Be*mused

Exercise...the fun kind

You might think that while I was off, running around previewing wedding menus, unpacking dishware and making Thanksgiving muffins, I wasn't thinking about quilts. You would be wrong. The longer I was away from my sewing, the more I thought about them. As I moved unfinished projects from bedtops to shelves, in search of temporary resting places, I paused to consider next steps. As we ran around town with the wedding checklists, in the back of my mind I was thinking about wedding quilts. And occasionally when I was too tired to quilt at night, I'd haul a few favorite quilt books and magazines down to my comfy chair, flip through the pages and plan some new pieces. No, although there have been a few times in my quilting life when my interest has waned a bit, now is not one of them. In fact, I'm about full-to-bursting with ideas, plans and enthusiasm.

I've been itching to start something new, but with so many irons in the fire already, I decided that I'd get my fix by making a doll quilt. After watching Kathie and so many of you recreate antique favorites, I knew this little quilt that had been in the back of my mind for years was the perfect candidate.

I decided to really study it as I went along, trying to capture some of the same serendipitous flavor of fabric combos. Although I didn't duplicate the exact block layouts, I did make a deliberate effort to choose similar fabrics in design. Even with my large stash, I found that I definitely lean toward certain types of prints when I purchase reproductions and I had almost nothing that would replicate that wonderful dark print with the red staccato repeats in the center blocks.

At first, I tried this recent print (above), which hit the right color notes but didn't convey that playfulness of the original print. In fact, as you can see, it almost reads as a solid.

The long-time quilters among you may recognize the print that finally came closest to the original version...a very old (about 25 years!) Jinny Beyer print. When I moved from Indianapolis to Chicago, I got rid of lots of fabric from that vintage. Hmmm...no looking back!

26" x 26"

So here's my small top, ready to be quilted! I'm really happy with it and will definitely do more of this kind of exercise. While I'm usually striving to take a favorite old design and make it my own, I think it's really informative, design-wise, to try to replicate a piece now and then. Especially something folky that is particularly appealing. Some of these pattern, value and color juxtapositions aren't in my usual volcabulary so now I'll have some new things in my bag of tricks for next time. I have a lot more wall space in this house so I can definitely see more of these small quilts in my future.

Hi! Remember me?

The last item out of the last box

The last month just about killed me...not because of any tragic scenarios, but an inundation of circumstances that kept me so tied up that something had to give. By the time I realized it was going to have to be the blog, I didn't even have the time to pop in and wish you all a nice Thanksgiving. I've been swamped.

The good news is that:

• We pretty much got all of the wedding plans in place during Molly's nine days home.
• Several more home update projects were finished, including some electrical work in the living room/dining room...
• which allowed me to finally unpack the numerous dish-pack boxes that were still stacked throughout the first floor...
• just in time to prepare the house for 10 Thanksgiving guests who arrived from multiple states for several days' visit.

Written down, it doesn't sound like all that much, but I haven't hosted a holiday like that ever and trying to get the place settled on top of the baking and the planning was all-consuming. Most of you will appreciate that additionally, I was trying to finish the wagon-wheel quilt to hang in the dining room, but alas, that wall is still blank. I was so close! There's always Christmas.

So here I am, sipping a cup of tea, thinking about my pretty clear calendar for December and, dare I say it, all winter. The house is totally unpacked...how good that feels after 3 months! And I've finally returned to the sewing room.

This is what I've been working on this morning, something that I'll tell you more about next time...which might even be tomorrow. Now, however, I'm heading to Curves to try to re-establish some semblance of routine in that area of my life, too. Too many things have fallen through the cracks here over the last 6 months or so and one glance in the mirror confirms it!

Rerun

I planned to post yesterday, but the day got away from me and when I tried to log on after the trick-or-treaters wandered home, our cable connection was down. So a day late ~ seems like my usual these days ~ I'm here with a slightly updated post from 5 years ago. Even if you remember this, I ask that you reread it, just as a little reminder. I usually try to keep the blog light, but I think this is so important...indulge me, please.



So here it is, November 1. The arrival of Halloween yesterday signaled not only the inevitable drawing to a close (abruptly for some!) of the gentle transition to winter months and the end of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Has anyone else been surprised at how pink has come to rival black and orange as the color of the month? Seemingly at every turn...at my bank, on the football field, at the White House...everywhere! It's become so ubiquitous that there's even been a bit of a pink fatigue noted. Whatever your opinion, there's no disputing the fact that a fabulous job has been done to promote public awareness and research on this disease which has touched so many. Have you all had your mammograms this year? Great. Now I'm going to nag you about something else.

Molly and K, Halloween, 1986

Twenty-five years ago this month, I was diagnosed with 4th stage Hodgkin's Disease...end stage lymph cancer. I was 33 and your average young mom...a room mother, Cub Scout assistant, busy,busy,busy carpooling, sewing Halloween costumes, teaching quilt classes. In late summer, I had noticed that when I took my sneakers off at the end of the day, the soles of my feet would feel itchy. When I tried to relieve it by rubbing or scratching, the sensation would continue up my legs. No rash, just an insatiable itch. This seemingly innocuous annoyance was the first warning.

By the time I saw a dermatologist in October, I was feeling a little tired. What young mother doesn't feel tired at the end of a day? Within a week of my appointment, I had started what would be a year of chemotherapy. Very successful chemotherapy, fortunately. I benefited from then-recent medical advances and although I noticed a number of Hodgkin's deaths in the obits that year (you tend to do that when faced with dire possibilities, read the obits, hoping not to find any unfortunate victims of similar situation), my year of treatment was mostly forward-looking and positive.

I must admit that the Pink Campaign has always made me a little bit uneasy, because I fear that many women get their mammogram results and feel they're safe for another year. And when some little, naggy, out-of-the-ordinary *thing* appears, it's easy to put aside. Ignore. I'm busy, of course I'm tired. It's just itchy feet. Whatever.

Visiting Molly, 2005

My hope at the time was to last long enough to see our kids grow up. I dared not wish for the events of the last few weeks. When I met Molly in NYC last weekend, we were actually on a successful mission to find her wedding dress. (Details next July!) And now, at the end of her month-long business trip to the U.S., she has landed with us in Cleveland for a week of putting plans in place for her wedding here next summer. *Whirlwind!*

So here's my suggestion heartfelt plea. When you see those pink ribbons, let them be a reminder to be attentive to your whole health situation. No ache, pain, mark or itch should be ignored if it persists for several months. I thank God for these last twenty-five years and shudder to think how close I came to missing them.