Lina Owen – Growing the Latino Quilting Community and Staying True to My Why

Introduction: Lina Owen, a passionate quilter and entrepreneur, shares her journey from Colombia to the United States, her quilting inspirations, and how she’s empowering the Hispanic community through her love of quilting. Early Beginnings (1:42): Despite only starting four years ago, Lina has made incredible strides. Learn how she transitioned from other creative mediums to quilting, inspired by her entrepreneurial parents. With top-quality tools and a supportive family, Lina’s journey has been extraordinary. Learning from the Best (7:21): Lina credits her quilting teachers from YouTube, including Missouri Star Quilt Company (www.missouriquiltco.com) and Love Jenny (www.lovejennyblog.com), for shaping her skills. She candidly shares why quilting felt daunting at first but continues to captivate her. Influential Figures (8:40): Lina discusses the impact of Melanie Hamm (www.melaniekhamm.com) and Kimberly Jolly from Fat Quarter Shop (www.fatquartershop.com) on her quilting journey. Upcoming Bilingual Quilting Book (11:17): Lina is co-authoring a bilingual quilting book with Laura Raquel Duran (www.marygoroundquilts.com), set for release in Fall 2025. Her mission is to make quilting accessible and culturally resonant for the Hispanic community. Latina Quilting Leaders (12:57): Lina highlights prominent Latina quilters like Veruschka Zarate (www.prideandjoyquilting.com), Vanessa from Crafty Gemini (www.craftygemini.com), and Carolina Oneto (www.carolinaoneto.com), who are joining her initiative to celebrate and grow the community. Moving to the US (13:47): Lina opens up about moving to the US due to unrest in Colombia, her journey from Florida to Wisconsin, and the resilience her family demonstrated. Quilting became a vital source of community and belonging. BlueBelle Designs (19:07): Discover the story behind BlueBelle Designs, named in honor of her experiences and triumphs, including being a breast cancer survivor. Health Journey (21:05): Lina shares updates about her ongoing health journey, battling both MS and cancer, and how she maintains her resilience. Podcasting Adventures (22:09): Lina talks about relaunching her podcast, Las Quilteras, in September 2024, co-hosted by Laura Duran. She also teases upcoming episodes and guests. Spanish Language Quilting Retreat (27:00): Lina recounts the success of hosting the first-ever Spanish language quilting retreat with Missouri Star, detailing how it felt to see her dream come to life and the retreat’s highlights. Future Plans (30:13): Exciting news: Lina is planning more retreats and previewing her 2025 Latino Sew Along. Latino Quilting Traditions (32:34): Lina explains how Latino quilts stand out with vibrant colors and the exuberant expression of “yelling” during the creative process. Community Needs (34:36): Lina emphasizes the importance of access for the Latino quilting community, advocating for more resources and recognition from companies. What’s Next (36:20): Lina embraces going with the flow as she looks forward to more creative endeavors. Wrap-Up (38:00): We covered it all this time, but Lina is always full of surprises! Contact Information (38:27): Connect with Lina on Instagram at @QuiltingwithLatinas and @blue_belledesigns. Stay tuned for her 2025 book, Quilting With Latinas. Be sure to subscribe to, review and rate this podcast on your favorite platform…and visit our website sewandsopodcast.com for more information about today’s and all of our Guests.