Visit us at www.stitchesquilting.com As the owner of Stitches Quilting, I opened my first store front in 2002 in Yuma Arizona. It was a thrill and dream come true. There was so much excitment in just touching all the glorious fabrics, threads and samples. I loved being able to inspire young and more mature quilters to work with such beautiful materials. The shoppe was always open to anyone that just simply wanted to come and sew. I loved having it busy with lots of people to inspire each other. We even had a children's area with a custom built cottage for them to play in with lots of toys to occupy their sweet minds as their mothers were distracted.
www.stitchesquilting.com
I had just recently been divorced prior to opening the store and had three beautiful boys. One of my sons had special needs from Tuberous Sclerosis (Luke's web site about TS)and it was challenging running the store but very fulfilling. (I also have a blog on Luke's website that talks about the challenges of being a special needs mom) I used money from my divorce settlement to open the store. It felt so wonderful to be destracted from the stress of the divorce. Unfortunately, my youngest son at 11 months of age had a traumatic brain injury less than 45 days after I opened the store. It was devastating. Despite odds with the help of many ladies and at high cost, I kept the store open. I worked along but realized it was unreasonable to keep the store open without jepardizing things for my children. I closed the store, remarried a phenomenal man, moved to Utah, became a caregiver for my mother with ALS Lou Gehrigs and along with my children. I also got three new step-daughters. My mother passed away, then I started working with my husband at his law firm www.walllegalsolutions.com and applied to be accepted to get my Master's Degree. I was accepted and completed a program in Healthcare Administration.
I love Utah and it is so wonderful to have the time to quilt and sew again. For motivation to complete my Master's thesis, my reward was to quilt again. I actually slept with the fabric and each day would touch it as I completed my thesis. I am not able to work full time outside of the home with the unique needs of my children but feel once again inclined to inspire others to quilt and provide them with beautiful supplies to enjoy. My hope is that you enjoy the online store and contact us if you have any questions. I will also sell patterns that I have designed from quilts I made for those I love. Happy Stitching and please don't hesitate to email if you have any questions.
deanna@stitchesquilting.com
Deanna
Favorite Links
Stitches Quilting
Luke's Tuberous Sclerosis Site
Wall & Wall, Attorneys at Law
It improves our health as women to feel contentment & peace. There is a balance between settling & content right? But feeling content with our lives right now is important. Content with who we are, what we have learned & where we hope to be going.
“To be content with what we possess is the greatest and most secure of riches.”
– Marcus Tullius Cicero Kushandwizdom
I designed the content quilt block to look like an abstract blooming flower. Contentment is your natural wealth – relish every moment. If we are constantly wanting more we will never be satisfied. I’m so content and it just makes me happy. It takes a burden off my shoulders. I’m content with my hubby just exactly as he is! I’m content with my kids & how hard they have worked in life. We are definitely not perfect by any means. I’m content with my home, I’m content with my possessions. What do we really need? I’m even content with how much fabric I have.
The Content Quilt Block is the 15th week on our Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along! Remember you can join in on the sew along anytime or make the Live Well Live Strong Quilt at your own pace.
You can see how I tried to quilt the Content Quilt Block so it looks like the flower I imagined! tehe…
We live with so much excess! I mean a lot of excess! You know how we can feel really wealthy? Just quietly sit & hand stitch. Talk about wealth – wealth for time to luxuriate and bask in something so indulgent. If I ever feel like I’m missing out, hand stitching something makes me feel peace! How do you feel contentment? Its not settling. It’s focusing on what we do have. And when we get right down to it, we have an awful lot.
There are many Content Activities that you can do. On the worksheet below, I’m introducing you a couple of my favorites. Most importantly we need to focus on our blessings. There is a Content Worksheet to download below. Your assignment is to fill out the entire sheet with things you are grateful for. Yes….. the entire sheet.
Write down EVERYTHING you are grateful for on the worksheet below. Don’t leave a single space blank! Find an overabundance of gratitude to contentment.
Download your Content Worksheets below and work through the exercises as you focus on making your Content Quilt Block this next week!
If you haven’t yet, you can join in anytime on the Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along! Get your downloadable pattern right now!
Be content with your mistakes as you learn from them
Be content with your challenges as you grow from them.
Write down a full page of things you are grateful for.
Instead of wanting more turn to be content for what you already have.
Or customize your own personal challenge. Let’s not overwhelm ourselves. Take tiny steps towards a good thing and reward yourself with a quiet moment closing your eyes to feel good about yourself including your body & mind.
Share a photo of your completed Content Quilt Block in the Everyone Can Quilt Facebook Group or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stitchesquilting/ and use the hashtag #livewelllivestrongquilt. If you feel comfortable share a photo that represents a positive step in an Genuine Challenge. Let’s inspire each other!
Next week’s block is the Power Quilt Block! If you haven’t yet, purchase your Live Well Live Strong Quilt Pattern! Purchase Your Pattern HERE!
The new Content video will be available below on May 21st!
“You can’t enter the Olympics unless you do your routine to get in shape for it. The idea of going out on stage on a tour without having prepped for it would be suicide, literally.” Paul Stanley
The Routine Quilt Block is the 14th week on our Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along! Remember you can join in on the sew along anytime or make the Live Well Live Strong Quilt at your own pace.
You want to work on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly & yearly routine to execute what you want to accomplish in life.
There are many Routine Activities that you can do. On the worksheet below, I’m introducing you a couple of my favorites.
Download your Routine Worksheets below and work through the exercises as you focus on making your Routine Quilt Block this next week!
If you haven’t yet, you can join in anytime on the Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along! Get your downloadable pattern right now!
In the Block schedule above the idea is to take yourself back to school, when you had class periods. You set aside a block of time for a task or activity, and if you don’t finish in one day, you pick it up next time it is scheduled.
Routine Challenges could include:
Create a daily and weekly routine
Set goals
Stick to your routine
Reward yourself when you meet goals
Challenge yourself in your routine
Or customize your own personal challenge. Let’s not overwhelm ourselves. Take tiny steps towards a good thing and reward yourself with a quiet moment closing your eyes to feel good about yourself including your body & mind.
Share a photo of your completed Genuine Quilt Block on Facebook or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stitchesquilting/ and use the hashtag #livewelllivestrongquilt. If you feel comfortable share a photo that represents a positive step in an Genuine Challenge. Let’s inspire each other!
Next week’s block is the Content Quilt Block! If you haven’t yet, purchase your Live Well Live Strong Quilt Pattern!Purchase Your Pattern HERE!
