Pink Lemonade Anyone?

Would you care to join me in some freshly made pink lemonade?

No, not that kind…the quilted kind!

I finished piecing my version of Lori’s Pink Lemonade, a quilt-along that she hosted back in January.  I thought that I would be able to finish hand quilting it during the six weeks that I was away for my radiation and chemo treatments but such was not the case.  During that time, I had absolutely NO interest in anything quilting related…except for perhaps looking at pictures in magazines…and wondered if the spark would ever be rekindled.

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Well, I’m happy to say that it has…and with a vengeance!

On Sunday I finished the hand quilting and just this morning, sewed the last stitch on the binding.  Then I washed it and tossed it in the dryer to give it that aged, vintage and crinkled look.

Here’s the back…complete with my new label.   

♥ those labels!

I promised myself that I would finish up any projects that I had lying around before starting into something new and that’s what I’m doing.  Two down and one to go.

Next on the list?

The 12 Days of Christmas sampler by the Temecula Quilt Company.

I  can’t tell you how good it feels to be back in my studio again!!!

Feeling groovy…

Because I’m slowly getting back into the sewing groove!

Remember my postage stamp flimsy that I finished waaaaay back in November?

I picked it up about four weeks ago while I was home for the weekend from my treatments from the gal who quilted it for me but at the time, the last thing I felt like doing was preparing and sewing on the binding.

After dusting and tidying up my studio yesterday, I decided that enough was enough.  I went through my stash, picked out a suitable fabric then cut out and pieced the binding.  

But I didn’t stop there!

Before I knew it, Fanny Featherweight and I had the binding sewn on, ready for me to complete with hand stitching.

This was the first time that I had sewn anything in almost two months and I was over the moon with joy at the sense of accomplishment.  But by that time I was tired and rather than push myself, I decided to call it a day.

Bright and early this morning, you know what I was doing…right? 

I don’t know about you all but I love stitching the binding.  It’s the very last step before putting the project to bed and although I’m sure it can be somewhat anticlimactic and boring for some, for me, it’s a sense of fulfillment and that’s exactly how I’m feeling right now!

Now the BIG decision is whether to put it in Emily’s room…

or hang it from the quilt rack in the upstairs hallway?

Which do you prefer?

If you’d like to help my friend Lesley name her second Schnibble quilt, then head on over to her blog, The Cuddle Quilter.  She’s having a giveaway and if you like pincushions…because you know you can never have too many pincushions…then be sure to pay her a visit.

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Can you see me happy dancing?  I’m feeling groovy!

It’s over…

Almost. 

I have to return to Halifax tomorrow for one last radiation treatment because the machine that I was assigned to was down for one day and as a result, they tacked the missing treatment onto the end.  I really don’t want to go but I promised myself and Mr. Painted Quilt that I would give it my best shot and if driving the 250 miles round trip is what it takes, then so be it.

The radiation and chemo treatments have not been easy.   I have extensive burns, blisters and open wounds from the radiation and supposedly during the next week to ten days these will only get worse as a result of the cumulative and lingering effects of the 30 treatments.

On a positive note, however, this has been the first weekend where I have not experienced nausea and have been able to eat something other than toast and a piece of fruit. 

So guess what is simmering on the stove?

A huge pot of spaghetti sauce! 

I’m hoping that I’ll be able to enjoy a little of it for dinner.  I know Mr. PQ will because after the second week of treatments, I did not have either the stamina or fortitude to able to cook anything but thanks to our friends and neighbors, they kept him well fed and occupied.

All I’m hoping for now is for my mojo to return soon.  I’ve had neither the will nor desire to do anything quilting or stitching related and even my appetite for reading has disappeared.  After the second week of treatments, all I did was sleep and and could only manage to look at pictures in magazines. 

My poor house has been very neglected as well which is so un-me.  But the dust bunnies have promised to hang around until I’m strong enough to tackle them, hopefully some time later this week.   *wink*

So while dinner is simmering on the stove, this is what I’ll be doing this afternoon…

Opening all the wonderful cards, letters and prezzies that arrived during this past week!   You guys are the greatest!

I can’t tell you often enough how grateful I am to you all for being there and for holding my hand while I walked down this scary and unknown path.  I doubt that I could have done it without your support and encouragement.

Until next time,

There are no words…

That can describe my feelings and emotions as I write this.  I am completely overwhelmed and the lump in my throat continues to take my breath away.

This is what was waiting for me on our dining room table upon arriving home at around noon on Friday.  You could have bowled me over with a feather.

I am not going to lie to you all but it’s taken me until this morning to feel well enough to open all your cards and gifts.  Thankfully, the nausea held off long enough to allow your many rays of sunshine in to brighten my day.

