| Have you ever thought of quilting as a | | | | There's Retail Therapy involved in |
| stress buster? Had a bad day, and just | | | | quilting too. You don't need to be a |
| want to escape to your studio or | | | | shopaholic to enjoy purchasing fabric. |
| quilting cubby and de-stress? Yup, I | | | | And any quilter can tell you just how |
| can hear most of you saying | | | | addictive quilt fabric can be! The car |
| aaaaaahhhhhh! And the ones who are | | | | seems to automatically turn in at the |
| shaking their heads and saying | | | | nearest quilt shop. Mind you, there's |
| noooooooooo are the ones who need some | | | | nothing wrong with that! And there's no |
| help with their quilting - the block | | | | reason you can't shop online in your |
| isn't coming together as it should, or | | | | jammies too. I love it when the |
| your quilt isn't square and you don't | | | | anticipated parcel arrives with my new |
| know how to fix that. You are the people | | | | fabric or latest quilting tool in it - |
| I had in mind when I decided to create | | | | it's just like Christmas! |
| my website Quilt Lovers Guide I truly | | | | And what about Friend Therapy when we |
| want to help. | | | | head off for a retreat. It's a few days |
| Quilting is a wonderful way to create a | | | | of pure bliss, -- sewing and problem |
| thing of beauty (although beauty is in | | | | solving with our best buddies! Yah, |
| the eye of the beholder!) either to give | | | | that's what it is all about - talking |
| as a gift or to use and love and then | | | | and sewing into the wee hours. Of |
| leave as a legacy to your family. Lucky | | | | course a glass of wine does no harm |
| are the ones who inherit the quilts. | | | | either! And chocolate, don't forget the |
| None of my ancestors quilted, but since | | | | chocolate!!! |
| I began about 25 years ago, a few | | | | Trouble sleeping? I don't know about |
| relatives have come on board the | | | | you, but when I have things on my mind, |
| quilting express and are creating | | | | sleep is elusive. What do I do???? I |
| masterpieces in their own right. It has | | | | go to my studio and play with fabric or |
| been a pleasure to watch them progress | | | | piece blocks or rearrange the blocks on |
| and achieve their goals. | | | | the design wall. And while my hands are |
| I've become aware that many breast | | | | busy, my mind is slowly dealing with the |
| cancer survivors start quilting after | | | | backlog of things that kept me awake. |
| their treatment as a form of Recovery | | | | Once I feel I have accomplished |
| Therapy. Learning to quilt occupies the | | | | something on the design wall or at the |
| mind and keeps our hands busy. It also | | | | sewing machine, or I have just relaxed |
| provides a sense of achievement and | | | | enough, then I can return to bed and |
| pride in ourselves and our creations. | | | | drift off. Talk about therapy - that's |
| Creating a gift for a loved one who is | | | | Sleep Therapy!!! |
| ailing can provide therapeutic relief | | | | Yes, quilting provides a lot of therapy |
| from worry. And I am certain that | | | | for me and countless other quilters too, |
| putting all that love into a comforter | | | | I'll bet. It may even be beneficial to |
| for them, contributes to their | | | | our children. Often when I'm sitting on |
| convalescence. Sometimes we can't be | | | | the sofa doing some hand quilting, one |
| there in person to help them, but we can | | | | of my children will sit down with me and |
| send our love and support in a quilt. | | | | talk about their day at school or some |
| Not only does it make the recipient feel | | | | problem they are having. It seems as if |
| better, but we too feel better knowing | | | | the serenity of quilting affects them |
| we have done something to help. | | | | too and they can relax, open up, and |
| What about those other special gifts, | | | | talk it over with Mom. They knew, |
| like a memory quilt for a 50th | | | | although my hands were busy, I was there |
| anniversary or a special birthday? It | | | | for them and they could talk about their |
| can include photo transfers and bits of | | | | important issues while I quilted. It's a |
| fabric or memorabilia from the recipient | | | | Norman Rockwell moment!! |
| and bowl them over with the uniqueness. | | | | So keep on quilting or start now and |
| I guarantee you will get smiles and | | | | teach your children to quilt. We will |
| hugs, and what can be more therapeutic | | | | all be rewarded with a little sanctity |
| than that? | | | | (or is that sanity?) in today's world of |
| Yes quilting is therapy, for both the | | | | hustle and bustle. Take your Quilting |
| creator and the recipient. | | | | Therapy where you may! |