oood afternoon. I too have sooo many designs and actually no time to play on my machines. And YES I do the exact same thing as you described

Almost every day. Yet I always have time to do something for someone else.
Funny that isn't it.?

I keep a little wish notebook by my chair. Half-baked ideas and designs I want to stitch out. It has more than 500 ideas. Then when I want a fresh start, I dig out my book for a quick skim for ideas where to dig in. Some pages are topical (Christmas ideas, baby bibs, fall bazaar ideas, Easter bunny designs,tigers) and others are just this design to stitch out, or that one.

A friend and I decided a few years ago that all we do is collect designs. LOL!

I created a folder called "projects to do". Special items I plan on stitching I copy in there. When I have time for stitching I check in there.

Yes I make a wish list in a note book beside the computer. Started with a folder and it got too full lol. I make things in my head so that makes the purchase of new designs worthwhile. (Well that is what I tell myself) LOL

I do both of the things mentioned here. I keep a book and I write down a project I want, for whom, and when I need it by. I also put a copy of all of those "I really want to stitch" designs in a special folder of immediate use files. I do like my project notebook. I keep up with stuff I need for gifts better. :)

Guilty as charged.

I must admit I don't make wish lists, but I buy designs I need for the Project I'm working on. Love Chris

I like to keep a note book near my computer, I have lists of designers with design numbers or name for Towel Toppers, Quilts and the like, so I can remember which ones I thought would look good on my project. I also give my project a star rating so I'll know whether to do it again or not. You can pick up inexpensive books with dividers in them for easy sorting at your stationary shop. P.S I have probably only done 1/8th of my lists... oh the grand ideas I have had.

Love these questions! I just purchased a Project Journal (should be arriving tomorrow). I plan on keeping it upstairs in my craft room. I see things through the year that I think one family member or another might like for Christmas and then at some point I sometimes forget what it was. I have a ton of designs - and I keep thinking I'll try to cut down on purchasing more ... and then I'll see something that I just have to have!! LOL ... I need to go on a design diet!! I do try to spend time on my design stash and weed out things I know I won't use. Thanks for the question!!

Not exactly , but kind of. For more than 10 years I have made folders called Ready to machine and date them usually 2 months or so. Eg Ready to machine June - July 2018. These are designs that I have bought and want to stitch and have then ready to load to the machine. I then come back to them when needed without going through all the many designs I have. What do others do?

I have a file on my computer called “Work in progress”, where I store designs that I am either working on or will be working on. Works well for me. Great question.

Guilty!!!
Sometimes I'll even do a test stitchout, of a purchased or freebie design, only to find I'm not happy with the digitising, so then I set out to fix the problems. I'll spend hours or days fixing the design to the point I get sick of looking at it and that's the end of the project. LOL!!!
I have a 'work in progress' file but it's filled with designs I have started fixing and lost interest in.

I also have a 'project' file, filled with all the ideas, patterns and instructions, of things I'd like to make, alas.........
"Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans." LOL!!!

So I have stopped buying designs, stopped collecting designs and don't even open emails from sites I once used to visit regularly... if I don't see them I won't be tempted. :-) And don't even get me started on artwork I have collected to digitise. :-0

I really must get back to stitching and creating instead of procrastinating.
hugs n roses, M

I need more will power, or decisiveness. I find I spend more time downloading and organizing than I actually do stitching. Sigh!!!

And I thought I was the only one! I spend hours looking at designs and not enough time at the machines! I try to organize by using folders of sites I have designs. I have CD's, flash drives, and the computer full of designs. Seems like I got more done when I was working a full time job.

I came back to read everyone's comments and it is quite the picture of different ways to approach the creative process, especially the ideas generation part of the process. Delightful to read what others do!

I do the same thing! And I too have feelings of guilt. Why do I buy so many? I bought so many designs thinking my mom would like something with it on them. I sewed several, but probably have 30 others. Other women have expensive hobbies, and I know that ME itself is expensive with the machine, threads, stabilizers, etc. But, so I collect designs. Oh well, they are easy to store and don't take up any physical space. I don't have to have a special cabinet to display them. So, I figure it's okay for me to have a collection of designs, after all, it's my Hobby! And I make gifts with my hobby! So, don't feel bad, you are not alone! Hugs, Jan

Yes I'm guilty of collecting too many designs so what I do is stitch out the designs I buy immediately onto a facecloth, towel or nappy and sell it at my markets and if its really good I keep and if not I delete. Have also been going through all my freebies and deleted all those that I wont ever use