Don’t eat sugar. Don’t eat carbs. Eat your veggies. Watch your portion size. Take your vitamins. There is a long list of things we’re supposed to be doing if we want to be healthy. But the truth is, sometimes it’s hard and sometimes I just want some chocolate!
Did you know that today is World Health Day? It’s a great reminder for us to show our gratitude to healthcare professionals, medical researchers, dietitians, and all the people who have caused improvements in the health and well-being of our society as a whole. When we think of good health, we usually think of our diet, but there is more to good health than just what you put into your body. Good health is a lifestyle. To me, good health means filling your days with the things that make your life better and make you feel better (which may even occasionally include chocolate, right??). It means taking time to slow down and relieve stress, spending time outdoors, increasing your energy and strength through exercise and activities, and even exercising your brain!
I don’t know about you, but when I’m passionate about something (or maybe I just need a good physical reminder), what do I want to do? Make a quilt about it! So, I’ve decided to hand select some of our wonderful fabrics that might help you to celebrate the activities and habits in your life that contribute to your good health and happiness.
Good Foods and Cooking
Ann Wigmore (1909-1993), a Lithuanian–American “holistic health” practitioner and raw food advocate, is known for her quote, “The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.” Some say that may be an over-simplified perspective, but we know that the foods we eat can affect our energy levels, moods, emotions, level of focus, and so much more. Generally, the better we eat, the better we feel (though a little bit of chocolate can work wonders for our moods. Moderation is key, right?). Some people even find that the process of preparing those good foods to be therapeutic and relaxing. Here are some wonderful fabrics that represent good foods and cooking good foods (and make sure to make yourself a fun apron, so you can do it in style)!
Gardening, Farming & Homesteading
Did you know that there are microbes and good bacteria in dirt that actually boost your immune system and improve your mood? While gardening, working, and playing in dirt, it is actually making our bodies stronger and less likely to develop asthma and allergies. Do it in the sun (with the appropriate protections), and your body will also get the Vitamin D that it needs (Vitamin D helps our bodies absorb calcium better, making our bones stronger — a deficiency can lead to more serious conditions).
Become One with Nature
Fresh air! Hiking, camping, glamping (for those of us who would rather “rough it” with air conditioning), whatever it may be, we’ve got a fabric for it!
- River Journey
- Majestic Outdoors
- Nicole’s Prints – Love to Camp Multi Yardage
- Glamping – Trailer Travel
Slow Down and Enjoy the View
Nowadays, our society as a whole is expected to multitask, over schedule our lives, sacrifice sleep and then drink coffee necessary to stay awake. Even writing that sentence was exhausting and doesn’t sound fun OR healthy! If one of your healthy habits is slowing down to relieve stress, then you might enjoy these fabrics:
Sports
Sports may not be for everyone, but they are a great way to introduce children to the benefits of living an active life! We have so many great sports fabrics to choose from including licensed prints like NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, NCAA College Sports, and so much more.
Patterns
When you’re working with themed fabrics, you might want to choose a quilt pattern that will really showcase the prints in the fabrics. Here are some great quilt patterns to choose from:
- I Spy Jar Quilt (great for the Food/Cooking Fabrics)
- Attic Window Quilt
- Super Simple Squares Quilt
- One Seam Flying Geese Quilt
- Whimsical Shoofly Quilt
- Friendship Star Sashing Quilt
- Sashed Half Hexi Quilt
- Intersection or T-Block Quilt
- Illusion Quilt
- Easy Snowball Quilt
Share
Just like a quilt that is personal, individual, and unique, so is a person’s “healthy lifestyle.” Whatever it is that you like to do to stay healthy, we can’t wait to see the quilts you make to celebrate those things! I will tell you one thing… I believe that quilting keeps us young! So, add quilting and sewing to your list of healthy habits! 🙂 We would love for you to share your World Health Day-inspired creations on our social media channels using #msqcshowandtell! Happy quilting and Happy World Health Day!
Even if you’re not ready to make a quilt today, we’d love for you to share your favorite healthy habits and hobbies with us! Leave a comment and tell us what you love about it!