It is so wonderful that your husband encourages you in your creativity. He really “gets” you. It is so wonderful watching you stitch. I am so relaxed watching you.
Hi Emma, this is such an important video addressing mental health and wellbeing, and reminding us of the healing powers of connecting with nature and being creative. Your quilt as you go project is exquisite and a lovely way to repurpose the antique embroideries ( although I did gasp when you cut into them!). Thank you for being so open and honest. I love your channel and this is where I come to watch your beautiful content and to de-stress. Thank you so much for creating this space. ❤️
@Emma Jones Vintage Sewing Box ahh, you're most welcome. 🤗 I bet whoever stitched those vintage embroideries would be thrilled that they live on in your quilt. ❤️
I've suffered with mental health issues most of my life. I find that hand stitching of any sort calms my mind and helps bring me back towards center. Thankfully, my husband, like yours, pays attention to my struggles. He often suggests that I pick up needle and thread even when I don't recognize the need myself. He never complains when dishes are in the kitchen sink or other chores are not done. He knows that I am attending to my well-being, which is the most important thing of all.
Dear sweet miss Emma - thank you for the lovely video! Never underestimate the power of your story and your words! Thank you for sharing them with us. I too have been stuggling just as many others are now also. I love watching you work and listening to your calming words! God bless!
What a treasure you have in your husband. He knows you and what you need at just the right time. That is so very rare in men. Most of the time they don't seem to pay much attention to us, unless they're hungry. Your quilt is beautiful, your work is relaxing, and reminds me a bit of Beatrix Potters stories. Take care of yourself, covid has left a lot of us in pretty low states.
I am so happy to see your beautiful “Happy Memories Quilt”. Hand sewing is my release right now as well & I completely understand the need to spend time escaping into our own little world of peace and happiness through quilting. 🙏❤😊
Thank you for sharing. Someone once said “Take it out of your head and put it in your hands” That is what hand sewing is. I love your videos, your voice is so calming to me.
God bless you for your honesty and openness about your mental health! You are a wonderful example of overcoming obstacles through creativity! Your quilt is beautiful!!☺️
Oh Emma I just finished reading the secret garden and it made me cry, that last chapter, I think everyone should read it, such a beautiful book. Lovely video, your quilt is the loveliest quilt I've ever seen it's Soo beautiful 🌸❤️. Thank you so much for making videos, I really love watching them 🌷🐦🌸
It's a wonderful story, I totally agree, I think the world would be a better place if more people took the time to slow down and appreciate the small things. Thanks so much for watching, take care
Your quilt is beautiful and so is your openness. Your music is so pleasant it just gives me such a feeling of peace and walking threw a field of flowers and butterflies. I pray your well being continues to be comforted by the beauty and relaxation of all you create. Blessings to you.
Oh, and meant to add: I love that the vintage pieces you purchase will have a new life! I had a booth in a vintage store and every item was special to me. I think I will start searching out pieces like yours and like you, give them a new life and opportunity to shine.
💐 How healing and soothing this was to me😊. I also suffer from depression. Please continue to talk of you, how you are doing, your life, your thoughts, your background, anything! Thank you! ❤️🤗🌸
Hello Emma. I found your videos a few months ago and it’s such a calming relaxing channel. My mother was a very talented hand stitcher, machine stitcher and crocheter. She taught me as a little girl and I’ve done it over the years but raising my family of five children and working took much of my time. The last few years of my mom’s life we spent a lot of time together and the joy of hand stitching together was wonderful and greatly missed when she passed. I now sew by myself and his so therapeutic and relaxing and it truly does bring a bitter sweetness to my heart. People enjoy my gifts given to them and my adult children enjoy seeing me happy in my “happy place “. I have my mother’s embroidered linens with other items and I will be sharing those with others when I am ready to bring her things out and see them again. Thank you for sharing your beautiful work and for doing videos.
thank you so much for sharing your story with me Marcella. I can totally understand how sewing is bitter sweet for you now but I am glad you have happy memories of her. Take care and thank you so much for watching
Couldn’t agree more with you. Fiber arts helped me come back to life. It’s soothing. It’s therapeutic. And in the end we have something lovely to display or gift someone and your videos are so very lovely and calming, thanks Emma!
