Welcome to my first blog post! Thank you for stopping by.

It’s fairly early here. My husband and two kids are all asleep in their beds. I enjoy quiet mornings like these to write, especially while drinking a light breakfast blend, not-too-hot cup of coffee.

For some time now I’ve wanted to start a blog to connect with others who also share a love of quilting.

Please introduce yourself and say hello in the comment section below. I’d enjoy knowing where you’re from; if we already know each other, how we met; how long you’ve been quilting; and what quilting project(s) you are currently working on.

Here’s a little bit about me.

I’m originally from a small town in Missouri. My childhood memories are filled with snapshots of country living; cattails springing from the shallows of lakes, the warm fellowship of church carry-in dinners, rows and rows of growing corn in golden fields, precious time spent with family and friends, and being creative yet perpetually pursuing organization. 

I met and married my “Chiliman” in 2005 and I moved to Flagstaff, Arizona.

You can read more about me on my page: meet the designer.

Starting a quilt pattern design business had always been a dream of mine.

But it was the 2008 recession that became the catalyst I needed to simply jump into the deep end and start. I was a stay-at-home mom at the time. And as some of you might relate, I needed to do this for my family to help make extra bread and butter money. Soon after the birth of our second child that year, I started working on Marmalade & Jam, my first pattern. And in 2009, Sweet Clover Canyon was officially launched.

That’s not to say there weren’t obstacles.

I had to push aside the fear of not knowing how or what to do to start a business. Or worrying if it would be a success or a failure.

Due to the many amazing and wonderful people who helped me along the way, my little pattern line grew. In 2012, however, I had to take an unplanned sabbatical from designing to work in our family business outside our home. I had a young family, I began struggling with low energy and I simply couldn’t “do it all”. Something had to give so I put being creative aside. During this time away, I’ve been deeply appreciative for all the quilters, friends, quilt shop owners, fabric companies and distributors who have continued ordering patterns. Because of your support our little company withstood the test of time.

Seven years have passed since I last designed a quilt pattern.

I’m ready to begin . . . again. And it’s exciting!

As I mentioned above, the purpose of this blog is to connect with others who enjoy quilting. A step deeper is to inspire, encourage and give hope.

I have stories to share about my own health and how it has affected my whole world. I’ll share the decisions I made and the progress I’ve achieved. Simply taking tiny steps, and how this is beautifully interwoven with quilting and creativity. And how these steps brought me back to a place where I am excited and able to design again. I look forward to sharing fun crafting projects and funny stories too.

As our time together unfolds I hope to inspire a rediscovery of what makes you happy, encourage the pursuit of peace and joy, motivate your work on a project or provoke you to try a new technique, and share the importance of healthy living and the art of caring for yourself.

Until next time…

Happy Stitching,

Sarah Whitney

Sweet Clover Canyon

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