Of course Frankie had to check out what all the fuss was about and wouldn’t stand still for even a moment while I tried to snap a picture. 

I opened and read each and every greeting and sentiment and lingered upon each and every word.   Even now my eyes are red from the many tears of gratitude that were shed as I read them all.

And then…

This was the last gift that I opened this morning, probably because it was in the largest box and like a child at Christmas, I saved the biggest until last.  It’s a good thing that you weren’t all here because I totally lost it…but in a good way!  Mr. Painted Quilt is a pretty strong guy but he had tears in his eyes as well.  I have to share the words that were pre-printed on the card that accompanied the gift.

“Often it’s the time between treatments and tests,

bad days and good,

worry and relief

that can be the most challenging.

As you move through

this hard time,

 I hope you’ll find

moments of grace

when you need them most.

Thinking of you

and praying for good news.”

Thank you Jean.

I received a ton stuff including cards, fat quarters, sock yarn, wool, pin cushions, pillows, hearts, Valentine socks (the radiation technician gals are going to love them), a hand made fabric post card, magazines and a slew of ‘bits-and-bobs’. 

When I’m back at home and feeling better, I am planning to have a photo parade in order to share with you all the wonderful surprises that found there way here to our home in Nova Scotia.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I don’t know if I would have made it this far without you all.

Two weeks left!  My fifth and final chemo treatment is tomorrow then all that will remain are the final eleven radiation treatments.   It has NOT been an easy journey.  Along with the nausea and vomiting, I now have severe radiation burns that I’m told will only worsen during the last two weeks. 

However, I’m on the downside and there is no looking back now.  I’ve made it this far and have no intention of throwing in the towel.  Heck, I’ve got waaaay too much fabric and too many projects are just waiting to get started!  Besides, spring is just around the corner and I can’t wait to start playing in the dirt.

With much love, gratitude and affection,

Two weeks down…

and ONLY four more to go!   Woo hoo!

I’m home for the weekend and never has home looked so good!

I knew it wasn’t going to be easy but I can assure you that no matter how badly one feels after chemo and radiation, I count my blessings each and every day because there are too, too many people who are so much worse off than I am. 

How can I possibly thank you all for your support while I travel this bumpy road?  A simple thank you just doesn’t seem to cut it but please know that I read each and every one of your comments…and more than once. 

Whenever I’m feeling down, I turn on the computer and read through them again because your words provide me with the encouragement that I know will help see me through to the end of my treatments.

Unfortunately, I was not in the greatest of shape when Mr. Painted Quilt came to pick me up last Friday.  I am hoping that this weekend will be better because so far this week, the nausea has been kept at bay for the most part.

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And just look what was waiting for me on our dining room table when I arrived home!

Mr. PQ never mentioned a word about there being packages and envelopes waiting for me and I can’t wait to see what they are and who they’re from.  My excitement knows no bounds!

Frankie hasn’t left my side from the moment I walked in the door.  He just about broke my heart with his outpouring of affection. Mac is never too far away either.

I tried some hand quilting and stitching last week but my heart just wasn’t in it.  Since then, I’ve read three books and just started on my fourth.  If that is what it takes to ‘fill the hole’, then I’ll just accept it and enjoy the written word.

As strange as it might seem, the creative juices haven’t stopped flowing.

Since Monday night…attributed perhaps to the ‘chemo fog’ which they keep on warning me about…*wink*… I’ve had a few design ideas floating around in my head which I committed to paper on Wednesday morning.  If I didn’t do it right then, I knew the images would disappear as quickly as they surfaced.  I didn’t think that I would be able to offer a new First Friday Freebie design until I was finished with my treatments, but I’m happy to say that I did come up with a design that I’d like to share with you.

Unfortunately I can only provide you with the line drawing and a few suggestions as to how to incorporate the design into a project but I’m sure that you’ll all be able to figure something out.  And because I didn’t arrive home until just a short time ago after my 7:30 a.m. treatment and a two and a half hour drive, I’m a little late in getting it out to you this month.   *wink*

So without further ado, my 25th FFF is entitled, Easter All Around. 

 

Although Easter is not until the first weekend of April, perhaps this ‘extra’ time will allow us all enough time to complete our projects in time to enjoy them this year.

To download the PDF file which includes the line drawing and some general instructions only, please click HERE.  

I can’t promise you anything for next month but if another design emerges, you know that you’ll be able to find it here.

In closing, please understand that my computer time is very limited and that as much as I would like to visit and leave a comment on all of your blogs and to reply as I usually do to your individual comments, it is just too physically demanding for me to do so at this time.  What I will tell you is that I miss you all more than you’ll ever know and the strength that I take from your words is immeasurable.