Going Down In Flames?
Wednesday August 27, 2008
One of my many WIPs is a bookmark - one of about twelve I need to stitch. My sister asked me to make them for her to give as gifts. She even offered to pay me, but of course, she's family and I could never charge her for a few bookmarks.
My problem is that I want to get finished with them, but I am also concerned about burning out on the project. All the bookmarks are the same - the same pattern, the same color floss, the same fabric.
How do you avoid burnout? One of the obvious solutions is to do some work on other projects in between, but what else can I do?
I would love to hear your tips and suggestions on avoiding stitching burnout. Use the comments section below to share them.
Oh, and if you are wondering about what pattern I am using - it's the Teacup and Books Bookmark Pattern.
More on Bookmarks from About.com Cross Stitch:
My problem is that I want to get finished with them, but I am also concerned about burning out on the project. All the bookmarks are the same - the same pattern, the same color floss, the same fabric.
How do you avoid burnout? One of the obvious solutions is to do some work on other projects in between, but what else can I do?
I would love to hear your tips and suggestions on avoiding stitching burnout. Use the comments section below to share them.
Oh, and if you are wondering about what pattern I am using - it's the Teacup and Books Bookmark Pattern.
More on Bookmarks from About.com Cross Stitch:
Comments
I find that I am most likely to get burned out when I feel obligated to do something. If I’m doing it for myself, for the love of the hobby, for fun, it never seems to get old. But when I find I must complete something for one reason or another, it can get old real quick. It’s partly psychological, I guess, but the obvious solution is to avoid making firm commitments to people. I bet that’ll be hard for Connie, though, who probably spends 3/4 of her life helping others!
I use a reward system … do an hour’s worth of the project and I can read my book on the sofa for 10 minutes, or have a piece of chocolate. So working all morning will give an hour’s lazing over lunch.
As for not charging family… you’re a softie. A discount maybe, but multiple freebies… not when it’s WORK!
I try to challenge myself to do just one stitch on my project. One stitch is not overwhelming, and usually I’ll find myself getting into it and doing more. The real problem comes when I stop altogether, so that method keeps me going.
I have to agree with Marion — discounts for family are okay, but to for free. For one thing, I’ve found family members begin to take you and your efforts for granted. They forget that you are taking time away from other things, and that for a crafter or artist, creative time IS money.
I use the various strategies everyone else has mentioned, plus, I also find that music goes a long way to keeping me going. Classical music (particularly Chopin and Schubert) for times I’m needing to do left-brain thinking (writing, for example) or something that takes intricate concentration, and rock or metal for general creative working. I find the strong, driving beat revs my engines, so to speak.
:) It may become subliminal, but the beat goes on.
Turn it into a treat! When ever I have a looooong and repetitive task that I know will get tedious after a while, I treat myself to a good audiobook (preferably an absorbing one that will make the time shift along!). A day getting lost in an audiobook by a favorite author is a great luxury and easily helps to overcome any problems with getting frustrated with a boring project.
Making a number of the same thing is always difficult….
Good luck!!
Kate
I try to avoid doing the same thing many times, but if I have to, I set up an assembly line and do all the same colors/sections at once. Then I don’t have to think, only 6 more to do….but I know how far I am through the entire project, and I have to finish them all to finish one.
Thanks for all the great suggestions - and from now on, I think I will charge my family a nominal fee! I am also going to break out the iPod and bake some brownies
Then I am going to set up my assembly line and get going!
(And despite what Susan says, I am not the angel she portrays!)
Any other ideas will be welcome too - so comment away….
I’m with Lesley, and tend to do things in assembly line fashion whenever possible, rather than doing one entire identical item after another.
I get burned out so easily I think I live my life with the sole goal of preventing it. I try not to do anything the same way twice and look at articles/tv shows for inspiration. Can’t cook the same dish, for instance. Hate using templates. Stopped writing op-ed pieces because they felt formulaic. Generally, as soon as I find a pattern in my life, I break it. Makes life harder than it needs to be, but more interesting.
I know what you’re feeling right now - I have about 55 “treat boxes” to make and just finished making 85 identical bags to give out to wedding guests. My solution was to 1. have someone help me do the cutting, the chatting went a long way to making the job easier. 2. When working by myself - I aet a goal of working a set time before I stopped, e.g. 2 solid hours of working and then a break.
Funny thing - the bags were in a suitcase that was “almost” lost by the airline, they finally found it. AARRGGGHH