Daughter Deanna’s
Tribute and Lessons Learned From Her Mother Deanna
I was named after my mother Deanna. My step-father, Jim, asked me to speak at my mother’s funeral. Where is she? I have complete confidence and comfort knowing that my mother is in heaven with her loved ones. We believe that all are saved by Christ but exalted by our deeds and faithfulness. After watching my mother for a lifetime, I have confidence that she will receive exaltation. I aspire to live the type of life she lived so that I can join her. My mother LOVED that I quilted. She praised anything I would make as a child and then as an adult. I know when I opened my brick and mortar Stitches Quilting store after I was divorced, that she was very proud of me. When I remarried and moved to Utah, they moved with me. She also watch me take my inventory from my brick & mortar store to become an online store. I can remember the look in her eyes as I then became an online presence. She was always so proud of me.
My mom running with my disabled son Luke with Tuberous Sclerosis after her ALS Lou Gehrig’s diagnosis.
Purpose of Suffering
Suffering….. Why do some people suffer so much? We all suffer…. Our suffering is often just simply a state of mind that can completely fill up an empty space and is relative to each one of us. I remember when I had my second son that had special needs. I wondered why him….? Why should he have to suffer….? But then I remember that even Christ suffered during his sojourn in life and who was I to think that my child would be even more special than God’s literal son and be exempt from suffering,…. Suffering is absolutely an aspect of our lives and is part of God’s plan for us. After watching my mother suffer, I learned that there is happiness during suffering…. and peace during suffering. As I compiled the photos for a slide show presentation at her memorial – I was impressed with how happy she looked in all the photos. She was a very happy woman with peace of mind. I believe that peace came from the way she lived, how she treated others, her special relationship, love and belief in her Heavenly Father.
I could do Hard Things
There are many lessons that I learned from my mother. I learned that I could do hard things. It was difficult to see my mother fade away and to acknowledge the determined process of the disease. It was also difficult for me to tend to her daily needs of feeding either by mouth or through her feeding tube, pottying her, dressing her, moving her, giving her her medications through the feeding tube. I never in my short lifetime ever imagined that that would be a challenge for me. I consider myself to be a very compassionate, tough individual. But it took years before I would even acknowledge her disease, let alone participate in her daily care. But as I said earlier, I learned to do hard things…. And these things were beautiful things to do for my mother. It was a privilege to care for her and participate. I am very grateful for that opportunity in my life and wonder what other challenges I will face and learn to overcome…. Although I now have this experience and confidence, I arm myself in knowing that I can do hard things.
A truly deep Forgiveness
Forgiveness is another lesson I learned from my mother. She did not hold grudges or withhold love for any reason. She loved everyone unconditionally in our family and she forgave those that had done offensive things to her. This I watched all my life….. and then experienced first hand. I did something as an adult that truly offend her. I thought I was doing the right thing. But it wasn’t. I later apologized to her and her response was “Oh Deanna, I forgave you before you did it.” How sweet it was to hear those words of kindness and forgiveness. I have also come to believe that forgiveness is easier to impart and is a reflection of a person’s spirituality and maturity. As I have needed to dig deep in my soul to forgive others as I have been so graciously forgiven myself, I focus and strengthen my personal spirituality to make that process easier.
Not “talking ugly” about People
Not “talking ugly” about people….. Especially x-husbands. What a beautiful and gracious example she was to me. I don’t remember her talking ugly about my biological father…. But I do remember hurting and crying as my grandfather talked ugly about my mother. I remember missing my father and my mother comforting me as I felt alone without her criticizing him. When kids grow up they learn the truth of who people are – often they don’t need to be told anything at all…. But feel it. And, if people can change, then it is through kindness that they are afforded the opportunity of change through the eyes of a child. Anyone can find faults in another; that is the easy part to do. I learned that the special relationship between child and parent is a sacred thing and something to be deeply respected. I now follow this example as I support my children in their relationship with their father.
Choosing the Right
Choosing the right…. My mother taught me to choose the right by her example. I watched her be a faithful Christian and Latter-Day Saint and do what she believed; not just “talk the talk”. When I was young, she allowed me to make my own choices and then allow my conscience to play its part without discipline or guilt from her. Some of those choices were as simple as keeping the Sabbath Day holy as a child to much larger ones along the way. I loved to go grocery shopping with my mom as a child because she took my advice on what we should eat and buy. It made me feel important. Another time I felt that feeling was when we would rearrange the furniture in the house…. She would seek me out to do it with her, ask my opinion, and then move furniture as I recommended.
Not abandoning your children or family
Not abandoning your children or family…. I watched my mother be hurt by personal family member choices, but never turning her back on them. She was always there to bail people out time and time again. She was there in legal battles. She was there when children ran away. She was there whether someone smoked or drank…. She was there for them and loved them unconditionally.
Having compassion for everyone
Taking care of, and having compassion for, the mentally ill….. I watched my mother and step-father very vigorously take care of my little brother, Michael David, who suffered from schizophrenia/bi-polar disorder. The sweet baby doll. They so admirably and compassionately and patiently cared for him. They acknowledged his illness with such a dignified fashion and so lovingly cared for him. He would have been homeless…. But not for them. There were months when Michael wouldn’t leave the house….. Michael eventually committed suicide as a result of being taken off his medication “cold turkey” by a new psychiatrist. It was a great sadness for my mother that she held deep in her heart and I know that she rejoices to be with him now. I am happy that they are together again and graciously share her with him now in my mind as she has mortally left us. The Cream quilt below, I quickly stitched together for my mom & step-dad to comfort them after the death of my brother as a Christmas gift.
I was to be a hard worker
My mother was a hard worker and taught me to apply myself 300%. I remember a bitter lesson I learned when I was in charge of an activity and she did not let me get by with just doing the minimum job and made me do the work to make it right and good. I remember the feeling of success that I had after that event. I am grateful for the confidence that she bred within me. She worked hard as a teacher and applied herself in her classrooms and to her students 300%. I was so proud of her and loved to go to school with her and help her set up her classrooms and skip school sometimes to help her teach.
Service
Service…. I watched many people serve my mom. I watched my step-father devote his entire being to her. This service was long term for a chronic condition. It is a different kind of service. I watched devoted friends come long distances to help and support us and serve her. I watched their church Relief Society devote endless hours and meals to help them. They did the laundry and read to her. Their ward young men brought in the sacrament and the Elders administered blessings to her for strength. But I have to mention the family that came and loved her and put so much aside to care for her. Her sisters…. they loved her so much. Her daughters and step children. Each individual contributed so uniquely. But some of the most phenomenal devotion that I witnessed came from her grandchildren. I watched as I saw her tattooed and shaved-head grandson, Michael Jacob, live with them and care for her, feed her, potty her, give her medications, move her, patiently did ABC’s with her to understand what she needed. He also provided such sweet companionship to “Pappy(Jim)” on a daily basis. I also watched Vennessa arrive by bus from Pennsylvania for weeks on end devoting all of her energy to her. Vennessa so lovingly cared for all her needs and had a special adeptness for understanding her. Phenomenal devotion and love was extended. Michael & Vennessa forever have to feel good about themselves for what they did for her. She also so sweetly helped “Pappy” and supported him.
