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Mindful Hourglass Quilt Block – Live Well Live Strong Quilt

Mindful Hour Glass Quilt Block from the Live Well Live Strong Quilt

Mindful Hourglass Quilt Block – Live Well Live Strong Quilt

Every moring we are born again what do today is what matters most.  Buddha

How could being mindful spark joy in your life?  Let’s talk about it!

Spark Joy In Your Life - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along

The Mindful Quilt Block is the third week on our Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along!  It is exciting to finally be here with all of you on this journey!  I loved designing the mindful quilt block to be a hourglass quilt block!  I think its perfect!  I love watching an hourglass.

Join Us! Mindful Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos

Buddha says, “Our life is shaped by our minds, for we become what we think.”  So…..  Mindfulness is important, right?

Mindful Hourglass Quilt Block from the Live Well Live Strong Quilt

Use this worksheet to provoke thoughts….   On the Mindful Worksheet, scribble on the hourglass quilt block triangles mindful activities you would like to do.  Then on the gray scaled square, scribble things that are barriers and interfere with mindfulness.  This is your personal worksheet…  I’ve written down several Mindfulness exercises you can try out.  This is about you and me helping to become our best selves.  There are so many benefits to Mindfulness in our lives.  I know I feel calmer, energetic, confident, accepting, and less stressed.  I feel compassionate towards myself & others!

Mindful Worksheet Live Well Live Strong Page 1

There are many Mindful exercises that you can do.  On the worksheet below, I’m introducing you to four of my favorites.  Experience mindfulness through your senses.  During stress in the day or before I fall asleep at night, I might go through the steps of a Mindful Body Scan.  I’m always reminding myself to be kind to my body and mind.  Then a Mindful Journal, to thoughtfully examine how you are feeling, possibly why, reflect on what you feel grateful for and where your energy sources or drains come from.

Mindful Worksheet for the Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along Page 2

Download your Mindfulness Worksheets below and work through the exercises as you focus on making your Mindful Hourglass 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.

Let's be self reflective with our Mindful Hour Glass Quilt Block from the Live Well Live Strong Quilt

I was always fascinated with an hourglass with sand slowly passing through.  Did you like them?  I used to have a brass ship looking hourglass always in my bedroom,  I think it broke.  I just replaced it with a NEW one.  To me it represents being present, intentional and mindful as time passes by.  What do you think?

Mindful Hourglass Live Well Live Strong Quilt Block

I can’t wait to see the Live Well Live Strong Quilt in all black & white!  Here are some things that I am working on this mindful week.  Select one or several or create one of your own.

Mindful Possible Challenges could include:

    1. Write down a personal challenge.  Jot down all of your options.  Conscientiously choose the best approach.
    1. Do a Mindful Body Scan.
    1. Attend Yoga in person or virtually.
    1. Let go of something you can’t control.
  1. Practice Loving Kindness to another.
  2. Practice Loving Kindness to yourself.
  3. Experience a moment as it unfolds.

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.

Join us for the live video of each LIve Well Live Strong Quilt Block Tutorials

Share a photo of your completed Mindful Quilt Block on Facebook or Instagram.  And if you feel comfortable share a photo that represents a positive step in a Mindful Challenge.  Let’s inspire each other!  You have seen lots of my social media posts this week of enjoying time with my new grand daughter.  Oh my… leisure and I have become good friends.

Live Well Live Strong Quilt Summary

Remember this is just about you and all of us possibly lifting each other to a better space.  AND….  the Live Well Live Strong Quilt is not about being negative.  Be kind and positive with yourself.  Be as generous to yourself.  Share your thoughts!  Remember this week that Leisure is the opposite of excessive seriousness!

Next week’s block is all about Positive!  If you haven’t yet, purchase your Live Well Live Strong Quilt Pattern!

Mindful Hour Glass Quilt Block from the Live Well Live Strong Quilt


Many happy wishes for a week filled with Healing  Live Well Live Strong!  XOXO!

Deanna Wall Stitches Quilting Tutorials
Live Well Live Strong Quilt

Learn more about the LWLS Sew Along 

Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along 26 Quilt Blocks about Womens Health & Wellness

Fuel Half Square Triangle Quilt Block Week & Worksheets

What fuel do you bring in to your body? Freedom Challenge Quilt Block for the Live Well Live Strong Quilt available exclusively at Stitches Quilting.

Leisure Pinwheel Quilt Block Week & Worksheets

Have to add a bit of leisure to our lives. Leisure Challenge quilt block from the Live Well Live Strong Quilt available exclusively at Stitches Quilting

Mindful Hourglass Quilt Block Week & Worksheets

Mindful Hour Glass Quilt Block from the Live Well Live Strong Quilt

Next Week Self Reliance Quilt Block Week & Worksheet coming soon!

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Leisure Quilt Block – Live Well Live Strong Quilt

Have to add a bit of leisure to our lives. Leisure Challenge quilt block from the Live Well Live Strong Quilt available exclusively at Stitches Quilting

Leisure Quilt Block – Live Well Live Strong Quilt

Leisure gives our bodies a reboot of energy to clearly focus on what we truly need.

How could leisure spark joy in your life?  Let’s talk about it!

Spark Joy In Your Life - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along

The Leisure Quilt Block is the second week on our Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along!  It is so exciting to finally be here with all of you on this journey!  I loved designing the leisure quilt block to be a pinwheel quilt block!  I think its perfect!  Do you have memories as a child blowing into a pinwheel?  How did you feel?  I felt amazement and joy!  But… I can’t say I’ve picked up many pinwheels as an adult to amuse me.

Join Us! Leisure Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos

Leisure can be an energy source in our lives!  Yes really Leisure!  Have you ever gone on a vacation and returned home invigorated ready to live life to its fullest?  Well don’t deprive yourself of the mini reboot that small amounts of leisure can provide.

Leisure Pin Wheel Quilt Block with the Live Well Live Strong Quilt

How do you picture leisure as a child?  I picture myself swinging on a swing with pig tails in my hair.  I can feel the wind blowing through my hair rocking back and forth in the swing to maintain momentum.  It feels wonderful… I can imagine myself jumping off the swing running with enthusiasm to my next adventure.  How do you picture Leisure as a child?

Quilt Girl Swinging Quilt Market 2017 1600

I don’t have a picture of me swinging but here is a picture with my childhood enthusiasm on a chimney.

1970 Deanna Wall Clarion Chimney

Think back to what you enjoyed as a child.  What are some Leisure activities you can enjoy now?  You know…  I might be carpooling kids around but have a quiet moment in my car to enjoy a game of solitaire on my phone.  Do I savor that moment of solitaire as leisure?  Maybe or maybe not.  There are different types of leisure.  Active versus Passive leisure, such as I could take a walk in my neighborhood or read a book.  Social or solo leisure might look like attending a quilt guild meeting or quilting at home.  There are many types of leisure… more than just going on a vacation.  So let’s indulge in mini reboots of leisure to energize ourselves.

Leisure Worksheet Live Well Live Strong Quilt Page 1

Use this worksheet to provoke thoughts….   On the Leisure Worksheet, scribble on the quilt block triangles leisurely activities you would like to do.  Then on the gray scaled square, scribble things that are barriers and interfere with leisure.  This is your personal worksheet…  No comparisons to anyone else.  This is about you and me helping to become our best selves.  Then on the side of the worksheet write thoughts about how adequate leisure will spark joy in your life.

