One In A Million....

Not the words you want to hear from a specialist doctor...

 

I debated whether to post about this and came to the decision that if it can help one person then it is worth putting it out there.

So here goes...

 

For as long as I can remember I have had a mole on the iris of my left eye. Not a lot of people noticed it, but I always saw it everytime I looked in the mirror. It started off very small and with each of my pregnancies with my 3 boys it grew bigger and further into my iris towards my pupil. I have always had it checked by a number of doctors and specialists and it was always just a mole. That was until this year. I had been having some vision problems so off I went to have it checked out.

The original diagnosis made no sense to my husband and I so we asked for a second opinion.

 

On October 10 we headed to Sydney to see one of the top eye surgeons in the country.

Within 20 seconds he had diagnosed it as a melanoma !!!

Right then our whole world changed...

I was nearly sick. Paul's mouth was gaped open in shock. 

Me: "So what action do we take from here?"

Dr: "We remove the eye ! It's ok, I do it all the time."

Me: "No really, there has got to be another way." Tears streaming my face. "I have told you I am a quilter!! I need two eyes !!

 

After much discussion he sent us off to meet with a Professor in Sydney. Unfortunately the Professor gave us the same diagnosis. It is so rare. One in a million !!! and the only way to rid my body of this horrible thing is to remove the eye.

So a date was set, October 30...
I had 13 days...

I started preparing myself for living my life with one eye. There was no way that I was going to take this lying down. I started to practice sewing and quilting with my left eye shut. It was all ok. My seams matched, my quilting was fine and it put my mind at ease to know that my life shouldn't change that much. I was driving with my eye shut and even that wasn't too bad. I had come to terms with it and I was going to hit it head on. Telling family and friends was the hardest part of the whole thing. Everyone we spoke to was so upset and I felt I had to stay strong for them. Once I was staying strong I felt strong and the more I spoke about it the stronger I felt. That was until I had to see my GP for all the test results prior to surgery. I was a blubbering mess. The results were ALL CLEAR!!! It had not spread.

The day came for my surgery. I had my hubby Paul, my Mum and my sister Monique with me. It all went very well although once the pain killers started to wear off...OMG...
I was a bit sad but not as much as I thought. The first night was a bit tough but every day since has been easier than the last...

Within 4 days I was off the pain killers and cutting and prepping hexagons to do while I was recovering. I think having something that I love to do has really helped me get through the whole ordeal. Also the amazing support I have had from my family and friends including all my ladies from my classes. Thank you to you all for your kind words, messages and phone calls to make sure I wasn't getting depressed....you all know that I could never be depressed !! I don't do depressed...

 

My pretty hexagons...

 

 

Loving them...
 

It has been almost 4 weeks since my surgery. Life has pretty much returned to normal. I have been sewing, quilting and driving. I do lose my balance every now and then but that will get better with time. I will soon be fitted with a prosthetic eye and I will look the same it just won't see a darn thing.

Custom quilted and bound ready for a magazine shoot... all with one eye!!
I have impressed myself...

I guess the moral to my story is if you think something is not right, it's not going to hurt to get a second opinion. You never know it may just save your life. Melanoma is rising in Australia. We all remember running around in our swimmers all summer and not being able to lay down in bed at night because of the sunburn. We are starting to pay for it now.....

Thank you for reading my story. This is the last you will hear of it here. As I said I am moving ahead as normal and I will have some great stuff to show you very soon.

Happy Quilting
Leanne xo

Australian Machine Quilting Festival....

Wow, what a week !!!

I went with Jan and Clare to Adelaide for the Australian Machine Quilting Festival. The first day we went to a Ricky Tims seminar. He is a quilter and musician and a very funny man. It was a huge day and I learn lots about his techniques.

 

 

All the crazy quilters at the Ricky Tims seminar...

Ricky's Caveman style quilt...

His beautiful Rhapsody quilt... I love this...

