14: Vicki's First Stitch Story + Making Progress When Life Gets in the Way

15: Linda's First Stitch Story + Finishing the Quilts That Are Almost Done

First Stitch Story: Meet Linda In this episode, we meet Linda from Canada, whose quilting roots run deep. She learned the craft as a child, sitting at the big quilt frame surrounded by her mother and aunts, and that love of quilting has stayed with her ever since. Quilting took a back seat for a while when life got busy, but listen in today to find out what brought her back to it. Now nearly 75, Linda quilts every single day and shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. Her story is a beautiful reminder that quilting has a way of finding us again exactly when we need it. WIP-Finishing Tip: Tackle the Almost-Done Projects First Today's WIP-finishing tip is inspired by Linda herself, who mentioned she has a quilt just waiting to be bound. Sound familiar? I share a simple strategy for identifying your closest-to-the-finish-line projects and making those your next priority, because there is nothing quite like a finish to build momentum for everything else on your list! I also mention my free Simple WIP Inventory, which makes it easy to see exactly where all your projects stand so you can decide what to tackle next. Grab yours below! Simple WIP Inventory (FREE download) [https://www.wildplumlane.com/quilting-freebies-sign-up] From My Sewing Room In this episode I'm sharing one of my favorite things from my own shop: the Life + Quilts Planner. If you've ever wished you had a dedicated place to plan your projects, track your WIPs, and build a quilting rhythm that actually fits into your real life, this planner was made for you. Linda has been quilting consistently for decades and has built a beautiful, productive creative life. This planner is the tool that can help the rest of us get there! Get the Life + Quilts Planner [https://www.wildplumlane.com/shop/p/the-life-quilts-planner-undated] Share Your First Stitch Story Your story might be next! Every quilter has a beginning, and I'd love to hear yours. Whether it's how you learned to quilt, a project that brought you back to it, or a first stitch moment you'll never forget, share it with me and you could be featured in a future episode! Send an email to: firststitchpodcast@wildplumlane.com Or use the Quick Submission Form [https://forms.gle/pVT851vkt32YwRVa8]

14: Vicki's First Stitch Story + Making Progress When Life Gets in the Way

First Stitch Story: Meet Vicki In this episode, we meet Vicki, whose creative life started before she could even hold a crochet hook the 'right' way. (More on that in the episode!) From a childhood filled with crafting alongside her talented mum, to starting to quilt 12 years ago and never looking back, Vicki's story is a beautiful reminder that creativity is part of who we are, and that our quilts are made of so much more than fabric and thread. Vicki also shares how she crafts through chronic illness, why her sewing room is lovingly named Area 51, and the impressive lineup of meaningful WIPs she is working through right now.  WIP-Finishing Tip: Document Your WIPs to Regain Your Momentum Today's WIP-finishing tip is all about getting unstuck when you have so many projects going that you've lost track of where everything stands. I share a quick, low-pressure way to give yourself a starting point so you can sit down and actually sew instead of spinning your wheels. I also mention my free Simple WIP Inventory, which is one of those tools that takes just a few minutes to use and makes a surprisingly big difference. Grab yours as part of my Quilting Freebies! [https://www.wildplumlane.com/quilting-freebies-sign-up]  From My Sewing Room This episode's feature from my sewing room is one I'm really excited about! Vicki mentioned a QAYG (Quilt As You Go) project on her WIP list, and it was the perfect nudge to share a book I just picked up and cannot wait to try: Quilt As You Go Made Vintage by Jera Brandvig. Find it at Fat Quarter Shop [https://tidd.ly/4vIxqWg] Find it on Amazon [https://amzn.to/43sJcrH] If you've been curious about the QAYG method, this book is a great one to check out. I share why I think it's such a great approach, especially for quilters who want to make real progress without wrestling a king-size quilt sandwich through their machine! Share Your First Stitch Story Your story might be next! Every quilter has a beginning, and we'd love to hear yours. Whether it's the story of how you got started sewing or quilting, a favorite project-finishing tip, or a "first stitch" moment that changed things for you, share it with me and you could be featured in a future episode! Send an email to: firststitchpodcast@wildplumlane.com Or use the Quick Submission Form [https://forms.gle/pVT851vkt32YwRVa8]

We're Taking a Spring Break + Exciting News!