Leisure Worksheet Live Well Live Strong Quilt Page 2

I’m a really hard worker and love to work.  I get joy from it.  A barrier for me to feel leisure is that I’m being lazy!  Okay, Deanna!  What can I do about that?  I know it exists right?  Well I can funnel into my brain positive self talk that says, “Deanna you deserve a break and need to experience leisure today.”  There are benefits of leisure like decreased anxiety, calm countenance and wellness.  Nourishment of self is one of the best preventive medicines.

But let’s remember that the word leisure is a NOUN.  It is a state of being.  Do you sometimes do something that could be categorized as leisure but don’t give yourself permission to enter that leisure state?  I do and you know I’m missing out BIG TIME!

Leisure Possible Challenges could include:

    1. 10 minutes each day for Leisure
    1. Choose a Leisure state of mind 
    1. Plan mini boots of leisure as an energy source
    1. Plan a leisure activity in your week
  1. Include active leisure in your week
  2. Plan a vacation or day activity
  3. Plan you own personal challenge

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.

A baby was born and a grandma was born. Grandma Deanna with Baby Ellie

Share a photo of your completed Leisure Quilt Block on Facebook or Instagram.  And if you feel comfortable share a photo that represents a positive step in a Leisure Challenge.  Let’s inspire each other!  You have seen lots of my social media posts this week of enjoying time with my new grand daughter.  Oh my… leisure and I have become good friends.

Live Well Live Strong Quilt Summary

Remember this is just about you and all of us possibly lifting each other to a better space.  AND….  the Live Well Live Strong Quilt is not about being negative.  Be kind and positive with yourself.  Be as generous to yourself.  Share your thoughts!  Remember this week that Leisure is the opposite of excessive seriousness!

Next week’s block is all about Mindful!  If you haven’t yet, purchase your Live Well Live Strong Quilt Pattern!

Mindful Hour Glass Quilt Block from the Live Well Live Strong Quilt

Many happy wishes for a well fueled week!  Live Well Live Strong!  XOXO!


Many happy wishes for a week filled with Healing  Live Well Live Strong!  XOXO!

Deanna Wall Stitches Quilting Tutorials
Live Well Live Strong Quilt

Learn more about the LWLS Sew Along 

Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along 26 Quilt Blocks about Womens Health & Wellness

Fuel Half Square Triangle Quilt Block Week & Worksheets

What fuel do you bring in to your body? Freedom Challenge Quilt Block for the Live Well Live Strong Quilt available exclusively at Stitches Quilting.

Leisure Pinwheel Quilt Block Week & Worksheets

Have to add a bit of leisure to our lives. Leisure Challenge quilt block from the Live Well Live Strong Quilt available exclusively at Stitches Quilting

Mindful Hourglass Quilt Block Week & Worksheets

Mindful Hour Glass Quilt Block from the Live Well Live Strong Quilt

Next Week Self Reliance Quilt Block Week & Worksheet coming soon!

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Fuel Quilt Block – Live Well Live Strong Quilt

Join Us! Fuel Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos

Fuel Quilt Block – Live Well Live Strong Quilt

Fuel Your Body & Mind with Adequate Sleep, Food, Water & Positive Environment

How could adequate fuel for your body spark joy?  Let’s talk about it!

Spark Joy In Your Life - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along

The Fuel Quilt Block is the first week on our Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along!  It is so exciting to finally be here with all of you on this journey!

What fuel do you bring in to your body? Freedom Challenge Quilt Block for the Live Well Live Strong Quilt available exclusively at Stitches Quilting.

How we fuel our bodies makes a difference in how we feel.  The half square triangle in this block is simple like the principle of adequately fueling our bodies.  It’s easy to get distracted in life; we need to slow down and think about what we put in our bodies so we can do what we want to do.

Fuel Quilt Block LIve Well Live Strong Spark Joy In Your Life

Garbage in garbage out right… certainly affects how we feel and how are bodies work.  But… let’s not think about the negative…  Let’s fill our lives with things that spark joy!

Green Pepper - Let's Spark Joy

Now here is just a simple green pepper.  What is in your refrigerator and pantry?  Are they full of things that would give you adequate energy?  A green pepper may not ordinarily spark a lot of joy but if I close my eyes and think about smelling then nibbling on a crisp cold slice of a green pepper things I might feel a bit differently.  Imagine the nutrients and how this green pepper is going to fuel my body.  I can look at consuming this green pepper a little differently if I consider the benefits right?  You may have a different relationship with green peppers.  I don’t ordinarily crave green peppers but this imaginary can be used with anything we can fuel our bodies with.  I envision my body stronger after enjoying that delicious green pepper.  I envision a better me.  

Fuel Quilt Block Worksheet Live Well Live Strong Quilt Lets Spark Joy

Use the Fuel Live Well Live Strong Quilt worksheet to provoke thoughts.   On the Fuel Worksheet, jot down items on the quilt block triangles that would ideally fuel your body.  Then on the gray scaled square, jot down things that do not ideally fuel your body.  This is your personal worksheet and you shouldn’t have comparisons to anyone else.  This is about you and an aide to help us become our best selves.  

The next time you go grocery shopping look at what is in your basket.  Will it bring to your body or family what is truly needed?  Remember fueling your body isn’t just about food.  What about water?  sleep?  circulation?  breathing?

I have a sweet son with special needs.  Every time we visited one of his doctors, the first question she had for us was, “How is he sleeping?”.  His doctor wouldn’t treat anything without first fixing sleep.  Lack of sleep has been used as a torture method.  Lack of adequate sleep can impair us to be our best selves.

Luke Hanging Out and Happy

What about water?  Our bodies are 80% water.  Are we drinking enough water?  I’m not and need to improve.  To make water consumption easier for me, I carry around a water bottle filled with ice so I can sip throughout the day.  I’m grateful grateful for the opportunity this week to focus on my water input.

Glass of Water Live Well Live Strong

Fuel Possible Challenges could include:

    1. Drink 8 or X glasses of water
    2. Eat a fruit & vegetable each day 
    3. Organize balanced meals & snacks
    4. Get 8 or X hours of sleep
    5. Improve sleep patterns
  1.  

Customize your own personal challenge to fuel your body adequately.  I might get motivated to clean my refrigerator and pantry!   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 Fuel Quilt Block on Facebook or Instagram.  On Instagram share your photo and use the hashtag #livewelllivestrongquilt and tag me @stitchesquilting. On Facebook join the Everyone Can Quilt Group and share your photo in there with the #livewelllivestrongquilt.  If you purchased the LWLS Quilt Workshop & Course then there is a private Facebook group to share your photo in.   

If you feel comfortable share a photo that represents a positive step in the Fuel Challenge.  Let’s inspire each other!  I think I’ll share a photo of 8 safety pin representing 8 glasses of water I drank with some clothespins representing how many fruits and vegetables I’ve enjoyed this week! 

Live Well Live Strong Quilt Summary

Remember this is just about you and possibly lifting each other to a better space.  The Live Well Live Strong Quilt is not about negative vibes.  Be kind and positive with yourself.  Be as generous to yourself as you are to others.  Share your thoughts by emailing me or posting on social media.  All of you truly inspire me to be a better person and even the smallest of your comments encourages me to be my best person possible.  

