Blogger is a pain in the butt.....

Seems like I have to constantly relink my photos to my blogs...done again! 

Craft Room Reveal

Finally got my craft room painted and furniture installed….mind you, I still have to organize it all.  Everything is just shoved into the drawers and the closet until I can sit down next week and sort everything out.  While I was putting my stamps away I did go through them and pulled out stamps I bought and not used and…probably will never use and have them ready for a craft sale.  I have my dies and  embossing folders to do yet…just need more time to settle down and not be so overwhelmed with it all.

Clockwise....like I said...everything stuffed into my closet I have to sort through and find a new spot for or toss, sell or keep.  In here are also my seasonal stuff...like Christmas, Valentines, Easter etc.  I have them stored in separate boxes and it keeps everything together.  My Pergamano, Just Rite, label makers etc. need to find a permanent home...in time.  The two Iris rolling carts - one hold my seasonal papers and the other one holds paper and supplies for wedding invitations I make...each cart per person.  That way, I everything is together and I only have to bring out one container and not sift through everything to find what I need.


These are the closet doors closed.  The two pictures hanging are scratch board pics we did in a class.  They remind me that crafting can create some pretty awesome stuff.



Behind the door is the stamp rack that Rick made me and the wood-mounted stamps that I am keeping.






 
This rolling cart needs to be gone through and a lot of stuff sorted out.  When we were packing to move...a lot of stuff just got shoved anywhere I could find a spot and so far, have not had the time to go through.  The cabinet...I spotted on Pinterest and fell in love.  I originally was going with the 8x8 cubed Expedit shelf from Ikea and adding doors and drawers...then I saw this!  The small drawers on the top are deep enough for my embossing folders and dies.  Pinterest had the 8x8 on top but, that is way, way to high for me and I went with the 4x2.  I had the 4x1 in the corner to the right but, it didn't work so it is now on top.  So far I have my peeloffs, Copic lessons, and my glitter rotating containers in the top row.  Next is 8.5x11 paper, small embossing folders in a binder and then the two drawer units I need to go through and may not stay there.  The bottom row holds my 12x12, my thin dies in the CD binders and the backpack file folders and then my embossing folders are in a fridge bin from Bed Bath & Beyond.

Another cabinet from Ikea...this is going to hold my Distress Inks, embossing powders etc down the road.  Next to it is my crafting desk under the window.  Top drawer holds pens etc., the second one holds my small Tonic cutter, small scoring board, envelop maker.  Third drawer down my glitter glues and miscellaneous stuff.  Fourth drawer is my Pan Pastel drawer...bottom holds watercolor paper.  The revolving carousel holds my tools (blades, tweezers, Tim mats etc. 
The wire rack stacker holds my Perfect rulers and my tape rollers etc.

My computer sits in the corner and miscellaneous bits and pieces sit on the shelves (things friends have made...little keepsakes).

The printer stand is a rolling cart because I just don't have the room for it anywhere else.  I tried the room without the cabinet and the printer stand in the spot but, I found I still need the cabinet right now...down the road...who knows.  Anyway, the printer stand fits under the desk and the top printer sits where my keyboard is when company comes...so we can use the blowup bed.

The red baskets hold my glue dots, assorted bottles of stuff, and one holds all my tape rolls.  The rotating circles hold all my Tim Holtz refills and daubers.  The drawers in the cabinet need to be gone through and sorted badly.

This is the cabinet without the printer stand in front of it.  It originally had white drawer handles but, a quick visit to Ikea and now the handles match the dresser on the opposite side of the room.  

Next to it is my Best Storage unit...the left row holds my embellishments etc....the middle holds more supplies and my sewing stuff...the right side holds all my beading supplies.  The pegboard holds my Martha Stewart punches and I mean...I really downsized these punches too. On top is my extra scanner and my beautiful pink Gazelle cutter.  In the corner is my wire rack that holds more of my 12x12.  I am really not too sure if I am going to keep this there or find another method of storing my paper.  Right now...this works.

Another visit to Ikea and I have a new island.  I was so tired of bending over with my Tonic cutter on the floor trying to cut paper....my poor ribs!  So...after research I purchased the cabinet...a visit to Home Depot for a board that hubby cut to size for the top.  Three sides of the board were unfinished so we picked up some trim and covered them up.  Again, the handles were changed to match my beautiful cabinet.  It is counter height and perfect for cutting, using my Big Shot and...I can roll it around the room.  It rolls right over to the Best Storage unit and I can slide my Gazelle over to the island and I have lots more room to work my cutter.  

I picked the cabinet style that had two doors and a drawer because I wanted to be able to store all my plates for my machines.

  
It is the perfect storage unit for my Big Shot, Grand Calibre and my Tonic cutter. Also, it rolls right out the door and sits in the laundry room when we have company.






So...craft room reveal done.  I can't wait to sit down tomorrow and start working on Valentines stuff.

Side note:  Received a call from the hospital about starting chemo today but, we had to postpone as it has not been seven days since my B12 shot...looking at next week.  Probably, it will be Wednesday or Thursday as I have a CT scan scheduled for Tuesday.  I am on the waiting list to see the Naturopath regarding Hypertheria treatments and I sent over today all my tests from day one.  

Merrily swimming.

Here we go again....

Saw the chemo oncologist on Wednesday...

Good news...the cancer does not appear to be in my bones or anywhere else.  The bone scan came back clear and my kidneys are healthy There is no mention of either original tumor in any reports which leads the doctor to believe the two original tumors are gone. 

Bad news..the cancer has spread to both lungs and is metastatic....i.e. not curable.  The CT report lists "multiple" spots so...no exact figure other than about two largest ones...one is around 7mm and the other is 9mm.  The doctor figures the new spots may have mutated and become resistant to the chemo I was taking.

So...my battle now is to see how long I can live.  If I do nothing...the doctor figures four months.  If I fight back...it could be anywhere from ten months or longer.   


I am fighting back!  This is classed as "first line" treatment.  If that doesn't work, I have a "second line" treatment option which would be drug trials if I want to go that route. 

The new chemotherapy starts in seven to eight days...just waiting for an appointment to be set up.  I am to take folic acid every day and I have to get a B12 shot while I am waiting.  No radiation unless any of the spots becomes "troublesome"....whatever that means. My beautiful curls are going to go away again....I was getting used to having hair!  One good thing is I don't have to take the three pills that cost $120.00!

Rick...does well during the day but, holds me and cries in the dark.  Him I am worried about the most.  I carried him through his brother Pat dying...I carried him through Mike having the stroke and I carried him through Don and his lost battle with cancer.  He is not strong but, that is okay - I am.

Me...numb to leaking.  I have to fight the "why bother" when I think of doing something....like finishing my craft room or making a dentist appointment or making decisions on what color to paint the house etc.  This is still new to me and I am trying to figure out how to cope.

So...I am treading water waiting to get my balance before I take off swimming.  I feel each and every one of my friends and family in the water with me holding me up.