo, it is more like I get fearful of my own abilities.

[@SewOffKilter]

I get that! It happens to us too.

[@shirleykessinger7777]

Good evening

[@gloriaperez2782]

I’m going thru this meh season. No desire to sew for months and it makes me sad. I want to want to see again

[@SewOffKilter]

I feel you - I 'lose the muse' a little more than I care to admit! --Becca

[@barbaraherron-mangel1116]

What is the size of the continuum Quilt?

[@SewOffKilter]

60" x 72"

[@gersawet]

Cool

[@Leeanne1962]

Sorry that should be I can relate to what was discussed. I hate predictive text.

[@chriswilford3576]

Agree!!😊

[@debrastatz6733]

Teancom from Sew Yeah has tried AI to make a quilt. It was a disaster.

[@alanam.berlin4804]

Hi Becca, I lost my sewjo 17 years ago when my husband passed away. If you have any suggestions that would be so nice. But I have no desire to sew anything.

[@SewOffKilter]

Oh my goodness - 17 years ago is a LONG time! Maybe find a small project that you can do with friends - and work with something that makes you excited...either a pattern or a line of fabric that you find visually pleasing. Get lost in the creative process! Your husband would hate to hear that you've given it up, I'm sure! --Becca

[@kathleenmayhorne3183]

Can you convince the AI tech's to fix their glaring innaccuracies with english comprehension, and the holes in their stories, with lack of legai and daily details which they don't have any idea of? Their stories are incomprehensible or just plain wrong.