Next week’s block is all about Leisure!  If you haven’t yet, purchase your Live Well Live Strong Quilt Pattern!

Have to add a bit of leisure to our lives. Leisure Challenge quilt block from the Live Well Live Strong Quilt available exclusively at Stitches Quilting

 


Many happy wishes for a week filled with adequate fuel.  Live Well Live Strong!  XOXO!

Deanna Wall Stitches Quilting Tutorials
Live Well Live Strong Quilt

Learn more about the LWLS Sew Along 

Next Week is the Leisure pinwheel quilt block week & worksheet!

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Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along

Join Us Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along

Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along

I’m bursting at the seams – excited to introduce the Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along.  The Live Well Live Strong Quilt is all about Women’s Health & Wellness!  This quilt is a reflection of my growth as I have stitched & quilted through the years.  I wanted to share this with all of YOU!  Are you ready to meet new quilters, work on new skills or just stitch together something with meaning!  Then you have found the right place.

Live Well Live Stong Quilt Summary

You will find 26 blocks in this quilt with 26 different meanings of Health and Wellness!  The Live Well Live Strong Quilt with be a 6 month sew along with us making a block each week!  Live Videos will assist in the creation of the blocks along with blog posts talking about the topic.  I will send you email reminders about each block with information about the block topic.  AND there will be LOTS of prizes to win along the way!

Get the details on the Live Well Live Strong Pattern HERE!

Get the details about the Live Well Live Strong  Fabric kit HERE!

Live Well Live Strong Quilt Pattern Sew Along Summary - A Quilt of Womens Health and Wellness

Each week we will post a photo of our block to inspire each other!  (Remember PRIZES… that is how you can win prizes!)  AND for an extra special challenge you can post a photo of working on one of the topics….  MORE prizes to earn!   For example the week we work on the “Fuel” Quilt Block, you can post of picture of a glass of water and a comment that you tried to drink 8 glasses of water!  Won’t this be fun and inspiring as we encourage each other!

I’m SEW excited to announce the Live Well Live Strong Quilt Pattern & Sew Along! I’ve put my heart and soul into this quilt! This Women’s Health & Wellness pattern is available for purchase!!!

can a quilt be a Strength Super Hero Cape? Join Us Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along about Women's health & wellness. 26 quilt blocks & topics with 26 live videos!

Each of the 26 Blocks has an unique meaning of health & wellness! Live Well Live Strong is designed to be a 6 Month Sew Along or stand alone quilt.  This will be a continuous Sew Along that you can pick up anytime along the way!  The first sew along will start February 1st, 2019 but you can jump in any week too!

Shine Live Well Live Strong Quilt Block web

Quilt Blocks include Shine, Hope, Choice, Belong, Boundaries, Freedom, Self-care, Balance, Self Reliant, Movement, Fuel, Love, Calm, Safety, Power, Routine, Content, Genuine, Strength, Growth, Mindful, Freedom, Industry, Accept, Leisure and Heal.

Grow Live Well Live Strong Quilt Block web

Quilting has been common thread throughout my lifetime. What about you? I’ve grown as I have stitched through the years making many quilts with meaning. It was time to create a quilt celebrating how Quilting has sustained who I am and who I still hope to become.  Part of that includes all of you and the lovely friendships we have built through SewAlongs or just admiring & caring for each other & our creativity!

Follow Deanna on Facebook at Stitches Qulting – Deanna Wall and join the Everyone Can Quilt Facebook Group so you can share your weekly blocks to keep everyone motivated.

If you are on Instagram Follow Deanna at Stitches Quilting and use the hashtag #LiveWellLiveStrongQuilt to share your weekly blocks!  Be sure to follow this hashtag as then you will see everything that is being posted and get to know lots of other quilters.

This will be a fun journey to do together, please join in on the fun so we all get to know each other and there will be LOTS of prizes too!

What block would you look forward to make?  Any ideas you have for challenges can we work on as we make each block?

Let me know what you think of this quilt! I definitely feel like I’m throwing all of myself out there for this one!

Deanna Wall Stitches Quilting Stitching Through LifeDeanna Wall Stitches QuiltingStitches Quilting Online Neighborhood Quilt Store & Blog

PS -I’m celebrating this with lots and lots of giveaways in the next couple weeks! Stay tuned and turn on @StitchesQuilting post notifications. It’s going to be a party over on the Blog, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube!

With many stitches are many thoughts!

 

 

Learn more about the LWLS Sew Along 

Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along 26 Quilt Blocks about Womens Health & Wellness

 

 

 

 

Fuel Half Square Triangle Quilt Block Week & Worksheets

What fuel do you bring in to your body? Freedom Challenge Quilt Block for the Live Well Live Strong Quilt available exclusively at Stitches Quilting.

 

 

 

 

Leisure Pinwheel Quilt Block Week & Worksheets

Have to add a bit of leisure to our lives. Leisure Challenge quilt block from the Live Well Live Strong Quilt available exclusively at Stitches Quilting

 

 

 

 

Mindful Hourglass Quilt Block Week & Worksheets

Mindful Hour Glass Quilt Block from the Live Well Live Strong Quilt

 

 

 

 

Next Week Positive Plus Sign Quilt Block Week & Worksheet coming soon!

Live Well Live Strong Quilt Pattern Sew Along Join Us 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Weekly Video Tutorials Live Well Live Strong Quilt Pattern Sew Along Join Us 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Weekly Video TutorialsAccept Quilt Block from the Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - Come Join US! 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly VideosJoin Us! Balance Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Belong Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Boundaries Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Calm Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Choices Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Content Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Freedom Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Fuel Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Genuine Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Grow Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Heal Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Hope Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Industry Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Leisure Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Love Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Mindful Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Movement Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Positive Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Power Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Routine Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Safety Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Self Care Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Self Reliant Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Shine Reliant Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos Join Us! Strength Quilt Block - Live Well Live Strong Quilt Sew Along - 26 Quilt Blocks with 26 Live Weekly Videos

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Happy Quilty Valentines

Happy Quilty Valentines

Happy Quilty Valentines! My husband has probably listened to this video 200 times in the last month on repeat driving his sweet car around town. I hope he is thinking about ME! I love this man that supports my quilty life and joins in on the FUN!

What are you doing for Valentines? Let me share more of the quilty fun things we have made this last month or that I have seen this last year!

XOXO, Deanna

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Tula Pink’s Personal Slow & Steady Fabric Story – Could it be your story too?

Tula is a storyteller in each of her fabric lines!   Her stories enrapture us and draw us to her fabrics and art.  She has told many stories to enthrall and entertain us, but it isn’t until this Slow and Steady collection that she shares her personal  journey through her fabric.  To celebrate Tula’s 20th Anniversary Collection, she decided to share her own personal story with such a big milestone.  Her story speaks to me in such a beautiful way with the things I want to do in my own personal life.  I’m sure this story will speak to you too!

aesops-fables

Do you remember learning life’s lessons from Aesop’s Fables when you were young or reading them to your own children?  Aesop was known to be a slave and storyteller  in ancient Greece between 620 and 564 BC.  That was a LONG time ago!  The fable of the Tortoise and the Hare was something that always resonated with Tula.  In Tula’s own words she says, “It’s a story about staying the course against all odds, championing heart and hard work over arrogance and giving it your all, every time.  It is a story about focus and drive, integrity and determination.”

aesops_fables_hare_and_tortoise_by_milo_winter

We can all relate to this!  Can’t we?  It’s a classic and there are some parts of the story that Tula bring to our attention in her newest fabric collection Slow and Steady.

