Quilter Vendulka Battais shares her healing journey from realizing that external validation (including winning awards) made her happy, but didn't bring her ultimate fulfillment, she still needed to find her own inner worth and peace. She explores how her upbringing in communist Czechoslovakia and ancestral patterns influenced her sense of self-worth and her creative approach to quilting.

• Growing up during communism in the Czech Republic shaped Vendulka's resourcefulness and creativity
• Moving to the UK at age 24 with English as her second language became an unexpected advantage in her quilting pattern instructions
• Winning quilt competitions didn't bring the fulfillment she expected, revealing her pattern of seeking external validation
• Ancestral patterns from Czech history influenced her tendency to overgive and put her worth in others' hands
• Through theta healing and meditation, she learned to find value within herself rather than from external achievements
• Understanding that we're only responsible for our own happiness helps break patterns of people-pleasing and overgiving
• Finding peace requires facing uncomfortable truths and being honest with yourself
• The healing journey is ongoing - slips back into old patterns become smaller and less frequent with practice
• Every cloud has a silver lining - learning not to immediately judge experiences as good or bad opens us to unexpected gifts

If you've enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend who might benefit, leave a review on your podcast platform, and check out Vendulka's quilted jacket class:

https://www.craftymonkies.com/live-zoom-workshop-vendulka-battais-121025-fashionable-quilted-jacket-and-210326-intricate-curv

Follow Vendulka on Instagram @vendulkaoliven

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Taking a break between Season 2 and Season 3 to reflect on the journey and lessons learned throughout Breaking the Blocks. Thousands of listeners have shared how these conversations about overcoming challenges have inspired their own growth paths.

• Life inevitably brings pain, loss, and unexpected challenges – our growth comes from how we respond
• Understanding our role in our own suffering is key to breaking unhealthy patterns
• We cannot change others, only ourselves – even after 27 years of asking her husband to quit smoking
• Change requires losing old identities and sometimes relationships that reinforce negative patterns
• Finding inner peace may initially feel "dull" compared to drama but brings lasting fulfillment
• Learning patience for gradual change instead of expecting instant transformation
• Extending the same kindness to yourself that you would offer a struggling friend
• Stop arguing with people who cannot understand your perspective
• Practice gratitude for relationships where you're valued and opportunities to grow
• Let go of circumstances you cannot control and view challenges from a wider perspective

Season 3 will return in September with exciting new interviews already recorded. Thank you for listening and being part of this community of growth and transformation.

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Mackenzie Thorpe shares his extraordinary journey from a dyslexic child in working-class Middlesbrough to a globally celebrated artist whose work touches hearts worldwide.

• Born with an innate urge to draw on anything available—stones, cigarette packets, fireplace ashes
• Struggled with undiagnosed dyslexia at school, describing himself as "word blind" rather than seeing jumbled letters
• Found escape through art, developing a three-dimensional thinking ability that compensated for traditional learning challenges
• Created his iconic square sheep series after a car accident in 1990, representing his family and his role as protector
• Gained international recognition when Salvador Dali's former manager discovered his work and introduced it to global audiences
• Balances creating joyful, whimsical art that's commercially successful while privately producing darker works that express his personal struggles
• Maintains a mission to encourage others to embrace their creativity despite obstacles or discouragement
• Met Queen Elizabeth II to present a commissioned Jubilee painting depicting the Northeast's resilience and celebration
• Lives by Van Gogh's motto: "If you can't go to work, go to work"

You can follow Mackenzie on Instagram: @artistmackenzie

His website is: www.mackenziethorpe.com

If you have enjoyed this podcast, please tell a friend about it, leave a review, or reach out to Rachel at breakingtheblocks.com if you're a business interested in sponsorship.

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Janet Clare joins Rachel to explore the journey of creative growth and authenticity in a world that often feels chaotic and judgmental. Together they reflect on how the pandemic reset their perspectives, helping them realize what truly matters in life and creative work.

