Well, after all the excitement of yesterday, I'm having a bit of a downer day today. I have endless crafty and business ideas dancing in my head, but just can't seem to get motivated enough to do them. I've tried sewing, I've tried designing, and I've tried making jewellery, but nothing seems to stick. I've also got 
dozens of the loveliest emails coming through from across the globe, yet still I wallow.
I shall call my new disease Craflu- the Crafter's Flu.
I am sure I am not the only one to suffer from this infection, and so it is with this in mind that I ask- what to do when you suffer from Craflu to keep your spirits high?
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dozens of the loveliest emails coming through from across the globe, yet still I wallow.I shall call my new disease Craflu- the Crafter's Flu.
I am sure I am not the only one to suffer from this infection, and so it is with this in mind that I ask- what to do when you suffer from Craflu to keep your spirits high?
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Comments (21)
I wish I knew! I happen to be suffering from a rare form of Chronic Craflu. If you find out the cure, please let me know!
Well, at least I'm not alone! :-)
I surf quilting blogs, always makes me cheerful. It must be going around, this craflu and I think it affects your decision making abilities!!!
Yes, StumbleUpon is currently my best friend :-) But the more gorgeous things I see, the more I feel like I should be making them! Oh, dear :-)
Just go ahead and sew a seam - it doesn't matter what it is on. The simple act of doing a seam helps me to snap out of it. (Either that or rearranging my stash). Hope you recover soon!
Sandra, try these things: (not in any specific order) chocolate, favorite caffinated beverage, blogging, crafting magazine or books, knitting or crochet, oh yes, did I mention chocolate? Good luck with finding a quick remedy... I hope it's only a 24 hour virus!
Fiona- it's so true. In ten minutes, I will get off my bum and go sew. I promise! And you can even email me to see if I'm doing it. Now there's scary accountability if I ever saw it! :-)
Danielle- Gasp! I have already turned to my chocolate stash, and to blogging- and although I haven't gone to magazines or books, I've Stumbled my crafty bum off! I think some of it's working, because I'm finally working on a design. All of the lovely comments are helping too- it's so lovely to be part of the blogging community! :-)
I'm not a full time crafter so I'll let you know some tricks I have to overcome the lack of motivation I sometimes feel at work as a business analyst.
1. Time boxing. Set aside 30 minutes and do something. Anything crafty will do. I know you like drawing so maybe do some illustrations? some doodling?
2. Write down 5 things you want to achieve today. Make them small so when you start ticking them off your list you will start feeling accomplished and more motivated to move to the next item.
3. Do you have anything you have wanted to learn but have never quite figured it out? Start googling - e.g. etching, lino cut printing techniques and so on.
The following I don't do for my work but I do to help myself out of a craft slump:
4. Start a craft journal to stay positive and optimistic to drown out the negative voice inside your head.
Let me know how you go.
Finding your blog today has definitely been the highlight of my day. :) So I hope this helps a little to get you out of your slump.
I agree with Danielle - Chocolate always works a treat. I find that spending time looking at all the wonderful projects others are doing, never fails to inspire! Hope yu get your crafting mojo back soon :)
You gals are all so wonderful! I'm feeling much better now thanks to your lovely love. I'm finally working on some patterns that I've been wanting to do all day, and then I'm off to finish sewing a project I'm working on. You are all treasures!
I look at my fabric, and think, "I'll tidy that up" and then I go and have a cup of tea and a bit of a sit down. then I might (or not) put a load of laundry on! Yes I can see you are getting really excited about my motivational comment! Then I check out all the other blogs and look at what everyone else is doing, and think "Oh yeah I'll make that", but go and put the kettle on instead! I walk into my sewing room and then walk right out again. And so it goes! Josie at Ric Rac calls it EITTTS, and there are a lot of sufferers out there. I have a nasty case of craft paralysis at the moment, which stops any form of cutting of fabric, never mind sewing! i think it could be to do with being in love with most of my fabric stash, and not wanting to ruin it. I may in fact, just be a mental case!!!!
Lizzie, you are not a mental case, my dear! From this blog post alone I'm gathering there are hundreds of sufferers :-) And that is exactly what I do- potter around aimlessly pretending to get things done :-)
I really wanted to be suffering from EITTTS, but alas, it stands for 'Everything I touch turns to Sh**'... and I'm not even touching anything with my Craflu, let alone turning it into anything!! :-)
Oh, and I 100 million % agree with the not wanting to touch the fabric stash bit. I've just bought fabric that's been discontinued... how am I ever to touch it?? :-)
Hey Sandra.
What at fine new word. I know exactly what it's like and now I also know what it's called.. hihi
Kindly
Henriette
http://defemibyen.blogspot.com/
ok - first you eat chocolate.
then you cut some fabric.
then you eat chocolate.
then you sew - slowly but surely.
then you eat chocolate.
works a treat for me.
alternatively you can give in to the flu, watch a really soppy dvd and eat chocolate maybe drink some wine - all secure in the knowledge that tomorrow you will make and create all day :)
l
x
Henriette- I'm glad it fits for you! It fits for me too :-)
Levin and Emily- It's so true! I tend to have alternating great days and slump days. I love that everyone's solution is chocolate :-) That's great! P.S. Am I talking to Levin or Emily?? :-)
Hi Sandra. I sit myself down with a cuppa and hopefully some chocolate biscuits (if the kids haven't eaten them all) and a craft mag and just relax and read. Sooner or later I will find something that calls my attention (note - I'm very good at ignoring the washing machine) and I have the desire to rush off and pull out fabric and play.
Ohh and I'm now a stalker...vbg. I found you via Jodie at Ric Racs blog. Love the writing style you have and the animals are a sure fire winner - even my nine year old son was impressed at your cat choosing the winner for your give away.
Catherine
Sandra
Sad to hear you aren't feeling so motivated today. I totally have the same problem though...i am the queen of procrastination. Its always "hmmm i should do something..but first i'll just check my emails..then everyone elses blog....well now it must be time for a drink and a snsack...oooh i need some new supplies just check some websites...ooooh lunchtime!" Also I'm trying to loose a bit of weight so I can't even turn to chocolate - nightmare!
I find looking on etsy quite motivating. Also sometimes I just make myself start on something even if I don't feel like it - after a while i get absorbed and forget about not being motivated. Ooooh and I note my ideas down as I think of them so that when I want to do something new I can read through my list and see what takes my fancy.
Good luck! xx
I think Levin is totally on track with the cure! I think you are right...crafters flu. I buy things to make and then don't. That is a big symptom.
Yes! I am not the only one in a crafting slump! Not that I'm happy that you are, but it's comforting knowing that it's not just me. And now, there is a medical term for it, which in of itself, helps a great deal. I think that reorganizing your space might help, not that I've done that to mine. I must just jump back in, get the thread flying and break some needles!
Go in this order..
1. www.icanhascheezeburger.com Just because some of them make me laugh so hard I could wet myself.. you're a kitty mommy, you can appreciate it :)
2. Go grab your favorite food.. sushi, chocolate ice cream, or cheese curls.. whatever, just something that makes you happy.
3. Get a fashion, home decor or craft magazine and flip through pages, dog-earring and scribbling notes as you go.
4. Come clean my craft room so I can get rid of my Craflu too.. :D Kidding about this one.. unless you seriously want to.. :)
random question..is that an anonymous dog or are you lucky enough to be friends??? much too cute!!
x