I watched my own children…. Luke, at age eight, was so incredible with her…. He’d potty her, feed her and gave her her medication. He’d gently tell her that if she didn’t stop crying he would leave. He would sit down with her ABC communication chart that he’d watch us use and rattle off ABC’s for her. She would beam and be so grateful. They had such a special relationship of love and connection. She would beam with so much energy when he walked in the room. Jacob, at age two, loved his severely disabled Grandma so much. It would be the only way he knew her. He would ride on her moving devise with her whenever we would move her body. He’d wipe the droll off her mouth, put band aids on her toe and slip pieces of chocolate in her mouth from his chocolate bar. He’d do flips on the bed and entertain her. He’d hand her the Nintendo controller so they could “play” together. Then he just provided pure entertainment as we would watch him drink from the dog bowl. How the grandchildren brightened her life. She loved her visits with Nicholas too… he would come and play with her birds and get them out for her so they could give her kisses. He would tell her all about his life and what he was involved in and read to her. Her grandchildren gave her so much life, encouragement and enthusiasm to live.
Unconditional Love
Love…. I have so beautifully had an intense life experience of having my mother and step-father be so intimately involved in my life. I have witnessed a love and beautiful relationship that many do not even know exist. I have had this model of kindness, dedication and love before me throughout my life. I remember my mom coming to visit me when I lived far away from them and her telling me she just had to get home because she missed Jim too much. I will never in my lifetime forget Jim…. Listening to love songs as she was going in and out of consciousness and down to the final hours of her life. I have watched such a beautiful exchange of love when my mother was healthy and a phenomenal exchange of devotion as she became sick. The kind of love that you can’t even express. I can remember Jim chastising her when she was just able to walk with a walker but had to be assisted. She was precocious, high-spirited and darling; if she wanted something she did it on her own and fell. He was so frustrated at her for taking that risk…. And took such beautiful care of her and managed all of her aid. He did things on a moment-by-moment basis that were so difficult for me. I admire him. He is incredible…. It was an enormous challenge; he had such love, determination and veracity to through to the very end. I love him for what he has done for her, her children and grandchildren….
Refinement & Opportunity Come Through Suffering
Finally I, have learned that refinement and opportunity come through suffering. Cory, my husband, and I were in Florence, Italy the summer of 2004. I was thrilled to see “the David” Sculpture by Michelangelo. A dream come true for me. We went through the museum and finally came to the chamber with “the David”. Prior to it, though, were men that Michelangelo had only partially sculpted from the marble and were called “The Prisoners”. They looked like real men struggling to get out of the marble. They, at that moment, represented to me my mother trapped in her physical body and not able to communicate, move or be who she really was. I also referenced it to my son Luke that has special needs and because of his disability isn’t quite able to become who he could be. We bought a small replica because I was so moved by this art. On the train then traveling from Florence to Venice, I was writing in my journal, tears welled up in my eyes and the thought suddenly struck me that Luke and my mom may be prisoners in a bodily form but what was debilitating them was actually what was refining them inside of their beings to become what God had intended them to be…. Just like the perfect David that Michelangelo had sculpted from a discarded and flawed piece of marble. I am also certain that by my mother and Luke having a disability has also refined me and has hopefully developed and carved me to be closer to what God intends of me.
Submit to God’s Will
So often it is difficult to submit to God’s will. My faith is what sustains and strengthens me. I know that God can do anything but I trust completely in his will and know that his plan is always a better plan for me. This quilt I made for my mom after her Lou Gehrig’s diagnosis. I wanted this quilt to be exactly all the colors that she loved. To make it extra special, I hand appliqued flowers in the center.
My mother accomplished what she needed to accomplish on
this earth. She was a wonderful
daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and teacher. She raised a beautiful family in a Christ-like
fashion respecting her children’s choices.
She experienced intense lessons of mortality; of pleasure and pain, good
health and illness. She had everything
but her brilliant mind and beautiful spirit stripped from her. She remained
with a beautiful mind and refined state of being. She was a vibrant, beautiful, happy, lively
woman. Even though she had contracted a
devastating illness she maintained her spirits, peace and faith. She is so admired by many, and, especially, by
me.
I’m grateful my mother is part of me and I am part of my mother. Even after she has passed away, her strength and courage in life sustains me. Her example of how she took care of herself is an example to me as well. She took care of her family and she continues to take care of us from the legacy that she left within us. Not sure if I should but I could share more and you would know the hero that my mother truly is.
Be a Survivor & Share your Strength with Others
My mother was a survivor! She survived unbelievable things! I mean really unbelievable. I am also a survivor! I am very proud of being a survivor. She opened our home as a emergency place for battered women, to young pregnant mothers, to offcast family members, lonely people and people with hardly anything. I can’t tell you the number of people I watched be part of our home. I learned that I need to share my strength with others.
Part of what I learned from my mother is intertwined in the Live Well Live Strong Quilt. It was always in me, but I knew I need to take what I have learned from life and memorialize and share it with others! I knew I needed to share and strengthen other women out there not from just my mother’s experiences but from me and the woman she raised me to be. I KNOW she is REALLY proud of me and loves the Live Well Live Strong Quilt! I know I’m corny…. and it isn’t necessarily possible. But I feel her shining down on me, as I have raised my children and live my life the best way I possibly can.
Wishes sent to you…. That we will not only learn the lessons from my mother, Deanna, living so bravely, but apply those lessons that we learned so that hers and our suffering may not be in vain. May we also document what we have learned from others and learn in our own lives so that others may feel our strength!
I love you all so much! Maybe, just maybe, if we learn, share and apply those lessons we might be exempt from some kind of trial that may come our way or have the ability to lift another. How has your mother or another female role model influenced your life?
You can feel strength from anywhere! You can find strength standing on top a dirty pile of snow! Study your strength sources and what anchors you in life.
Use the Strength Live Well Live Strong Worksheets to review what strengthens you. Brainstorm what sustains you and power sources that you can tap into. Keep this list handy to tap into strength building skills that resonate for you.
“Stand strong when the wind blows and the waves crash.”
– Deanna Wall
Quietly take the time to reflect on what strengthens you. Talk to those you love and admire about what strengthens them. One of the best parts of the Live Well Live Strong Sew Along is focusing on each of these health & wellness topics one by one.
