Vanessa Christenson of V and Co.

The episode begins with a heartfelt reflection on Memorial Day in the United States, emphasizing gratitude for those who sacrificed for freedom. Sherry shares updates on her current quilting projects, notably the upcoming Blockhead 6 quilt along where a new block will be released every Wednesday through November. She mentions her plans to film tutorials for some of these blocks and updates listeners about her fabric choices and quilting progress.

Sherry introduces Vanessa Christensen, a fellow Moda fabric designer, quilter, certified trainer, nutritionist, and life coach. Their friendship spans several years, beginning with their first meeting at Quilt Market and Sherry’s early impressions of Vanessa's blog. Vanessa shares her journey from starting her blog while living in a remote town due to her husband's deployment to becoming a fabric designer with Moda. She discusses her background in psychology, her certifications, and how her creative passions merged into her quilting and fabric design career.

Vanessa describes her love for geometric and colorful designs, particularly her signature ombre fabrics. She explains her philosophy of making simple designs look spectacular using ombres and geometric patterns, especially half-square triangles. Vanessa highlights her fabric collections such as confetti dots and basics, emphasizing their versatility and how they can dramatically enhance quilting projects. She also recounts her experience of introducing her fabric lines at Quilt Market and her excitement about upcoming collections.

Vanessa talks about how she manages her multiple roles—quilt designer, marathon runner, and life coach. She shares her recent achievement of qualifying for and running the Boston Marathon, a milestone in her athletic pursuits. She offers insights into her approach to time management, emphasizing intentional planning, decluttering, and setting goals. Her methods include reverse engineering projects and working with buffers to accommodate life's surprises, which helps her and her audience maintain productivity and balance.

Vanessa offers valuable advice for quilters on managing their creative time and overcoming self-criticism. She discusses the importance of positive self-talk, decluttering both physical and mental space, and creating purposeful routines. She shares her approach to finishing projects, including setting realistic goals and working in small, manageable time chunks. Additionally, Vanessa mentions her supportive online community, where women motivate each other to stay active and engaged in both fitness and quilting.

Listeners are informed about Vanessa's wellness workbook and her quilt patterns, both available online with a 25% discount using the code AQL25. She also shares her website, blog, and social media platforms, including her quilting and coaching Instagram accounts. Vanessa invites listeners to join her private Facebook group for community support in health, fitness, and quilting, and encourages signing up for her email list for updates on new patterns and special content.