Can't get motivated!

[DaffyDilly]

Is anybody else really struggling to get motivated at the moment?

I have WIPs that I started months ago and I just can't seem to get them finished. I have lost my customising mojo.

[Maniah]

I am somewhat feeling that. Part of it is because I need to buy new Apoxie Sculpt. The stuff I have is a year old in December, and it hardens very fast. It isn't fun to work with at all.

Also, I think I am burnt out on sculpting. I want to push myself more with paints, but all of my current projects require sculpting. And when people commission me, they want me to sculpt. >.< I guess I may be good at the sculpting? Im no judge. I just want some simpler jobs.

When I can push through the last few projects I have with sculpting right now, I am going to spend some time on just painting. I just feel guilty working on other ponies before finishing these. So.. I wind up working on nothing half the time.

I don't want customizing to feel like a chore, but that's how I feel right now. I just CANT feel like that until commissions are done. Blah!

[PandaBerryInSpace]

I'm just at a standstill right now because I'm waiting for a shipment of Dollyhair. I have four ponies that need finished, and I don't want to start any new projects until those are rerooted. DX Once I finish those ponies up, I plan to do more swaps... I find that I have a lot of difficulty coming up with an idea unless I'm making the pony for someone else, LOL.

[DaffyDilly]

I have sculpting to do too Maniah. I'm not good at it though (need a lot more practise!) so I think I get scared of messing up so rather than risking it, I just procrastinate.

I like swaps too for that reason Panda, but I've been avoiding them for most of the year because I've known that I haven't felt like it.

I have a Baby Firefly to reroot - that's all she needs. Maybe I should do that in front of the TV later!

[Ren-Ren]

YES! I've been struggling badly since August. And, unfortunately, have left a couple commissioners hanging since then 

Though I think that I may be, finally, stirring back into activity.  I actually made some decent progress on one of my commissions on Friday and am trying to push myself to finish her by the end of the month. Also, I just bought a bunch of Dollyhair now that some of the out of stock colors are back; so I NEED to customize to justify the expense, heh heh.

[BarbedDragon]

I'm waiting for hair too, I decided to use what I have in stock and do a color blend since I've been waiting close to a month now.

@Maniah---try putting it in the microvave or hot waterfor a little bit. That can help soften it. Do it in 10 second intervals. Here's info direct from Aves:

"I used the Apoxie® Sculpt and now there is hard crust on the top of the product, did it go bad?

Sounds like you have what we call - cross contamination; you have to use separate tools/fingers to retrieve parts A and B (very important) or you will cross contaminate the product (cause it to set up a little bit in the container or the part A will become crumbly and hard over time) 3 ways to go about this depending on your specific situation…
1. If the majority of the product is still soft/pliable, Simply scrape off and discard the hard part, and go about using the product (avoid crossing A and B unless you want it to set up).
2. If the product appears to be hard throughout – you can try to rejuvenate it by placing the container in hot water for 20 minutes (allowing the product to cool before handling or mixing it with part B). You can also microwave the product in 10 second increments for no longer then 40 seconds total depending on package size and amount left in the package (use your judgment and follow guide below) PLEASE USE CAUTION! The product will become VERY hot and sticky so please be careful and use common sense when microwaving our products – consider yourself warned. Allow product to completely cool before handling or mixing:
¼ pound size (1/8th pound polycon): heat in 10 second increments no more then 20 seconds total time.
1 pound size (8 oz container): heat in 10 second increments no more then 30 seconds total time.
4 pound size (2 lb container): heat in 15 second increments no more then 45 seconds total time.

3. If options 1 and 2 do not rejuvenate the product then its best to discard the hard product and order more.
We do sell just the part A or part B in every size upon request directly from our factory."

Hope that helps (at least save you a little moola anyway

[Rainbowjuice]

I have SO MANY ponies that need their hair.
I have all the correct colours and such I just can't be bothered.

I have a merpony that's MOCKING me as well so I'm hoping to get some sculpey soon to finish her (the air dry fimo I'm using is AWFUL)

Not to mention I have a book to illustrate and UGHHHH *crawls into a ball*

[kaoskat]

I'm exhausted. It feels like I have so much to do some days.

[Maniah]

Thank you BarbedDragon unfortunately, there is no cross contamination. This stuff is just old. I bought the largest size they had due to the value and I just didn't use it fast enough. It isn't one part that is hard. It's both. Luckily, there is less than 1/4 the total amount left. I will try the heat anyway though and see if it helps!

[Tiella]

I have been feeling a little burned out lately too and I am pretty sure it is a combination of things. I am pregnant and exhausted for one thing, my special needs two year old has had tons of doctor appointments lately to keep me busy, the holidays have me kind of stressed out and then sometimes I get into a funk because well at least lately it doesn't seem like my customs get the sort of attention they used to get so I guess I am feeling sort of self conscious.

The hubby spent the bigger part of the weekend rearranging the house to make a room just for my ponies and customizing along with our computers in it to game and an area for the baby to play. I am hoping having my art desk, sewing area, gaming stuff and regular computer in one room might motivate me or inspire me.

[Maniah]

Lucky you! I would LOVE to have an art room. Alas.. There are no extra rooms. lol. We have a 1 bedroom apartment.

[Alatariel-Silimaure]

Yeah... feeling that right now. I have about 10 ponies in the works right now, including several commissions and rehair projects and stuff. I'm having to force myself to do anything.... I've been in a major depression since I lost my job at the beginning of the month, and before that I was so burnt out that I wasn't sure what I wanted anymore. I'm so stressed out that even thinking about being creative just makes me sick 

I keep throwing aside all the projects I have going every time I come up with a new pony idea. I get excited about the new idea and I put everything else aside to do that one in hopes it will rekindle my ideas, but half the time that one only gets half done, or I manage to finish it and find that I still have no desire to do the other ones

I think half of it is the cutie marks right now... several of them are complex cutie marks that I feel like I'm going to mess them up

others I've rethought the ideas like 12 different times

[SourdoughStomper]

I was in the middle of making a Styling G3 custom when I ran out of steam. Several years ago, I might add. So my partial custom is painted but headless and hairless for the past 2-3 years.

[elvenwine26]

OH man i totally feel this all the time.  Wanna sit in my corner and eat ice cream with me instead of finishing wips?