Wednesday 26 August 2015

WOYWW 325

Well, I have actually got something on my desk today to show you, but nothing very constructive as yet!

WOYWW 325 26-8

I want to make a get-well card and a small gift for our neighbour who we have become friendly with, who recently came home from visiting family, having had a serious accident while away, and she is now mending and recovering, and needing a little cheering up! She loves butterflies, and last year she gave me a lot of lavender clippings from her garden, from which I made some infused oil, as well as having sufficient flowers left to dry for sachets. I made these for my fellow chemo-ites when I started my chemo, and thought I’d make her one as well, in its own little box, together with a small bottle of the oil, and possibly a lavender soap. Something else to keep my angels project on the back burner!!

I have been feeling so poorly since my last chemo that I haven’t been able to make a start on this, so this morning I had a rummage through my stash and selected a few cards and papers to make a start on the project. If I don’t get going soon, she'll be better before she gets it! Lying on top is a fabulous piece of silk paper that a mixed media artist friend gave me several years ago and which I have not yet put to use, and I thought I might add a bit of this. Silk paper is something I want to start making one day.

I have another project in the pipeline as well. Until now, I have been wearing a butcher’s apron in my studio and this doesn’t really offer me much protection especially once I’m let loose  on the spray inks! It has been on my mind to make myself some sort of smock to cover me up a bit better.

Recently while surfing Pinterest, I came across this gorgeous “slouchy smock dress” and knew this was exactly what I wanted, and it has a free downloadable pdf pattern.

Slouchy Smock Dress

On a fabric website I found some linen-look heavy cotton fabric which is 60 inches wide and ideal for my purposes because it shouldn’t allow any bleed-through of paint or ink onto my clothes underneath. This is now washed in case of shrinkage, and waiting to be ironed once I have enough energy.

Fabric for Studio Smock

I shall make the sleeves longer, and put cuffs on them.

If I like it, I shall probably make it again, as a dress for normal wear!

Regarding my chemo, I have not been doing so well after my fifth treatment on 14th August, and am only now starting to feel more myself again. The peripheral neuropathy has been more severe, and I’ve noticed some loss of sensation in my feet and fingertips, which I shall report to the oncologist. She is most likely to reduce the chemo dose a bit more, because this is something they take seriously, as it could become permanent. I have been very wiped out too, sleeping a lot, and feeing pretty poorly generally, and unable to shift a very unpleasant sour taste in my mouth, and my appetite has been poor. All this means that I haven’t achieved much in the last week!

Yesterday, though, my new laptop arrived, and I’ve been busy getting it up and running, which is taking some time. My old one has been playing up quite a bit recently and is on the way out, but until it finally dies, I shall keep it as a spare.

So that’s been Shoshi’s week.  I hope yours has been a bit more productive! Happy WOYWW everyone.

21 comments:

  1. Sorry to hear you are feeling bad.. hope it improves soon! I love the apron/dress... I might even take a look at the pdf as it looks like something I would wear. We have a big market here on Thursdays with a lot of fabric stands - finding a right fabric should not be a problem. Good luck with your projects. Happy woyww and a hug from windy Holland, Marit #33

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  2. Sending love to you. Thanks for sharing your workdesk and your courage, Jo x

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  3. Hi Shoshi, sorry you are feeling so rotten. I well remember that horrible taste, even Bitter Lemon couldn't mask it, which is usually my goto for that sort of thing. The silk paper is a gorgeous colour, wonderful. Great idea with the smock, look forward to seeing how that comes along. Have a great week, Hugs, Shaz #5 xxx

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  4. I'm sorry to hear that you've been feeling unwell Shoshi. I'm sure your neighbour will appreciate your kind gift. Take Care. Barb #27 xx

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  5. Don't you knock yourself up about not crafting at the moment. You are going through a rough patch with this chemo and you need to concentrate on getting yourself well and back slowly. I know how it wiped my friend Liz out so please try to just concentrate on yourself and getting well again.
    The coverall is wonderful and I too would make one from some nice fabric to wear as a dress (if I could sew tht is).
    Just rest please.
    Hugs, Neet 15 xxx

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  6. oh, Shoshi, sorry to hear you've been suffering more this time. i hope you start to feel better soon. The silk paper looks fantastic, what a gorgeous colour. Take care, and look after yourself as well as others! Helen 2

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  7. Hi - very sorry to hear you have been feeling rotten after your treatment. Hope everyday that passes sees you feeling stronger & more energised. Enjoy making your card - do show us the outcome ! Love the fabric you have chosen for your smock ! Sending you positive energy vibes from soggy west Wales ! Love Ali x #10