Knowing that I have already accomplished many difficult tricky things in life, sustains me that I can tackle other difficult tasks in my future. By keeping a journal, I can reflect back and remember small tender mercies that came my way during a trial that sustained me.
Our strength and empowerment comes from small acts and fibers intertwining together to form a strong rope.
A strong tree has deep roots that grow into a trunk that stabilizes the tree sometimes for centuries.
“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”
– Mother Teresa
The Strength Quilt Block is the 26th of 26 weeks on our Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along! I designed the quilt block to appear as if it was fibers interweaving into a center of strength. Strength comes from a braided band of fibers.
Remember you can join in on the sew along anytime or make the Live Well Live Strong Quilt at your own pace.
Download the 5 page Strength Quilt block worksheets HERE.
Take time to review what you learned from making each quilt block and applying the 26 health & wellness topics in life. Use the Strength Worksheets to aid you in summarizing what you have learned from the quilt along. This is a five page worksheet set to download and reflect how you have grown and where you would like to continue to grow.
There is another summary sheet to jot down the things where you would like to continue to work on.
Customize your own personal strength challenge. Take tiny steps towards a good thing. Reward yourself with a quiet moment closing your eyes; feel good about yourself including your body & mind. Remember slow and steady wins the race and is sustainable.
Remember to always keep going. Keep moving forward. Have confidence that with time & healthy spaces you set healthy boundaries to thrive that is natural to your spirit.
Watch the Live Video Tutorial Part 1 and Part 2 below for step by step instructions!
Share a photo of your completed Strength Quilt Block in the Everyone Can Quilt Facebook Group or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stitchesquilting/ and use the hashtag #livewelllivestrongquilt. If you feel comfortable share a photo that represents a positive step in an Genuine Challenge. Let’s inspire each other!
Follow Stitches Quilting on Facebook, Instagram & YouTube for reminders to find the positive in life. Engage and make comments that can lift and empower others to a positive space. Comments on other people’s posts in the Live Well Live Strong Sew Along to encourage them too.
The Live Well Live Strong Quilt includes 26 quilt blocks focused on Women’s Health in Wellness. The ideal form is to focus & build on each one of these topics is one at a time. Slow and steady growth is sustainable. Join the sew along at any time making each block and focusing on your own growth.
Next week we will all complete our quilt tops! Then I’ll teach you how to layer your quilt! And teach you how to quilt your quilt on a domestic sewing machine and a long arm sewing machine over the course of another couple weeks! I can’t wait to see what all of YOU teach ME! If you haven’t yet, purchase your Live Well Live Strong Quilt Pattern! Purchase Your Pattern HERE!
“A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.” –Mark Twain
How can Accept spark joy in your life? Let’s talk about it!
Acceptance is something that we all have sought after at some point in our lives. For some of us it has been a constant battle for years. It doesn’t need to be though! We don’t need to seek the acceptance of others or our peers, all we need to do is accept OURSELVES! If we accept ourselves then the world will soon follow, and accept us for who we truly are, not some person we became just to please them.
“Accept – then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it.” – Eckhart Tolle
Sometimes we are faced with great challenges in life, whether they be financial, physical, or emotional. For some of us these challenges can cause us to shut down. These situations can be tough, and while we may want to pretend they aren’t happening to us, we cannot deal with the situation until we ACCEPT the situation! If we act before we accept, we can do damage to relationships, finances, and even our bodies.
“Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.” – James Baldwin
The Accept Quilt Block is the 11th week on our Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along! Remember you can join in on the sew along anytime or make the Live Well Live Strong Quilt at your own pace.
“The art of acceptance is the art of making someone who has just done you a small favor wish that he might have done you a greater one.” –Martin Luther King, Jr.
Acceptance is not only about us though, others seek acceptance just as we do! It is not our place to judge another person, and we should accept others as they are! It feels awful when we are not accepted, and why would we wish that feeling on somebody else, especially if they are our loved ones!
There are many Accept Activities that you can do. On the worksheet below, I’m introducing you a couple of my favorites.
Download your Accept Worksheets below and work through the exercises as you focus on making your Accept Quilt Block this next week!
If you haven’t yet, you can join in anytime on the Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along! Get your downloadable pattern right now!
“Acceptance doesn’t mean resignation; it means understanding that something is what it is and that there’s got to be a way through it.” -Michael J. Fox
Accepting things is one of the hardest things we must do in our lives, if not the hardest. But it is only hard because we make it hard. Acceptance is something that we control, and nobody can take it away from us. WE choose how we feel about where we are. Acceptance is the most important thing for us to do in our lives, because when we accept we can start to change.
“Every woman that finally figured out her worth, has picked up her suitcases of pride and boarded a flight to freedom, which landed in the valley of change.” -Shannon L. Alder
Positive Accept Challenges could include:
Don’t be discouraged by your circumstances
Don’t be judgmental of others
Don’t be judgmental of YOURSELF
Work with what you have to make something better
Remember that you won’t always feel accepted, and that is OKAY!
There are times when we feel marginalized. These situations are times when we need to accept that we need to change and stand up for ourselves, rather than accept how things are now. Accepting the reality of how we feel and actually acting upon it, rather than sitting idly by. Accepting that you don’t accept a situation is just another way of accepting! The power comes when we act! A conditional acceptance when we accept a situation that we know we need to change and act on.
Or customize your own personal challenge. Let’s not overwhelm ourselves. Take tiny steps towards a good thing and reward yourself with a quiet moment closing your eyes to feel good about yourself including your body & mind.
Share a photo of your completed Accept Quilt Block on Facebook or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stitchesquilting/ and use the hashtag #livewelllivestrongquilt. If you feel comfortable share a photo that represents a positive step in an Accept Challenge. Let’s inspire each other!
Everyone Can Quilt
Public group · 1,886 members
Join Group
Everyone Can Quilt! This is a group where new learners can learn and experienced quilters be inspired with new techniques! Let’s share and inspire e…
“Have a big enough heart to love unconditionally, and a broad enough mind to embrace the differences that make each of us unique.”-D.B. Harrop
Next week’s block is the Heal Quilt Block! If you haven’t yet, purchase your Live Well Live Strong Quilt Pattern!
A person who knows their purpose – works differently bringing satisfaction.
Seasons of Life
Being productive can improve our health & wellness as women. It feels good to be doing something. I have a disabled adult son and if he has nothing to do and no purpose to his life then he feels very drab and negative cycles can creep in. Productivity will not only help us accomplish our goals and reach our potential, but it will allow us to feel that we have purpose and meaning in our day to day activities.
What are your values?
