The Draw of Quilting

You know what has not been sustainable lately? The pace at my day job. Because of some extenuating circumstances, I have been working 12 hours a day in a room with others (oh, open space, you bastard!), going through a crash course on a topic that is complex. Plus the conference room where we are meeting is cold. You know I hate the cold.

So when I come home the last thing I want to do is be on the computer or deal with words. Yes – some days I have not even wanted to read. I feel drained and disconnected, yet know that creativity can help refill the tank. This is when I retreat into fabric crafts – quilting, sewing, even cross stitch can be included in this category for me. It is tactile and you can see the progress you are making.

Fabric
You may start with a pile of fabric….
Fabric
… but it slowly starts to form something.

And I know I am not alone in this connection. I love this plaque below from a quilt display at a museum near me. I want to create something that will speak to the recipient in future years. I certainly am not pretending I have an important story to tell such as racial oppression or gender inequity, but I am exhausted. By creating a quilt in my niece’s school colors I am helping to write a story she will tell her kids someday as well as actively resting.

Bixby models the quilt before borders are added.
Bixby models the quilt before borders are added.
By |2019-11-28T16:34:52-05:00August 8th, 2019|Mental Well-being|0 Comments

Quilting

A couple years ago I decided to make a T shirt quilt with all of the leftovers from my youth. My sister in law helped me with that project and it was quite an experience for us both. She is so patient and kind. It took a couple years to get over that, but last year I started sewing again.

In January of this year I started Quilters Academy – Freshman Year at Calla Lilly Quilts in Greensboro. The curriculum is based on Harriet Hargrave techniques and it is PRECISE. Normally I love precision, but it was a learning curve for sure! Classes met once a month and were very homework intensive. After the first class I went to the shop EVERY DAY for 3 weeks trying to sort out various issues and learn what I needed. Now those were some patient ladies. I ripped out more seams in those 3 weeks than I had done in my entire life up to that point.

Fabric Quilting

It is nice to have hobbies away from the computer – even if I do seem like an 80-year old woman or like I should live on the banks of Plum Creek. There is something about the feel of the fabric and the visual of all of the colors and patterns that is soothing to the soul – especially after a long day of looking at spreadsheets and such.

What are your soul saving hobbies?

By |2019-06-12T20:40:06-04:00June 15th, 2019|Mental Well-being|0 Comments
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