Sew Supportive

It is interesting how being diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder changes everything.  You never know how much energy you will have on any given day. You suddenly have to look at your time over the course of, say, a month and decide how much you can handle. You have to listen to your body and NOT push yourself like you normally would or you might end up not getting out of bed the next day.  Worst of all, you have to relearn how to do the things you love most.  That's why I started this blog. I have already given up so much. I REFUSE TO GIVE UP SEWING. So, as I venture forth into uncharted waters, what do you need? What do you want me to find for you?  What do you need help with most?  I have lots of ideas and I have lots of contacts with people who make great products. I just need to know how to prioritize and what I need to find when I go to Quilt Market in May.  So please leave me a comment either here or on my Facebo...

Quilting has become much more than a hobby for me. I write for Generation Q Magazine and I design projects for kids to sew in the feature We Sew 2. I also teach kids sewing classes . On any given day, I am going between writing, editing and sewing. In other words I keep several balls in the air as I juggle numerous projects each day. Add in an autoimmune disease like Sjogren's Syndrome and it is amazing I get as much done as I do. The struggle is real. Brain fog is real people.  It's a lot. I drop balls all the time. Some days I can't write because I am in pain. Other days I can't cut fabric unless I use my Sizzix for fear of ruining fabric. Most days I have just enough brain fog going that I have to retrace my steps on a project to remember where I left off. It's hard. This doesn't even go into my personal projects that sit neglected. Here is fabric that sits waiting for me to turn into a quilt using Victoria Findlay Wolfe's Tulip and Melon dies . ...

First off, I gotta say I was blown away from the response to this blog. I got messages all over social media and it was quite clear that I struck a chord. So many of you are looking for solutions that allow you to sew longer and better.  One comment in particular got my attention last week. A reader on Instagram mentioned that she bought her 8 Series BERNINA because she had R.A. My mind started racing. OF COURSE, the sewing machine!!! What features should you look for when buying a sewing machine if you have autoimmune disease, arthritis, vision problems or limited mobility? Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I think it is safe to say that I bleed BERNINA red. I love everything about the company and the machines they produce. I am also a brand ambassador which means that they provide me with a sewing machine to use for a year. I think it is pretty safe to say that I will be purchasing my current loaner, the B790, at the end of the year. She is like an extensi...