• Finding inner calm and creative peace even when the outside world feels unstable
• Confronting the inner critic that asks "who am I to create?" and charging forward anyway
• Understanding that creativity sits at the top of our needs pyramid, requiring all other needs to be met first
• The powerful mindset shift of actively seeking 100 rejections rather than avoiding rejection
• Recognizing that "authenticity is magnetic" - when we're true to ourselves, we attract the right people
• Stepping outside comfort zones with new creative directions while staying true to your essence
• Learning that "it's all cake" - people either connect with your work or simply move on
• Building a broader, firmer foundation for your creative life through meaningful connections

If you enjoyed this episode, please tell a friend who might benefit from it and leave a review on your podcast platform. It helps others find the show and lets them know it's worth listening to. And if you're a business looking to get your message out there, reach out to [email protected] to explore podcast sponsorship opportunities.

You can follow Janet on Instagram: @janeteclare

www.janetclare.co.uk

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Sarah Humphreys transforms lives teaching arts and crafts in a women's prison, helping incarcerated women rebuild their identities through creativity. Working with individuals who've experienced trauma and abuse, she creates a sensory sanctuary where women who arrive saying "I can't" leave as proud creators with newfound confidence and purpose.

• Teaching in prison presents unique challenges with scissors and supplies requiring strict protocols
• Around 75% of women in prison have mental health concerns and most have experienced childhood trauma
• Sarah's classroom serves as a sensory haven with soft textiles, comforting scents, and supportive community
• A professional shoplifter achieved a breakthrough by later buying art supplies instead of stealing them
• Sarah introduces women to female artists who faced similar challenges, expanding their sense of possibility
• The Red Flag Project collects textile flags bearing phrases from abusive relationships, creating awareness around domestic violence
• Women in prison often face judgment as "imperfect victims" when they've experienced domestic abuse
• Creative activities build resilience, self-belief and new identities beyond "criminal"
• Prison crafting creates ripple effects, potentially breaking generational cycles of trauma
• The crafting community regularly donates supplies, showing incarcerated women they're not forgotten

If you're interested in supporting the Red Flag Project, please check the show notes for details on how to create and submit your own flag to help raise awareness about domestic violence. For those experiencing abuse, support resources are listed below.

To find out Full details about the red flags and how to get involved: Click below
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1DW9ldQmwNWqAuyCJChrPNGX16TIDOn-3?usp=sharing

Follow Sarah on Instagram @edwardandthewhitebear

Book mentioned In Control: Dangerous Relationships and How They End in Murder : Smith, Jane Monckton: Amazon.co.uk: Books

Koestler Arts | Unlock the talent inside

If you need help:

https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/

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Rachel Pierman sits down with textile artist Judy Martin for a profound conversation about creativity, mortality, and finding healing through art. They explore the spiritual quality of handmade quilts and how creative work can become a sanctuary during difficult times.

• Judy describes her childhood in rural Canada where solitude and art supplies fostered her inner creative world
• The transition from painting to quilting as Judy raised her four children while maintaining her artistic practice
• How quilting became therapeutic during periods of depression and global anxiety
• The deeper meaning behind Judy's "perfectly imperfect" quilting philosophy 
• Judy's candid discussion about her fear of being forgotten and using art as a form of immortality
• The generational trauma patterns that influenced Judy's emotional landscape and artistic expression
• The symbolism of quilts - "the front is what we present to the world, but the back is where all the actual beauty happens"
• Judy's relationship with time and her comforting mantra: "I have all the time in the world"
• The yearning to return to painting while balancing the comfort found in quilting
• Finding inspiration in nature, particularly the sky, as a source of spiritual connection

If you've enjoyed this episode, please leave a review or share it with a friend who might find inspiration in Judy's story. For business inquiries, contact [email protected].

Follow Judy here: @judithemartin

https://www.judithemartin.com/

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Resilience emerges as the central theme when textile artist Caz Holmes shares her journey as a full-time carer for her husband following his debilitating stroke. She offers profound insights into finding balance between caring for others and maintaining your own identity through creativity and connection.

