So it's New Year

Its been a while and I'm back. During the last two months my cancer surgery - recovery has progressed well and the doctor released me on 12-2-2005. He has allowed me to drive and do a lot of things I use to do. Liberty and independence can be wonderful. My husband knew I would be out driving the next day and here he is asking how the bottom of my right foot is . "Can you put your foot down on the brake?" I started a tap dance on my right foot (where they inserted a skin flap to cover the hole where the cancer was) There was no pain and the best part is the doctor said the cancer is gone ( no therapy). So every day I push to be out and walk and re-gain may life, except for vacuum cleaning I can do almost everything I did before. My husband has been a dear and he takes care of that. This teaches you to appreciate those little special things and family.

I have completed - the landscape quilt- "Tunnel Beach- Kauia" and a baby quilt for Nicholas and a third quilt is nearly done - name still pending--- about flags. For Christmas I knitted 8 scarves as gifts and after that I knitted another one with Noro yarn for me. Recently I have been learning how to knit socks on circular needles. So my time at home is split between quilting and knitting.

This year Christmas was held at my house and I gave the blessing. I have a lot to be thankful--- There is a guardian angel out there watching over me.

In addition there is a new web site in the works with the help of Gloria Hansen.
My plans for this year include returning to work - some desk job somewhere- continuing designing and quilting new artistic projects. There are a couple of new ones in my head. Maybe knitting some special gifts or new sweater.
So I will be back. I wasnt sure if you were interested in my knitting adventures- wool now comes in such vibrant colors.

J Chaplin Halloween costume- 10-2005 

Kuaia Beach in progress 11-2005 

Baby Candy- baby quilt 11-2005 

Recovery

The last 8 weeks has been like a roller coaster- ups and downs. Recovery takes time and I am impatient. Last week was one of feeling sorry for myself and now that is gone. This may sound strange- making up my Halloween costume gave me a sense of the possiblities and knitting in the morning over a cup of coffee in bed (no time to think). This week has brought the completion of a baby quilt (something simple I could handle) There is a sense that I can accomplish almost all of my regular things in life- cleaning, laundry, climbing stairs to let the dogs out, changing the sheets on the bed, cleaning the kitchen, cooking all by myself, doing the grocery shopping (my husband has to drive), and now organizing my sewing room. It all sounds quite simple and everyday- but I was unable to do any of that since 9-6-2005. The last part is to be allowed to drive and my total independence- maybe by Christmas. What I want now is to complete some of my textile art which I began prior to the surgery. Well- on the day after my birthday- the landscape piece- "Kuaia Beach" is now down on my machine. The fabric for this piece has been pulled out in buckets near my work table (please note in the beginning my left wrist was in a cast with limited weight bearing--- today I did it by myself). To me I have reached a great point and all things seem possible. I still have 2 more smaller wall hangings and 24 postcards to make up. and Of course - 3 knitting projects in the bin. Stay busy!!

recent postcard 8-2005 

Recent postcard- 8-2005 

Back after surgery

Well I'm back. One month post surgery for cancer - I have started to sew again. On 9-6-2005 they cut out a malignant melanoma from the bottom of my right foot and filled it with a graft from my left wrist. This was a 9hr surgery and for me a miracle. The doctors and staff at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC were always positive and make all treatment for cancer seem easy and doable. Years ago the "big C" word was never spoken and now the attitude is so different- recovery is possible. The dye cat scan taken that day was negative- I am still waiting for the rest of the results.. My recovery has been from a wheelchair with no weight bearing on my right foot and no use of my left hand but my husband and family have been a great help. He opened up my sewing table so that my wheel chair fits under the table with my left foot on the pedal. Since the first biopsy in June, the surgery is over, the stitches are out- the worst of it is over. I have most of the use of my left hand (it still has an ace bandage) I am eager to regain my life.

This whole experience was one small miracle after another. There had to be a guardian angel watching over me because in 8 weeks it all worked out. I have had time to think and wonder where I am going from here. While I was in the hospital for 10 days, I assisted (with a few phone calls to hospital staff) this 77 yr old lady who was alone and needed help getting home. She was so appreciative of my help and hated to leave me. This is a small inspiration or sign- maybe I was meant to be of service.
Right now I am working on 2 baby quilts and in the next few weeks finish a large wall hanging called "Kuaia Beach". It may take me a little longer to do it than before- but I can see light at the end of the tunnel.

These were the last two postcards before surgery. I have joined another swap for post cards.

Postcards going out

My Art2Mail - postcards have been so much fun. Today I have 26 cards going out and there is still more to do. The creative juices started going with my new Bernina 440 - free motion and batik combinations. It's really difficult to let these cards go out. Hope you like them. This is something different than the work from QBL. For me it is the kernel of ideas that work up into something larger. You could even put these together as mosaics with solid fabric in between.

Postcards- play with batiks 

Postcards- play with water. 

Postcards- 3 styles- all with batiks 

Framed postcards-sandstone 

QBL class piece - black and white study 

QBL class piece with Emily Richardson as instructor- Garden of Good and Evil 

Just back from QBL

The last month has been difficult; I have been diagnosed with a malignant melanoma and surgery is coming soon. The whole experience has been a test. My sewing has been my main therapy. My family has been a great support; my family doctor has been my champion. The insurance company has approved surgery at Sloan Kettering in NYC; they have paid for everything. I found a capable surgeon who will be taking care of me. My son tells me I am stronger than I know. The week at Quilting by the Lake was important. Time away to just enjoy; the heat was unbelieveable- 90's every day with no air conditioning. The bed was lumpy and the food was good. My instructor Emily Richardson was just great; she was pushing me into art composition and expression from an abstract point of view. She had a slide presentation every morning and then we had exercises to practice what she had just discussed. By the end of the week we were asked to complete 4 pieces (18" x 24" average) using solid colors in black/white, 6 shades of one color, several colors of our choice, and one piece based on a word or idea (passion, doubt, strength, anticipation, nervous.. etc) I believe It really turned me around so that my work will have some new direction. She is more the consummate artist than quilter. I gave her a big hug. Next year I want to take another course of this type of work. I do have some work to show from last week which I will put on the blog tomorrow.

Having fun with postcards

Each time I look at a piece of batik - I imagine something which I can draw out with my new machine. I have been having such fun doing free motion stitching. My husband calls it seeing 'animals in the clouds'. Here are two sets of cards which will soon be going out for the Art2Mail swap. These are only kernels of an idea that can be expanded. If you have the book Color Fusion - Fiberworks by Laura Heine --- she really develops this idea.

Pebbles - in detail-- postcards 

Hydrangea postcards