Heart Quilt

This small 21" x 21" heart quilt is from a kit in a little sack that I purchased early this month at Bob's Bernina. It is quick to make as I started cutting it after lunch and had it pieced before dinner. I am making it for my radiation technicians who have made my trips to Topeka enjoyable each day. I may have to make a couple more of these. I have lots of 30's reproduction fabric that would make an outstanding quilt and also lots of batiks.

My quilting has consisted of finishing the hand sewing on the Vintage Moments quilt and then making the label for it. Now to get that sewn on.

Notebook Covers

These quilted notebook covers hold a 5" x 7" spiral notebook. This was a project pattern and kit given to the members of Bob's Bernina First Wednesday Sewing Group. This is a delightful group of ladies who enjoy each other's company and learn from each other. Diane and Carrie, Bob's sewing geniuses, moderate the group and lead the projects. I have used one of the notebook covers for the past year and love it. Now I am making them for family and friends. Jill is a special neighbor who loves horses and received her notebook to use in her new job.

My other interest this week is free standing lace. I am in a listserve that provides lessons for making FSL. I have worked on a round coaster. I need to finish it with a motif and then try stitching it out to see if it holds together. This has been an interesting project.

Vintage Moments

Vintage Moments by Marsha McClosky is a quilt that I finished last year. My quilter finished it last week and I put on the binding today. It is just a happy, calming quilt!

I purchased the pattern when I first started quilting. I knew I did not have the skills to make this quilt so I purchased the 30's reproduction fabric as I found it and waited for my piecing skills to improve. I practiced making Lemoyne stars and was unhappy with the results. I made a small wall quilt from four of the stars and was surprised at how nice they looked. Lemoyne stars became much easier to sew after seventeen of them. I really found out that precise cutting of the pieces was important with this quilt.

The quilters at the local quilt show showed it to their network group and received many compliments. The quilting is complimentary without overwhelming the quilt design. I am very happy with this quilt.

The Adventure Continues

Yesterday was my six week check with the surgeon. She is pleased with how I am healing and said I have a "blush" from my radiation treatments. I will check in with her again in four months.

Today was treatment number 13 of 34. Every Tuesday I meet with my radiology doctor to check out how I am feeling and seeing if I need anything. Dr. C is a delightful doctor who took the time during our first meeting to find out a lot about my professional background. He and I are both graduates of Kansas University. I always have a book when I am waiting, so we chat about reading. Last week he gave me the title of a book that members of his book club had read. So I stopped at the local library to check out The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. The book revolves around the occupation of Guernsey Island during WW II. It is a fun book and well worth the time.

This week I made Dr. C a small KU desk quilt. He was almost overwhelmed that I would do that for him. He really is one of the kindest and most positive doctors that I have met.

Last week I became part of a bisphosphonate research study that provides for patients who are taking some type of cancer hormone treatment. The bisphosphonate is to help strengthen my bones and chase away any cancer cells that may be in the bones. There are three medications and I was randomized to take Zometa (like an industrial strength boniva). It is the IV med and must be taken once a month for six months and then every three months for 3 years. On Tuesday I went to the IV unit to be given my IV. The nurse who tried to put in the IV did not find the right place in two different areas and I was so tired of being stuck--I would not allow her to stick me again. That certainly stirred up the troops. I was soon visited by my oncologist, the research nurse, and the head of the study. I did go home and think about whether being part of the study was worth the pain. In the end I asked for the best nurse in the unit and the IV was inserted with no pain on Thursday. Amy is now my "IV angel"! The Zometa did make me feel achy, have a headache, and not sleep well. After a couple of Advil and some sleep I did feel better by Friday evening.

The saddest thing about this adventure is that for the last two days the waiting room of the cancer center has been packed with patients. It really is time for us to find a way to prevent cancer...

Four-Path Stacked Posie is History

I finished the borders on the four-patch stacked posies this morning. Now I just have to purchase some backing fabric and it will be ready to go to the long-arm quilter. (ignore that pink peeking from under the top)

I woke up the other night and was thinking about this quilt. My thoughts were to make a scalloped border on the quilt. So I cut the border wider than necessary so I have some choice as to how deep and wide to make the scallops. I think it will be an interesting addition to the quilt.