I thoroughly enjoyed watching your neat stitching and listening to you explain how the outdoors and reading had inspired you to make beautiful things for yourself and others to enjoy. Thank you for this lovely video, it's reawakened my thoughts about digging into my stash of fabric and the various embroidery pieces I've done over the years, still unframed and waiting... ❤
Beautifully said, and thank you for just being you. Your Husband reminding you of the lovely linens and fabrics is so special, that will be an unseen memory stitched into the quilt, I'm sure there will be many 🌸
I have been going through a chronic health flare and I have found that two of my hobbies have been very helpful for me to get out of my head and have something to focus on other than pain. My EPP quilt has been lovely for when I need something rythmic to ground / relax me. My other hobby, painting miniatures has been great for helping me tune out the pain and to flex my creativity muscles. Both have been helping me to get out of the bad mood cycles
I am so sorry you've been having a health flare, sending you lots of well wishes, I hope things ease soon. I am glad you have lovely hobbies to get you through. Take care and thanks for watching
Dear sweet Emma you are such a blessing to me. I too struggle with mental health and also chronic pain. When I am at my worst I make myself sew. I work thru the pain till it just isn't as bad because I am just so distracted from the joy of creating! There is such amazing peace that comes from seeing a project or a block from start to finish. Keep sewing and we will all keep supporting! Thanks for your videos!!!
Thank you so much Shelly. I am sorry you have struggles too, it really is a blessing to have sewing to escape to at difficult times, I am glad it helps you. Take care and thanks for watching
I am not a quilter but your beautiful hexagons have inspired me to have a go at making the bigger size hexagon table runner. I am almost 80yrs old. Thank you for all of your wonderful videos. You are a beautiful soul.
I adore The Secret Garden. I sent an illustrated version (classic) to my 4 yo granddaughter and she immediately pretended their large wooden gate was the secret garden door. (Mom kept the parts age-appropriate for her.) Just yesterday I decided to try quilting both by hand and machine. I am caring for my mother and need something for my own mental health. Watching someone struggle with dementia tears at one's heart and I'm also often exhausted. Mom is very creative, so I think she will enjoy looking at fabrics and who knows, perhaps she can do a bit of stitching. Thank you for being you and sharing yourself. ❤
Oh I’m sorry to hear you are going through that, I’ve experienced a family member with dementia before and it’s heartbreaking. Sending you lots of hugs, I hope some sewing helps you and that your Mom will be able to do some too x
How ironic that you find sewing and quilting so calming, healing and relaxing when your videos actually help me to feel more relaxed as your voice is so gentle and calm. Thank you, Emma 💐
Dearest Emma, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and your sewing, and the way that your sewing helps your mental health. I enjoyed every moment of this video. I thought it was so lovely that your husband understood what would help you and relax your mind. I adore your videos and your genuine, beautiful, gentle nature, take care, Diane xxx
Your quilt is going to be stunning! Your videos are calming. We all need to find the space that keeps us calm and relaxed. We have become a society that feels if we are not socially engaging, we are not enjoying life. Taking care of ourselves is a number one priority. If we are not well, our families don't do well. Peace and blessings to you.
The Secret Garden has been one of my favorites also. I think when I am outside in nature it draws me to Heavenly Father and all the beauty he created for us. I love to work on handwork, I heard, " out of your head and into your hands" somewhere and I think it's so true. I tend to overthink everything and having a project that doesn't require much thought is such a release and relief at the same time. As usual your work is amazing.
Emma your quiet gentle ways and the message you bring with the video creates a sense of peace. Thank you. And I really love the quilt. Blessings to you.
You bring so much to the world. Your voice is calm, your fabric choices are beautiful and so is your quilting. Thank you for being you and sharing yourself with us. You are enough and you are wonderful.
Dear Emma, what a happy feeling you gave me with your quilting and calm voice. I too find joy and peace in quilting. I am eighty six and in a nursing home, the only one in here with a sewing machine and all my sewing supplies. I stay busy doing sewing, making quilts, and lots of other things along with making and altering for the other residents here. I find so much pleasure in this. It takes my mind off other things that I don,t need to think about. I like to say that sewing keeps me going! God bless and keep all you seamstresses out there.
This video is absolutely me as well, hand stitching projects calm me and the repetitive motions let my mind rest. I have been dealing with chronic illness for over 2 years and find I go more to these projects. I was happy to have on with me for recovery in hospital after emergency surgery.
