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| photo by Misocrazy |
Joseph Rodriguez writes about hobbies and arts that help with
stress relief. His recent work is on earning an online psychology degree.—AP
A Creative
Craft: How to Discover the Benefits of Quilting
Making a
quilt is more than just making a bed covering to keep you warm at night. It’s
about expressing yourself through the art of sewing. Quilting is an
inspirational and creative craft that allows you to create wall art, comfort a
sick child or adult, travel and bond with other quilt makers, create a source
of income and more. Discover the joys and benefits of quilting by looking at
the sewing craft through the eyes of adventure.
Wall Art
Express your
own individual taste by creating a quilt to hang on the wall of your home. A
handmade quilt can be made any size and any color to perfectly fit into your
unique living space. A full size quilt often is the perfect solution to add
color and texture to the large, open wall space in homes with high vaulted
ceilings. Mini-quilts can be handcrafted to tell a family story, and/or matted
and framed to become a priceless heirloom. When friends come to your home and
see your unique wall art, they will be requesting their own unique pieces and a
business can be born.
Comfort the
Sick
A personal
touch of a hand-crafted lap quilt will bring comfort and warmth to a sick child
or adult. A medium sized quilt, just right to fit over the top of a hospital
bed or across the lap of someone who is ailing, will benefit both the giver and
receiver. Taking your time to create a unique quilt for someone who is sick
will minister to both you and the recipient on many different levels.
A handmade
quilt gift does not have to be reserved for the sick only but would also make
an outstanding gift on many occasions. A wedding gift, baby shower gift or as
something unique to give to a college-bound teen. A quilt can be made to suit
the recipients, the occasion and still allow the creator to express themselves
through their sewing talents.
Travel and
Bond
Quilt shows
and workshops occur regularly all across the U.S. and are usually open to the
public. Quilt makers can and should travel to various venues, near or far, and
meet like-minded seamstresses and form bonds of friendships. These events allow
for displaying and selling your handmade quilt items, learning new sewing
techniques and gaining new ideas for future projects. You never know who you
might meet at such an event and a new business venture could be formed along
with a new friendship.
Stress Relief
Immersing
yourself in the quilt-making process is therapeutic. Shopping for fabric,
selecting the design, cutting and sewing, the whole creative process keeps the
mind and body active while relieving stress. Quilting can be done seated or
standing, so no matter what fitness level you’re at (or hope to be at), you can
adjust to doing most of the work in whatever way suits you.
Creative
Covering
Quilts
aren't only for covering beds—you can cover a multitude of household objects
with quilts to make a decorating statement. A couch back, chair, ottoman or
table top can easily be covered with a quilt. Cover a window, shower curtain
liner or create a room divider with a lovely quilt. Look around your home for
creative and inspirational ways to use quilts, and you'll never be left bored
or wanting for more.
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