Life changes though with various seasons that we may face. For instance, a woman that becomes an empty nester may need to shift a focus on industry & purpose to be realigned with life circumstances. The value of children and family is still there but needs to be shifted to allow room for new values, interests & purposes. Someone with their children grown may want to take up a new hobby like quilting, to make a beautiful quilt for their grown children.
We are intelligent women but making these shifts can be tricky during life transitions. We are usually on auto pilot but this is a time to intentionally expand your reach and take a new look at values, interests and life’s purpose. Raising a child to launch is such a beautiful privilege to be proud of. With my special needs adult son, I won’t have that opportunity and I appreciate the ability to launch my other children even more. Everyone comes from an unique place and no perspective is right or wrong.
Download the Industry Worksheets and time some time to jot down your values and interests. Then let’s look at how to take those values and interests and turn them into purpose. We feel so good when we have multiple purposes that we can draw from for our productivity. It feels good to be doing things for our health & wellness. An example of an interest might include genealogy work which would build into a value & purpose. I’m sure all of you have an unique set of interests and values! I can’t wait to hear all about them! Download the Industry Worksheets for FREE below.
The Industry Quilt Block is the 10th week on our Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along! Remember you can join in on the sew along anytime or make the Live Well Live Strong Quilt at your own pace. The Live Well Live Strong Quilt is a modern fresh quilt that gives us an opportunity to pause and study different aspects of health & wellness. I support each week with a live video quilt block tutorial, blog post, email AND soon to launch now a PODCAST!
Always fall asleep with a dream and wake up with a purpose.
A beehive has always been a symbol of industry. The entire hive is always working together to achieve a goal. Each individual bee has a purpose and meaning in the hive, and that purpose allows them to focus on their task and do the best they can. Honeycomb is created and their work can be preserved for future needs. The same is true for us as women, as we are industrious and productive not only do we benefit now but we benefit into our future too. We develop reserves that we can tap into as needed. The reserves of industry may be savings, skills, memories, services and health.
There are many Industry Activities that you can do. On the worksheet below, I’m introducing you a few of my favorites. Remember that industry includes our hobbies and interests too. It isn’t about just being busy, its about very productive & useful. We can also have a purpose through serving others.
Download your Industry Worksheets below and work through the exercises as you focus on making your Industry Quilt Block this next week!
If you haven’t yet, you can join in anytime on the Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along! Purchase your pdf downloadable or mailed hard copy quilt pattern right now!
Clarify your purpose. What is the why behind what you do? Your industry will unfold.
Sometimes we do not have a direction in life, and there isn’t a compass we can use to find one! Our values can be our metaphoric compass. By applying our values and interests there are so many benefits of industry. It seems absurd, but applying industry into our lives can reveal things about our purpose to us that we had no idea existed. Increasing in education and learning is definitely another form of industry. Serving our families, friends or community too.
Positive Industry Challenges could include:
Start a new DIY project in your home.
Complete a value worksheet & make a list of your interests.
Take care of things you own or resources you have.
For industry one day this week serve another.
Learn something new.
Serve others.
Participate in a hobby or interest.
Or customize your own personal challenge. Let’s not overwhelm ourselves. Take tiny steps towards a good thing and reward yourself with a quiet moment closing your eyes to feel good about yourself including your body & mind.
Share a photo of your completed Industry Quilt Block in the Everyone Can Quilt Facebook Group or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stitchesquilting/ by using the hashtag #livewelllivestrongquilt. If you feel comfortable share a photo that represents a positive step in an Industry Challenge. Let’s inspire each other!
Creativity is intelligence having FUN.
Albert Einstein
Next week’s block is the Accept Quilt Block! If you haven’t yet, purchase your Live Well Live Strong Quilt Pattern!
You can apply a spirit of industry to any part of your life! To be industrious is simply to put in effort! Whether it be into your job, a personal project you are working on, or maybe even an idea to better your community , applying a spirit of Industry is sure to help, and leaving you infused with an element of grace.
Self Reliance Quilt Block — Live Well Live Strong Quilt
“What I must do, is all that concerns me, not what the people think.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson
How can Self reliance spark joy in your life? Let’s talk about it!
Relying upon ourselves is a very liberating lifestyle. We are free to do more things, and free to do them when we want to! Self reliance creates a sense of self worth and accomplishment that lead to a fulfilling life!
Sometimes we cant rely on ourselves and we need help, like a sapling that must be tied to a post so it doesn’t fall over. But once we have grown, we need to remove that post, or else it is just in the way of our growth.
The Self Reliance Block is the 9th week on our Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along! Remember you can join in on the sew along anytime or make the Live Well Live Strong Quilt at your own pace.
“There is no dependence that can be sure but a dependence upon one’s self. “ -John Gay
There are many Self reliance Activities that you can do. On the worksheet below, I’m introducing you a couple of my favorites.
Download your Self Reliance Worksheets below and work through the exercises as you focus on making your Self Reliance Quilt Block this next week!
If you haven’t yet, you can join in anytime on the Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along! Get your downloadable pattern right now!
We need to trust ourselves, We need to believe in ourselves! We are all capable of so much, but we sometimes forget it! We need to remember who we are and what we can do, and then get out there and do it!
“I listen with attention to the judgement of all men; but so far as I can remember, I have followed none but my own. ” -Michel de Montaigne
Nobody can do the things that YOU can do! We each need to be able to stand on our own from time to time. Help here and there is a good thing, but we should try not to be too dependent on anybody. If we become reliant on others then we may forget how to stand on our own entirely!
“As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.” -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Positive Self Reliance Challenges could include:
Create a budget
Live within your means
Start a rainy day fund
Search for a better employment opportunity, or ask for a raise at you current job
Start using a daily planner, either in a notebook or on your phone
Or customize your own personal challenge. Let’s not overwhelm ourselves. Take tiny steps towards a good thing and reward yourself with a quiet moment closing your eyes to feel good about yourself including your body & mind.
Share a photo of your completed Self Reliance Quilt Block on Facebook or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stitchesquilting/ and use the hashtag #livewelllivestrongquilt. If you feel comfortable share a photo that represents a positive step in a Movement Challenge. Let’s inspire each other!
“The proverb warns that, ‘You should not bite the hand that feeds you.’ But maybe you should, if it prevents you from feeding yourself”
-Thomas Stephen Szasz
Next week’s block is the Industry Quilt Block! If you haven’t yet, purchase your Live Well Live Strong Quilt Pattern!
The Hope Quilt block is designed to look like radiating light and goodness. Check out the quilted back of the Hope Quilt Block (see below) to see the radiating layers.
