City in the Rain
Jul 16th, 2009 by Lisa
QA Challenge 2004
Every city has its reputation. Seattle is well-known for its rainy days.
Best Challenge and
Best Interpretion of the Song Title.
Best Interpretion of the Song Title.
A new book…
Jul 16th, 2009 by Lisa
…about painting on fabric or quilts arrived today. Great inspiration, so many different ways to apply paint to materials. - Makes me run upstairs and mess around with paint.
But, hold on,
- first I have to make a clean space for new creativity. Oh, what a chaos lives in my studio! I better get going to clean up this mess before I start a new one.
Plenty to do…
Jul 13th, 2009 by Lisa
…after so many months of sickness and treatments.
Yesterday, I tried to have ”naked” look into my room which I call studio. Not too promising and inviting for creative work. It’s a world away from being my favorite space. I suppose, it’s time to to serious planning of all the space . Get out the paper, measuring tape and pencil! First, clean up the tables and start weeding out stuff I lost interest or are just not “my thing” anymore.
I’ll need window coverings, – at times there is too much direct sunshine in the room. Don’t get me wrong, bright and light is good thing, but I need a little bit more control about how much.
Next: a double-wide design wall from acustic boards, fabric covered.
I got to work out a plan for the cutting table, which is also supposed to provide storage the most fabric plus all cutting tools.
Way to go. Let’s start.
The next step…
Jul 2nd, 2009 by Lisa
… is getting back in shape and loosing weight. Both of my oncologists highly recomend to get truly skinny, it’ll push my chances for survival over the long run way up. But in sharp contrast to people who get immediate “rehab” treatment in case of a heart attack or sports injury, there is no “Cancer Rehab Program” available. ZERO. Basically, you are on your own. Never mind of the impact of chemo or radiation, and despite the trouble many patients have going thru surgery(-ies). There is nothing beyond verbally expressed good wishes, and recomendations for a “healthier” lifestyle. What kind of lousy short-cut care is that, considered that the best long-therm outcome would very much be in the interest of patient and insurance.
So, I wasn’t happy with these vague guidelines. After looking around, I found a good special program at my local top-notch fitness club. It’s a fitness and weightloss program, mainly targeted to people with heart trouble, are overweight or obese and must loose weight.
Two weeks ago, I started excercising and diet change, and my pounds are dropping rapidly. And for the fitness: I walk straighter and feel better, I surely get much easier rid of all the remaining drugs and their side effects, I have so much more energy, and -actually- utterly enjoy my workouts. This body feels so good after months of bedrest, pain, drugs and tiredness.
Hey, – and I’m working on a small art quilt which I started months ago with no energy left to finish. It’s coming back! Energy, it’s me, remember?
It’s over…
Jun 20th, 2009 by admin
…radiation is over, – June 17th is the big mark. Although, my skin and the tissue underneath is still heavily “cooking”. I can feel it. But, being finished with major treatment is a huge relief for me.
It’s time to get back into creative mode.
A new honor for me…
Jun 4th, 2009 by admin
… as one of many survivors of cancer, to walk the first round of Relay for Life! This is a truly grand and emotionally moving experience. My slightly sprouting head hair doesn’t let me forget: this came with a hefty price tag.
Honor of walking the first round
Next Sunday June 7th, I’ll walk the 5k Race for the Cure at Seattle’s Alaska Hwy, above the Waterfront with a georgous panorama of the Olympic Mountains.
Best of all, my husband and many of my friends will walk with me!
Getting rid of those bad cells…
May 21st, 2009 by admin
… means to lay on that radiation table every day! The good news is, after now half of all radiations, my skin is holding up nicely, – so far.
And since my skin is still fine, I’m back at the fitness studio for walking and weight lifting. Little weight, many repeats. This seems to work for my lymphedema as well, the muscle work pushes the protein and it reduces the great tention in the tissue and under the skin. It’s not gone, but doesn’t get worse either. Weight lifting also strengthens both arms, shoulders and upper body muscles, also stretches the under-arm tendon on the left side, which was very much impacted by the two surgeries.
And the best is, it leaves me with the great feeling I’ve accomplished something important!
Can’t wait to be allowed to go in the pool for swimming.
New week, new treatment…
May 1st, 2009 by admin
…and still trying to get rid of the excess fluids in my body from the last chemo. Since Wednesday, I’m on radiation treatment, and after the first three sessions, when I’m on the table, my imagination goes: they bake my innerts by beaming me up from two sides… I suppose that’s not entirely wrong. Or maybe I just watched too much Starship Enterprise in my life…
But still, if it helps, bring it on! More of this next week. And the following week. I’m scheduled out for daily radiation until June 17th, – that makes 35 times!
Fiberistas!
Apr 25th, 2009 by Lisa
…shall be the name of our group! And it means all kind of fiber art: Weaving, quilting, knitting and crochet, beading, felting and whatever you can imagine you could do with any kind of fiber or fabric.
Now, after we’ve found a official name, we’re up to organize a group show at the Good Sheperd Center in Wallingford (October).
Let’s work girls!
Gift to UW from Class 2007
Better days…
Apr 24th, 2009 by admin
…are here. Since I’m now on a double dose diuretics, I’m much better. But my lymphedema won’t budge, and the side effects from Taxotere are still far from over.