I started this project and have “planted” hearts for many weeks now. Heart have been planted by Evan or by me here in Albuquerque, in Farmington and even in Socorro. I would periodically check the “I Found A Quilted Heart” website in the hopes that someone would report finding a heart.

To be honest, I was feeling discouraged because no one was reporting that they found one of my hearts. I understand that not many will be reported, but darn it, I wanted confirmation that I was spreading love and happiness!

There was even a point that I planted a heart when we were selling at the Railyards Market. I placed it early in the day and a few hours later I went to peek and see if someone picked it up and to my surprise, someone destroyed it and threw it on the ground. I was devastated! I put alot of love into that heart and someone disrespected it. I thought to myself, “the least they could have done was leave it alone for someone else to enjoy.” This incident broke my spirit for a while. I didn’t touch my fabric scraps and sewing machine for several weeks. Why spend the time and put work into something that will be destroyed and not appreciated???

Well, this is why!!! Once again, I visited the website and to my surprise, someone reported one of my hearts as FOUND. And what they had to say was so sweet — it actually gave me goosebumps. THIS! This is why I wanted to participate in this project. To bring a smile to someone’s day…someone who I don’t know.

LOVE and KINDNESS are always the answer!

Heart Found - Albuquerque 7/25/22

A holistic or whole approach to health is important – not only looking at the dis-ease of the physical body, but the spiritual, mental and emotional health as well.

I heard about the “I Found A Quilted Heart” project through a random post on social media. Once I read about the project and read some stories from folks who found quilted hearts, I knew I needed to be involved. I immediately told my husband that I wanted to make these quilted hearts, and bless him, he supported me wholeheartedly (as he always does)! Of course I LOVE making my salves and aromatherapy items, and it brings me joy to help people heal through my products. But something about this project gave me hope that I can bring a bit of happiness to a stranger during this crazy time in our world…and use all my beloved fabric scraps in the process. The following weekend after discovering that this beautiful project existed, I began my journey of the quilted hearts.

I’ve dabbled in some quilting throughout my life, but honestly, I don’t think I’ve finished a single one. I seem to lose interest in projects that take too long – another reason why these quick, quilted hearts appealed to me! My approach to making the hearts is that I would put pieces together that felt good to me. I promised myself that I wouldn’t put too much thought into what I was doing. After all, if I’m too cerebral about piecing together this little quilted heart, I may emote anger and frustration – the complete opposite of what the heart is supposed to represent.

Once I got started sewing pieces of fabric together, it became addicting. I found myself in a flow state.

Melissa