Tula takes the story a little further, and mention that the Tortoise and the Hare are like one coin that has two sides.  One side of the coin is the Tortoise and the other side the Hare.  Is there maybe a little bit of the Tortoise AND the Hare in each of us.  Do we personally struggle with feeling like we are in a race and just need to keep running and running incessantly without a break?  We feel great from the progress then like the Hare we take a break.  We decide that we have been working so hard and getting such great results that we just stop and don’t realize that life starts to pass us by.   The quote below is on a coordinate of the Slow and Steady Fabric Collection that is called Clear Skies.  Let’s keep those skies clear to see just what is out there in the world.

Don't Let the World Pass You By

 

Do we sometimes take a slow pace and just ever so methodically get things done every day?  Do we enjoy the journey and simple joys to feed our soul to keep our steady pace going like the Tortoise?  The Tortoise has a big heart and keeps his heart strong by just continually keeping a pace.  Feeling progress fuels our spirits no matter what speed we are going.

heart-pwtp085-the-tortoise_orange-crush

 

Tula mentions that the Tortoise represents heart and the Hare represent ego.  Sometimes our heart and ego conflict with each other.  We want to win and succeed don’t we?  I certainly don’t want to win at the expense of others though.  I don’t want to win for accolades.

The Tortoise and the Hare EGO Tula Pink Slow and Steady

I’m a personality not in competition with others.  My life has been too difficult to spend any energy of mine focusing on others.  I’m only in competition with myself and the person I was yesterday.  I don’t know about you but my life has not been an easy one.  I’ve been told that what I have experienced in my lifetime is unreal in terms of trauma.  I am just proud to be the person that I am today.  I’m proud that I am a survivor.  I am proud that I am a good mother.  I’m proud that I get up everyday, take care of myself and others, I think if my mom would be alive today that she would be proud of me too.  I’m glad that I can find simple joys in life and appreciate them.   I like to surround myself with things of meaning reminding myself of who I am and who I can become.

Sometimes we can be the type of people that are in competition with others or ourselves.  Both can be a dangerous path.  With a person like me, being in competition with myself, I have to be kind to myself and benevolent.  Do you think that you need to be kinder to yourself?  If you are not going to be kind to yourself then who will?  We don’t need to be victims; we just need to be ourselves.  We need to overcome whatever tiny thing it is that is pulling us down.  But most of all don’t be the one pulling yourself down.  Tell yourself how wonderful you are, be kind to you!

Love yourself like the Tortoise with the BIG Heart Tula Point Tortoise Shell

Tula truly inspires me!  Like the heart shape above is a coordinate piece from the Slow and Steady collection.  If you look closely at the pattern it is the Tortoise’s shell.  Don’t you love surrounding yourself with meaning.  Sometimes I’m like the Hare and think I need to go fast to achieve something but it really is the slow steady pace of the Tortoise with blind faith that gets us where we want to be in life!  Does she inspire you?  I’m going to make something extra special with this fabric collection that not only represents Tula’s story but represents my own story.  It is a story I want to share with my children.  What I make with this collection will sit out everyday to remind me that life isn’t a race but to be slow and steady in my personal and life goals.

tula-pink-slow-and-steady-fabric-collection

Tula says, “The tortoise represents that magical thing in all of us that drives us to do the thing that we NEED to do even when there isn’t any evidence to support it.  The tortoise is blind faith, he continues on when no one is looking.  He keeps marching forward when no one expects him to win.

That just resonates within me!  Does it resonate within you?  I am no one special and no one is watching me.  Everyday we get up and do our thing that we need to do.  There is a magical thing within each of us that speaks of our integrity to be true to ourselves and take care of what we need to do.  There isn’t evidence that what we do today will give us a good result tomorrow but… we do it because we know we need to.  Let us all keep marching forward not because we are going to win or receive accolades but because we know what we are doing is right.

dreams-with-track-flags tula pink are we dream builders

I have dreams and I’m sure that you have dreams.  Here is the word dreams on the racing flags coordinate of Tula’s Slow and Steady collection.  Are our dreams a race?  No.  I don’t know if our dreams will come true, but I do know that if we are helpful to each other we can help our dreams come true.  There are many people out in the world that their dreams our so simple and we can help those dreams become a reality.  As we lift and encourage each other we can make a difference in our lives and the lives of others.

I’m grateful for a talented person like Tula that can reach into our hearts with her storytelling art and help us discover the best within ourselves.  The items I create with Slow and Steady will be a token and reminder of just how I can become the best person that is within me.

As Creatives, there is always a struggle between getting it done fast versus doing it with the heart.

In reference to the Hare, Tula shares, “The Hare tells us that we can rest on our laurels and take it easy.  The Hare needs other people to tell him he is good enough.  The Hare doesn’t run unless there is someone there to watch him win.  The Hare can win but will always get in his own way.”  I don’t want to be an obstacle in my own path.  May we always search deep to improve ourselves.

My hope is that I will slow down and keep my focus on doing things with my heart.  We can truly succeed personally if we just do it with our hearts.  I know that Tula does!  I have never seen a person work so hard at what she does, sharing so much of herself with everyone.  She is one talented individual with her art!  She is able to express things that are at a cutting edge artistically in bright beautiful colors.  Not only is she gifted in her art, but she knows how to quilt and makes art that works for us as quilters.  Her fabric collections are cohesive taking every piece, color and motif designed for the end creator.

Tula Pink Slow and Steady

Tula is smart and savvy as a business woman and an example for us all to be a girl boss of our business and rock it!  Tula is dedicated to making her customer, the end consumer, happy with what they purchase.  She is kind and generous with her time to everyone.  Tula just makes each one of us feel important to her.  Feel connected to her, her story and her fabrics.  She wants you to feel that way.  She feels connected to you whether she has met you or not.  She is constantly thinking about you and designing with you personally in mind.

im-a-winner-tula-pink-slow-and-steady

One of the pieces of her collection say, “I’m a winner”.   People asked her if she was saying that she is personally a winner.  Of course she is a winner to all of us but more importantly to herself!  Tula’s message is not that she is the winner, rather we are all winners as we balance the Tortoise and the Hare – the Heart versus the Ego within each one of us.  This piece of fabric in my quilt, will remind me that I am a winnner and that I just need to keep moving forward in a Slow and Steady pace even when I don’t feel like it.  I love to work hard and I want to work hard at a slow and steady pace.  Life is a balance and sometimes we may get a little unbalanced but we can steady it and that’s part of life.

I hope you will enjoy seeing EVERYONE create items from her fabric collection.  I will teach you everything I know so that you can make something similar for yourself.  Your item might be different because it will speak of your journey and to your heart.  I can’t wait to see all the creations that you make that will inspire all of us!

Close Up of Heart Quilt Slow and Steady

If you are new to quilting, I’m going to teach some basic quilting with Tula Pink’s fabrics.  Remember it is a slow and steady pace and we are not in a race with others but just ourselves.  You don’t come into the world knowing how to sew or quilt.  I remember Tula saying something like, “What’s the worst thing, I can do?  Mess up a piece of fabric?”