Today’s episode is a super-quick update about The First Stitch that I wanted to share with you directly. (And no, it's not an April Fool's Day joke!) We're taking a spring break for the months of April and May, and new episodes will return this summer on Wednesday, June 10th! Life is full right now in the best possible ways (a few more details are included in the episode!), and I LOVE creating this podcast for you…so I'm making a few adjustments. Starting in June, new episodes will drop every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. Twice a month, every month. It's a slight change that is going to make a big difference in keeping this show going strong for the long haul! Make sure you're subscribed to my newsletter so you don't miss the June 10th return (plus keep up on behind-the-scenes fun and snag a first-look at what I hope will be my new quilting studio!), and I'll see you then. Thanks for being here. It means more than you know! Subscribe and get quilting freebies! [https://www.wildplumlane.com/quilting-freebies-sign-up] And speaking of stories... have you been thinking about sharing yours? I would love to hear it! I’m still collecting stories over the break, and your First Stitch story could be featured in an upcoming episode!  Email: firststitchpodcast@wildplumlane.com Submit your story [https://forms.gle/pVT851vkt32YwRVa8] Wild Plum Lane Shop [https://www.wildplumlane.com/shop] Wild Plum Lane's Amazon Storefront [https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildplumlane.quilts?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfshop_B2P8WJX4NNC2FWMCT75F]

12: Marissa's First Stitch Story + Sewing in Small Bites of Time

First Stitch Story: Meet Marissa In this episode I share Marissa's story. She's 31, finished her very first quilt last year, and her journey into quilting is one of the most honest and heartwarming stories featured on the show yet. From years of putting creativity aside to making quilts for her son, her mom, and her aunt, I love everything about this story. Hear it in Marissa's own words in this episode. WIP-Finishing Tip: Sew in Small Bites of Time Marissa sews when she can, around a very busy 2-year-old. And honestly? That's how most of us are quilting…around the rest of life! So today's tip is all about making those small pockets of time count. I share a simple strategy for breaking your current WIP down into tiny next steps so you can make real progress even in 10 to 15 minutes. No more sitting down and losing half your sewing time just figuring out where you left off! This one is quick, actionable, and a tip you can start using today. From My Sewing Room: Precut Fabric Bundles Today's recommendation is for anyone who has ever lost a whole sewing session to fabric auditions and second-guessing. Been there. Done that!  I'm talking about precut fabric bundles, specifically charm packs and fat quarter bundles. These are a total game-changer for newer quilters and for anyone who wants to sit down and start sewing immediately without the decision fatigue. I share my favorites and where to find them in the episode. Shop Fabric Bundles at Wild Plum Lane [https://www.wildplumlane.com/shop/fabric] Shop Fat Quarter Shop precut bundles [https://tidd.ly/40SfVFo]    Share Your First Stitch Story! Your story might be next! If you'd like to share how you got started sewing or quilting and possibly be featured in a future episode, I'd love to hear from you. Email your story: firststitchpodcast@wildplumlane.com Quick story submission form [https://forms.gle/pVT851vkt32YwRVa8]

11: Lana's First Stitch Story + Why Labeling Your Quilts Matters

First Stitch Story: Meet Lana In this episode, we meet Lana from Oklahoma, whose love of quilting has carried her through decades, dozens of moves, and a life full of beautiful, meaningful moments. Lana's story is one I know you're going to love... especially her Christmas finish that was 30 years in the making! You'll hear about a very special hand-embroidered label, what it said, and why it was so meaningful. It's the kind of finish story that makes you want to go dig through your own WIP pile right now. WIP-Finishing Tip: Label Your Quilts Every Time Lana's story is the perfect lead-in to today's tip, because she mentioned something that so many of us can relate to. Her early quilts don't have dates on them, and now she has no idea when she made them. Today's tip is simple: before you consider a project truly done, add a label with the date. I share a few easy ways to make this happen without it feeling like one more big task at the end of your project. Because the truth is, future you (and the people who receive your quilts!) will be so glad you did. From My Sewing Room: Ever Emblem Labels Speaking of labels... this episode wouldn't be complete without sharing one of my favorite ways to make labeling quick and easy. I'm talking about Ever Emblem labels on Amazon. They're iron-on, customizable, and they look beautiful on any finished quilt. Whether you're finishing a 30-year WIP like Lana or wrapping up a weekend project, a label is what gives your quilt its story. I'll share a bit more about why I love them and how they work in the episode! Browse Ever Emblem labels [https://amzn.to/4b7b9IR]  My favorite 2" x 3" (sew on or iron on) labels [https://amzn.to/4cuapQt ] Share Your First Stitch Story Your story might be next! If you'd like to share how you got started sewing or quilting and be featured in a future episode, I'd love to hear from you! Send an email to: firststitch@wildplumlane.com Or use the quick submission form [https://forms.gle/pVT851vkt32YwRVa8 ] Get 10% off your first order at wildplumlane.com!  [https://wildplumlane.myflodesk.com/r3iyz65nmb]