Is it Time to Take a Break from Quilting?

I am always quilting. I know I am not alone in thinking that I just want to quilt all day. As a matter of fact, there is even a fun and informative podcast for the similarly minded called Just Wanna Quilt, by the multi-talented Dr. Elizabeth Townsend Gard of Tulane University. But how do you know when it’s time to take a break? Consider the following:

• Your health – When standing up sounds like a bowl of Rice Krispies® doing their thing, it might be time to take a break. Get up, get out, and get some exercise. Take a 20-minute walk. Better yet, take a 20 minute walk every day. Both your creativity and your knees and back will thank you.
• The same ol’ same ol’ – Are you seeing seams in your dreams? Can’t stand another Log Cabin block even though it used to be your very favorite? Try working in some other medium for a while. My go-to quilting alternative is knitting. After a couple of scarves and a half a sock or so I’m usually bursting with new quilting ideas.
• The house is a wreck – I’m quick to eschew household chores as readily as you are, but if there haven’t been any clean forks in three days, it’s time to take a break from quilting to wash the dishes. While you are at it, throw in a load of socks and undies because you are probably out of those, too.
• Where’s Mom? – If your mail is being returned to sender and the kids have gone feral, it’s time to come out of your She Shed for some serious family time: ice cream, Monopoly® and movie night, stat!
• Quilting cave caving in – Sure, you went out of your way to make your quilting workspace the prettiest room in the house so that you would always enjoy your time there but sometimes even the nicest four walls start caving in. It’s time to get out of the house. Go for that drive and look at the leaves, the trees, the birds, and those winding country roads. You might just find some new inspiration or at the very least a new quilt shop along the way.

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