Emergence Part 8 – Returning

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.

22 Responses

  1. D Smart says:

    You glad to hear that you are growing and healing. Life does get better. Thanks for sharing, soul sister.

  2. Leah ~
    So sorry to hear of such a painful past from family who failed you; they were entrusted to love you and shelter you from storms, instead caused you such deep heartache and pain.

    So glad you have such wisdom, and take these quilt projects and use them to help you face what happened to you, and move forward.

    Without having met you in person, I sense your generous, beautiful spirit. Despite the bad things, you have such love and care for your own family, pouring love into your husband and son.

    At difficult times in life, I cling to this verse…
    forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, Philippians 3:12-14. It helps me rise above the pain, and turn it into something of beauty from the ashes.

    Thank you dear ~ will be praying for you tonight.

    Godspeed,
    mary

  3. Kristine says:

    I'm glad you haven't given up on her! She will be beautiful when you are done.

  4. Sue says:

    Good for you, Leah, to have the guts to change your life and your quilt.

  5. Joy says:

    Leah in years to come you will be able to look at this quilt with a smile and see your journey and personal growth in each stitch. I'm sure no other quilt will ever mean more to you – so glad your passion and remarkable talent has helped you to heal.
    Hugs,
    Joy

  6. Leona Harden says:

    BRAVO!! You are EVEN more AMAZING than I ever thought~~~BLESS YOU and all you do. You encourage others… You touched my heart, you brave soul~~ May Peace , Energy, Fulfillment and Joy Reign at your home and in your heart.

  7. I have had many a projects that have left me feeling unsatisfied. I usually tuck them away never to be finished. Maybe I should rethink that old habit. As for feeling unwanted, I sure hope you realize you are wanted. You have self worth. Just look at your little guy, James. Not to mention all of us in bogland. If you were to fall off the face of the blogosphere, I for one would miss you. Don't let the doubt creep in your mind for one second. You are valuable, smart, giving , appreciated. Yes we don't know each other personally, but I look forward to hearing from you every week. And for the record, I DID wonder what the heck happened to Emergence. I thought maybe you finished and I just missed the post. Now I know what happened. You got stumped. It happens to all of us. I have begun to realize that if I take my time, sometimes ideas will morph into something totally different than when I started. Usually for the better 😉

  8. SpartanBabe says:

    Leah – I am glad you are seeing your life and your quilt in the same light. You can't change the past – you can make the future better. Sometimes, like the two years or six months, you need some time to recoup all that energy lost. I look forward to your progress on Emergence in fabric and life. TMI isn't always a bad thing :o)

  9. QuiltingLiz says:

    I've been following your project for a couple of months now thinking how attractive, clever and articulate you are. Stupid and ugly, I don't think so. I also appreciate your sharing your design process. Keep up the good work.

  10. Kathy Riggs says:

    Repeat to your-self, "All I want is to feel good." Then go on about your day. Any time I notice I'm feeling a bit punk, that's what I say to me. Works like magic. How sad for your old family that they have missed the blessings of your creative being, by being jerks…

  11. Beverley says:

    I've always found it impossible to return to things I don't like or which won't work, so well done. Just let it be positive and not a cause to relive things.
    The sun, simple way to hold the points down would be to stitch them down with beads, adding a bit of life and glow to the sun at the same time…. unless you want it purely fabric and thread.

  12. So glad to hear about your Emergence. I have to at almost 60 changed my way of thinking (negative thoughts due to abandonment issues)to try and find the positive things in my life and just accept and work on the negative. I think sometimes it takes something symbolic to make us realize just exactly what is going on. Keep up the good work. You are a awesome person to a lot of people and an inspiration. Go Girl!!!

  13. Anonymous says:

    I'm so sorry you had such a rough childhood. I'm so glad your mother still chose to have you though. You are an amazing woman and extremely talented and definitely NOT a mistake.

    I am sad when I think about all of the wonderful artists and thinkers like yourself who do not exist in this world because their mothers chose it.

  14. Anonymous says:

    Good for you Leah. I hope you continue to heal and realize that you are important and worth more than you know. Thank you for bringing the FMQ Project to all of us.