For this article, Tula’s closing message is, “Creating anything is always a struggle between these two opposing sides but if I have learned anything at all through 20 fabric collections it’s that the heart has a lot more to say than the ego and that people can feel the heart in everything that you do, whether they know it or not.  I have learned that you have to try, every time, you have to earn it every time.  I have learned that the more you do something the better you get.  No one is born perfect or complete you build up to it, slow and steady, one foot in front of the other.”

What you think about Tula’s Slow and Steady fabrics and her message?  What speaks to you from the fable the Tortoise and the Hare?  What personal message do you embrace within your heart?  What have you experienced in life that has helped you grow?

Thank you Tula for sharing so much of YOU with everyone!  You have deeply inspired me!  Each and everyone of you inspire me!

Please share,

Deanna Wall Stitches Quilting Stitching Through Life

 

To Watch the Interview of Deanna with Tula click here!

 

Slow & Steady Product Idea Gallery

Want some eye candy of lots of items made with the Slow and Steady Fabric Collection?  Click here to see our post about Slow and Steady Tula Pink Inspiration!
 

To see all of the products that we carry for Tula Pink click here

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Beginning of a Grinch Christmas

Our Quilted Grinch Tree Skirt that I longarmed Grinch stuff creatures to it! Tutorial coming later this week.

The Beginnings of a Glammy Grinch Christmas

The Beginnings of a Glammy Grinch Christmas – My husband absolutely loves the story of How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  I was one that didn’t really relate to that story and focused on other ones.  When we play the DVD of the Jim Carrey movie of How The Grinch Stole Christmas, will bring my husband to gravitate to the couch and then invariably start laughing so much that we see his sparkly white teeth.  The children just get a kick out of watching my husband do this and they start the movie to just watch the phenomena and start quoting Grinch quotes from memory.  I’m adding a link to the book and movie because I actually had someone message me from another country not familiar with the story of How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Our two dogs get involved in the movie watching too by barking at poor Max while we watch the movie.  Since my husband’s birthday is November 22, the kids and I would always buy my husband Grinch things and we dedicated a corner, then a room and now most of the house to decorating Christmas Grinchy.  I now have the dining room for my angel tree and all the nativity displays.  Funny isn’t?  We do a lot of spiritual things during Christmas but I have to say by embracing the Grinch everyone is certainly having a lot more fun helping me decorate the house (which is good).  Each year the family comes up with some more great ideas that we need to execute – including my husband.

Our 1st Grinch Christmas Tree with Grinchy Quilted Tree Skirt

I don’t have the BEST Grinchy Christmas decorations PHOTOS but we will be getting our Grinch bins out soon to start getting up to enjoy a long time and share with all of you.  I will post regularly on how to make all this stuff yourself with many easy ideas coming soon.  I recommend signing up for the Stitches Quilting newsletter so you don’t miss a single post.  There will be free downloads, printables, instruction by photograph and video that you just won’t want to miss!

I never understood the message of the Grinch book but now I have a better idea.  The message brings in family discussions of character, compassion, sharing, acceptance, respect, positive thinking, increasing love in our life and more.  I will not only provide tons of big or small ways to bring a bit a the Grinch into your Christmas traditions.

If you are ever facing a hard Christmas from either a loss or financial distress – then the things I will teach you are easy practical fun things to implement as a family and really embrace the spirit of Christmas in a playful way.  We still decorate in a traditional way but use some of our things in a Glammy Grinchy way too.

My husband used to dread the Christmas season with extra financial stress of buying things that we might not need but buy for the sake of holiday gift giving.  My husband is a family law attorney and not many people are hiring divorce attorneys in the month of December, so being the conscientious man that he is – he just doesn’t feel passionate about spending when he is feeling the flow pull back.  People usually put off the paperwork of filing a divorce until after the holiday season.  So with my extra resourceful nature along with my deep belief in repurposing; pulling together a bit of a Grinchy decorated Christmas is practically brilliant.

Here are a few photographs for you to get a hint of what we did last year, I took these photographs just right before we packed everything back up.  May they inspire you to do something just a little different this year!

Our 2014 Grinch Christmas Tree
Our 2014 Grinch Christmas Tree. Notice the quilted Grinch Tree Skirt.

Our Quilted Grinch Tree Skirt that I longarmed Grinch stuff creatures to it! Tutorial coming later this week.
Our Quilted Grinch Tree Skirt that I long armed quilted Grinch stuffed creatures to it! Tutorial coming later this week.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the ornaments that we are using on our Grinch Christmas tree.

Look at these simple Grinch Christmas Tree Ornaments
Look at these simple Grinch Christmas Tree Ornaments

Look at these simple Grinch Christmas Tree Ornaments
Look at these simple Grinch Christmas Tree Ornaments

Look at these simple Grinch Christmas Tree Ornaments
Look at these simple Grinch Christmas Tree Ornaments

I got a large FREE used artificial Christmas Tree and we will have a post on how to take a traditional looking tree to looking like a Glammy Grinch Tree.  Tutorial coming soon!

Now let’s take a peak at what we did to Grinch Glam up our Christmas Fireplace Mantle.  Do you notice the green directional lighting?  My husband does the green lighting.  I never really noticed it until years later when someone was visiting us and asked if that was a green light bulb and I answered, “Well yes it is.”

 

Let's Glam Grinch out our Christmas Fireplace Mantle! We even use green directional lighting!
Let’s Glam Grinch out our Christmas Fireplace Mantle! We even use green directional lighting!

Start looking at your online classified ads in your area to see if people are selling their Grinch décor items really inexpensive.  The stuffed Grinch hanging out on the left of the mantle we actually picked up for $10.  You never know what you can find.

Here are more details of how we decorated the Glammed out Grinch Fireplace Mantle.

Tulle Grinch Ball at end of mantel. Here are more details of how we decorated the Glammed out Grinch Fireplace Mantle.
Tulle Grinch Ball at end of mantel. Here are more details of how we decorated the Glammed out Grinch Fireplace Mantle.

 

Corner of Grinch Mantel. Here are more details of how we decorated the Glammed out Grinch Fireplace Mantle.
Corner of Grinch Mantel. Here are more details of how we decorated the Glammed out Grinch Fireplace Mantle.

Grinch Decor Mantle Glittery Sprigs and Peppermint Candy. Here are more details of how we decorated the Glammed out Grinch Fireplace Mantle.
Grinch Decor Mantle Glittery Sprigs and Peppermint Candy. Here are more details of how we decorated the Glammed out Grinch Fireplace Mantle.

Grinch Decor Mantle Glittery Fanned Out Sprigs. Here are more details of how we decorated the Glammed out Grinch Fireplace Mantle.
Grinch Decor Mantle Glittery Fanned Out Sprigs. Here are more details of how we decorated the Glammed out Grinch Fireplace Mantle.

What ideas do you have?  What traditions do you celebrate? Well more Glammy Grinchy Christmas ideas and instructions coming to you, so sign up for the Stitches Quilting Newsletter!  We will see you tomorrow – this is only the beginning!

Deanna Stitching Through Life

 
I have officially as of today become an affiliate blogger to point readers to items that they might want to purchase. I do this as a service to you and may be paid for the link but I do not recommend items that I do not have confidence in.

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Strengthen Parents of Special Needs Day 1: People feel just like YOU!

31 Daily Steps to Strengthen Parents of Special Needs Children

Strengthen Parents of Special Needs Children

Day 1: People feel just like YOU – We have each other!

