Trying to stay motivated

I have a lot of projects on the go which are going to take a LOT of time, and I have been feeling a bit unenthusiastic for the last few months. I'm having some 'extra' health issues, so I would guess that a lot of the problem is tiredness. 

Feeling overwhelmed and directionless, or unmotivated, seems to be a very common issue for makers, especially since the start of the Pandemic. It is a theme that keeps coming up again and again in conversations and Zoom chats with other SCA people. The way I am minimising it is:

1. Make a list of to-do items (so you don't forget anything) and then stop thinking about your project(s). Put it on your list or in your workbook and get it out of your head. If you are at a loss for a project to do (it could happen, I guess!) get out your list or book  and pick a project that fits your time frame or energy levels. (I also list ideas and plans for future projects in my project planner.)

2. Keep plodding along. Do a little bit every day, even if it is only five or ten minutes to get into the habit of making A&S a daily priority. Whittle it away gradually. One day you will realise how much you have achieved and you will be able to enjoy the enthusiasm of that downhill run to a completed project.

Some people find that joining online groups of like-minded people can help keep them motivated because there is an element of accountability. Others find that it makes them feel guilty if they don't achieve what they wanted and have to announce it to the group. Do what works for you and helps you feel good about what you are doing.

I found this image on one of my feeds and cropped it to show the numbers. I've stuck it up on my wall as a reminder to myself to stop procrastinating:

Embroidered Heraldic Banner Device

 A new family member has been keeping me very busy the last several weeks, and bringing that special level of insanity that only a puppy can add! Completed projects seem to be few and far between, and there is so much cleaning to be done. But I did manage to get a banner device done for my local device banner.

The device banner project is a group project which records local SCA heraldic registrations in chronological order, with heraldic devices sewn onto a series of banners.

The banners look great, record the history of our group, and enable a fun guessing game at events. We have six banners so far, with registrations sewn under the devices of the Baron and Baroness of the time.

                                            Banners 2, 3 and 4 on display at an event pre-Covid.

One of the locals didn't have time to complete their device so I offered to help them out. The device is made of felt with applique and embroidery.

Split stitch was the main stitch used, with a little bit of whip stitch and couching. Crochet cotton and DMC embroidery floss were used also.