• Caz balances her renowned artistic career with caring for her husband Derek after his stroke in 2021
• The stroke left Derek with left-side weakness, limited vision, and spatial awareness challenges
• Creativity serves as healing for both carer and patient, providing focus and purpose
• Maintaining your identity is crucial when transitioning from life partner to caregiver
• Small moments of respite are essential for carers – walks, garden time, coffee with friends
• Finding ways to collaborate despite limitations helps preserve dignity for both individuals
• Caz identifies her "triangle of needs": challenge, connection to creativity, and connection to others
• The UK has approximately 5 million unpaid carers providing essential support
• Human connection is being eroded in our increasingly technology-focused society
• Speaking up about what you need as a carer is vital for maintaining your wellbeing
• Caz's motto "to do different" encourages finding alternative approaches to life's challenges

Contact Caz through Instagram to see her work and connect with her community of makers @casholmestextiles

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Davey Powell shares his journey as a queer traveller, navigating the complexities of growing up in fairgrounds while knowing he was gay from a young age. Through therapy, sobriety, and quilting, he's found a way to unite his traveller heritage with his queer identity to become the authentic person he was always meant to be.

• Growing up between two worlds - never "traveller enough" for the traveller community and too "traveller" for the outside world
• Experiencing violence and fear on the fairgrounds, forcing him to develop a tough exterior that conflicted with his sensitive nature
• Hiding his gay identity from age 8-9 until university, when he finally came out
• Facing rejection from his parents, culminating in his father saying "I've hated you since you were 15"
• Battling severe depression and suicidal thoughts while trying to find his place in the world
• Finding healing through therapy, sobriety, and quilting, which started during a difficult period in Canada
• Creating vibrant quilts that incorporate fairground aesthetics to unite his traveller heritage with his queer identity
• Learning to speak to his inner child and angry teenager to heal from past trauma
• Proudly embracing both his showman/traveller background and his gay identity after years of feeling they couldn't coexist
• Using traditional fairground fonts and sign-painting techniques to reclaim positive aspects of his heritage

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Sarah Spencer takes us on a journey of transformation, from corporate employee to artist, radio host, and community activist while navigating major life transitions and personal growth.

• Moving from Canada to Chicago represents a complete life reset
• Transitioning from property appraiser to artist required sitting with uncomfortable feelings of identity loss
• Meeting her husband at Burning Man led to love, marriage, and eventually motherhood
• Postpartum anxiety pushed her toward therapy, which became a transformative force
• Overcoming extreme fear of public speaking by trying stand-up comedy
• Using privilege for community good rather than feeling guilt
• Creating art as therapy during emotionally challenging times
• Finding your authentic voice and accepting that not everyone will appreciate it
• Learning to face fears rather than avoid them—bravery isn't absence of fear but acting despite it
• Developing the mantra: "I am a spirit having a human experience"

Find Sarah's art on Instagram @IOtheAlien and join her for the upcoming Picture This VIP Club at CraftyMonkies starting in June 2025.

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Leo Ransom shares his transformative journey from being in the wrong place at the wrong time to becoming an accomplished portrait quilter who channels his experiences of prejudice and hardship into creating meaningful art.

• Started quilting at 16 and progressed from traditional to portrait quilting
• Learned resilience after being arrested by association with drug dealers despite being innocent
• Faces ongoing racial profiling and prejudice as a Black quilter in Texas
• Developed a philosophy of patience and dignity when confronting discrimination
• Found his voice through portrait quilting that captures subjects' essence
• Married to a white man and found acceptance in their church community
• Uses his art to process societal trauma, particularly during difficult periods like the George Floyd murder
• Aims to expand charitable work creating quilts for children in homeless shelters
• Discovered his grandmother was a quilter only years after starting himself
• Graduated college at 50 after life circumstances interrupted his education

"Don't ever say that you can't; say that you can, jump in with both feet and see what happens."

Follow Leo on Instagram @lions_den_quilting

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