Parents of Special Needs Children are some of the strongest people that I know.  We are a breed of people that are different from others.  We are tired, exhausted and spent being pulled in many directions.  There is enormous responsibility because no one is going to take this path with our child.

Disappointments began when we noticed that our child’s growth or development just wasn’t quite right and then more disappointments to follow when least expected.

We celebrate and appreciate moments that parents of typical children may never even notice.  We grow in ways that we never imagined, developing abilities beyond our foresight.  Being consumed taking care of others, we may not even know who we are anymore.

We may feel nervous asking ourselves are we doing too much, too little, the right thing, or are we focusing on the completely wrong thing?  We try not to step on anyone’s toes as we advocate for our children.  How do we network to figure out what is right for our child to reach their potential?

We juggle the impossible of raising our child/ren to their fullest potential, accessing resources for their development, their siblings, our spouse and finally ourselves.

I remember when my son was diagnosed with a disorder that would most likely cause significant development and medical issues for him.  I was stunned, numb while activated to search everything to learn what I needed to do to help him.  How was I stunned, numb and yet activated to a higher level than I have ever been?

During that time in our little family, our life revolved around his diagnosis.  Time passed with his disorder became just a part or appendage of our family that was a part of us.  Later we got in the rhythm of existing as a family but taking care of the specials needs when needed.  Occasionally there would be unexpected hiccups that we hoped wouldn’t impact our son.  Naturally we shifted our routine to mobilize but then those hiccups became routine.

Somewhere though I think on this path we tend to lose part of ourselves taking care of critical along with other needs of the family.  Larger life ordinary events creep in, we lose a spouse, death of a parent, divorce, remarriage, step-children, more children, etc..  We once again shift our family unit and the needs of our unique family into these unexpected events.

Something happens to us as we drive and push the momentum of caring for so many others that we sometimes stop feeling or at times feel too much.  We disappear, become invisible and our needs …. well our needs – we don’t even think about our needs anymore. That is when I have seen us lose something deep within us.

Then we become so strong and caring for a chronic disorder that people don’t come around to help anymore.  We are long forgotten and even avoided.  When someone asks us how we are doing or how our child or family is, they are being polite but don’t really want to know and truthfully couldn’t even imagine what our world is even like.

We need less strength at time and allow ourselves to soften to feel parts of the world that we don’t even notice passing by us.  It is then that we begin to reach out and participate in them again.

I will be writing for the next 31 days in the month of October about strategies that can enable us to avoid chronic dullness or burnout as caregivers of long term disorders.

I’ve been a parent of a special needs child/ren since 1996 and I may have another 50 more years ahead of me.  As parents of special needs children, we can relate to each other in ways that our own extended family members can’t possibly understand.

We are all in different stages of this journey.  Let’s break those stages down and when a stage might return we can understand what we need.  I want to help identify those stages, feelings to empower ourselves with strategies to get through those stages in the healthiest way possible.

I want to learn from all of you too, your comments and shared journey is important.  I learn from my experiences and other caregivers I know with special needs children and what strengthens them.

I want you to know that I know you are out there and even though what I may speak of in a particular stage may not be you, I want to learn how you get through it.  I have crossed paths with many exhausted  caregivers that just didn’t know where their next drop of energy would come from.  We spend a couple hours sharing and I think we both go our separate paths strengthened.

I will share the deepest part of my heart with you and I hope that you will feel comfortable sharing parts of yourself.  I have been through a lot; have seen a lot and I am certain that you have too.  Share your story… share your heart and what has helped you during different parts of your journey.  We will all grow together…  you can comment below or email me personally at deanna@stitchesquilting.com  For this first post please know that there are many of us that feel different but similar things at different times and find comfort that we are not alone.

Let’s start this journey together and identify more strategies for our future.  Let’s not just exist but live uniquely as we navigate the windy paths.  Each day will have a message and then printables that you can print off and write down how your unique path has carved you and how you have carved out your own journey.

All the BEST!

Deanna

For the 31 post summary of Strengthening Parents of Special Needs Children click here.

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How I Learned to Quilt – A Quilting to Blogging Journey

Deanna at Stitches Quilting.com

Summary of things that would describe this quilter:

Blogger & Owner of Stitches Quilting Online Store – Live in Salt Lake City Utah – Born on a farm but now live in a city – Quilter – DIY – Sewist – Pattern Writer – Surface Pattern Designer – Graphic Design – Special Needs Mom – Proud Handy User of Power and Hand Tools – Hand and Machine Embroidery – Heirloom Maker – Long Armer – Jewelry Maker – Gadget Lover – Technology Lover – (I use every gadget to its fullest potential to not waste money – I like to read the entire manual) – Social Media Networker – Laid 2 stories of my own hardwood floors – Redecorated husband’s law office with DIY Repurposed Stripped Filing Cabinets in Industrial Look – Thrift and Repurpose Lover – Positive – Appreciates Antique, Vintage, Simplistic Items  – Bargain Enthusiast – Spiritually Oriented – Survivor – Creative parent – Gentle Spirited – Non Judgmental – Divorced and Happily Remarried for 12 years – Mother –  Practical – Enjoy making  Household Products and Makeup – Novice Photographer & Videographer – Entrepreneur – Firm Personal Believer in the Quote, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.” (Often in this day and age we live a life of such over excess.)  – Generous and Love to Share what I have with Others – Always and Endlessly trying to improve myself to be a better person.

My love of sewing started when I was a young girl and I actually made a vest with my grandmother on a non-electric foot treadle sewing machine!

My First Sewing Experience Was on This Manual Machine
My First Sewing Experience Was on This Manual Machine

As a teen, I loved finding a pattern to make something to wear or a gift for someone else.  I always felt a sense of accomplishment after I made something, although I have to admit that sewing my own clothing was disappointing at this age.

I learned about quilting when I was in high school and I know this is mind boggling but my first quilt was a whole cloth hand quilted quilt.  I started it in the 1980’s which the shiny fabric and design dates my selection, I found hand quilting relaxing although I have to admit that family members helped me finish it as it was a huge undertaking.

SONY DSC
My very first hand whole cloth quilt I started my senior year in high school

My next sewing adventure that I loved was making Halloween costumes for my children.  It was something that my girlfriends and I enjoyed doing with our children and my children loved how I could make their imagination come alive with fabric.  My children loved the super hero capes and everything else I sewed for them.  Just a few years after I had my first child, a good friend, Randi Welch, taught me how to cut fabric and piece it back together again to create a quilt top.  I loved it and embraced the craft with precision.  The quilting generation at that time taught you to always press your seams to the side with the darker fabric.  I lived in Galveston Texas at the time, with no fabric store on the island with my only access to Walmart fabrics and one small darling quilt store that I didn’t feel I could afford the quality quilting fabrics.  Not having much of a budget for gifts during my 1st husband’s school and training, I made every gift for each holiday to extended family members.  I loved giving gifts that were personal, useful and handmade.  We didn’t have much money so I was very frugal with what I made.

Stitches Brick & Mortar Shoppe
Stitches Quilting Brick and Mortar Storefront

I never lived in a place where I had easy access to trendy quilt stores and especially in Yuma, Arizona.  I found myself having to travel three hours to Phoenix or San Diego to try to find quality quilting fabrics.  Even though there was a quilting store in Yuma, they did not sell Moda fabrics, and I really loved the style of Moda fabrics.  After my divorce in 2002, I invested some money into opening a 2,000 square foot brick and mortar quilt store.

