My wonderful friend Helen Stubbings is running a series this year on how we use quilting as therapy called 'Stitch Therapy 365'.
She challenges us to 'stitch just 5 minutes a day for 365 days'
And to help us do that she had created this darling panel that you can stitch on each day!
She does such cute drawings I think i'm going to have to join in. You don't have to start at the beginning, just start with the day you get the panel and stitch each day!
- Stitch Therapy at http://stitchtherapy365.
ontrapages.com/ with all details and how to order the panel -
FB group is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stitchtherapy365/
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IG stitchalong is https://www.instagram.com/helen_stubbings #stitchtherapy365
She asked me if I'd share what quilting means to me, because for me, Quilting has changed everything in my life.
I've been thinking about this since she asked me. Each of us think of the word Therapy so differently. You might think of it in the healing. Therapy heals a broken heart or helps you through a difficult time.
Or, like me, you might think of therapy as what you do to keep your soul happy.
There is a great saying 'Quilting is cheaper than Therapy'. And I think we can all relate to that at some level.
My quilting is not just my small family business, it's also my hobby and my outlet, my therapy.
I used to do a lot of handwork and over years I did less and less. And I was missing that. Helen's project got me thinking about WHY I was missing the handwork.
Doing hand work was the time when I would decompress. The time I would let the hamster wheel in my brain slow down and concentrate on stitching. And I found I missed that time. That slow repetitive motion of stitching by hand.
When started to hunt for a project that would excite me I talked to Helen about her Hexie papers, which are AMAZING! They stay in the project which I love. This is a project I can take with me as it was very portable. It gives me a way to relax my brain and concentrate on something else.
Helen sent me her Hexie papers and a project was born.
** English Paper Hexagons I use designed by Helen
I can take these babies anywhere and I take a few moments to stitch in peace.
A balcony with an ocean view is a nice place to stitch in case you need a suggestion, wink!
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There is more about quilting that has changed my life.
One of the amazing things quilting has done for me is connect to me an incredible group of makers. People are make things are my tribe, we speak the same language of stitches, fabric, thread. We makers have a language that ties us together.
When I decided I wanted to do something for quilting and bring a large group of makers together, I turned to my friend Jane Davidson of QulitJane. We have run the Splendid Sampler project over the last 5 years with two books, Helen is in our 2nd book.
Bringing thousands of people together for a common project is therapy. It makes you focus on someone other than yourself. Big projects do that. And hearing the stories behind each block in booth books, is amazing, and wonderful. What is even more humbling is the stories you share with us when you make our project, that is priceless therapy. We all connect at some level to every story.
** Quilt is Splendid Sampler 2 at Jane's house in Australia as she and a group of friend went about setting the quilt layout.
Recently I decided that I wanted the challenge of learning something new I could take as handwork. Learning new things is another way making is therapy. When you are concentrating on new things you really do push the other things out of your head.
I've only ever done one cross stitch in my life, so I am now learning to cross stitch. I have to force myself to focus, which lets the hamster wheel in my brain slow down and spin quietly, so that I can concentrate on how many I need to stitch. This is super therapy for me.
It's about the journey when I do hand work. I take my time. I'm slowing getting back that peace I had when I sat and did hand applique for hours at a time.
** The cross stitch I'm doing Aurifil Floss, and the darling floss minder flowers!
I titled this article 'Quilting changes Everything' because for me it really has. It not only is my saving grace, but it changed my whole life.
Finding a passion for making quilts keeps me creative and fills my soul.
When I was little I knew I wanted to work for myself. On my first job I was already planning my business. It took me 20 years to explore life and myself before I knew that I had enough passion to make Quilting my life's work. Not just my hobby, but my full income for my family. It's wonderful to have something I love doing. It's not always rainbows and unicorns, but when it is, it's the BEST feeling every.
During my fireside chat the other week I asked people how they use quilting as Therapy. Here are a few of the many things people said, you can read all the comments HERE
- Sheila said Quilting is a therapy! When I’m sewing, it “calms” me. By that I mean, during the week, things get hectic with all the things we “have” to do, like bills, babysitting, cleaning, picking up grands, ball games and grocery shopping. Quilting is what I “want” to do because it calms me and feeds my creative soul! There is truly a satisfaction you get to making something by yourself.
- Fran said Quilting for me is a way to connect with others who love this tradition. Quilters are a wonderful group of people who give their time to help others. Its a way to keep me grounded in what is most important in life and remember where we came from and what's important. Quilting definitely feeds my soul no matter if I'm happy or sad.
- Lisa said Quilting/crafting/creating is my form of meditation. It calms the mind, reduces stress and fills me with joy especially when creating an item to gift to someone.
- Karen said Quilting is my therapy by giving me new words to express myself when I make mistakes, when I am overjoyed that my seams finally match, when I've found the perfect fabric, when I'm finally done with my project, when I find a new pattern to make, and when I see the joy on the faces who've received my quilts!
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** DOWNLOAD Quilt is a FREE Pattern Oh My Stars
Read the other articles at Helen's blog
By the evening of May 4
"Tell me about a Project you did(or are currently doing) that has special meaning to you. Maybe it's why you made it, the fabrics, what you learned, or who you gave it to"
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