2012-2013 Mystery Block of the Month

To say I am excited about this finish is an understatement.  From the minute I found out that the 2012-2013 Mystery Block of the Month from www.fatquartershop.com was going to use Vintage Modern by Bonnie and Camille I couldn't wait to begin.  I finished the quilt up last night and took the photos this morning. 

 

 

Two of my favorite blocks in the quilt.  I love, love, love the grey and red one!

 

I purchased a different fabric for the backing than the one that was offered in the program.  The grey pebble fabric in the photo above will be the backing.  I am making a phone call to a new (to me) long arm quilter who is much much closer to my house to have this one quilted.  I have been quilting my own quilts for the last 3 years and decided it was time to have one quilted by someone else.  The best thing is that this is mine, all mine.  I have never made a quilt for me, they always go to someone else.

 

I am linking up with Fabric Tuesday, Show and Tell Tuesday and Finish it Up Friday.



WIP Wednesday

Look at this stack of lovelies....I bought this quilt kit about 2 years ago and cut the fabric out, made the blue and green stacks and there it sat in my fabric closet.  With all the gloominess that has been in my life recently, I needed to sew something bright and fun.  I finished sewing all the strips together and cutting them out.  The first two rows are all sewn together and my youngest daughter has already staked her claim to this quilt once it is all finished up.

 

 

 

The fabric is Dilly Dally by Me and My Sister Designs and the pattern is Easy as 9, also by Me and My Sister Designs.

I did it!

I sat down and sewed and sewed. It doesn't look like much but holy piecing on both of these blocks and lots of pressing (seams open). I also made all my flying geese to go in the last row. It felt good. Cancer will not win.

 

**Updated with "real" camera photos**

 

 

WIP Wednesday

It may not look like a lot, but for my current place in life this is a lot and it means progress/coping with the challenges that my family is facing. I cut out the fabric for the March and April Mystery Block of Month blocks. I will setup my machine again and sew tonight.

My Dad is my biggest fan regarding my quilting and has always encouraged me and shown off my work to friends and coworkers. By not sewing right now I am letting him down and letting cancer win...he isn't letting cancer win so why should I?

I am still struggling with all of this....struggling a lot. I have good days and some really bad days. He was just ruled ineligible for a trial he had enrolled in because he got a stupid blood clot in his leg. No one knows why because he was up and walking less than 24 hours post op and had those inflatable boots on before that. I just want him to catch a break...I want him to respond to the chemo and radiation and I want him to be part of the 3%!

No sewing here

I would love to have something to show but I don't. I have had a hard time sitting and sewing since my Dad's diagnosis. The only sewing I have done in the last 4 weeks is his quilt.

I want to sew and the quietness is normally much needed and enjoyed with my crazy-hectic life as a working Momma/volunteer/mentor/ Girl Scouts Leader...but since my Dad's diagnosis, the peace and quiet leaves me too much time time to let my mind wander to places that it shouldn't.

I wish I could turn back time and be in a place where my Dad didn't have brain cancer, to a time when sewing was a stress buster and when I longed for peace and quiet. My heart is too heavy right now...

Cancer Sucks

To say my world was rocked two weeks ago is an understatement. Exactly two weeks ago my Dad was rushed to the hospital via ambulance after suffering what he called an "earthquake" on the left side of his body while at work. I was on the road for work and rushed home, packed a bag and started the 1.5 hour drive to my parent's house. Thankfully my Aunt was home and talked to me for almost the entire ride to help distract me from the unknown in the emergency room.

They thought he had a stroke....what the doctors would tell us later that night would forever change my life. My Dad had a brain tumor with a large cyst attached to it, much like a water balloon. Several days in the hospital and more tests we knew that his full body scan was clear and surgery to remove and biopsy the tumor was scheduled for March 18th.

Surgery went well and he was discharged after only 4 days. Friday we got preliminary Pathology indicating that the tumor is rare and malignant. We are waiting on final pathology from the research hospital and he met with his neurological oncologist today to develop his treatment plan.

My Aunt (same one who talked to me on my ride) called me on the 15th and asked me to pick her up at the airport on the 16th, she was coming to surprise my Mom and be there for everyone during this marathon. She said she was bringing fabric and we were going to make my Dad a quilt. The backing fabric looks like tree trunks and is quite fitting for my Dad...I have table that he made out of tree trunks. Grey is also perfect as it is the awareness color for brain cancer.

Saturday night we started cutting and sewing fabric at my sister's house. On Sunday, my sister decided that she wanted to learn how to sew and sat and sewed strips together for 2 hours. We sewed and cut on Monday night after the surgery and on Tuesday I left and headed back home, returning on Friday. My aunt sewed all day Friday to finish the quilt top and on Saturday I basted and started quilting. Quilting was finished late Saturday night and I bound the quilt. I am a crazy person who loves to hand bind so on Monday I started to bind the quilt, finishing late Tuesday night so my husband could deliver the quilt when he went to my parent's house Wednesday morning.

I just Facetimed with everyone and got to watch my Dad open his quilt. He loves it. I hate that these are the circumstances that he got his very own quilt, but I know that quilts bring comfort and I hope this brings him a ton of comfort. The quilt tag reads:

"The power of love to change bodies is legendary, built into folklore, common sense, and everyday experience. Love moves the flesh, it pushes matter around…Throughout history, "tender loving care: has uniformly been recognized as a valuable element in healing." ~Larry Dossey
"Wrapping you in tender loving care."

Sorry for the cell phone photos...my sister is sending me better, daylight photos and I will update.

Prayers needed

My Dad was taken by ambulance to the hospital Tuesday morning and has been diagnosed with a brain tumor.  We don't know much right now...he is having surgery sometime next week to resect and  biopsy the tumor.

I am asking for prayers for his healing and strength.  His doctor is the best of the best and we are hopeful for an excellent prognosis.  Please keep my father and his medical team in your prayers and I will provide updates as I have them.  His name is David.

Thank you!!