Four Patch Posie

This four-patch stacked posies was started last winter in Arizona. I decided it really needed to be one less stack on my table. All of the 4-patch blocks were sewn. I had to sew the borders and attach them to the blocks. Five more horizontal seams and the blocks will be put together. Now I just have to decide about the border.

I was thinking of putting a dark blue border around the blocks before the flower border. I'll have to check out the looks of that before doing any sewing. Another few hours and this top will be ready for the quilter.

The quilter is working on my 30's quilt that she has had for a couple of months. I should be getting a phone call about it being finished in the very near future. It will be really awesome. I can barely wait to see it.

Project Completed

Yesterday I completed this project that had been in the sewing room for several months. The table topper uses Pellon quilter's fusible grid. The pattern titled, A Few Pointers, is from Crooked Nickel Quilt Designs.

I decided to make this because the local quilt shop had just purchased the pattern and I liked it. Quilter's grid has 1 inch squares that are set diagonally. The table topper is made by cutting 5" squares and then ironing them to the grid. Then the sashing strips and borders are ironed to the grid. The topper is sewn by folding the grid and sewing a 1/4" seam. Very easy to make a quilt or a topper.

I quilted the topper with stitch in the ditch and then digitizing a rose design for the squares. Lots of fun and so easy.

The New Adventure Chapter Three

This sign greets cancer patients as they head for the cancer center for their appointments

Tuesday was my first visit to the radiology doctor. He asked background questions that no one else has asked such as my profession and where I worked. He was very personable with a good sense of humor. We are both graduates of KU! He talked about the plan for radiation, the effects, and other aspects of treatment. I also had a CT scan with no dye that would help with precise placement of the radiation. One of the prerequisites was a mammogram on the left side where the surgery was done. So that was completed on Wednesday.

Thursday was my first radiation treatment day. There was a lot of time spent with determining precise measurements and body placement so that each treatment would be exactly the same and drawing lines around the area of the breast. Then I had my first treatment that lasted less than a minute. Before leaving I received several small, freckle-sized tatoos that would allow quick placement each day. Friday was day two of treatment with me in and out of the cancer center in less than 15 minutes.

I have not had any ill effects of the treatments. Two radiation treatments completed with 32 more to go.

The Big Adventure Chapter Two

Today was a big day at the Cancer Center. My first appointment was with a genetic counselor to discuss whether to have genetic testing. I have two aunts on my dad's side of the family who had breast cancer and a daughter of one of the aunts. So the discussion centered around how it would be valuable to me and for my children and grandchildren. The plan is to have testing done to obtain more information about my breast cancer and possible treatments in the future. Results should be back in two or three weeks.

Then it was the third visit with my oncologist. We discussed the results of my bone density scan which showed that I have good bones. The oncotypeDX test showed that chemo would be of little value for me. The CT scan showed a small spot on my lung that is a calcium deposit, probably from some type of infection long ago. We decided on a hormonal therapy that will last for five years and a bisphosphonate that will help prevent cancer from spreading to the bones or other parts of the body and also to strengthen the bones.

Tuesday I have an appointment with a radiologist to find out more about radiation treatments.

I am extremely happy that I will not have to undergo chemo. Doctor visits and blood tests will be my life for a long time.

Log Cabin Loco

This is a quilt pattern called Log Cabin Loco by Marlous Designs. It is a courthouse steps type of pattern and made with mostly 2.5 inch strips from 10 light fat quarters and 10 dark fat quarters. It does have bigger centers and a set of 1.5 inch strips. This is a quick quilt to make that goes together easily. You make 10 light squares and 10 dark squares, cut them in half, and sew them together.

I will be teaching this class at Overbrook Quilt Connection on February 28. You can enroll in the class by calling the quilt shop at 785-665-7841.

This is a picture from the pattern. My quilt has similar coloring. It can also be made with different colorings--reds and blues, light purple and dark purple, or any combination that is pleasing to you. Jelly rolls would be great to use with a contrasting fabric for the centers.

Happy piecing!

Everything Baby!

Saturday I got some more fabric for cutting the binding. Since the corners are curved, the binding had to be cut on the bias. The binding was finished yesterday during the football game. Today I added some details on the baby rattles, ironed the ribbons, tied them, and took a picture. So it is officially finished and ready to display! It really is a smashing quilt. Look at www.lunchboxquilts.com for this pattern and others.