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Christine Hutchins wrote a new post, Write It Down! 8 years, 1 month ago
I can easily see how this post is a carry-on from my February post, which boiled down to ‘Use It Up’. Not only am I a ‘Fabriholic’, but I am a ‘Stationery Addict’ too – and have been for as long as I’ve been sew…
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Vendulka Battais and
Fiona Garth are now friends 8 years, 1 month ago -
Christine Hutchins wrote a new post, Gravity and Chocolatier BOMs from purple stitches 8 years, 1 month ago
Chocolatier BOM
Gravity BOMI blame UKQU for me joining these two BOM – somebody posted a picture of the Chocolatier quilt on one of the UKQU facebook pages, and it called to me instantly. Then I saw the G…
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Christine Hutchins joined the group
UKQU BOOK CLUB 8 years, 2 months ago -
Vendulka Battais wrote a new post, Spring clean and the UFOs, WIPs and PIGs 8 years, 2 months ago
Let’s hope the spring is finally here (no more snow please!) It’s so nice to open the doors and windows in the house for more than just 5 minutes to get some fresh air and new energy in. Before we dive into…
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Good idea Vendulka, tomorrow’s job
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Oh how I wish…! I have a sewing room and a crafting room. My crafting room is more planned than the sewing room, but one of my stepsons came back to live with us last year, and I said he could use the crafting room for storage short term…obviously we have different ideas about what short term actually is. I have been trying to finish off WIPs and PHDs recently, including getting projects hung in the home, and I finished a quilt top 3 weeks ago that I’ve been working on, on and off, for 6 years. Problem now is finding the time to quilt it! I’d love to get going in my sewing room today, but alas, work calls!
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Christine Hutchins and
Kathryn Harding are now friends 8 years, 2 months ago
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Vendulka Battais recommended the post Let’s make a patchwork jacket 8 years, 2 months ago
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giniscanlan wrote a new post, Mad as a March Hare! 8 years, 2 months ago
There’s nothing nicer on these cold, dark evenings than snuggling up on the sofa, under a quilt, in front of an open fire with a good book. Or in my case, Kindle. I struggle to hand sew in poor light, so this time o…
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Oh that’s lovely…must get time to make one of these
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I love Hares! This is on my to-do list
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Christine Hutchins wrote a new post, Quilting As Therapy 8 years, 2 months ago
WARNING: Some people may find one of the pieces pictured a little disturbing – but don’t let that stop you from reading the blog and the explanation of the work!
Like many people, I have suffered with dep…
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I found this very interesting because I believe that quilting (or any other craft for that matter) is therapy, but maybe for slightly different reasons than yours.
I too have suffered from depression several times over my life. When my husband was suffering with cancer I was a beadworker (still am on occasion – I had not discovered quilting then!) and had been attending a regular class. When he was well enough, my husband would almost push me out of the door to go to my class – simply because he could see that the two hours I spent there took my mind away from what we were living through. When I thought it through, I came to the conclusion that, if you are concentrating on making something, you cannot be concentrating on your troubles, whatever they are. Crafting kept me sane after he died.
I know that I am not good at sitting doing nothing – indeed it can make anxiety set in. If I get to that stage (as I did the other week – I had been trying to set up the craft room and had been telling myself I didn’t have room for sewing) I MUST sew. It doesn’t matter what it is – hand or machine, patchwork or wholecloth – but I need to do something. So I set up a folding table in my lounge (I live on my own so don’t have to worry about getting in anyone else’s way!) and pieced a throw together. I just need to quilt it now!
We all do what we need to do. Happy quilting and thank you for sharing. xx-
You are absolutely right Cheryl – any type of crafting can be a form of therapy. I know that if I am not feeling great, time spent in my sewing room can help to make me feel better, and it doesn’t matter what I am making. I am lucky, in that I can spend time more evenings doing some form of crafting – be it quilting, embroidery or crocheting. Crafting is therapy by itself. The two quilts I’ve showed have been specific responses to specific times – but my quilts don’t always take this sort of form. It just so happens that my experiences prompted a very personal and creative response, in an attempt to deal with what I was experiencing – trying to make sense of it all. Thank you for sharing your story – I know that getting out to my quilting group is essential – as it gives me a chance to meet up with friends, and get away from it all.
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Victoria Peat wrote a new post, Using Pinterest to Support Your Quilting 8 years, 2 months ago
Have you used Pinterest before? It’s such a great tool for quilting, I promise!
If you’ve not ventured into the world of pinterest before then it really is worth a look. Pinterest is a visual bookmarking tool that…
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This has already taught me things I didn’t know!
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Oh fabulous! Pinterest is such a valuable tool. I do spend too much time looking at all of the lovely things though!
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I love Pinterest! Great place for inspiration and filing ideas. A useful blog for those who haven’t yet found this amazing tool!
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Thanks Ingrid. I must admit I go through phases of spending FAR too much time browsing all of the wonderful things out there!
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Christine Hutchins wrote a new post, Sunshine Frolics – BOM from Villavin 8 years, 2 months ago
Some of you will be familiar with the Block of the Month (or BOM), and others will not be. For quite a few years I didn’t give them any thought at all, but about 10 years ago I saw a quilt that I liked and wanted t…
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I love Abbie Searle’s Mystery Quilt .. a BOM with a secret .. that’s availabe in our online shop and one I am taking part in. Waiting each month for the surprise to arrive is something to look forward to. All in all I think it’s worth the investment, either BOM or Mystery, and even after only one block I have learnt so much from it too.
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Christine Hutchins and
Joanna Hendy are now friends 8 years, 2 months ago
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Christine Hutchins recommended the post February UFO update and ‘Charity’ Work 8 years, 3 months ago
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Christine Hutchins recommended the post Making a Difference .. a Charitable Tale 8 years, 3 months ago
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Christine Hutchins recommended the post The Story of a Workshop Leader 8 years, 3 months ago
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Christine Hutchins recommended the post Patch potch 8 years, 3 months ago
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Christine Hutchins recommended the post A quick way to check you are sewing a 1/4 inch seam 8 years, 3 months ago
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Christine Hutchins wrote a new post, Craft4Crafters at Westpoint Arena, Exeter 8 years, 3 months ago
This show should really come with a warning, but as it doesn’t – I will assign it one: Beware – Attending this show may seriously damage your wealth!
Being a blogger for UKQU comes with its benefits – we don’t g…
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Christine Hutchins created the group
Project Linus North Devon 8 years, 3 months ago -
Vendulka Battais and
Joy Morgan are now friends 8 years, 3 months ago - Load More
UK Quilters
8 years, 1 month ago
I enjoyed reading this Christine but, I should confess, my pleasure came (at least in part) from an increasing feeling that I might be relatively ‘normal’ 😉
8 years, 1 month ago
This makes me feel better Ingrid – as it means that I also may be relatively ‘normal’ – although some may beg to differ!
8 years, 1 month ago
Having just moved house and had to give away a lot of unused stationery, I think I could say I was a stationery addict too. I’ve recorded most of the things I have ever made for sale (patterns, making instructions, time taken, materials used, costs), but your blog has made me realise that there is so much more I could be doing with quilting notes. Thank you.
8 years, 1 month ago
Thank you Corinne – good luck with the notes!