I am sorry you have been been dealing with chronic illness. I am glad you have stitching to help you through. I hope you are feeling better after the surgery. Take care, sending you lots of well wishes
Thank you for sharing your story and your talent with us, Emma! I am a 63 year old mother of three adult children and a grandmother of one. All my adult life I have been struggling with mild to moderate depression, and what has helped me more than any medicines was being out in nature, and using my hands to create by sewing, embroidery, knitting, crochet, and quilting. I like how you combine embroidery and quilting, and am planning to do some small projects based on your ideas. Love your videos, and have learned a lot from you😊😊😊
Thank you so much for sharing that with me. I’m sorry you’ve struggled too but so glad you’ve found things to help. Those things help me massively too. Take care and thanks for watching
It's a shame you are dealing with health problems, and especially mental health. I've been there - much empathy coming your way - and wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, let alone on someone like you, whose soothing and beautiful videos here are so healing and peaceful to watch and listen to. You're helping other people more than you might think. Enjoy your beautiful happy memories, and I wish you many, many more happy times from now on xxxxxx
Dear Emma, thank you for opening up and sharing your personal story. Watching your videos makes me relax and feeling better. We all struggle from time to time. Perhaps you don't even know how important and helpful your videos are. They mean a lot to me. ❤
Thank you Emma for sharing your story. You made me see why I enjoy keeping my hands busy, crocheting, quilting, EPP, and embroidery. I never thought to add embroidery to my EPP. Yours is absolutely gorgeous! I hope it continues to bring you comfort and pease. 💖💖💖
Thank you so much am in tears as after 6 months of a serious foot injury my concentration has been affected but your openness and help has helped so much I love the way you cut the embroidery to go off the side it gave it movement and the way forward is to maybe "tell a story" through stitching like you have with the door. Really helped me. Thankyou
I’m so sorry about your injury Lorraine. Sending you huge hugs and lots of well wishes. Thank you for watching and for your lovely comment. I hope some stitching can help you too. Take care x
Hi Emma 💋you are so right x I lost my brother, my dog and my dad in the last 4 yrs 😢 my sewing and crocheting helped me immensely during those times, It would take me to another place which gave me a break from the heartache and the grief and at times it still hits me, and I continue to do those things that have helped me x so I encourage anyone suffering in any way to have a go, even though sometimes you may not feel like it, you will be amazed at how you feel when you do, and then you drift away somewhere else, but in a good way ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
oh Helena, I am so so sorry to hear of your losses, I can't imagine how difficult that must be. Sending you huge hugs. I am glad sewing is helping you, thank you for putting this important message here to help others. Take care x x
Stunning Emma!! Once again you have inspired my stiching...thank you for your honesty...yes, my quilting and crafting is a source of solace for a world that is sometimes difficult to understand...love the secret door hexi.💚💛💜💙💟
Thank you so much Emma for sharing this video. I think you strike a chord with so many thousands of women, who stitch for anxiety or mental health reasons, as well as joy. Slow stitching has changed my life for the better and I admire your vulnerability in sharing. I love your quilt and the stories it tells. Also many thanks to your loving husband for encouraging you to make this project! Love from Australia, Mj x
Oh thank you for such lovely words! I’m so glad it struck a chord with you because I did feel nervous about sharing. I’m glad slow stitching has really helped you too. Take care 🌸
This is turning into such a lovely quilt and I too find the mindless repetitive stitching fives me peace. It allows me to think quietly about something that is running thru my mind 100 mph. Thank you for being vulnerable with us... You are blessed with a spouse that is supportive and knows you well enough to offer suggestions to help you find peace... Blessings to you
Sewing in general is calming for me and I agree that hand sewing is even more so ~ like meditation with such peace in your finger tips! You have the sweetest most gentle voice. One night I was listening to you and fell asleep! Thank you for your channel.💖
I'm so happy to hear that your husband encourages you❤ also that you choose to go to your 'happy ' quilting project to get inspired. This is so much more productive and helpful. You have inspired me to do small hexies, which is now my go to project for in-between times. When I am feeling low and sad I like to listen to gospel music and I have the Bible app, and I like to listen to the Psalms. This helps my mind to calm down❤ take care.I love listening and watching your RU-vid
I love the idea of incorporating old embroidered linens into new projects and I adore your embroidered secret garden door! But even better I want to tell you this video calmed my nerves so much I could literally feel the stress leaving my body as I watched it so thank you for that. Been dealing with a painful health issue. And your hair looked beautiful!
oh thank you! and I am so glad the video helped you in that way, that means more to me than anything. Take care, I hope you are feeling ok. Sending lots of well wishes your way
Emma, thank you for sharing your feelings. I love watching your videos. Your lovely calm voice, the serene music, delectable fabrics, appliqués, charming embroideries soothe me and have inspired me. You are good for my mental health. Thank you so much for making these videos and sharing them with all of us. I glad that it helps you to make them. Sending peace and love your way.
