5 years later...so long as you're able to help, why not do it?

September 22, 2006, 3:47 pm, UPenn Hospital, Philadelphia, PA----when we lost Boone to complications from a stem cell transplant to treat leukemia.  Without a doubt, the worst day of my life.  And here I am, five years later, a totally different person, but in some ways stuck back in 2006.  It sometimes seems surreal that we spent virtually every moment of every day for 9 months fighting ALL...so many, many days and nights spent in the hospital, ER, ICU, and doctor's office for chemotherapy or other treatments.  And up until the very last day, I was sure that whatever the setbacks that were dealt him, Boone would survive.   And, then sometimes fearful that he would survive and that he would suffer from the many complications/side effects that so many people who have stem cell transplants deal with.....debilitating GVHD, cataracts within 10 years, necrosis, hip replacements, to name just a few.  Yes, it is so difficult to write this, but at times I actually was fearful for his survival...as horrible as someone might think it sounds.  But, don't judge if you haven't faced what we faced.  Our beautiful, strong, healthy, athletic son was turned into a person who couldn't walk to corner without being winded in those 9 months....and the pain he endured...so many pain medications. 

We all miss Boone so much....miss what he could have been.  He would almost be 25 years old.  He would have finished college....I wonder what he would have majored in.  Would he be in his first job?  Or would he have applied to law school as he sometimes thought he might want to do?  Would he be married?  Where would he be living?  So many questions that dissolved into nothingness on that day 5 years ago. 

Oh, how proud he would be of Jordan right now.  I can still hear him wondering where she would go to college.  Hey Boone, she's in her last year at Auburn!  She would have loved for you to come visit her there.  Imagine attending one of Auburn's football games last year, during their National Championship year....like she attended one with you that fall at UVa. 

Oh Boone, I will always have a piece of my heart missing...for you took it with you that devastating day 5 years ago.  As I hope you somehow know,  I think of you every day.  I hope you think we are fulfilling your request from 5 years ago.  I am so grateful that I found that document on your laptop.  I think I'll write it again here, because it helps to make sure that I never forget:

"I wrote this to share with you my experiences, to show you the huge impact that it has had on my life, to show you how painful, how hard, and how truly difficult going through something like this can be. Not so that you sympathize with me, but so that you realize it can happen to you, your mom, your dad, your girlfriend/boyfriend, your siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, you name it… I’m not trying to worry anyone, but rather raise awareness as to the wide-reaching effects of diseases such as leukemia. "

"This experience has truly changed my life in ways that I never could have imagined. Priorities have been flipped upside down, and things that I wouldn’t even have given a second thought to in the past I now look at as beauty in everyday life… to be so close to death, and be so fortunate as to make my way back to health, has opened my eyes to what is really valuable in this world and in my life. I hope that you see the value that can be found in the lives of all of your friends and family, and that you take strides to protecting their lives (and the lives of thousands of others), by supporting an organization which researches life-threatening diseases."

"My request is simple… please, please find a charity, find an organization, find ANYTHING that supports research into a disease such as leukemia, HIV, breast cancer… ANYTHING… and support it. Give money, volunteer time, do anything you can, no matter how small and insignificant it may seem. You never know when something like this may be thrown into your lap, and you never know who may be affected by a disease like this… you think it can’t happen to you (hell, I sure didn’t) and hopefully it never will, but so long as you’re able to help– why not do it?"

I love you Boone.
Mom

I'm on etsy

Success!  I made a shop banner for my etsy site (thanks to a great, easy online video tutorial) and listed 7 items for sale.  My shop name is Mudpots.  Cute, huh?  Funny thing is that I picked that etsy username about 6 years ago after a trip to Yellowstone wherewe were all fascinated by the bubbling, boiling mudpots we saw there.  Now, here I am trying to make pottery....Now that's foreshadowing.  I only listed one piece of pottery.  I will only try to sell ones that I would want to own myself and since I have put most of my pieces on a shelf in the storeroom, that doesn't leave me much.  So, I am still working on my pottery development.

On the sewing homefront I put 6 items up for sale...4 quilts, the diaper changing pad and the Halloween table runner. 

Even without a sale, I feel like a success!  I can't describe how scary it was to set up a shop.  It was a a bit of work too...writing the descriptions, taking (and retaking) pictures, making the banner, researching prices and so on.  Only thing I am still unsure about is packaging.  I will have to play around with a few ideas.

So, check out Mudpots on Etsy!

Broke a bowl...sob

I broke a bowl that I particularly liked while loading the kiln.  I made the little flower stamp that I used to texture the bowl.  Think it's kinda cute and will use it again. 

This little dish came out well.  It's the first time I've like one of my glazes (opal)on the white clay.  On white, opal is looking greener than on the red clay.  It broke well over the edges also.  So, hallelujah!  This oval bowl would be good as a soap dish or to hold little pieces of jewelry. 



Here's the opal on red clay.  Much bluer than above. 

I think I could try to sell both of these on etsy.  If I could ever figure out how to make the shop banner.  lol

Taking a stab at sgraffito

I have two pieces of pottery that I made using the sgraffito techniques.   This is definately a technique that speaks to me.  Both have issues when firing.  Warping of the one with the tiny sgraffito lines.  Arggh.  I can't express how frustrated I get with warping of this white clay.   I purposely took these pictures so you hopefully can't tell it warped. It's supposed to dip to the center from left to right....it's warping front to back that I didn't like. 

The other piece in green and black has a tiny defect in it.  A hair had gotten caught in the slip when I applied it.  I know, that sounds kinda gross, doesn't it.  Hey, people shed.  I pulled it out and brushed over it.  I thought you couldn't see it, but you hold it just right in the light you can see it...darn, darn.  I thought I may be able to sell this plate.  Oh well.....

Halloween Table Runner

Made a table runner for Halloween.  Hubby thinks it may be too "country". I kinda agree, but, on the other hand, you could say it just looks thematic.  I wanted to try some applique.  A couple of months ago I tried to make 2 monogrammed bibs for Trey and Sandy's twins.....terrible results.  I had no idea how to monogram.  So I did a bit of reading and I think the table runner isn't a bad first attempt.  

I think I'm getting close to having enough stuff to start an etsy shop.  I can't say that any of my pottery will be good enough to try to sell.  But I think I may have a shot with the quilting.....really need to figure out how to make a banner for the shop.  I've forgotten everything I learned when I made Natalie's quilt.  lol

The Happiness Quilt

My newest quilt was made with several Hullabaloo by Urban Chiks for Moda fabrics.  I didn't use the prints that were geared more for babies...like the animal prints.  I love the florals, zigzags and dots...used several of those.  In my fabric stash I found several prints that also work well with the Hullabaloo fabrics.  Different kona solids were used as sashing.  I am so, so happy with the final product....especially the back, which is all solids.

I added the bojo label on it....thank you Boone and Jordan.  I call this my Happiness Quilt.

Summer Wave Quilt

I used the same fabrics that are in Nana's table runner to make a quilt.  I call it my Summer Wave Quilt.  It is bright, bold and fun to look at. 

I used the small navy print for the back and includced a pieced scrappy column.  It almost has a denim look to it.  I like it.