After Three Rounds of Chemo

I have gotten several emails from readers expressing concern about my cancer diagnosis.  I wish I had some good news for everyone. 

After three rounds of chemo, my tumor is stable.  Tumor markers are still elevated, but they don't always coincide with tumor shrinkage.  There is no evidence of new spread of disease.  My CT scan from last week looks exactly the same as my CT scan from August.  So we don't know yet if the chemo is working.  I have to have 2 more rounds of it and will get reevaluated in mid January.

I've been able to manage the side effects from this chemo, and I know now pretty much what to expect from it, so I am ok about staying on it a little while longer and giving it more of a chance to work.

Physical therapy wasn't addressing my hip pain, so I  have been seeing an acupuncturist.  I was very skeptical about whether or not this would help.  I have a degree in chemistry, and the scientist in me felt that acupuncture was akin to witch doctoring. My oncologist was not exactly supportive of it, but agreed it would not hurt me.  But it has been working not only for my hip pain, but when I told her that my white blood count was getting very low ( a side effect of the chemo which can delay treatment), she started treating me for that too.  Needles around my belly button!

The good news is that my white blood cell count is up  in the low normal range now.  It is the highest it has been since I started chemo. It actually went up during my last round!  Acupuncture is not covered by my insurance, and it is a little pricey, but it is so much better for my body than taking advil and tylenol around the clock.   I am going to keep on having acupuncture as long as it seems to be helping.  For those of you who haven't tried it, the needles are tiny, much smaller than your extra fine quilting pins, and I rarely feel them being inserted.  If they hurt a little, she removes the offending needle. 

Overall, I am feeling pretty well other than a sore throat that is probably a cold coming on and  not cancer related.  I am still working a few hours a week in the quilt shop. The biggest news is that  I have been able to walk my dog again! We  have  both missed our 2 mile a day walks, but with my hip pain I haven't really been able to walk him.  Just this week we have been out 3 times, and I love getting that part of my life back. 

I'll update you again when there is more news.  Thanks for all your concern, prayers and positive thoughts!

Tree Farm, Quilted and Bound

I finished this little lap quilt a couple of days ago.

This is Tree Farm by Keera Job.  It was a kit by Missouri star.

Debbie Cooper of Finish My Quilt did the longarming.  I told her I wanted something with snowflakes, not overtly Christmassy, and she found this pattern of snowflakes, waves and circles.  I love it!  The back is a gray minky.

Linking up:https://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com/2018/11/lets-bee-social-249.html



Used this week: 4.375 (binding for Tree Farm, scraps to Alison)
Used year to date: 159.625 yards
 Added this week:  0
Added year to date:174.875 yards
Net Added: 15.25 yards

Treasure Hunt, Continued

It took me almost three weeks to decide on a layout for this quilt. I could have probably done some more block moving, but enough is enough! I found a purple grunge that was perfect for the cubes, and I added a lot of them.

I've gotten my half hexagons sewed in rows.  The rows still have to be pressed so that the seam allowances will nest and when they are sewn together.  This is the part of a OBW that seem to take forever and is where I tend to get bogged down.

Used this week: 0
Used year to date: 155.25 yards
 Added this week: 7.375 (purple and black for OBW, sale FQs)
Added year to date:174.875 yards

Net Added: 19.625 yards

Linking up: http://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/2018/11/design-wall-monday-november-5-2018.html

Flower One Block Wonder, Quilted and Bound

Flower OBW surprised me.  It came out so much better than I thought it was going to.  I'm very happy with this one!

I like the back as much as the front.

The original fabric was just stripes of the big flowers and the row of green leaves, repeated in rows across the yardage.  I didn't have much of the fabric left, so I pieced the floral stripe for the back.  I always like to remember what the fabric looked like before the OBW process.  If I had had enough, I would have made this stripe a border on the front.

Vicki Johnson of Threads That Bind Us did the longarming.  She chose the pattern.  I chose black batting and the black thread. I like the way the quilting shows clearly on the back and then disappears into the print. 

One downside:  The black fabric means this quilt picks up lots of lint and stray hair.  I want to be sure to give it to someone who does not have furry pets.  Maybe I should give a lint roller along with the quilt!

Linking up:  https://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com/2018/10/lets-bee-social-248.html
http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2018/11/magnificent-maples-quilt-top-complete.html

Stash Report:
Used this week: 0.5 (flower OBW binding)
Used year to date: 155.25 yards
 Added this week: 0
Added year to date:167.5 yards
Net Added: 12.25 yards

Treasure Hunt on Design Wall

Treasure Hunt OBW has been on my design wall for a while now.  It has walked from one end of the wall to the other as I search for the layout.  It still needs work! I would rather make an ugly quilt than a boring one. I already know this one will be interesting.

 I started with Marcia Derse's Treasure Hunt panel:

I am toying around with the idea of cubes, but I haven't found the right colors yet.

Linking up:  http://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/2018/10/design-wall-monday-october-29-2018.html

Cross Stitch Finishes

This cancer diagnosis has made lit a fire under me as to getting my UFOs done before I die.  How ironic it will be if I live another 30 years!  I finished  Plum Street Sampler's A Friend Loveth a few weeks ago:

This one has been folded for a while, and I didn't bother to press the crease out before taking the picture.

I chose to use DMC colors since I don't like to buy specialty threads for such a small project.  The overdyed threads can really drive up the price of a piece, and most small projects only use a few strands of them.  I think it would look nicer with Gentle Art floss, but I wasn't willing to spend the money.  In addition to finishing up my UFOs, I would like to use up my stash, not add more threads for my heirs to deal with.

I also finished The Cross-Eyed Cricket's Sleepy Hollow:

This project has been a thorn in my side for at least 8 years.  I knew almost from the start, that the linen color was too light, but I started it anyway.  Big mistake!  If the linen isn't right from the start, best to start over with the right color.  I lost my enthusiasm for the project almost immediately, and my progress has been super slow.

I  had to spend time tracking down two skeins of a WDW floss that had been discontinued.  Then I made a counting error that threw off the placement of one of the buildings. It was a big mistake, and the house was almost completely stitched when I discovered my error.  I wouldn't have had enough of the discontinued floss color to restitch if I had frogged the mistake, so I improvised. It looks ok if you don't know where to look.

I do like the overall effect now, and it I mount it on black foam core, the linen will darken a bit.  My favorite part is the way the pumpkins seem to glow. 

Dawn's Early Light Progress

One of the projects I have been working on this week is Dawn's Early Light.  I have completed 25 blocks and need 9 more.  Unfortunately, I have used up most of the pre-made pieces I need, so the next nine will go slowly.  There isn't a good way to rush 3 1/2 inch scrappy friendship stars!  The pieces are tiny, and accuracy is important in tiny blocks.

Stash Report:
Used this week: 0
Used year to date: 154.75 yards
 Added this week:  0.75 yards (three FQs) 
Added year to date:167.5 yards
Net Added: 12.75 yards