Saturday, March 18, 2017

Have You Read Red Books?

The color of the month for March at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is Red (even though we were all thinking green yesterday, LOL).  This was a crazy busy week, but I did manage to get three bookcase blocks sewn.  And everyone else was busy, too. Come check out the ravishing red goodness at Angela’s Scrappy Saturday link-up.

Here is the first block, where I used mostly wine-reds.


Then there was this one, where I got to use some of the selvages donated to me by my friend Angie Helman at Quilting on the Crescent. Some of those scraps were donated to her by Sally Trude (you know, Molly’s problematic human). And last year Katie at Zana’s Nini’s sent me some as well. Thanks ladies! All in all, a group collaboration!


And my favorite.....


Together, they look like this:


This shelf will be finished off with two pink blocks when we get to that color.

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Other sewing:  I finished a Jedi tunic with under-shirt (a dickie), a belt, and sash/tabards for my grandson Easton. He is attending ComicCon today, Saturday. I told him the only charge for my materials and labor was that he send me a picture in full regalia. He has pants, boots and a light saber to go with the tunic, etc. I expect him to be dashing, and will definitely post a picture next week.

Here are six Broken Dishes Star blocks that I made this week for the Block Lotto.  I haven’t posted them there yet, but will get to that today.  We were asked to do them in 2 shades of blue (with the star being darker) on white. Sorry for the bad picture.


Bruce had the first reconstructive surgery Tuesday on his right forearm. First, the oncology surgeon removed the final (we hope) 1x4cm patch of cancerous tissue, then the plastic surgeon got to work. The first area was covered with a large skin graft from his leg.

The second area, which needed skin and tissue was handled differently. Basically, they used an old fashioned procedure where a skin flap from his abdomen is used to cover the patch on the arm. They had to cut the patch in a U shape and attach 3 sides to his arm while leaving the 4th attached to the abdomen. This will give the patch time to “settle in” on the arm and grow its own capillaries (etc) - like transplanting sod, LOL. Then, in 3 weeks, the patch is cut from the abdomen and the final side sewn down on the arm. His tummy is then “tucked” to cover the missing skin/tissue. (I volunteered to have my tummy tucked, but they weren’t interested).

So, for 3 weeks Bruce has his right arm sewn to his tummy. Nice, eh? (Can you sense the dripping sarcasm?)  It will be a loooooooong three weeks. Oh, and that surgery day was also my birthday. I can definitely say it’s one I won’t forget, but if Bruce is now cancer-free, that is the best present ever.

The sun has definitely been shining brighter here.

Cathy maroon

30 comments:

  1. Love that red bookshelf, I think you are having fun with these books and titles, I'm having fun checking them out. Healthy wishes and thoughts being sent to Bruce.

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  2. Scrappy Bookshelf Blocks ... what a great idea! Love all the little details on your blocks ... :) Pat

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  3. you are so clever!!! What a fun quilt to look at Kathy, you'll have to enter the finished work in quilt shows so we can all gawk and point and say, I have that!

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  4. Your bookcase quilt is going to be SO wonderful. And all the very best wishes to you and Bruce as he recovers and heals.

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  5. What a great idea to use selvages as titles! I may steal that idea. Best wishes to your hubby. It's amazing what doctors think up. And happy birthday!

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  6. Hi Cathy, I love your red books. Have you saved salvages for them? And that flower pot, so cute. You did great! Happy Worldwide Quilting Day!

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  7. Your bookshelf row is gorgeous. I LOVE all the little details. The flower pot, the Cat in the Hat!!! Love, love, love. Have a great weekend, Cathy!

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  8. Doesn't it make you wonder who thinks up these surgical procedures? My husband's leg bone (fibula) is now his jaw.

    Happy belated birthday!

    And I LOVE your reading material. The Birds and the Bees was my fav this week. Reminds me of being a wee youngster and being handed a booklet and told to read it after I became a certain age. I was told it was about sex but I failed to understand sex even after reading it since it was all about pistils and stamens and pollination and such! (I wish I still had the darned thing).

