Pages

Friday, August 22, 2014

Fat Quarter Friends Swap for September - Time to Swap! + Cancer Update

As some of you may know, I have been dealing with a uterus condition since last fall 2013.  End of June my OBGYN diagnosed me with Stage 1 Uteran Cancer.  I was an emotional wreck for 3 weeks.  I started having dreams where they took out my uterus but couldn't find any Cancer.  I was screaming and crying at the doctor that he took away my only chance to have a baby.  I got a 2nd opinion.  On (Mon) July 14th I went to a fertility specialist to discuss freezing my embryos before the hysterectomy.  He said he felt something was wrong, that I should discuss things with my Cancer Specialist which I was seeing the next day (Tues) July 15th.  I asked her if it was safe for me to put off the surgery for 2 weeks for freeze my embryos.  Hubby and I have been married 2 years and no kids yet.  The Cancer Specialist gave me the shocker of my life!  She said that nowhere on the original biopsies nor on my paperwork from the first doctor does it say that I have Cancer!  The documents said I was still borderline!  She said God was talking to me thru my dreams and it was good that I paid attention.  So I went thru emotional hell for 3 weeks, calling my friends and sister crying about not being able to have a baby.  Anyway, but my uterus was in a serious condition and was 99% full of bad tissue.  So that following Monday the 21st I flew to Cairo, Egypt for a surgery with a world renowned OBGYN/Cancer Specialist.  The surgery is called a D&C.  That is where they dialate your cervix, take a spoon shaped utensil and scrape out the inside of your uterus.  Uteran Cancer runs in my family so they took samples from 8 different surfaces to make sure that I didn't have Cancer.  Both Cancer Specialists said that my OBGYN didn't know what he was doing when he diagnosed me with Cancer.  So the surgery was successful, Thank God.  All tissue samples came back negative.  They did remove some cysts though.  I thought where I was staying in Cairo, Egypt would have internet.  Nope I was wrong.  I was staying with my hubby's brother and his wife and they feel they don't need internet.  So I couldn't send out this email.  I just got back from Egypt and I am super jetlagged and still store from the surgery.  I will have to take hormones and other meds to keep the bad stuff from coming back again.  I can't get pregnant on my own so I have to take fertility meds.  I will keep yall posted with how things turn out.



Let's keep the ball rolling with another successful swap!  We're consistently holding onto about 20 swappers per month!  I hope we continue to grow.



HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF THE JULY SWAP PACKS. 











THESE ARE LIP BALMS FOR MY SWAP PARTNERS I PICKED UP AT JOANNS THAT LOOK LIKE THREAD SPOOLS.  SUPER CUTE!


THESE ARE NEEDLEBOOKS I MADE FOR THEM AS WELL USING THIS TUTORIAL BY SEW SHE SEWS BLOG






WHAT THE PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE SWAPS!:

"I just wanted to share my beautiful Fat Quarters that I received from Carla!  I'm so glad I did this swap because it got me back into my sewing room and motivated me to get back to my quilting!  I'm looking forward to the next swap! I wish I knew more people that quilt so that they could join in!"
*
"Thanks for putting this together! I would love to do another one!"
 *
"April, look at this attachment and see what Heather sent me for the April FQ Friends Swap!
Isn't that a sweet gift!  Thanks for organizing the Swap and sharing with all us others!" 
*
"Hey I got my package from Amber and LOVE what she sent.  Count me in for doing this again in May."
*
 "This is my first swap ever and I am now hooked.  The fabrics my partner choose are perfect."
*
 "Thanks for organizing it & can't wait to do the next one!"
*
"I'm having so much fun swapping each month!"


TO SIGN UP FOR THE SEPTEMBER 2014 SWAP, CLICK HERE!


The FAT QUARTERS FRIENDS SWAP allows participants to add their own personalization if they choose by decorating the outside of the package, using decorative wrapping for the fabric itself, including a personalized note/card, including any small gifts that their FAT QUARTER FRIEND would be totally excited to receive.  

You don't have to include any extras but some ideas are maybe:
  • A Matching Spool of Thread
  • A Cute Sewing Notion
  • Sewing Pattern you no longer want/need
  • Yummy candy
  • Anything else you would like your new friend to have!

THE DETAILS / MEAT N POTATOES / INS & OUTS OF THE SWAPS

* The Fat Quarter Friends Swaps will be open to Canada & USA Only.

* This will be a monthly swap but you only sign up for the months you want to participate.

* There are no fees other than buying Fat Quarters, extra goodies & shipping costs.

* The link for the online Sign-Up Sheet is above and you have until Aug 31st to register.  There are 3 slots on the online form asking for favorite colors, favorite designers and favorite collections which will help you pick out Fat Quarters that your FAT QUARTER FRIEND will love!  

* I will then pair everyone up by September 2nd then send out emails to let everyone know who their FAT QUARTER FRIEND is.

* Please make sure that you ship your package by September 10th, which gives you about a week to go shopping from your local/online quilt/fabric shoppe.