You are a lightworker, empath Emma. I can feel your energy. I am having to do more quilting. I am deep in grief with the loss of my Dad last July 20th. The warmer weather is bringing out deep pain that I actually want to slowly go through. Hand quilting and quilting is helping. It is an outlet.
Hello Emma, it was such a pleasure watching you today. In a world filled with strident, angry voices it is so soothing to hear your quiet, gentle words. We are so fortunate to have someone like you on RU-vid.
I love old linen and lace and incorporate them in some projects. I love how you have included pieces in your quilt. I’ve made a few hexagonal quilts but never bound them. That is a great way of not having to back a quilt, the part I hate. I agree with you that craft projects help very much with your well-being. Your work is beautifully neat. I watch your videos and they are inspiring. You certainly have the right mindset. Good for you. Tfs.
Thank you, Emma, for sharing this video. It was so calming and relaxing with your voice and music. This is just what I needed. Thank you for inspiring us. Love and Blessings ❤️😘🤗💕
Thank you Emma for sharing your story. I clear my mind by making hexies, knitting, crocheting, and cross-stitching. I love watching your videos. They are so peaceful and relaxing for me.
Thank you Emma this is a beautiful video, your embroidery is simple and yet so beautiful and has positive powerful memories for you . This video made me feel good too. ❤❤Take care of yourself 🩷
You have such a lovely aesthetic, and soothing voice. I could watch you create for hours, thank you for sharing your gifts with us, and a little of your self, too!
A lovely video, thank you. I was fighting a cancer battle during Covid times so was home or in the hospital for a year and a half. I made 21 crochet blankets during that time and it saved my life. I had something to keep me busy and look forward to. My husband bought me yarn, yarn, yarn and never complained. When I was well I gave blankets to friends and family that supported me and gave the rest to a homeless shelter. I kept one that I made while I was in Mayo Clinic. Pursuing creative endeavors is very healing.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, I'm so glad to hear you are well now. The power of creating is an incredible thing, I'm so glad it helped you. And then you passed that on by giving away the blankets, that is so special. Take good care of yourself x
I often watch your videos at bedtime because they are so soothing and gentle. Your voice is so soft and melodious. You're so right about simple stitching being soothing. The hexagon piece I am handsewing atm, inspired by you, really calmed me down today when I was angry and upset. I wonder if you are an HSP like me ... highly sensitive person. I get overwhelmed and anxious too, and I'm still working on my mobility after a nasty knee fracture 2 years ago. Amazing what a different sewing makes!
Hi Angela, yes I am a HSP, something I learned about myself recently, really helped me to understand why I am the way I am! I am sorry you struggle with those feelings, I can completely empathise with them. So sorry about your knee too, I hope things are moving in the right direction for you. Take care of yourself and keep stitching x
@@emmajonesvintagesewingbox it's both a gift and a burden. I do feel you're a kindred spirit, and I also hail from and live in North West England. Love your videos.
Emma thank you so much for your videos, they are so comforting to me. Listening to your voice, the music you play, and the creations you stitch relieve my stress. You bring so much joy to everyone. Thank you again.
❤thank you Emma I needed this today. We all need something that brings peace to our mind. Thank you for being brave to share. And peace to all that we all find an activity that brings peace and joy 😊
Thank you for this video, Emma. I watched while doing some soothing EPP after a couple of weeks of really sick kids and lots of lovely but very busy sewing preparations for a spring market. I just love your Secret Garden inspiration - your embroidery is just beautiful! And thank you for reminding all of us that it's creating things we love that is going to help fulfill us and make us better people 😊🩷
Such beautiful stitching Emma. Your quilt is going to be amazing ❤ I love all of your fabric choices. We have a very similar taste, I think. Hand sewing is a great way to calm the mind. It has helped me enormously too.
You go gurl! The quilt is so sweet and gorgeous. Plus guilt as you go is such a wonderful traditional way to make a bed cover /blanket (the Wartime farm, BBC they made square blocks) grows over time. Plus if you need to make it bigger you simply add more squares, plus there's no need to edge the quilt because the blocks are all pre-edged, genius.
