Tale of Two Goddess Quilts – Part 1

LeahDay

Leah Day has been teaching online since 2009. She's the creator of the Free Motion Quilting Project, a blog filled with thousands of quilting tutorial videos. Leah has written several books including 365 Free Motion Quilting Designs, Explore Walking Foot Quilting with Leah Day, and Mally the Maker and the Queen in the Quilt.

15 Responses

  1. Nicky says:

    Hi!
    I think the way you are blurring the limits of traditional quilting is brilliant. As a new quilter, I have often become frustrated with the "rules" and such, and due to that, have taken a small break from creating. But I LOVE reading your quilts, and this goddess series you are journeying on is exciting to see. Thank you for sharing your thought process on the developement of your creations…you truly are remarkable and a definite inspiration!
    Also, I am completely with you regarding your ideas of staying "present" in the moment. As a mother to two small boys, I often find myself getting too wrapped up in the plans, organizing and running of the household, so I forget to enjoy the NOW…thanks for reminding me!

  2. Leah, love your designs. the birth one is amazing. I am over fifty and i have in the last few years been more intentional about where my mind goes. I will be visiting my amazing grandchildren who live across the country from and be thinking about something i want to do when i get home!!! Not that it is bad in itself but if we "miss" stuff that is happening in the now because of it…well i just dont want to do that. Even if where the presence has us is hard it always has its blessings and i don want to miss them. I think it is amazing that you are figuring this stuff out while you are still so young. Even if your life isnt always easy it will be rich and full and you will meet each stage with the joy that it brings. Cant wait to see your designs take shape in fabric. Happy B-day to the little man.
    As always you continue to be inspirational!!! In more ways than one.
    D

  3. Purl Buttons says:

    I enjoy the little peeks into the psyche of your quilts. Fascinating. I am thinking a lot about your journey to NOW and I will probably read the Eckhart Tolle book you suggested.

  4. Anonymous says:

    The goddess touches us when she will. Your work is beautiful–not just in design, but in intention. Blessed Be! )0(

  5. Kate says:

    Wow Leah, Thank you so much for sharing this. Definitely brought tears to my eyes! All the best to you on your journey.

  6. Elisabeth says:

    The story of your birth reminds me so much of the birth of my own son two years ago. I related perfectly to what you said about realizing this was a separate person, even though I didn't know yet if he was a boy or girl.

    And most vividly I remember that moment I reached down and felt his face and all that miserable agony of labor was like a memory that happened to someone else.

  7. Rebecca says:

    Serendipity: a few days ago, a friend said she had been "prescribed" to read The Power of Now.

    It's funny that you asked how many times our minds had wandered: I was indeed thinking of my yoga (non)-practice, the fabric I am washing and what I'm going to do with it, etc.

    I'm looking forward to seeing Torrent of Fear finished, up close.

    Since it is so close to the end of the second month of the year, I wonder if you are driving yourself too hard by setting a goal of 12 quilts this year. Do you need goals to feel that you've accomplished what you need to? Will you feel you "failed" if you complete 10 or 11?

  8. Renee says:

    I'm currently in my 38th week of my second pregnancy. My first pregnancy ended in an unnecessary cesarean section, which caused a lot of emotional trauma. To release some of those emotions, I quilted it: http://sparrowlanequilts.blogspot.com/2011/06/cesarean-quilt-complete.html Now as I approach this new baby's birth, I find my mind drawn to creating another quilt, one based around my body opening up like a flower and the baby coming into the world the way it is supposed to. Your post could not be better timed, as I'm hoping to start quilting it on Thursday! Your quilts/quilting continue to amaze, delight and inspire me. I look forward to watching these quilts develop!

  9. Wendy says:

    Beautiful!
    The entire post; Absolutely Beautiful!

    I'm so happy for you Leah. =-)
    And "Brava!" on the Yoga every day too. =-) I LOVE my daily practice as well. =-)

  10. GREAT story and reminder of living in the moment. I fall into the planning trap too often. Sewing brings me back- allows me to focus only on what's in front of me. You should check out work by Kathy Nida, if you are worried about stepping over a line. Her images are powerful, disturbing and wonderful!

  11. S says:

    Dear Leah, Thank you or sharing your soul w us. I, too, had only back labor when birthing my children. (My husband & I had never even read about/heard of it prior to the moment it began). And like you, all was right with the universe the moment I first touched & saw my precious ones.
    Sewing and knitting helped nourish my creative soul throughout my pregnancies. Today, my children are teenagers and sewing continues to sustain me in this way. It has been a lifelong lifeline for me and for that, I am grateful.
    Best,
    Jae

  12. Malini says:

    The story of your James's birth was very touchy.

    And you're goddess quilt is absolutely beautiful.
    Enjoy making it.

  13. Janet M says:

    I think birth is an important event, so it's a fit subject for a quilt. Artist Judy Chicago did a gigantic collaborative work, "The Birth Project", that explored many aspects of women's experiences of birth. It's a big theme, and I think that there is a lot that one could say about it. In primitive art along with scenes of men hunting, there is a recurring motif of a woman giving birth, because it is so important.

  14. Gudrun says:

    I admire your courage in sharing a part of your very intimate self. The mind is a powerful tool and as you are discovering needs to be taken care of, like the rest of our body.
    Keep up the wonderful posts, and keep on quilting.

  15. Debra says:

    Leah, have you thought about making (or having them made)fine art prints of your quilts? I can't even tell you how deeply reading these goddess quilt posts has affected me. I would love to own them all, as reminders of what I have learned. But limited (1) quantity and budget constraints make owning even one a literal impossibility. Your art has helped me grow as an artist, wife and mother in ways I cannot adequately express. Please consider it. I want the messages of your art in my home. Badly. 🙂

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