I’ve lost my crafting mojo!

I don’t know where it’s gone. I suspect it’s enjoying a mai tai on a beach in Aruba while getting its nails done. Wherever it is, I’m ticked off that I wasn’t invited! I haven’t had the creative energy to sew, crochet or make jewelry in the past weeks. My stash of new fabric given to me as Christmas gifts over the holidays sits forlornly in a bin. My sewing machine is dying to make something that I get the feeling it runs itself during the day when I’m not at home, just for the heck of it.

I’m amazed professional crafters who do creative work everyday. I suppose if I were immersed in it, it would be easier. I know this because when I’m on a roll, ideas come hurtling at me and I have to duck sometimes so they don’t whack me on the head! But stopping and starting these periods of crafty creativity is challenging, especially with a full-time job and people to cook for. I’m just hoping I get a chance to start crafting again—and soon—because I miss building quilt blocks and just working with my hands and making stuff.

To parch the dry valley of creativity that I’m faced with, I’m constantly looking through photos of old projects. I came across my Flickr set of photos taken at the Road To California Quilt Show a couple of months ago. I realized I haven’t shared these inspiring photos, and now taking the time to do so to try and get the creative rivers flowing again. And if you have a tip or two about getting over Quilter’s Block, do let me know! (I’ve just decided that “Quilter’s Block” is now my all-time favorite pun!)

I went to the Quilt Show with my mom (who was giddy with excitement and running around like it was a big birthday party). While there, I got the chance to meet the talented Latifah of the LA Modern Quilt Guild and we had fun ogling all the insanely beautiful handiwork on display. While most of the designs were more traditional, I still admired all the hard work that went into them, and even spied a modern quilt or two among them.

I hope you’re inspired by these, as much as I want to be inspired by them!

Is this redundant, or is this redundant? Someone made a brilliant quilt of mini quilts on display at a quilt show, with people looking at them. I waited for the two women in front of it for more funny redundance. Haha.

Wow. Alfred Hitchcock and The Birds immortalized in cloth and thread. My goodness, this lady had lots of time on her hands.

Well, applique me! I’ve always wanted to try this, but I’m horrible at needle-turning. My mom’s a pro. I try it and fail miserably. My flowers become stars or unidentifiable blobs! Obviously, I didn’t inherit the needle-turning gene.

This quilt gets my stamp of approval for cuteness. Pun intended.

The first thought I had when I saw this ice-creamy wonder was one word: “Really?” Quilters are craaaazzzy!

I’m in love with these modernesque reverse-appliqued circles and squares, all done in solids. I hope to work with organic cotton solids on a quilt I’m making as a gift to some friends who are getting married.Wish me luck!

Life is sad without buttons. You can never have too many!

There’s more awesome handiwork on my Flickr set for the Quilt Show HERE.

I’m crossing my fingers that I get back to crafting soon—you’ll be the first to know when the drought ends! In the meantime, I hope you’re sipping cosmos with your creativity and having a blast.