Thank you Emma for your lovely video and words. I so understand the comfort you describe from sewing and creating. Sending much love from a fellow sufferer. Xxxx❤
Sewing helps my mental health too, but so do your videos. Today I am not exactly having the best day, but the music and your lovely calm and gentle voice are so soothing. Thank you for sharing all of this with us.
Such a sweet message from you to all of us that need a reminder to Allow ourselves time to do something that gives us joy and we aren’t doing it for anyone else. Your hexies really look like the beautiful dishes at the antique store. Love the gate to the secret garden.
Absolutely beautiful! Will have to go back and watch this project from the beginning. I think a bigger project like this will help my hand sewing skills. And yes, any kind of stitching relieves anxiety. Creating something - just anything - always helps.
Your husband sound lovely. I am so happy for you that he cares so deeply and knows you. Your project is so inspiring to me. I love nothing better than working in hand with pretty fabrics and soothing textures. I have gotten some things together but have not started yet. Thank you for the beautiful little nudge.
Thank you for your videos. This has really helped me to try to think that I want to start English paper pacing. I love him sewing. I have handsome unblocks together. And I love seeing all the quilts that you showed. Thank you for taking us on your trip.❤
I know exactly where you are coming from, I suffer from depression at times and really over think things, going into my sewing room even to just wind wool soothes my brain. I find listening to your voice very soothing and it really does put me in a good place. Sorry you find things are overwhelming at times but you really do make a difference to people and thank you so much for doing these videos
What a lovely memory quilt! It's beautiful! And so enjoyed your chat. It is so true..my projects, whether sewing, crochet, or quilting are very therapeutic for me also. Thank you for sharing!
I love the way you embroidered the door block! I ave seen the movie of the Secret Garden but never read the book. I think I will look for it next time I am in a book store. I agree with you that nature can be very healing in many ways! I enjoy gardening and watching in the Spring for all the signs of new life. Hopefully your heart and mind will be encouraged today as you have taken the time to bless us with your most thoughtful and lovely video.
Hello Emma, I am constantly recommending needlecrafts or any crafts for well-being. I would like to add that it's nice to have a lovely sewing or craft room, but I make many crafts from a tv tray table, and they come out fine since what I make is hand made. I have learned that worrying is not the same as being responsible. I can be concerned about something, but I pray to God using the Serenity Prayer to make clear to myself that I can change and what I need to leave in His care. This spiritual exercise has helped me find joy in my day when my circumstances are very difficult. Also, I am happy that you have reused embroidery work from times gone by, it gives them new life and I am sure the original person that made them would be happy to see them in your lovely quilt. God bless you always.
Thank you for such a thoughtful comment Barbara. I’m so glad you have found something to help you through difficult times. You are so right about what you say. Take care 🌸
It was so wonderful to join you and hear your words of wisdom about the power of stitching. I know if I sit in a sunny corner and do my hand stitching, I get lost in the quietness of it and feel so much better. I just love how you can create such a beautiful hexagon from your imagination for your quilt. You are so very clever and creative. Take care Emma. xx
Just came across your channel - you pick the prettiest daintiest fabrics. Your hexagon quilt is beautiful! I love it! What a great idea to pick embroidered pieces and repurpose them. I love going to thrift stores and antique stores so I'm going to keep my eyes open for some pretty pieces. Right now, I chalk paint furniture and crochet here and there - that's my mind therapy when I need to relax and tell myself everything is going to be okay!
It’s so wonderful to just be within ourselves and do what we need for us. As I’m going through some health issues, I’ve discovered that creating in my sewing room is my escape. Thank you so much for sharing. ❤
Emma - thank you for , especially, this video. All of your videos are lovely and inspiring, but this one went right to my heart. I have worked with many different mediums in art, especially in fiberarts, but it wasn’t until I came back to embroidery and hand stitching that I felt like I had arrived “home”. Your wisdom in the healing power of this craft, for me, has been so true. I also am a worrier, and good moods can evaporate suddenly, like fog over the ocean. Taking some cloth and thread up in my hands, watching something beautiful appear - and the sun comes out! Thank you particularly for sharing your true feelings and being vulnerable so openly. May you find hope and understanding in this world that you are creating, here online - but mostly, in your home and family. Blessings to you.