“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”
– Desmond Tutu
Wouldn’t you like an endless supply of hope? Each one of us is unique. Our hope comes from many different sources. Let’s take a look at what builds hope. How is your hope built? Fundamentally hope comes from experiences, principles, beliefs and faith. Let’s dive in a little bit deeper into these thoughts.
What Builds Hope?
Hope is built from our faith, beliefs, experiences, expectations, principles and culture raised in. Our expectations and goals are also connected to hope.
There are many layers of our hope and components we can use to build our hope. Components of Hope could be faith, belief, principles & goal based. Let’s review each component.
Faith that comes from our religious beliefs, scriptures or personal strength.
Belief in science or physics to have hope that your plane is not going to crash.
Expectations and goals are connected to hope too.
Principles that you believe in… For instance, you might have faith in government principles or democracy that through time things will be made right.
Hope, Expectations & Dreams
Let’s step back to expectations. When I was facing divorce, my soul was filled with disappointment. I carefully realigned my expectations that a marriage can’t always be expected to last a lifetime. It was okay to be divorced and there were no guarantees. I started realigning my expectations to build new dreams for my future and future of my boys. Does it make sense that expectations are tied to hope? A child living in Africa has different expectations and dreams from an individual living somewhere else. Sometimes we need to realign those expectations or dreams. When I was going through my divorce, I had hope in the education that I had acquired that I could take care of myself and my boys. I reassured myself that it was okay to be alone than to be with someone that didn’t want to be with me. I had hope in who I was and knowing that my future at the time was uncertain but that I would be able to get through it with inspiration from God.
Reconnecting with Nature
Reconnecting with nature can build hope. Look up and breathe in the air. Don’t focus on the storm but look through the clouds into the sunshine. Allow the sunshine to brighten your face. How do you feel when you happen upon a rainbow? Our earth is a magnificent place to be but we need to open our eyes to the beauty and the bounty. There is strength and hope that can be pulled from a stream of rushing water or the smells of a forest. No matter where you live there is hope to draw from nature. For instance, sitting on a beach, wiggling your toes into the sand, hearing the sounds of the waves lapping on the shore all comes from a larger and bigger source that we can draw from.
Knowing You Can Do Hard Things
Just knowing that you can do hard things can bring hope. Here is my husband Cory trying to ride an unicycle from his middle school years. He has hope he can make that unicycle work now. See him concentrating and bringing back the older muscle memory. Just a moment ago holding on to the bridge with uncertainty.
Can you see the joy he feels as he is making the Unicycle work? Cory won’t forget the feeling of joy right? He especially won’t if he journals this experience to prompt these memories. I made the analogy of the unicycle, but of course we can apply this to any aspect of our lives. Journal hard things that you have accomplished. Be sure to add what helped you accomplish those hard things.
When a hard time hits our cute little family, I have hope that I’ve already been through difficult times and confidence that I will be able to find the strength and inspiration to get through this next adventure.
Symbols of Hope
What symbols of hope do you have? Symbols of hope might include a sunrise, rainbow, babies, cross, scriptures, dove, nature. I also have hope in my heritage. My mother passed away but I can feel her strength. I have pieces of her jewelry that I love to wear to remind me of her strength in life and her love for me. Those same items of hers bring me hope to know I have the grit and DNA to be just as strong as she is. I draw strength from the Live Well Live Strong Quilt and all the thing it represents. Write down all your symbols of hope.
Build Hope by Looking at things One Step at a Time
Sometimes hope can be drowned out by overwhelm. I get caught up looking at the huge mountain I need to climb. When looking at the entire mountain, I feel crippled that I can’t possibly do what is expected of me. Overwhelm is crippling right?
An example of this in my life can be taking care of my disabled son Luke. Luke can out live me. Luke has what is called Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. It causes tumors to grow throughout his body including brain, heart, eyes, kidney and skin. It causes other disorders like epilepsy, autism, developmental delay, mental health issues and more. It’s endless as it involves every organ system of the body. I worry about how he can take care of himself if I am not alive. I worry about his acute care and long term care. It is a lifelong chronic illness. I’ve seen other families have to place their adult children in residential facilities.
If I think about every aspect of a problem at once it can be crippling. The crippling feeling chokes my hopefulness. When I feel that crippling overwhelm, I put on the brakes! In fact, I’ll quickly correct myself and slam on the brakes. I put myself in reverse and not look at the huge mountain to climb but focus on a few steps or section at a time. If you are hiking a mountain, it takes one step at a time. Just one step and keep putting those feet one in front of another. Afterwards, notice and absorb all the beauty of the moment! Enjoy the smells, listen to the noises and absorb the goodness around you. Laugh out loud and feel carefree as you take such simple steps. The small actions taken and your progress will refuel your hope that it’s not so bad and you can do this. Taking things day by day or moment by moment eliminates the overwhelm.
I look at what I need to tackle that week or day. Grapple with what I have to do hopefully with a bit of a spring in my step. Admire the beauty or people around me and appreciate the tender mercies that come along my path. Write down the tender mercies that come your way even if you only put it as a note in your phone. When you feel overwhelmed reread the tender mercies that have come your way and have confidence that more will come. These tender mercies will remind you that you are NOT alone. Your overwhelm turns to confidence and then hope. Hope that you can do hard things one step at a time.
Hope Can be Found in Unexpected Spaces
Remember that hope can be found in the most unexpected of spaces! We just need to look harder! Check out this giant graffiti wall. It’s beautiful with the Live Well Live Strong Quilt! When something difficult or ugly comes your way look harder and find the beauty and blessings from it. Hope can come by knowing there is a purpose in our struggles throughout humanity. We learn and grow in way that we couldn’t have learned without the struggle.
Keep your eye out for hope from unexpected spaces. Just because something doesn’t look quite right, if we use a different lens or perspective we can find beauty and gratitude. Someone very unexpected may reach out to you. You may see something and feel inspired. You may learn something that builds your character and grow. Take your blinders off and seek hope. Search out the goodness in every situation.
Look Up for Hope
Look up for Hope. Sometimes we keep our heads & hearts down and don’t look up often enough.
Seek out the sunshine shining through the clouds. Look up to higher places. Often when we are overwhelmed, we keep our heads down and feel dull. Look up and seek positive things to fill our space and life. Be optimistic and hope will flow. There are so many hope builders. Keep reading as we will talk about more of them below.
“Everything that is done in this world is done by hope.
– Martin Luther
Keep Moving Forward for Hope
Keep your momentum moving forward too!
Keep your regular routines going by doing things and interacting with others. I knew a man that just lost his wife, but at Sunday Services right after the funeral. He privately shared that keeping his life routines helped him feel normal within a new set of circumstances. Despite our pain we need to keep our momentum going forward. Momentum brings hope from the energy it brings!