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  8. I'm sorry to hear you've been feeling bad from the chemo, but amazingly you still manage to exude ideas, energy and enthusiasm through your blog - I hope you continue to feel better and stronger each day. I think the dress is a fabulous idea - I have an old Tshirt that I change in to if I'm doing any thing messy - that's the theory, but I've still managed to ruin at least three nice tops by not remembering to change until it's too late! I can't wait to see what you do with the silk paper, I love those rich autumn colours. I am thinking of having a go at printing on some of it - fingers crossed it won't all end up a ghastly mess!!
    Hope you have a happy and crafty week, and continue to feel a bit better each day,
    Diana xx

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  9. Shameyouve been knocked a bit by this round of chemo, but my word, it hasn't stopped you planning! I think your neighbour friend will love a spontaneous gift whenever, so don't cause it to fret you! I LOVE th e tunic...totes my sort of thing..and better still, I love the sleeve length, I'm a sleeves up gal, me...so I wouldn't have to go to any trouble with cuffs at all! I hope you feel up to facing these soon!xxx

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  10. Sorry to hear about the side effects. Hope the adjustments will mean it is a bit easier for you. The dress looks great. Nice and airy in summer and warm enough with something underneath when it gets cooler!

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  11. I am sorry to hear that you've been knocked sideways by the chemo....but you're doing the right thing is tending to your body and doing what you feel able to cope with.
    I love that tunic pattern....it looks like something I could attempt!
    Hugs, LLJ 11 xxx

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  12. It must be horrible having that sour taste and feeling so wiped out. Sending you love and hugs.
    That silk paper is gorgeous.You can felt it onto fabric, stitch it, make bowls from it...I have made silk paper and it is so lustrous in real life. Yes, don't stress about the gift for your neighbour.I am glad she's a nice neighbour. Good neighbours can enhance our lives . Hoping this next week is better.

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  13. I was hoping the side effects wouldn't be so bad. Will say a prayer for you. The dress looks so comfy. You'll have to share the completed one! Hope you get to feeling better quickly! Happy WOYWW!
    Carol N #40

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  14. I am so sorry to hear that the chemo is making you feel so poorly. I hope that the doctor's will be able to adjust the dosage so that it isn't so harsh. Have fun with your new laptop. I'm loving Windows 10.
    April #47

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  15. Those nasty side-effects can't be fun, I know. Nice to see that you're keeping yourself busy, though - anything to take your mind off the treatment will help for sure. I laughed out loud when I read this: "If I don’t get going soon, she'll be better before she gets it!" - I don't know, but there's something very funny about this. I love your sense of humour Shoshi and the fact that you can look things on the bright side and make people laugh even when you're not having such a great time yourself. Although I haven't visited for a while, I often thought of you. Wishing you all the best on your road to recovery, zsuzsa xx ps. thanks for the lovely comment on my blog!

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  16. Ah side effects can be nasty and know from others about that nasty taste, so really praying things will settle for you on a more even keel, dear Shoshi and that you will be able to rest in the interim.
    It is really hard though when you are so unwell.
    Ah love the vibrancy of that paper too, must be even more beautiful in real life, allow yourself to create whe your body is up to it. Hard when your brain is racing ahead though.
    I adore Ithat spotty fabric, will make, a lovely smock indeed, must be cut on the cross to hang so nicely like that I suspect, sendin hugs and prayers dear friend.
    Happy WOYWW ..Shaz in Oz.x 34

    {Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}


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  17. What a pain that you have felt worse this time - hope that the dose is better next time and that none of those nasty side effects are here to stay!! I adore that dress- dont do too good a job on it or you'll be getting orders ;) Take care darling and have a better weekxx Soojay 21 ( i wish!!)

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  18. Hi Shoshi, like the look of that dress and your fabric too. I'm a bit late this week as I have been a bit busy so just trying to catch up with the visits.
    Happy woyww and take care, Angela x 28

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  19. Sorry to hear you've not been doing so great:( Good luck with your smock! Hope to see you modeling it sometime fairly soon.

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  20. I'm really sorry you're feeling so rotten! But you know that it is only temporary and soon you will feel better again. But it's frustrating that you can't get anything done.
    That silk paper looks really special. I'm sure you'll show us what you make in due time.
    That dress material is lovely! You have showed it earlier and I've fallen in love with it. Yes, a dress like that will be very useful. I always use house dresses, a habit i still have from when I lived in Italy. A pinafore dress I think you call it. I buy them on the market and they are cheap and cheerful. When they become a bit too grotty, I just tear them up and buy more. With that nice material I would be afraid to soil it lol!
    Sorry for being late again this week. I tend to spread the commenting out a bit over the week. Don't want to be too anti social.
    Have a good (or should i say better) week,
    Lisca#29

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  21. Blah to nasty side-effects! I hope the chemo is doing its job though - and that the oncologist can sort out the dose next time.
    The silk paper looks lucious... I have a "thing" for paper anyway and especially unusual handmade papers - that is gorgeous! Your lavender presents sound so lovely - I hope you feel well enough to get them finished.
    Thanks for visiting my blog and for your nice comment. I do hope you're having a good weekend. X

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