Have you ever thought of quilting as a stress buster? Had a bad day, and just want to escape to your studio or quilting cubby and de-stress? Yup, I can hear most of you saying aaaaaahhhhhh! And the ones who are shaking their heads and saying noooooooooo are the ones who need some help with their quilting - the block isn't coming together as it should, or your quilt isn't square and you don't know how to fix that. You are the people I had in mind when I decided to create my website Quilt Lovers Guide I truly want to help.

Quilting is a wonderful way to create a thing of beauty (although beauty is in the eye of the beholder!) either to give as a gift or to use and love and then leave as a legacy to your family. Lucky are the ones who inherit the quilts. None of my ancestors quilted, but since I began about 25 years ago, a few relatives have come on board the quilting express and are creating masterpieces in their own right. It has been a pleasure to watch them progress and achieve their goals.

I've become aware that many breast cancer survivors start quilting after their treatment as a form of Recovery Therapy. Learning to quilt occupies the mind and keeps our hands busy. It also provides a sense of achievement and pride in ourselves and our creations.

Creating a gift for a loved one who is ailing can provide therapeutic relief from worry. And I am certain that putting all that love into a comforter for them, contributes to their convalescence. Sometimes we can't be there in person to help them, but we can send our love and support in a quilt. Not only does it make the recipient feel better, but we too feel better knowing we have done something to help.

What about those other special gifts, like a memory quilt for a 50th anniversary or a special birthday? It can include photo transfers and bits of fabric or memorabilia from the recipient and bowl them over with the uniqueness. I guarantee you will get smiles and hugs, and what can be more therapeutic than that?

Yes quilting is therapy, for both the creator and the recipient.

There's Retail Therapy involved in quilting too. You don't need to be a shopaholic to enjoy purchasing fabric. And any quilter can tell you just how addictive quilt fabric can be! The car seems to automatically turn in at the nearest quilt shop. Mind you, there's nothing wrong with that! And there's no reason you can't shop online in your jammies too. I love it when the anticipated parcel arrives with my new fabric or latest quilting tool in it - it's just like Christmas!

And what about Friend Therapy when we head off for a retreat. It's a few days of pure bliss, -- sewing and problem solving with our best buddies! Yah, that's what it is all about - talking and sewing into the wee hours. Of course a glass of wine does no harm either! And chocolate, don't forget the chocolate!!!

Trouble sleeping? I don't know about you, but when I have things on my mind, sleep is elusive. What do I do???? I go to my studio and play with fabric or piece blocks or rearrange the blocks on the design wall. And while my hands are busy, my mind is slowly dealing with the backlog of things that kept me awake. Once I feel I have accomplished something on the design wall or at the sewing machine, or I have just relaxed enough, then I can return to bed and drift off. Talk about therapy - that's Sleep Therapy!!!

Yes, quilting provides a lot of therapy for me and countless other quilters too, I'll bet. It may even be beneficial to our children. Often when I'm sitting on the sofa doing some hand quilting, one of my children will sit down with me and talk about their day at school or some problem they are having. It seems as if the serenity of quilting affects them too and they can relax, open up, and talk it over with Mom. They knew, although my hands were busy, I was there for them and they could talk about their important issues while I quilted. It's a Norman Rockwell moment!!

So keep on quilting or start now and teach your children to quilt. We will all be rewarded with a little sanctity (or is that sanity?) in today's world of hustle and bustle. Take your Quilting Therapy where you may!