 

Day 2 we started the classes...oh so many classes!!!

 

Jan and I....Oh yes, we look really happy here. It is our first class. You should have seen us at the end of the day with our bloodshot eyes... 

Some designing I did in class...

Sharon Parkinson's class. She had tonnes of helpful tips...

 

There were tutors from Australia and the US. I did four classes on the first day, three on the second day and two on the third. The end of each day was a huge blur....

I met so many fantastic people and some very talented quilters. My 2 favourite tutors were Michelle Turner and Vicki Jenkin. Both local girls with loads of talent. I got to spend a bit of time with them both out of the class. I was very chuffed that they both knew who little old me was. It made my day.

 

Besides the classes there was a vendor mall and quilt show. I spent a little to much at the shops and the quilts were amazing...

 

I love this quilt. I have always wanted to make one similar to this...

This is a snippet of the Best of Show quilt. All done on a domestic machine by Rachel Denneny. It is a queen size quilt with the tiniest stitching...

 

For 5 days I didn't go out of a 100 square meter radius. On the last morning we had a bit of time to walk through town. Adelaide is a beautiful city.... there is loads of inspiration for quilts everywhere.

 

Tessellated Floors...

 

 

Beautifully patterned ceiling...

 

 

The architecture is quite German...

 

In a little arcade there was this button shop. Absolutely chocked full of the most amazing buttons.

 

 

Thanks to Jan and Clare for being great roomies and the 2 year countdown is on til next market.

 

Back to reality and the studio...

 

Happy quilting 

Leanne xo



1 Week....

In 1 week, myself, Jan and Claire are off to Adelaide for the Australian Machine Quilting Festival.

I am starting to get a bit excited.

I may have gone a little overboard with the amount of classes that I am doing but I figured that it only comes around every two years and I had better make the most of it.

There are tutors from all over coming to share their expertise in machine quilting on both longarms and domestic machines.

We are gone for 6 days and 5 nights. I've never been away from my family for that long before, I wonder if they will cope. I bet all the washing is waiting for me when I get back...haha

 

Before I leave I still have tonnes of quilting to get done. I have been quilting like a crazy lady lately, although, I did take last weekend off so I didn't actually go crazy.

 

Here is some of what I've been up too...

A nice loop the loop quilting pattern...

 

Chantilly Lace on Sarah's gigantic quilt....

 

At one point Dudley had had enough and he need a little timing and a little love. We are on good terms at the moment...touch wood...

timing time....

 

I've had another one of THESE quilts....this was quite bad and I couldn't do much with it. The owner was fine with it so I didn't stress too much.

look at that wavy border.....

 

This last one was great to quilt. I forgot how much I love this quilting pattern...scrollwork...

 

 

 

Back to the studio

 

Happy Quilting

Leanne xo

 



I'm A Cover Girl....

...well my quilt is anyway.

 

My Quilt "Supernova" is on the cover of this months Quilters Companion.

It's so exciting !!!

 

 

 

 

A close up of the quilting...

 

 

I'll be back with more news soon...

 

Happy Quilting

Leanne xo



What a fantastic time we had at the Newcastle Craft and Sewing Show. Susan of Little Red Jug joined me on the Universal Magazines stand.

Well, as you may know, I love to chat. Put me at a place with thousands of people who have a quilting obsession the same as me, and I can chat all day. I loved spending 3 days with Susan. There was not a moment we couldn't find something to talk about. Thanks Susan for the great company.

See on the front left of the table, that's my quilt that is in the Quilters Companion Precuts Issue. It is released in October....

Jody, Jan and Ally were there on the All About Sewing Stand. Nice quilts girls...

 

Happy Quilting

Leanne xo



Newcastle Show Set-up Day....

Today I was in Newcastle doing the set-up for the Universal magazines stand at the Newcastle Craft and Sewing Show.

The show starts tomorrow and I will be there on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

If your in the area drop by and say HI



Happy Quilting

Leanne xo

Busy Times Ahead...

