This is something that seems to happen to everyone at some point in their creative journey. As a quilter or fibre artist, your creative mojo is your lifeblood. It’s that spark, that inner drive that keeps you excited about the next project, the new technique, or the endless possibilities of fabric and thread. But what happens when that spark fades, or worse, disappears altogether?
Losing your creative mojo can feel like being lost in a desert without a compass. Suddenly, the projects that once excited you feel like hard work. The fabrics that used to inspire you now seem dull and unappealing. The ideas that once flowed so freely have dried up, leaving you staring into space—wondering what went wrong and whether it will ever come back!
The Emotional Impact
When my creative mojo disappears, it’s not just my work that suffers….my emotional well-being can also suffer. Creativity is the way I express myself, process my emotions and find joy. Without it I feel frustrated, anxious and even a bit lost. The lack of creative drive can lead to self-doubt, making me question my abilities or passion for my art.
Common Causes
Why does this happen to us? There are many reasons why your creative mojo might decide to take a break:
Life Changes: Major life events—whether good or bad—can disrupt your creative flow. Moving, or going through a tough time, family matters, big disappointments can all exhaust your creative energy.
Burnout: After pushing yourself too hard for too long, it’s natural for your creative energy to disappear. It can leave you feeling exhausted, mentally as well as physically, and can affect your creativity. I find this happens to me after a big event where there was a huge build-up to the event.
Perfectionism: Trying to be perfect in my work can be paralyzing. When I’m too focused on getting everything just right, it’s easy to lose sight of the joy of creating. This pressure can stifle my creative process but I am well aware of this and so I always try to work around it. I wrote a blog about EMBRACING IMPERFECTIONS IN FIBRE ART a little while back…maybe it will be a helpful read to you.
Routine: When your creative process becomes too routine, it can lose its spark, making it harder to get excited about your work. It is easy to get bored when there is no challenge in the work.
How to Get Your Mojo Back
I have experienced the loss of my creative mojo a couple of times and at first I thought this is the end of the world! Luckily nowadays I know what to do to get it back and to reignite that spark and get back to creating! It sometimes takes a bit longer but it always, somehow, comes back! These are the different ways that I encourage my mojo to come back:
Connect with Others: Sometimes, all it takes is a little inspiration from others. Attend a workshop or simply chat with fellow artists. Go to art gallery openings and see what other artists are creating. Seeing what others are creating can reignite your own passion and give you new ideas.
Take a Break: I give myself permission to rest so I step away from my usual work by taking long walks, spending time in my garden or focussing on other activities that make me happy. I do a lot of reading during this quiet time. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is step away and allow yourself to recharge.
Embrace Imperfection: I allow myself to let go of the need for everything to be perfect. There is huge fun in creating just for the sake of creating, without worrying about the outcome. This freedom can help you rediscover the joy in your work.
Try Something New: I have also tried to explore different techniques, using different tools and even using a different medium! I got myself some beautiful watercolour paint, brushes and paper and I can’t wait to try my hand at it.
The key is to break out of your routine and challenge yourself in new ways.
Create Something Small: Using my skills, I create something that is small and doable in a short period. No project that is going to take me longer than a couple of hours will even be contemplated as it is sure to become a UFO! Keep it small but interesting.
Combine Techniques: Create something…anything…but combine techniques and see what happens! Often the outcome is a lovely surprise! Use paint and stitch combined, or wax crayons and paint and stitch, or your machine’s built in decorative stitches and oil pastels….the possibilities are endless!
Reflect on Your Why: I often take this time to reflect on the reason why I started on this journey in the first place. What are my roots in my creative work and how can I reconnect and before long, I rediscover my creative mojo.
Conclusion
I find losing my creative mojo very frustrating but I realise that it is a natural part of the process. By understanding why it happens and by knowing that it will be reignited, I know I will find my way back to joyful and enthusiastic creating!
My message to you is to remember that your creative mojo has not disappeared forever….it’s just taking a little break. Have patience and self-compassion and you will find your way back to the projects, tools and materials that bring you happiness and fulfilment.
Till next time, be kind to yourself and happy creating!
Love, Tilly
Thank you Tilly for your lovely letter on how to get your Mojo back . Lots of insight 🌸