For those of you who have been following here, an update. I'm feeling OK, no more episodes sending me to the ER. I am waiting to hear from the insurance company confirming my coverage before running the stress test. So I sit each day praying that my arteries are clear enough not to bring a stroke before I get that test. I'm taking it easy. Lots of time to sew and to think.

As a result of my thinking I have decided that although a very pleasant part of life, it is better to curb a great deal of my computer time. It takes time away from my art. So I have canceled my twitter, flickr and facebook accounts until such time as I feel I can afford the time. I feel twisted about this decision because I have met so many wonderful associates this way. I will miss chatting with them and I am hoping that some of you will be reading this. I will continue here to blog as I have time and hopefully keep in touch with at least some of you here. I encourage your comments more so now, as it is a way of communicating with you.

On a brighter note, I have restarted my work on a piece called 'Peter's World.' It is a pictoral portrayal of my son at age 11 watering his morning glory plants which had grown so profuse as to completely cover a wicker settee. This is a very large piece which will top out in the range of 7'x8'. I am a little hesitant to put my progress in pictures here as I will want to enter this one in one of the bigger quilt shows. I'm not sure what the rules are about showing a work, in piece or in whole, before entering it for a show. The wicker settee is being drawn with resist on a beautiful hand died piece of cotton. Before I begin on it I will be doing many test runs, as I don't want to ruin the good fabric. Perhaps I can show you my progress on my testing. But I can at least talk about my progress. Peter is about half constructed. His face, hair, and upper body are completed in three sections which need to be sewn together. This week I am working on his shorts, legs and shoes. All my piecing is being done as applique and reverse applique by hand - tiny stitches. It is very tedious and hard on my eyes and hands, but very satisfying when completed.

Well I hope that I will be hearing from my followers and some others regularly. I regularly check out your blogs and will continue that because you are all so inspiring to me. With my son, Peter, as helper, I will be figuring out a website so that I can show my completed work. He has switched his major, bringing a smile to my heart, to ART. He is working towards learning graphic computer programming.

My love and appreciation to all my readers and to those who regularly chatted with me on twitter, flickr and facebook.

Detail 'Blue Girl'

That's me today, blue girl. The new year is not starting off as planned. It's all a bit more challenging than expected.

Late into the night on new year's day I had an episode resembling a heart attack. I ended up inside a rescue headed towards the local hospital with a nitro pill under my tongue wondering what in God's name I was doing there. Several doctors and many tests later they discharged me from the hospital saying that it was not a heart attack but it indeed could be angina. I am at high risk for a heart attack or stroke. I have scheduled a stress test. Until then, I feel a bit like I'm hovering over a cliff waiting for someone to push.

I've been trying to keep calm, my blood pressure as normal as possible, and I have been doing absolutely nothing which could constitute strenuous activity. I've been sitting in my studio just looking around at all the stuff. Been thinking about what things will get finished in my life and what will be left behind. We always think we have so much time for all we want to do in life, until we are reminded of how quickly it could end. I am expecting that with modern medicine being so advanced that some crew of doctors will snip and sew their quilt of me and I will have more time to enjoy this life. But I really just don't know for sure. No one can.

I am, as always, very grateful for the life I lead, my family and the wonderful people in my life, the freedoms I enjoy. As long as I am able I will continue to do the things I must do, love, live and sew!

I'll be in touch as I am able.