Hancock's of Paducah

This is the scene at Hancock's of Paducah as quilters search for fabric. The back room of Hancocks has table after table of folded bolt ends. It takes a full load of patience to search for the fabric, wait your turn to have it cut, and then stand in a long line to pay. But the price is right and almost all the quilters stop by Hancocks. Sharon had never been to Paducah so we stopped by to show her the back room and then all the fabric in the front of the shop. It can be an overwhelming scene for a newcomer.

Paducah Quilt Show

This week I am working in the Overbrook Quilt Connection booth at the Paducah Quilt Show. This is Sharon and Roxanne (shop owner) who are the financial wizards of the booth. We are in a building on Kentucky Street in the downtown area. We opened on Tuesday because we are not in the main convention center. My job is to demonstrate. I started demonstrating the Bohin mechanical chalk pencil, QuiltSmart cell phone bags, and the four sided placemat. The chalk pencil is a HOT item and we were sold out by 2 pm on Tuesday. The cell phone bags were sold out by noon on Wednesday. So I have also demoed Aunt Philly's toothbrush rag rugs and we are sold out of those patterns. I am still working on the placemats and have sold half of those patterns and showing locker hooking. I have such a fun time talking with people.

Sneak Preview

This is a preview of one block of the heart quilt that I am stitching. The various colors will represent the specific types of cancer. This quilt will eventually be a gift for the radiation department of the Stormont Vail Cancer Center.

New Adventure: Chapter Three finished

Yahoo! It is a day of celebration. I had my last radiation treatment today. This is the radiation equipment that has been used in my 34 treatments. The gantry is turned to the left so that the treatment is only on the spot where the lump was removed. The white form on the table was especially formed so that my left arm could lay above my head exactly the same each day. The portion of the machine on either side of the black center area can be moved to the sides of the table to take x-rays. I would have an x-ray every week or so to be sure the measurements remained the same so that the radiation would be in the same area.

This really is one of the best run medical departments that I have used. My treatment would take about 2 minutes from walking into the room to walking out. The therapists were on time or early with appointments at least 90% of the time. The only problems were machine contrariness or having to schedule all the afternoon appointments with the morning appointments for whatever reason. The therapists are kind and caring, each with a great sense of humor. They were very pleased with their heart quilt and were hanging it as I left the building.

One of the positive aspects of being in the same place every day for two months is getting to know fellow patients. That really was a fun and interesting part of treatment. Another unique aspect was getting to know fellow readers. I always had a book with me for the minute or two of waiting and someone always wanted to know what I was reading. One of the therapists gave me a book that she had finished reading.

I chose to up my exercise level the day before I started treatment. Each morning and evening I would ride my Swinn Airdyne for 30 minutes. During my treatment time I have accumulated 600 miles on my bicycle and read a multitude of books.

Haley's Notebook Cover

This is a small cover that has a 5" x 7" spiral notebook. It is just the right size for a carry along. It is the same cover as I made a few weeks ago. Haley, my granddaughter, really loved one I made for her aunt. So she went to the local quilt shop and chose two fat quarters for her notebook. She takes it to school with her and says she gets lots of compliments. I am so glad she likes it. She did a great job of choosing the fabric and I used a teal shade for the quilting and embroidery.

Haley brought me a pair of jeans that she had torn a hole in the back. She was not too excited about having me embroider something that would be on her fanny such as a butterfly or ladybug. Last year I bought all 345 colors of Isacord thread with my economic stimulus check, so I was able to find a couple of colors that blended with the light blue denium. When the repair was finished, the stitching barely showed. She was pleased and surprised.

Sewing Group

The first Wednesday of each month Bob's Bernina has a sewing group. There are no dues and you don't have to have a Bernina. You just have to have a passion for sewing or working with fabric or fibers. We start with a show and tell from all the members and Carrie & Diane our leaders. This is a group with infinite talent in many areas including making purses, embroidered quilts, embroidery on all kinds of things, quilting, piecing, weaving, and one of the latest areas is making baby clothes and accessories. We have a great time together and learn so much from each other. I love first Wednesdays.