Thanksgiving...

Happy Thanksgiving! 

 I know I am thankful for another year of life behind me. 

 I didn't mention it earlier in the month but November 5th was an important anniversary for me.  No one else seems to remember it anymore but me.  It has been six years since my last chemo.  I survived that horrible time of uterine cancer that robbed me of years of my life and killed my future children.  Sometimes the pain of loss hits me. 

 But I am thankful for my life, my job, my home and my family.  And my cute cat Kalli.

I hope everyone has a great day with family and friends.  Me I'm off to make zuchinni bread-yum! Then to mom and dad's for fun day.

I know I've been silent for the last week and a half.  As a teacher librarian I've been dealing with a book fair and not a lot of sewing.  The last two days I've been making up for lost time and have a lot of sewing to blog about.  Also my trip to Asheville two weeks ago.

Keep dreaming...Colleen



Georgeous golden leaves of the ginko tree.



Foto finish-My Garden

I took this picture this afternoon.  This is My garden but it is in my parent's back yard.  There is not a lot of color at the moment as most of the perennial plants have not yet bloomed.  I say it is My garden because it was reborn during the time I lived with my parents while I was recovering from cancer surgery and going through chemo.  Mom and Dad had wanted to restructure this as it had just been a raised terraced bed in a hill with plants all mixed by size.  So mom dug out all the plants and dad killed all the chickweed that was left.  They asked me what they should do so I drew up a plan.  Sometimes I wonder if this garden was a way to direct our energies in a positive way during a very hard time.

   Anyway my design really looked like the picture above, with the path down the middle.  Because I was going through chemo my sister nurse forbade me from touching dirt and plants.  So I supervised. My parents mixed in compost and turned it over, covered it with landscape fabric and brought in a load of stone and mulch to create little beds to surround the plants with. 

See the stool in the top picture-a large rock on end with a wood top set in on a rod in a concrete base.  Dad made that for me to sit on. 

When recovering from surgery I would make slow walks around the yard and down to the dock.  Mom and Dad's one cat Friski at the time, would walk with me. 



Friski in her favorite position.

We would rest at the stool and Friski would roll around upside down for me to pet her belly.  Then we would continue to the dock where we would sit by the lake and feed the piranhas (voracious sunfish).  I was like clockwork that the fish would feel the vibrations of my feet on the dock and start swimming frantically looking for bread.  Then after a while we would walk up through the middle of the yard resting on the bench by the pond.  Friski and I would look at the gold fish.  It was my secret garden.  I love it and still walk that way when I go to the lake though Friski is gone and now Jazzy-Girl walks with me.  I still always have to sit on my stool. 

See more Foto Finish-Garden pictures here.

Keep dreaming...Colleen

One of three stepping stones I made from left over concrete
 and a bucket when we created the garden.  I painted my name and nails and added colored rocks.

Quilt Blocks for Cancer

Today starts team Lucky Duck's new fundraiser for Relay for Life called Quilt Blocks for Cancer.  As many of you know I am a five year Stage 4 uterine cancer survivor.  I have had a desire to give back to those who suffer since I was cured.   Two years ago I started Team Lucky Duck to participate in Kernersville, NC Relay for Life event.  Friends and mostly family have helped me to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

Thats me in the braids.  Yep my hair grew back!

I have Lucky Duck tshirts for sale in my Etsy store and on my blog, all the money goes to Relay.

This year we will be unable to participate due to a family event. I would still like to raise money and would like my Blog family to participate as well.

I am asking you, my blog friends to send quilt blocks for me to assemble together to make a quilt to raffle off. The quilt block can be a memorial, in honor of, or just a celebration of life. I would like any 12.5" unfinished star blocks.  Applique, embroidery, words, and embellishments are welcome.  Cancer survivors are STARS and they should SHINE!  Here is a pattern for my favorite basic star block.  Or you could send a 5" square to use in the border with a message of hope written on it. 

I would like you to use bright, fun colors.  If you want to coordinate your colors with a certain cancer here is the link to what color goes with what cancer.  This should not be just a pink quilt. I want to honor all cancers.

Peach is the color of my cancer. The mother of one of my students died this year from ovarian cancer and I would like to use teal and create a block in memory of her.  I would like to collect the blocks through March 31st, assemble it  and find someone to quilt it for me in April, and raffle it in May and the beginning of June .  (Anyone willing to quilt it for me?)

Blocks can be sent to this address:

Colleen Yarnell

570 Cedarbook Ct

Lewisville, NC  27023

I am so blessed with my relatively good health.  I want to help fight for those who are not so lucky.  If you can not send a quilt block please consider donating to Team Lucky Duck.

Please share this with your friends and blog about it.  Use the Quilt Blocks for Cancer button to link to this blog page.Keep dreaming...Colleen

Me with my amazingly supportive parents and sister
when I was going through chemo.  I'm the one with no hair.  LOL!