I loved my Shoppe and it was a second home to my three young boys.  When the fabric started arriving, I was in ecstatic and loved touching and arranging displays.  My Shabby Chic Italian themed Shoppe attracted new young quilters along with the snow birds that would travel to Yuma for the winter months.  The Shoppe had a large variety of classes available, but was ALWAYS open and room for someone to just plop in with their sewing machine to stitch there and socialize instead of being alone at home.  The Shoppe had a beautiful area for children to play that had a custom crafted stucco Italian playhouse as the central feature along with dolls, quilts, tea sets, dress up clothing, legos, TV’s gaming and more.

Grama Lorene Pink Quilt
Custom Stucco Italian Playhouse for Children to play in while their Moms shopped

It was darling because no child ever wanted to leave my Shoppe.  After a mother would make her selections, we could see her nervously approach the child to say it was time to leave, and the child always protested.  The mom would have to say to the child five or ten more minutes and then nervously walk the Shoppe and visit with others going back to retrieve the still resistant child.  People loved to come to the Shoppe although leaving the Shoppe was often difficult.  Every month I showcased a local ordinary quilter’s work and displayed all their pieces in the store.  The Shoppe evolved monthly with new quilts from designated local quilters of the month let alone the beautiful samples for the fabric, books, pattern and notions being sold.

My Boys and I at Stitches Quilting in Yuma AZ
My Boys and I at Stitches Quilting in Yuma AZ

One of the hardest things I did was close the Shoppe, my youngest child sustained a traumatic brain injury at 11 months of age from riding a horse.  He was paralyzed on the right side and had to learn everything over again and I already had one autistic son diagnosed with Tuberous Sclerosiss .  I knew I needed to focus all my energies to my children and it was costing so much to have other people run the shoppe.  I remarried and moved to Utah.  I had no idea how much fabric the sweet employees and snow birds had packed up for me after my son’s accident.  Unknown to me these boxes traveled with me from Arizona to Utah.  After getting my master’s degree 2008 and being the practical person that I am, I decided to re-open the Shoppe online with the boxes of bolts of fabric newly discovered from the store.  The fabric sold like hot cakes because by that time the fabric was highly collectible and out of print.

Ahhhh Look at that fabric!
Current Stitches Quilting Shoppe Studio

After selling enough fabric, I saved up to buy a long arm quilting machine.  I always wanted one and would only machine quilt my quilts on my domestic machine.  I had a friend, Renae Haddadin, at Quilts on the Corner, that encouraged me that I could operate a long arm machine and after admiring them for years, I finally bought one in 2010.  I don’t care to long arm for other people but love to long arm for myself and teach others how to long arm quilt tops they would make in my studio.

GLORIOUS long arm machine!sq50050072
Innova Long Arm Machine that Renae Haddidan encouraged me to get

I choose the name of “Stitches” for my business in 2002 but after reopening it in 2008, I had to add “Stitches Quilting” to the name in Utah.  The name Stitches represented happiness and lightheartedness.  I am a glass half full kind of gal, and the one that looks at things through rose-colored glasses.  I am one of those positive “Tiggers” that seem to naturally annoy “Eeyores”, although when I sense an “Eeyore” is with me, I am sensitive and naturally limit the positive annoying “Tigger” within me.

Stitches Quilting
Stitches Quilting

One thing that I love about quilting is the connections it brings with other people.  Either making a gift by hand or building relationships through spending time to teach someone how to quilt those connections naturally come.  I have domestic machines that are always available for people to come over and sew with.

I wouldn’t be able to even count the number of quilts I have made in my lifetime or the number of people I have taught to quilt.  I’m apprehensive to just show you quilts I have made, as it isn’t the quilts that I work hard at making but connections with other people and impacting others’ lives through quilting that is important to me.  Do you feel the same way about your quilts that each one is a personal journey of growth or meaning with an entire story behind it?  An extremely simple quilt of mine may have the most amazing personal impact in my life based on why I was making the quilt and what journey I was on in my life at the time.

A Quilt I made for my Mom before she passed away of Lou Gehrigs
A Quilt I made for my Mom before she passed away of ALS Lou Gehrigs

Many people think that they can’t quilt, based off of negative impressions say from their home ec class.  Nothing thrills me more than to share my enthusiasm that anyone can do anything they set their mind to.  Nothing is as difficult as it ever seems when it is broken down into sizable pieces.  Especially for quilting because anyone can embrace it at any level as really it begins with simple sewing of straight lines.  I love to teach people and even children that what they have told themselves from past experiences that they can’t do they really can do and are capable of anything if they have the faith and encouragement to try.  Were you someone that didn’t think you had a skill set or thought it would be too difficult that made you apprehensive to enjoy quilting or something else in life?

Quilting is also a hobby that is simple or challenging as one wants.  Each quilt is uniquely personal by learning new techniques, using different materials, fabrics, threads or expressions of what one loves at the time.  That is what I love about quilting is the connections you make with others and that the craft is as easy or challenging as you want it.  I now no longer need a pattern to make anything.  Someone can just show me a picture or doodle of something and I can personally make it or teach them how to make it.  I love the challenge to create my own patterns based off of the fabrics available, project needed and limitations existing.  I find that sometimes the limitations we are given is what draws out the most creativity that is within us.  Do you feel the same way?  What is the simplest quilt you have made and then the most challenging? Do you find your emotional attachments of the quilts you make are based on the complexity of the quilting?

This quilt I made for my youngest son upon his birth. I customized it with his eyes looking at a bumble bee on his nose.
This quilt I made for my youngest son upon his birth. I customized it with his eyes looking at a bumble bee on his nose.

This blog is dedicated to teaching others what I have learned from many years of quilting and “stitching through life”.  I fiercely believe that if someone buys fabric from me that I don’t want it to sit somewhere unfinished because they are overwhelmed by the project or just in need of some encouragement.  I believe in supporting those that purchase things anywhere so they are used in that the work of our hands can delight the souls of others along with making ourselves feel uplifted and good.

May the Work of Your Hands Delight the Soul
May the Work of Your Hands Delight the Soul

A blogging tip from me at this time of developing my own blog is to make sure your branding is carried through all of your social media.  Social media is a free place to draw others to the things we love.  Make your email, usernames of all accounts the same along using the same profile picture and banners on every social media platform.  Even if you are not comfortable with a certain social media platform and not nearly ready to even use it, save the user name so it is consistent with all your other social media accounts.  One can also really polish their social media networking by inserting hyperlinks into the bottom of your email signature including social media icons, a photograph of yourself and logo of your brand.  (photo)  What blogging tip do you have to share, because I have a lot to learn including that this blog post should be shorter in length?

Another quilt blogging tip is to join our #Quilt Bloggers# Pinterest Group Board where we can pin our blog posts to and then each member of the group will repin each other’s group pins posted to the group Pinterest board.  Email me at deanna@stitchesquilting.com to request to join.

Quilting or Sewing Bloggers Group Pinterest Board

For a quilting tip – take care of yourself meticulously now so that you can continue to quilt and share with others you love for a very long time.  When I say take care of yourself, live a gentle life of balance, keeping in mind that a healthy physical, emotional and spiritual well-being will give you more time to quilt and create giving you extended years of health.  I also believe in making your craft a family social affair to spend time together.  What life or health things do you think can extend your ability to quilt a long and healthy life.  My children always played right with me as I created things sometimes with them joining in to help and sweet gentle boundaries were always set to not touch the rotary cutter etc.