  15. car54 says:

    Boy does this resonate with me.

    After doing many different kinds of creative things for most of my life, the one thing I know is that you can't force things.

    For me most of my work has involved a blinding vision of something beautiful that lasts a very short time–and then trying to recreate it–and often missing the details.

    Sometimes you just can't see it–and you have to sit with it until you are in the right place –and it comes.

    I have a quilt right now that has been sitting unfinished for over 6 years. Hours and hours of work–and I love it–but there is one step left to finish the blocks and put it all together–and I am just not there yet on that final step. About once a year I pull it out and try some ideas—and as of now….none of them are the one….but I keep trying. And each time I get a little closer.

    I used to do creative work for a living–and at some point, I took other work to make money–and I do my other creative things for pure pleasure. I try very hard to enjoy the process and to enjoy the doing–not just the product. I used to be very harsh on myself and on my work due to a lot of old personal "stuff" but making things is too important to me–it is the source of most of the pleasure in my life–to do that to myself anymore. It took a very long time to get to that place and I often slip, but I keep trying to maintain that thinking.

    I really enjoy your posts about your creative process, Leah. YOu are very inspiring to me. Thank you.

  16. Katia's Mom says:

    I just read this post this evening, but I must say, I have been thinking of you and have been thankful for you all day today. I am a beginning quilter and recently subscribed to your Piece Perfect Quilts Ebook. I was having a lot of trouble cutting strips and blocks from fat quarters this morning, so I sat down and watched your video. Wow, what a difference it made once I learned to square up my fabric! Please know that you are greatly appreciated!

  17. Donna F says:

    I have found that since I have turned 40, found the one person in the world I am most comfortable and completely love good and bad (got remarried), my family is growing (have a grandson), and I am no longer rushing here & there thru my life (I no longer work due to chronic pain), I have grown considerably & for the good. My brother died 3 years ago, my dad 6 months after along with 2 other close family members, my mom no longer speaks to me & has nothing to do with me or my youngest daughter or her grandson. I feel it's because my brother was her love & she would have rather it was me who passed. Long story… Through it all my life is good & I'm seeing things I never took time for before and I'm seeing old things different and I love it. No matter who doesn't want me or love me, I love me and I'm there for me. I'm so glad you are noticing your growth too. It's a surreal experience.

  18. Linda says:

    I remember hearing Carolyn Myss say, in so many words, that when we are attempting to abandon the ego-programmed, group mindset, we enter this lifetime having chosen a family to whom we will never feel we belong. After hearing this, I felt a little more benevolent towards my abusive mother and sister. This is a radical idea for some people, but it makes sense to me and even allows me to feel grateful to people that I once felt were victimizing me. Delusional? I don't know, but it sure feels better.
    That said, you are AWESOME, lady!

  19. sulrossgrad says:

    Leah, you might consider the existing goddess as a milestone in your on-going growing transformation and then create your new goddess overshadowing the goddess already on the quilt. Just a thought…

    Many others have eloquently expressed the worth that we all place upon you, and I am certain your husband and son show daily how you are valued. Obviously, I don't know you personally, but I feel the same pride in your accomplishments as I do my daughter's.

    You are an amazing inspiration to many people, including me. Your contribution to the wonderful world of quilting is outstanding.

    Emma (San Antonio)

  20. Wendy says:

    Leah,this is an absolutely Beautiful post!!
    This post makes me want to start a "Women's Circle" or something, and have *you* be in it! (We don't live *that* far from one another.)
    This post also makes me have the need to tell you… i think you're becoming a Yoga instructor, and i think one day you'll see it too, and then! Then you will be an inspiration to your students, just like you're an inspiration to all of us who read your blog!
    (There's a new studio opening soon in Belmont; would you be interested in hearing about it? If so, email me.)
    Love and Light to You!
    n

  21. Elli says:

    Leah, your post today reminded me of the reasons that I enjoy your blog and your quilting so much. Our lives and our quilts are influenced by the people and the world around us. I hope that your life now is surrounded by people who love you. I feel the love you put into your quilts every time I read your blog.

  22. Anonymous says:

    I think it's beautiful. 🙂

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