Quilt Blocks for Cancer

As you know I am a five year Stage 4 uterine cancer survivor.  I have had a desire to give back to those who suffer since I was cured.  I cut my hair last week to donate!

 I also started a Relay for Life team called the Lucky Ducks two years ago. 

Friends and mostly family have helped me to raise money for the American Cancer Society.  I still have Lucky Duck tshirts for sale in my etsy store and on my blog, all the money goes to Relay. 

 This year we will be unable to participate due to a family event.  I would still like to raise money and would like my Blog family to participate as well.



My Lucky Duck duck pond is always a big hit!



I was thinking about asking you, my blog friends to send me quilt blocks to assemble together to make a quilt to raffle off.  The quilt block could be a memorial, in honor of, or just a celebration of life.  Any pattern, 12.5"(or should they be smaller ?) unfinished.  If you would also like to just send a 5" square to use for a border with a message of hope written on it.

My just live bracelets have peach beads for Uterine cancer. 
The cards tells you to just live every day to fullest.

This should not be just a pink quilt.  I want to honor all cancers.  Peach is the color of my cancer.  The mother of one of my students died this year from ovarian cancer and I would like to use teal and create a block in memory of her.  Here is a link to other colors for other cancers.  I would like to collect the blocks through March 31st.  Assemble and find someone to quilt it for me in April and raffle it in May.

Tell me in the comments below if you think this is something you would like to participate in and you know someone who would help me out with quilting this as well.

BTW I had my yearly cancer check up Friday and my doctor who is AWESOME, said I am doing great!

Keep dreaming and living...Colleen



If you have never been to a Relay one of the most moving moments is when the luminaries are lit.
 Each one represents a lost life or a survivor. 
They line the track and are arranged on a hill spelling out HOPE.



Giveaways and a winner!

OK so I did the random generator thing...


Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:     11
 Timestamp: 2010-11-06 21:01:13 UTC


Congrats Kelly!  Wait!  Hey!  That's my sister, a person who already has a Lucky Duck shirt and doesn't use fat quarters for anything. (Don't worry I keep her well supplied in handmade jewelry).


 So I clicked the again button and came up with


Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:   19
Timestamp: 2010-11-06 21:09:53 UTC


Congrats Joanne Lendaro!!! She said...


19 "Congrats on the 5 years! Wonderful picture of you and your sister!! thanks for the chance in your giveaway...."IF" by some lucky chance my name is drawn.....please give/send the shirt to MoeWest to give to her friend, sounds like she could use some of your wonderful positive encouragement! Thanks, you are a sweetie!! "
Thursday, November 04, 2010 7:54:00 AM


So generous Joanne!  MoeWest send me the size of your friend and either your or her mail address(let me know which).  I will include a special note and surprise for her as a fellow cancer patient.


Joanne!  You are the sweetie!  I will send you the fat quarters if you send me your address! 


Thanks again for all the wonderful stories.  It is so important to share!  It takes away some of the fear and anxiety associated with CANCER.  Yes we have to say the word and help those suffering heal with our caring.


PS  See my previous couple of blogs for some other giveaways going on including a GO!

PPS You can buy a Lucky Duck shirt from my Etsy store. All proceeds go to Relay For Life to help find a cure for cancer.

Keep dreaming...Colleen aka 'butterflygirl'

Another GO giveaway!

I just had to post about this great GO giveaway!  I know someday I will win one.  It's the law of averages. Right?  I mean ...give it to me straight.  Anyway its over at Lavender Ridge so check it out!

P.S. My giveaway is going on until I pick a winner tomorrow. Just comment on this post to enter.   I have a square in square workshop tomorrow morning so it probably won't be until the afternoon.

P.P.S.  Thanks to everyone who commented on my 5 year cancer anniversary.  I appreciated the cancer stories you shared.  It reminds us to "Just Live!"

Keep dreaming...Colleen aka 'butterflygirl'

Annoying edges and some Giveaways

Ok so I just finished using my first moda charm pack for a candle mat swap.  Is it me or are those edges annoying?  What do you do about them?  I sewed around them but then ended up trimming them.    Just wondering...

My sister Kelly and I during one of my chemo treatments.  Oh and Flat Stanley too.

BTW Friday is an important day for me.  It is the 5 year anniversary of my last chemo.  It is the date that is significant for me as a cancer survivor.  So I will be giving away a Lucky Duck t-shirt (see on the side) and three of my favorite fat quarters.  To enter write a comment below about how cancer has effected you.  I would especially like to hear any quilting/cancer related stories.  I have read so many great stories through the Bloggers Quilt Festival and it is time to share mine.  I will pick a winner Saturday.

I will post pics of the giveaway later when I get new batteries for my camera..oops. 

P.S. Go visit A Quilter's Place where Lisa is celebrating her 100th post with a Giveaway!

Keep dreaming...Colleen aka 'butterflygirl'