When you first start quilting, people will tell you to label your quilt. But that little voice in your head whispers, "Labels are for master quilters. Mine isn't good enough." Your seams aren't perfectly straight. Your points don't quite meet. There are a few puckers in the quilting. Surely you need to wait until you make a really good quilt before putting your name on it? I used to think exactly the same way. My perspective changed when I interviewed textile historian Joanna Dermenjian....

I am going through a season of life where nothing is easy. Our culture celebrates productivity. We admire people who are busy, efficient, and constantly achieving. But, life has a way of reminding us that none of us controls the pace forever. Illness, aging, unexpected circumstances, or simply the twists and turns of life can change everything. Living with chronic pain has changed more than my daily routine. It has changed my expectations of myself. Acceptance has become one of the hardest...

Today I decided to do something I probably should have done a long time ago. I tried on every single garment I own. With the change in season, it felt like the right time to clean out my closet and really take stock of what still fits, what’s still in good repair, and what I actually still like wearing. Thankfully, I’m not much of a clothes horse, so this wasn’t the overwhelming all-day ordeal it could have been. Still, I was genuinely shocked by how many pieces I own that are still brand...