It's so nice to be sitting on the lounge relaxing. I have had a hugely busy week.

On Monday I started working at Patchwork by the Lake at Boolaroo. I am running their Longarm Gammill quilting quilts for customers.  It was very interesting learning a new machine. It's an automated machine.

Tuesday was a class at All About Sewing. It's always a great day with the Tuesday sewing ladies. Wednesday I quilted all day in my studio. My husband even took the day off work to clean the house because I'm so busy. Thanks Paul...

This one is Amanda's. It's another big one...

Thursday I was back at All About Sewing with my Thursday class. It's a nice little class and they always get so much done. When I got home that afternoon I quilted a little quilt for the lovely Ena. Hubby picked up the slack again and cooked dinner for the family.

Friday was my block of the month at All About Sewing. It's a fun improvised quilt and the ladies have really taken to it. Again when I got home I quilted the quilt below.

My new pattern...

 This one is my new quilt design. I will have the pattern and template available very soon. It's made with two layer cakes and a bit of curved piecing.

Today I quilted two quilts. And now I am exhausted....

 Tomorrow I am having a day off....yay...

Because next week is even crazier, if you could believe that!!!

The Newcastle Craft & Sewing Show is on and I am working on the Universal Magazine stand.  As well as the usual classes. I guess Hubby will be doing a little more than he bargined for...hehehe

Happy Quilting

Leanne xo

I'm Published...

...in Australian Homespun Magazine....Woohooo!!!!

This is the first of four magazine contributions this year. I'm very excited about it !!!

 I was so excited when I did it that I forgot to take proper photos of it....

Last November I got a call from Catherine, the editor of Homespun, asking if I would like to make a quilt for an upcoming issue. "OF COURSE!!" So I went about designing a quilt. Catherine had asked that I make it out of "Ruby" by Bonnie & Camille.

This is the design I came up with. A double pinwheel made from 2 1/2" strips and a background colour (white)

Meet "Ruby Rose"...

 I just love the styling in this photo. I want that house to put my quilt in...

I quilted it with an all over floral...

A couple of photos taken with my phone...

I really enjoyed making this quilt and I hope you do to. This issue is available in store now and I will have the pattern available in about 8 weeks.

Happy Quilting

Leanne xo



Flying Along....and a new job!!

Tomorrow I am starting a new job at Patchwork by the Lake at Boolaroo. I am quilting on their computerised Gammill (Statler) for them to help with their backlog. I am really looking forward to being there in amongst all the beautiful fabric and spending time with the lovely Fiona. I am still teaching at All About Sewing at Charmhaven and quilting at home. Wow, this year has been busy...

This month the first of my magazine contributions comes out in the August issue of Australian Homespun mag. I'm very excited about it and can't wait to see my quilt in print. It is called Ruby Rose if you want to check it out. I will have pics when I get my copy!!!

Yesterday I quilted Rhonda's quilt. She has made this awesome quilt for her grown son. I'm sure he will love snuggling under this one.

Til next time...

Happy Quilting

Leanne xo

Phew...

Yay...It's finished !!!

It is beautiful... all the extra fabric has been hidden in amongst the quilting. I can't even tell where it was.

Thank you for all the encouraging comments. They really helped me stay sane...haha

Here it is still on the frame...the feathers hide all extra fabric...

Outside for a photo shoot...

This is the border from the before photo with the waves in it. Looks a bit different now...

The back...I love it..

The next quilt is on the frame ready to go. It's an all over, so nice and quick after a long week.

Happy Quilting

Leanne xo 



Taming the Fabric....

Well, it's been a good day in the studio today.

I did lots of stipping in the background of the applique blocks and feathers in the setting triangles.

As you can see in the bottom photo I haven't yet started on the borders. The more I quilt on it the more confident I am that it will all be fine.

It should be all finished by the end of the week...yay...

Happy Quilting

Leanne xo