My son Nick helped me select every fabric for this quilt. Watched me stitch it together as he played along side me for his lizard decorated themed room.
My son Nick helped me select every fabric for this quilt. Watched me stitch it together as he played along side me for his lizard decorated themed room.

A quilting tip is to always have your sewing machine out or fabrics to cut.  I reward myself with a bit of stitching after getting a ton of required demands of life done.  But even that 15 minutes I may have been able to stitch something and admire the block or item gives me much pleasure.  If you always have a small area available it is amazing what time can be carved out of a day while you wait for noodles to boil for dinner or whatever it might be.  So have your machine or hand sewing project easily accessible.  What do you think helps you make progress on your projects?

A quilting tip is that hard and fast rules of quilting may change through the years as access to quality quilting materials, techniques, technology and sciences evolve.  (ex. the standard is now to press your seams open because thread and fabrics are of a very different strength)  Summing it up don’t be so rigid on yourself.  What quilting technique have you seen change through the years?

A great long arm quilting technique is to use Renae Haddadin’s “Red Snappers” to attach your backing and quilt to the leaders by just snapping away instead of pinning or sewing zipper leaders to your quilt top and backing.  It saves a TON of time!  Are you not amazed by the things that can still be invented in this quilting industry that has been around for centuries?  Below is a video of Renae explaining how to use these “Red Snappers”!  What an invention!

 

 

My dream is to make a complete cathedral quilt and have that quilt be on my bed in my later years when I can no longer quilt and pass on to another season and phase of life.  But before then I plan on sharing what I have learned in my younger years with anyone that would like to join me on the journey and share their experiences with quilting and life.  Attached is the picture of the cathedral window quilt that I have kept posted on my daydreaming board next to my sewing machine for years.  What ultimate quilt do you day dream of making?  What other life experiences have you learned from embracing the art of quilting?

Cathedral Window

Please comment below, I love to interact with people and hear the thoughts that you have.  I certainly don’t just want to ramble but look forward to having a dialogue with all of you and learn the thoughts you have about quilting.  I hope this article helps you learn more about me as the store owner of Stitches Quilting and author of “Stitching through Life” Blog.

Can’t wait to hear from all of you!

Happy Stitching!

Deanna

We want to hear from YOU!


I was challenged to write this blog post as a member of the 2015 New Quilt Bloggers Group.  This is week 4 of the group and there are many other wonderful Quilt Bloggers that are a part of the group that you would enjoy reading about them and their blogs.  There are also several valuable Giveaways that you can enter that are being used to promote this group of Bloggers.  I can’t possibly thank enough the four group leaders that have inspired all of us to collaborate as a group and optimize our skills.

This Year’s Hosts

Stephanie @ Late Night QuilterStephanie
Late Night Quilter

Sewcial Swarm - 2015 New Quilt Bloggers
My personal group leader is Terri Ann with Childlike Fascination and my group is called the Sewcial Swarm

 

Welcome to the final week of the 2015 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop! I’m so happy and thankful that you’ve all been here to follow along and check out all these new quilt bloggers along with us. Today I am excited to introduce you additional members of the Sewcial Swarm Hive that are posting in week 4:

Stephanie of quiltnparty.com
Jane of jollyanddelilahquilts.wordpress.com
Kathryn of upitisquilts.wordpress.com

I invite you to click and visit their blogs, and leave them a friendly comment to say hi. Bloggers appreciate comments so much; so many of us don’t have friends to sew with and connect to the quilting world virtually. Comments make the online quilting world go ’round!

Posted on

The World is Just so Distracting

Owner of Stitches Quilting
Deanna Wall

There are just so many things to do in life with working, raising families, being a member of a family and our community that we need to focus on the right things in life. We live in a world where we are so distracted by the constant stimuli that we no longer focus on the truly important things in life. I have been blessed with many many obstacles in my life that I have learned to really concentrate on the right things in life and why. These obstacles have been challenges that I have embraced to my fullest to allow myself to be chiseled to be the soul that God intends me to be. Through this blog I will share with you things that have been set in my path that have made me to pause in life and truly focus on what is important. It is a time in the world to simplify and focus on what is truly important. I have found that through my challenges that I have developed gifts, skills and desires that I never imagined that I would learn in life. I never imagined that some of my most intense growth in life would come with the age that I am. But the refining has come and I have chosen to stay the good soul that I am and not allow difficulties to change my spirit but just allow my spirit to lift and grow in ways to help others. As I have faced the challenges that I have had through the years, there are many interests that I have acquired and would like to share with all of you. In the quiet moments, I have turned to quilting, sewing, crafting, re-purposing, cooking, photography, jewelry making and more to fill my soul with the emptiness that it might have felt with the beautiful people that I have enjoyed things with. I have always strived to have my home be a warm loving place of refuge and peace for my family to come home to. I have found by simplifying my life that I can live a more authentic life and have more cognitive space/awareness for improving myself as a person. Nothing makes me more pleased than to make or share something for my family members, loved ones, people in need or just simply for myself. I hope that I can share that love for the things I do with all of you in your homes to improve where you are in life. This blog is dedicated to sharing those ideas and lessons learned by stitching along through life. I say stitching because I am not always sewing but I am piecing the layers of life together to learn what I am intended to become and continue to evolve to be. We have so much to learn in life and hopefully here we can share some of the things learned to share with others. I have many posts ready to share that will be coming to you soon. There are Stitches Through Life Blog Categories in the upper left column and right side bottom footer of posts to wander through and be inspired and resourceful in life! The resourcefulness that we learn in life gives us confidence, builds self-sufficiency to have courage to do just about anything that we may have to face. May the work of your hands inspire the soul!

Threads of Topics that are Coming SOON!!!!!

Distracting-World-web

  • Making Life’s Hard Things Feel EASIER!
  • How the Way We Think Changes the Things we DO!
  • Being Grateful, Thinking Positively and using to the Fullest the Things we Already Have
  • Finding a Center of Happiness and Core Just Right Exactly Where We Are Right NOW
  • Developing a Devotion to our Spouses to keep our Families Intact
  • Developing a Foundation of Faith that will Never Collapse Under the Weight that We Carry Throughout Life
  • Having Adult Issues be Adult Issues and allowing our children to grow up without having to Navigate Adult Issues
  • Raising Children Practically
  • Raising Children with Structure and an Abundance of Love
  • Raising Special Needs Children taking in the Complexities Involved
  • Raising Children in Blended/Single Homes while Living with Dignity after a Divorce
  • Being Practical! Creatively Making the Best of Our Homes
  • Being Practical! Re-purposing the World Around Us into Needed Items
  • Stitches “DeWall” homemade beauty and household products to make in your own home
  • Stitches Jewelry Creating to give me strength and share as a gift to others
  • Stitches Photography tips and my own images that document life and its adventures

AND I will always continue to post things about fabric, quilting, sewing, home products and more. That has always been a consistent thread of life and always around us to improve upon and enjoy.

I know I we can’t be completely self-sufficient in this life as we are interconnected and weaved into the society of our families, communities, and the world. Where ever we might be we can certainly carve out a piece of serenity no matter where we are.

Deanna Wall Stitches Quilting Stitching Through Life