Hope from Random Acts of Kindness
When someone does something kind, it just feels so good and builds hope in humanity! Doesn’t an unexpected smile or kind gesture feel good. Years ago, I had a crazy day of running errands returning items at various stores. I’m horrible at returning things! I let them pile up, then do them all in one day. (Bad idea right?) I ran to the last store of the day for returns and discovered that the cash I had gotten back was no longer in my back pocket! This was a tough time of life as I was processing some bad news. I remember feeling depleted seeing all the time spent and money wasted because I had been negligent in putting things away properly! I was bummed out and it was a lot of cash.
Then when I went out to my car, I found a note folded up in the car door handle. I pulled out the note and discovered there was all the missing cash wrapped inside of the note. The note said, “Found this blowing around right near your car! :)” There was ALL of the cash I had lost! A kindhearted person found my money, rolled it up in a hand written note to tuck into the handle of my car. How did she know it was my cash? I was completely stunned. I felt buoyed up that I wasn’t alone in the world. My hope returned and I started thinking about good things. My hope in humanity and goodness within the souls of others returned. Do random acts of kindness lift up your soul and help you feel hope? Check out the video above that I shared that day on my Instagram. The kind person was anonymous and I had no way to thank her but felt the need to share the good vibes.
“I dwell in possibility.”
Emily Dickinson
Hope from Acts of Service
Performing acts of service can bring you hope. As you enter the world of another you release your worries. You see others struggling in ways you are not. When you reach out to help another, hope is built within you and into their souls too. Does doing or receiving acts of service help build your hope?
In college, I was perplexed about a situation. I called my mom that lived in another state. She immediately told me, to get out of my apartment to do service for another and that things would feel better. I did as she suggested. I don’t even remember what service I had rendered, I don’t remember what I was upset about but I profoundly remember that it worked and immediately called her to tell her. I still remember that feeling and carry that knowledge forward knowing that as I enter the world of others my world disappears.
Activity & Nature Build Hope
Get outside to feel the sunshine. Being active builds hope. Enjoy nature and our animals! All of these things build hope. What else builds hope for you? Being active reduces stress. Being active distracts our brains and worries. Being active and distracted helps us think of solutions or approaches to our struggles. I have hope that when I’m struggling that being active can be part of the solution.
If we will be quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every disappointment.
Henry David Thoreau
Hope from Children
I love to watch small children. I love to hold my granddaughter and think of the hope her life will bring. No matter what stress I may be feeling, my heart just melts studying this new life. I also feel hope watching my children grow up to develop the natures they have and desire to be good people to serve others. But oh the hope of being around such innocent sweet children. An entire world and treasure will unfold before them. New life is inspiring and makes me feel good.
Let’s focus on Hope. Write on the Hope Quilt Block things that help you improve hope in your life. Write on the grayed out areas on the worksheet things that deplete your hope.
Download your Hope Worksheets below and work through exercises as you focus on making your Hope Quilt Block this week!
If you haven’t yet, you can join in anytime on the Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along! Purchase your downloadable pattern right now!
Identify what hope symbols or items resonate with you.
Identify hope sources that sing to your soul.
Identify the beliefs and principles that buoy up your hope.
Practice Random Acts of Kindness to others to buoy up their hope.
Lean into your hope, faith and optimism knowing that things will work out for the BEST.
“Once you choose hope anything’s possible. “
Christopher Reeve
Notice the tulip bulbs around this Hope Quilt Block!! Did you know that tulip bulbs NEED cold in order to bloom in the spring? Life can get tricky sometimes but we need the cold in order to bloom with our brightest colors!
Have hope that stressful times are needed to become the people we are meant to be. When we plant a seed and nurture the seed properly we know it will grow.
Hope through Faith
There is Hope through our faith too! My personal faith is a very deep part of my life. I’m trying to keep this blog post neutral to anyone’s faith in God. My faith strengthens me and brings hope into life from the belief in unseen things. Pull hope from your faith. Dig deep into your faith and maintain it for a solid foundation when rocky times hit.
I personally am a Christian. I wanted to share a quick thought. When Luke was diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis at 6 months of age. I was filled with personal sorrow. I researched everything about the disease, the thoughts of how it would impact his life then see him or other children suffer was overwhelming. I knelt in prayer, praying to my Heavenly Father for Luke not to suffer. I felt ashamed though… really ashamed asking God that my son not suffer. It felt so awkward asking this when God’s own son, Jesus Christ, and suffered on earth. Not just his son, but biblical prophet also suffered greatly on earth. I thought who was I to expect my own child, or myself, to go through life without adversity or pain? Who was I to think that my son would be exempt from suffering. I didn’t want Luke to suffer by any means. My prayers changed though. Luke had a genetic disorder that I knew could not go away. I still prayed for Luke but my prayers changed. They changed to accept God’s will in our lives and rise to the occasion to learn what He intended me to learn, be better a person and closer to Him. I don’t wish for Luke to suffer but I know all human suffering can not be avoided. So instead I prayed for the inspiration to take care of Luke in the best way possible. To improve his outcome and quality of life with his care and education. To help not just Luke but others and to serve the tuberous sclerosis community. God has answered those prayers and as I submitted to God’s will, I certainly have been molded to hopefully become the person he intends me to be. My prayers have been answered in that Luke does enjoy a quality of life that he might not have enjoyed from quality care.
Now you may not be of a Christian faith but you can change this story to apply within your faith. You may not be religious, but we can find purpose in anything we experience. I just know that my hope is deeply connected to my faith and I am certain that yours is too. If your religious faith is a source of hope for you then build on that foundation on a regular basis to draw so it is strong when inevitable times hit. I know my religious belief & faith become a healing oil & save that keeps me going and brings inspiration to know what I need to do. Each one of us is so unique though. Remember we all have intuition and should listen to our intuition whether we have religious faith or not.
“The oil of hope makes life’s machinery run smoothly.”
– James Lendall Basford
Hope from Knowing of other People Did Hard Things
The first time I read Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankel, I was in high school. Viktor’s shared his story of being a prisoner in Auschwitz Camps. Prior to the war, he was a psychologist, so his observations of how people survived and where they found hope was so insightful to me. There are many things to glean from this book, but I learned that my attitude and how I perceived a situation was very powerful. I truly recommend this book to anyone!
When we learn the stories or watch others go through difficult times, their experiences can give us hope and help us build skills to find hope in the darkest of places. Some of those stories can come from our own family history or world history.