* Send 4 different Fat Quarters that are unwashed &  are "quilt quality".  You can send Fat Quarters from your own stash as long as they are in like new condition and are full sized & selvage not trimmed off.  Or buy new Fat Quarters.

LEARNING SEGMENT - CRAFT FABRIC VS QUILT QUALITY FABRIC
* Some new swappers have asked me what is the difference between "craft fabric" & "quilt quality" fabric.  Several years ago when I started sewing I thought all cotton fabrics were the same and didn't know the different between "craft" & "quilt" fabrics.  Most newbies have this thinking, and it's perfectly okay not to know any better.  Not all cotton fabric is the same.  There is "craft" fabric and "quilt quality" fabric.  There are some national chain stores that carry fabric but you have to know the difference between "craft" and "quilt quality" fabric.  "Quilt Quality" fabric is softer and has a tighter weave.  "Craft" fabric has a looser weave and most of the time you can hold it up to a light and you will see the light between the thread weaves.  Plus "craft" fabric is stiffer & feels rougher.  Wal-Mart carries "craft" fabric.  Joann's carries both "craft" & "quilt" fabric.  The long colorful wall where the fabrics are in rainbow color order is considered "craft" fabric.  The fat quarters in the slots on this wall is "craft" fabric.  Though the rainbow wall does have some great looking patterned/designed fabrics, it's not what we are aiming for with our swaps.  Joann's does have some "quilt" fabric and it will be labeled on the price sign with the word QUILT.  Hancock Fabrics carries mostly "Quilting" fabrics.  Most cities and towns have at least 1 Quilt Shop.  There is no doubt that Quilt Shops carry only Quilt Fabrics.  I have been to some towns that were so small you would pass it if you blinked and they had a Quilt Shop!  Most Quilt Shops have baskets or bins of Fat Quarters already cut up.  What I like to do is if I like a fabric I think is perfect for my swap partner then I will get a half yard so I can keep a fat quarter for my stash.  If you are shopping at the Chain Stores, ask the ladies/gents in that department who quilts.  Then confirm with them that a fabric is sonsidered "quilt quality".

* If for some reason you are not able to participate after signing up, PLEASE let me know by August 31st so that I can rearrange pairs.

* I will ask that all participants email me in August when they receive the package from their FAT QUARTER FRIEND so that I can keep track of who has/hasn't received theirs.

* For those participants that have blogs, I think it will be awesome to show in a blog post what our FAT QUARTER FRIEND has sent us!

*For that that are swapping for the 1st time, I will add your email address to our special E-list so that I can notify you right away when I announce the next month's swap.



IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AT ALL, PLEASE LEAVE THEM BELOW!  NOW, LET'S SWAP!  DON'T FORGET TO GRAB A FQ FRIENDS BUTTON BELOW (STILL TRYING TO FIX THE ONES ON MY RIGHT SIDEBAR).

PLEASE SHARE ON YOUR BLOGS OR WITH ANY FAMILY/FRIENDS THAT LOVE FABRIC TO HELP INCREASE OUR PARTICIPANT NUMBERS!  I WILL BE SHARING THE SWAP ANNOUNCEMENT ON INSTAGRAM IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN REPOSTING IT.  MY INSTAGRAM IS SEWKOOLBEENZ.

KoolBeenz
KoolBeenz
KoolBeenz
KoolBeenz
KoolBeenz
KoolBeenz
KoolBeenz
KoolBeenz


7 comments:

  1. So glad to hear that it's not cancer. I just wish you hadn't had to go through all the emotions of believing that it was. I hope you're feeling better now that the procedure has been done. I also believe that everything will work out concerning children, just believe with all you being that what is meant to happen will. Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow! I feel for you. Hope your recovery goes well. I'd love to take part in the swap, but am in Australia.
    Robyn

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, my gosh! What an experience. I'm stunned you had to go to Egypt for that medical procedure. I've had a D & C right here in the US, but cancer wasn't involved. I'm so happy to hear that you are cancer-negative. I wish you well in your efforts to have children.

    ReplyDelete
  4. So glad it was pre-cancerous, not cancerous. Glad you asked questions. Hope the fertility stuff works.

    ReplyDelete
  5. So glad to hear that you are cancer free. I can't even imagine the emotional roller coaster you have been on.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am so glad that the original diagnosis was wrong! But what an awful 3 weeks you must have had. When I was 39, I had a complete hysterectomy because of a huge uterine cyst I had. The dr. wanted to remove it intact as he told me it might be cancerous. Luckily, it was not. But I remember the emotional turmoil.........

    ReplyDelete
  7. OMG what an ordeal! So sorry you had to go through all that. I can't believe a doctor would tell you that and then go oh wait no you don't.
    Why Egypt? out of curiosity. Glad to hear there is still a chance for a baby(s) KoolBeanz. ;o)

    ReplyDelete

I Love Reader Comments! They make me Smile! Please leave me one!

I try to respond to all comments on my blog except during give-aways. If you never receive a reply to comments you leave here, you are probably a no-reply-comment-blogger. Change that status in your blogger profile and I will start responding to your comments!

NO WORD VERIFICATION HERE! YAY!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...