Monday, March 3, 2014

Well.....

Here at our house we've had a wild week or two.
First of all, I want to tell you about my mom.
Eight years ago she was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer.
Her initial prognosis was 3-6 months.
We were crushed.
 
 
There was some good news when it was discovered her initial diagnosis was incorrect on the type of cancer cell...she then began what would turn into eight years of radiation and chemotherapy with surgery thrown in just because we looooove hospital stays.
(disclaimer, we handle stressful situations here with lots of humor!)
 
Those extra years have allowed us to spend more time with her and for her and my dad to spend time with my grandpa during the winters at their homes in Florida before Grandpa passed away.  I'm so thankful they had this time together!  She's seen grandchildren graduate and two of them get married.  She's gone to softball, basketball and soccer games.  She's been able to share in the lives of two great-grandchildren.
She is a strong tower and we love her.
 
About three weeks ago we received the bad news that her current round of chemo isn't working and her cancer is progressing.  She was sent to Indianapolis for a second opinion on treatment options and possible clinical trials.
We are seeing her doctor back here in our town to consult on hopefully continuing chemo.
Please keep my mom, and our family, in your thoughts and prayers!
 
One thing about cancer is that Life continues on no matter how much you want it to stop and let you breathe.  While we were in Indy for the second opinion, we met some incredible people who were creating watercolor bookmarks for cancer patients and cancer awareness.  Each cancer patient could choose a kit to take home and create something as part of the healing or coping process.  They invited us to come and paint with them after her appointment, but we'd had a long day, information overload and just wanted to get home.
 
The founder and I spoke about how the creative process is a stress relieving and healing one.
She paints to help her with the loss of her daughter, and I quilt for a number of reasons, but right now it is a quiet balm to my soul.
My hands stay busy.  My mind can wander.  And pray.
 
So, in the midst of the last two week's countertop full of dirty dishes, unswept and unmapped floors, undusted furniture, empty refrigerator (pizza and eating out was waaaay overdone at our house!), kids and hubs living out of laundry baskets and ungraded papers....I sewed.
 
Don't get me wrong, we still did school at home, kids got shuttled where they needed to be...but it was the bare minimum for me to get done as a mom because I was grieving and hurting as a daughter.
 
Once again, Pinterest was part of my week.  Cruising through other people's lives and projects for inspiration, encouragement and pictures of beautiful things.  I wasn't going to blog for a while, but my mom faithfully reads my posts and always asks me when the next one is if I miss too many weeks.
 
Love you Mom!
 
The Moda Bake Shop had a very easy, but elegant pattern that caught my eye.
I wanted to sew for therapy, but it was all I could do to get Ben through his Algebra I lessons last week, so any kind of quiltey math was going to push me over the edge.
 
 
See how simple and lovely this is?  This recipe size makes a baby quilt.
No complicated computing or thinking!
 
 
The recipe called for candy packs (2.5" x 2.5"), but I had these two charm packs (5" x 5") in my stash.  Saved for a rainy day.  Well, I needed some sunshine and cheer!
 
 
The cutting went very smoothly and was mind-numbingly soothing.
White Kona and some osnaburg.
The instructions on the Moda site were simple and easy to follow for piecing.  Once again I learned I should press, press, press for better fitting seams.
 
The hubs was incredibly supportive of me working through the news this way.  Not a word about empty underwear drawers.  Paper plates.  Eating out and take home pizza.
One day he even ordered me to buy pre-wound bobbins.  I didn't realize how tense I was until I kept breaking bobbins while trying to wind them.  His thinking was this was the less stressful (and cheaper way) to go.
 
 
I love that man!
 
 
You end up with six piles of foundation blocks.
 
 
That look like this when pieced together.
 
 
And here are the four finished blocks ready to be sewn into the finished baby quilt sized top.
I cut enough from my stash to make another four blocks, and when I find time to order one more each of the Moda California Girl and Honeysweet charm packs, I will have enough for a total of sixteen blocks which will yield four of the finished, large ones.  A nice cuddle sized quilt I hope.
 
I also finished up the quilting on the Bow Ties Value Quilt.
 
 
I basted it on a wall about a month ago.
Echo quilting in the "circles". 
 
 
Many colors and fabrics were auditioned for the binding, but a very small print stripe made a perfect compliment.  Not too flashy...to give the eye a rest.  Pleased as punch with it.
 
 
Very happy to cross this one off the WIP list.  A top that was started on February 2nd of 2011.
 
 
All washed and ready for a snooze.
 
Linking up with some amazing blogs this week to share my mom's story and maybe encourage others who are going through difficult times to just
 
 
and
 
You can find me here
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


12 comments:

  1. You know, someone just said to me yesterday, "it's only the people who have been through great battles themselves who can really hold us up and encourage us as we go through our own." That is so true. You have been such an encouragement to me as I've dealt with health and life issues. Thank you, and bless you as God comforts His own.....you and your family.

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  2. Such a lovely, encouraging post, beautifully written, giving us a li'l insight into your family with some of the most difficult situations one faces in life. How lovely that your mom has been able to experience all those li'l gems of extra moments shared with her family. My thoughts and prayers are with you as you live each day with this new prognosis and as you face each day with what must be so many conflicting emotions!! 'Tis lovely that you are able to 'lose' yourself in sewing, if only for a li'l while, to find a li'l solace. Yes, that charm pack is sunny and cheery and will look lovely as a baby quilt. And....your bow ties quilt has come up a treat. The fabrics, the composition, the quilting and the binding have all culminated in a very pretty quilt. I must say that it looks perfect on your armchair displayed with your lovely heart patterned cushion. As I sew this week, I will think of you and your mom and your family; and send lots of thoughts heavenwards that you will feel God's comforting arms around you!! Take care!!

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  3. I do so hope you have found some peace and solace in your sewing, it is indeed a wonderful way to retreat and heal in times of pain and hurt and how blessed you are to have such an understanding and supportive family and husband. Keeping you and yours in my thoughts and prayers at this most difficult time.

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  4. My thoughts are with you.
    Your newest quilt is lovely and calm inspite of the circumstances. The value quilt makes me say wow!

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  5. Thoughts and prayers are definitely with you during this trying time. I agree that the creative process certainly has an impact on us as humans. Love the new baby quilt you put together. It's beautiful.

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  6. Thank You for sharing your story and your quilt lovely. Thoughts and prayer are being sent for your family. God Bless...

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  7. I found your blog through Quilt Story, I designed the Candy Circle quilt and I absolutely love your take on the design. I also can relate to your story about your mother. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer right before Christmas, had surgery, and is now in radiation theory. Sewing is a wonderful therapy to work through the grief and to recharge. When you finish the quilt, would you allow me to highlight you and your quilt on my blog? You and your family are in my prayers.

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  8. Oh, this bow tie quilt is really stunning!!!

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  9. Your bow ties values quilt is beautiful - lovely work.

    So sorry to hear about your mum, but I fully understand how sewing and quilting allow you to deal with grief as well as unwind. I use it for much the same thing - a kind of productive quiet time. I pray God helps your family deal with your mother's cancer and be at peace.

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  10. Replies
    1. Thanks for sharing your story -- keep on stitching -- it's gotten me through some tough times in my life! Love your bowtie finish -- my mentor of many years, Mary Ellen Hopkins would have given it a thumbs-up!!

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  11. this is a beautiful post. thank you for sharing it. your quilts are so lovely as well. love your value quilt, and the new pattern.

    Thanks so much for sharing at Needle and Thread Thursday!

    :) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

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