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  9. The red bookshelf is beautiful. I'll have to remember to save selvages should I try a bookshelf quilt. I think it would be a perfect quilt for my sister - she loves to read and collect books. Three weeks I hope will fly by and then the worst will be over.

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  10. Your book shelf left me smiling big!!! I just love how the red books turned out, and I really want to read some of them after perusing the titles! ;)
    Here's hoping the next three weeks whizz by you like a freight train out of control! My BEST wishes to you and your hubby!!!

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  11. I love your attitude!!! I can't help but giggle even though you are talking about cancer. Glad things are looking up. Sewing gives you patience. Get lots done in the next 3 weeks.

    And I love your bookshelves. All the titles are awesome.

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  12. Love the red bookshelf - especially the little pot of flowers!!
    Here's hoping 3 weeks pass quickly and the skin flap does what it's supposed to! So glad you are on the healing side of this!

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  13. Cathy, your red book shelf is just wonderful! So much fun to look at. I've been thinking about you and Bruce a lot since reading your earlier email and now this post. Oh, the things we have to do in this life. Happy Birthday! And take good care of yourself. It's hard on the patient, but also hard on the care giver. Hugs!

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  14. Good luck to your husband as his arm heals. I really like your broken dishes. Perhaps you'll win the quilt lotto :)

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  15. I love your bookshelf blocks!!!!! What a great thing for Rainbow Scraps!

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  16. what a unique idea. prayers for you and your hubby. hugs lj

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  17. Love the shelf of red books! Awesome!
    Hope Bruce heals nicely. And Happy belated Birthday, dear!

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  18. The red books are terrific. Love the titles. I will look in my stash for titles to send you. How wide do you cut the selvege? That will be a fun treasure hunt. Will be,praying for fast healing with no bumps on the way. Hang in there a little longer, dear Cathy. I know the strain on the helper can be tough.

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  19. The red book shelf is wonderful. I just read through some of your posts. What a great quilter you are and my, you are busy!
    Like Nell, I have a sister who is an avid reader...is a librarian as a matter of fact. I've had it on my list to make her a books quilt. I really should do it.
    Happy Stitching and a wish for everything better in your life!

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  20. LOVE the red books! What a great way to use selvedges. I'm glad to hear Bruce is doing well. I can't imagine the next three weeks will be easy, but hopefully it will be well worth it in the long run. If they need more tummies to tuck, give me a shout!

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  21. I'm posting two comments here. Somehow I want my thoughts to be separated. When I was reading your description I didn't think what you were describing is what you WERE describing. By the time I was done reading my eyes were welling while thinking about what he and you are going through. But then when you stop to think about it, you realize what a miracle it is that medicine has has discovered this procedure!! Today I am grateful that Bruce's surgery went well and pray for his complete recover.
    Much Love
    Carol

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  22. OK, you KNOW how much I love these bookcase rows. Forgive me if you have mentioned this before. Please share if these rows are completed in blocks or a complete row. Also, how tall is each shelf. I am definitely going to make a bookcase quilt. Now, I'm off to see all of your "contributor's" links.
    xx, Carol

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  23. Molly would like you to know that if she could climb on your bookcase, she would knock over the potted plant. She says it looks too enticing.

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  24. Your broken dish blocks are pretty. Prayers for Bruce 's continue healing.

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  25. Very nice! Those flowers make it the prefect spring shelf! Best wishes for Bruce's recovery and that things go smoothly and cancer free from here!

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  26. That bookshelf is fabulous!
    Wishing your husband speedy healing!

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  27. Your red bookshelf is very fun! Love all those book titles too. Hope the next 3 weeks go faster than you expect. Doesn't sound like a lot of fun to have your arm sewn to your middle. Hopefully this is the beginning of all the healing. Wishing you lots of luck (and patience).

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  28. I think I'm going to love your bookshelf quilt - not that I like books or anything (ahem - we won't mention just how many currently reside under our bed waiting to be read!!). You know my thoughts are with Bruce - and with you.

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  29. Great red book shelf. I can not wait to see the whole thing finished.

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