Thank you for such a wonderful comment Donna and for sharing your experience too. I’m so glad hand stitching helps you, it’s so important we all find the thing that helps us at difficult times. Take really good care of yourself x
Thank you Emma for this video, I really needed a little push to get back into my embroidery and quilting for my mental health. I wish all the best for you.
I keep coming back to watch this over and over because your work is SO beautiful! I don't know what thoughts you struggle with in your mental health. But I just felt like I should tell you what a blessing you are to your followers, and I hope you are able to continue sharing your knowledge as you're able to! 😊 You are very needed, and I'm praying for you! 🥰 You have a job to do, that only YOU are able to do! We all have struggles, some of us with our mental health as well. There is no shame in that. I'm so glad I found your channel. 😊
So lovely and inspiring!!! Just watching and listening to you brings such calm and happieness to my day. I appreciate the lesson to keep busy doing something simple and joyful. Brings sunshine and positivity to those difficult times, thanks for sharing!! I love the added hand embroidery, it takes it to another level!! Happy Stitching!!
There are so many people that have a metal stress and just don't know how to deal with it. So this video is so important to share, thank you so much for addressing this issue.
I am so happy I saw your video today. I love Hexies and was planning on making a quilt with smaller ones. But your larger ones are so much more interesting. Also I wasn't thinking of making a quilt as you go. You have helped my well being. I am older and in chronic pain so tnx to you I'm going to switch gears and do it like you're doing yours. I used to do antiques and had linens but no more and you have a great embroidery talent but somehow I'm going to try to do something like yours. I appreciate you. You have made a big difference in my life right now. I hope somehow I can see more of your videos. ❤Bless you for changing my direction. I wish I could even see more of your existing quilt. God bless you.😊 Don't ever sell yourself short. 🌞
Oh Jane, this comment means so much to me, thank you so much for taking the time to write this. I will share more of this quilt as time goes on, it’s such a lovely project with lots of different things to see. Take care 🌸
Emma, so glad you shared with us. Just watching you stitch improved my day immensely. I also love The Secret Garden and your Quilt is growing in its beauty.
Oh Emma, you are so right. Quilting, needlework, any creative pursuit is healing. When our minds are on something like this, all of our worries don't take center stage in our thoughts because (even though in this world today "multi-tasking" seems to be accepted) we can only mentally focus on one thing at a time. Oh, and the end results, are so rewarding. But that doesn't make the process less important at all because it's in the process that we are doing the healing work. I know from personal experience that being creative is good medicine. It got me through my cancer treatments, and my needlework business is helping me heal after the loss of my husband 2 1/2 years ago. As well as the personal comfort it gives me to design embroidery and applique projects, I feel so grateful and happy that it is also bringing joy to many others. You can take so much joy and pride in what YOU do, how it is helping so many countless others that you may never even know about, with your sweet and gentle nature that just oozes out of your words and your fingers as you sew and share with us. Thank you for your gentle honesty and for being so brave and generous. Sending big hugs.
Hi Diane, thank you so much for such a lovely comment. You’ve explained so beautifully how creating can really help to heal. I’m so sorry to hear you lost your husband and also that you’ve been dealing with cancer. Wishing you all the best for the future, sending you big hugs back. I’d love to see your designs, do you have a website? Take good care of yourself, x x
Emma you are such a blessing. You have inspired me to get out one of the boxes I inherited from my Mom. It is filled with 1 1/2 inch flannel squares. Not a fan of flannel but while watching your video the box came to mind. I intend to hand sew 4 squares together then applique it on to a cotton square, then embroider in the middle of the square and around. I feel so uplifted from this. There are 4 boxes of these squares and now I feel I have a purpose and idea and a doable project. Thank you Emma. CJ
I highly recommend the book entitled "Threads of Life" by Clare Hunter. I can't remember where I saw it referred to first (perhaps Sarah Homfray's channel?), but I think you would find the role of hand stitching through history and adverse life events fascinating and enlightening. I'm on chapter four right now and very much awed and inspired by the persistence, creativity, and spirit of the hand stitchers who have come before us. A great read for when your fingers need a respite!
Found your "well being hexi quilt" straight after an online meditation session. I am a bit fragile just now and you have guided me towards hand sewing and learning how to embroider. I have never read "the secret garden" but now seems a good time to start. You are a very talented lady and are helping so many people. Keep well and thankyou.