I own a busy cafe and took up quilting as a way to "escape" the stresses of my daily life. After my last son left home, I commandered his room and converted it to my sanctuary. When needing to concentrate (cutting, measuring etc) I play easy-listening or just instrumental (otherwise I would want to sing along!), and when sewing, or tracing appliques or ironing, I put on music I like to sing to! I do my actual hand quilting and applique out by the TV. I can't even describe how calming every process of quilting is. I would usually sequester myself in my "sanctuary" and loose all track of time, emerging well after 1 or 2 a.m., having lost all track of time(and leaving all stresses behind). Quilting several hours daily was a necessity for my sanity for many years. I now have a cafe manager, so less stressful!