How to Improve Brain Function and Boost Happiness

This summer, I focused on having fun and boosting my happiness. All the quilting projects and reading were fun! During September, my husband and I spent a lot of time hosting family and friends and creating great memories. Now that the warm, sunny days are in the rearview mirror, I’m making plans for cool, cloudy days to avoid that dreary feeling.

Happiness and Working with My Hands

So many quilters will tell you that quilting is their therapy. They’re right! An article in Psychology Today described the positive impacts of handwork on the brain: less anxiety and improved problem-solving ability. Handwork goes beyond quilting! Time spent cooking, knitting, crocheting, working with wood, hand stitching, and even cleaning tasks provide time for our brains to rest and relax.

Since I’m going for that extra boost of happiness, I’m making the Bonnie & Camille Shine Bright Sampler. Just the name makes me smile. On top of that, I’m using my treasured stash of Camille Roskelly’s Nantucket Summer fabric line. This fabric was so popular that it sold out in a flash, and Camille designed a sister collection that’s coming out next spring: Shoreline.

If you’re interested in the Fat Quarter Shop quilt-along that begins November 1, you can find a free coloring sheet and fabric requirements here, a Lighthearted kit that includes a free copy of the book, and Camille’s Dwell fabric line that I’m using to round out Nantucket Summer. (I included a photo of the Lighthearted solids because Camille made a sampler quilt from solids that was so cute. Maybe you’ll feel inspired to do the same with her current line, Lighthearted.)

The Bonnie and Camille Quilt Bee book contains the schedule for the quilt-along. I didn’t want to wait until November to start, so once I colored my sheet and formed a plan, I started sewing. True confession: I’m having so much fun stitching the sampler blocks that I’ve completed the first six months of blocks!

Road Trip to Wisconsin and Primitive Gatherings Quilt Shop

Life isn’t all fun and games. We’re shopping for a used vehicle and took a four-hour trip to Appleton, Wisconsin, planning to make a purchase. The Chevy Tahoe was perfect in every way except that the previous owner was a smoker. Bummer! Since there’s not a surefire way of removing that odor, we gave it a pass. (The salesperson was very apologetic and embarrassed that she failed to note the smell when describing the vehicle over the phone.)

Thankfully the trip wasn’t a total bust. My husband and I enjoyed the time together, and we made a very quick stop at Lisa Bongean’s quilt shop. And I mean quick! Twenty minutes isn’t much time to look at all the beautiful samples (they’re amazing) and make a purchase. I was so tempted to buy about fifty kits because the Primitive Gatherings wool projects are beautiful. Since I still have a kit or two in my stash, I bought a tiger eye mug that matches my completed penny rug.

My husband recently made the cribbage board from a piece of walnut. The river running through the board matches a section of the river near our home. Isn’t it cool?! Now I need a cribbage refresher course. All to say, I’m not the only one in our family who’s keeping their hands busy.

Let me know what you’re working on and if you notice a happiness boost while you work. I’m hoping to gain appreciation for all the cleaning tasks that I often avoid. With the right music and attitude, I’ll probably relax my brain and enjoy it.

Joyfully,

Tracie