Hope Building Actions
Make a list of Hope Building Actions that you can pull from when you need to build your hope. Each one of us is very unique in terms of our cultural and religious beliefs. Ponder on ways to build hope from external inspiration, practicing Internal beliefs, service or through journaling and reflection. Use the Hope worksheets to build this list. Journal your Hope building Actions in a special place so you can pull them out in times of need and don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time. You know yourself intimately well and use that knowledge.
There are so many different ways to build hope in our lives. We need to realize that there are many sources that can build hope. Remember hope comes from the beliefs we have in principles, nature, faith, expectations and goals.
Please email me and let me know what moves you to have hope. What is your story? What are your sources of hope? What Hope Building Actions restore you? I will love to add more to my own personal list. Please share with me… You can email me at: deanna@stitchesquilting.com.
Join the in the Live Well Live Strong Sew Along to inspire others & be inspired
Follow Stitches Quilting on Facebook, Instagram & YouTube for reminders to find the positive in life. Engage and make comments that can lift and give hope. Comments on other people’s posts in the Live Well Live Strong Sew Along to encourage them too.
The Live Well Live Strong Quilt includes 26 quilt blocks focused on Women’s Health in Wellness. The ideal form is to focus & build on each one of these topics is one at a time. Slow and steady growth is sustainable. Join the sew along at any time making each block and focusing on your own growth.
Yes You Can do it! Yes you can when you know what you need to strengthen yourself. Tap into safety that can slowly and surely strengthen you with a solid foundation to lean upon.
Next week’s block is the Shine Quilt Block! If you haven’t yet, purchase your Live Well Live Strong Quilt Pattern! Purchase Your Pattern HERE!
“The good news is you survived. The bad news is you’re hurt and no one can heal you but yourself.” ― Clementine von Radics
How can Heal spark joy in your life? Let’s talk about it!
“It is important for people to know that no matter what lies in their past, they can overcome the dark side and press on to a brighter world.” ― Dave Pelzer, A Child Called “It”
“The practice of forgiveness is our most important contribution to the healing of the world.” ― Marianne Williamson
The Heal Quilt Block is the 12th week on our Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along! Remember you can join in on the sew along anytime or make the Live Well Live Strong Quilt at your own pace.
“The soul is healed by being with children.” ― Fyodor Dostoevsky
“I show my scars so that others know they can heal.” ― Rhachelle Nicol’, Sunday Mourning
There are many Accept Activities that you can do. On the worksheet below, I’m introducing you a couple of my favorites.
Download your Heal Worksheets below and work through the exercises as you focus on making your Heal Quilt Block this next week!
If you haven’t yet, you can join in anytime on the Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along! Get your downloadable pattern right now!
“We don’t heal in isolation, but in community.” ― S. Kelley Harrell
“Simply touching a difficult memory with some slight willingness to heal begins to soften the holding and tension around it.” ― Stephen Levine
Positive Heal Challenges could include:
Go to the doctor
Let go of things in the past that cause you pain
Take small steps towards healing
Forgive somebody who has hurt you
Reach out to somebody you may have hurt
Or customize your own personal challenge. Let’s not overwhelm ourselves. Take tiny steps towards a good thing and reward yourself with a quiet moment closing your eyes to feel good about yourself including your body & mind.
Share a photo of your completed Heal Quilt Block on Facebook or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stitchesquilting/ and use the hashtag #livewelllivestrongquilt. If you feel comfortable share a photo that represents a positive step in an Heal Challenge. Let’s inspire each other!
Next week’s block is the Genuine Quilt Block! If you haven’t yet, purchase your Live Well Live Strong Quilt Pattern!Purchase Your Pattern HERE!
The new Heal video will be available below on April 30th!
“All emotion is involuntary when genuine.” ― Mark Twain
How can Genuine spark joy in your life? Let’s talk about it!
“You need to believe in yourself and what you do. Be tenacious and genuine.” ― Christian Louboutin
When you look in the mirror, just love yourself! Remember you are being you and the best version of yourself. When you are genuine to who you truly are you just need to love yourself no matter what you see in the mirror!
When you see genuine leather with stitching, it just looks so good doesn’t it. It’s something I want to reach out and touch sometimes. Manufacturing of authentic looking fibers has improved with time. There is nothing like seeing real leather. It’s the same with people – it’s the best feeling when you meet someone that feels truly genuine. What makes us genuine?
I’ve had discouraging days. Days where I just felt worn down. When I look into the mirror, I might not be looking like my best self but I am authentic. Authentically trying to be my very best self in very tricky circumstances. I have to look back with pride in the mirror with a pat on my back that I am being the best I can be. Do you have days like this?
Have you ever spent time with someone and felt just weird that you didn’t really get to know them? Do you feel like there are not many authentic people out there in the world anymore? Is it only what we are able to see on social media? How can we help people feel our authentic real self feel validated that we are real?
“Give up being perfect for being authetic. ” ― Diasku Ikeda
People can feel if we are coming from our real genuine self. Being around real people helps us feel genuine. There is a warmth from being with real people. But how can we help others feel that real feeling from us?
The Genuine Quilt Block is the 13th week on our Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along! Remember you can join in on the sew along anytime or make the Live Well Live Strong Quilt at your own pace.
What are your core values? It’s hard to think about! I created a Worksheet for you to go through and circle core values that resonate with you. Many of your values may not be included in this list. Be sure to jot down things that resonate with you.
Now use the worksheets to summarize your core values into 6 different groupings that make sense to you. Find a word that can summarize each of your 6 core value groups.
Here is an illustration of summarizing core values into four groupings. This is only an example, you need to make groupings that are true to your individual self. By identifying your core values, focus on being genuine to those core values.
There are many Genuine Activities that you can do. On the worksheet below, I’m introducing you a couple of my favorites.
Download your Genuine Worksheets below and work through the exercises as you focus on making your Genuine Quilt Block this next week!
If you haven’t yet, you can join in anytime on the Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along! Get your downloadable pattern right now!
Genuinely spend time with someone without distractions
Complete the core value worksheets to determine your core value.
Be genuine and authentic by being true to your core values.
Or customize your own personal challenge. Let’s not overwhelm ourselves. Take tiny steps towards a good thing and reward yourself with a quiet moment closing your eyes to feel good about yourself including your body & mind.
Share a photo of your completed Genuine Quilt Block on Facebook or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stitchesquilting/ and use the hashtag #livewelllivestrongquilt. If you feel comfortable share a photo that represents a positive step in an Genuine Challenge. Let’s inspire each other!
Next week’s block is the Routine Quilt Block! If you haven’t yet, purchase your Live Well Live Strong Quilt Pattern!Purchase Your Pattern HERE!
The new Genuine Quilt Block Tutorial Video Below!
Many happy wishes for a week filled with your Genuine & Authentic Self!
