Five years ago I was diagnosed with a rare aggressive uterine cancer. Long story short: big operation in Hobart followed by 5 weeks of radiation therapy.
My body did not cope well with the treatment. To help me get through I did 2 things:
A. I made 16 small handstitched art quilts featuring red and other colours, which I called dare to dream. I usually could work at least a few minutes each day on these little artworks, sometimes more.
B. I wore something red when going into the clinic for treatment. This was usually a scarf, a necklace or my red shoes.
I didn’t know for quite a while why the colour red was so important. Then it came to me: red was for courage. It has other meanings too of course, but this was what it meant to me.
Last Monday, I got the final all-clear. No more scans, no more specialist appointments! I am officially cancer-free.
So now I want to celebrate! I would also love it if you could participate in this celebration.
Here’s how you can take part:
‘Red for Courage’ (slow stitched square) -
1. Select one or more red thread/s
2. Collect some small fabric scraps
3. Cut one or more 4 inch* square pieces of white or cream fabric for the background [*or 10 cm]
4. Arrange and pin (or invisibly baste) a few scraps onto the background
5. Stitch over the layers with your chosen red thread/s
5. Embroider your initials (also in red thread) on the lower right hand corner of your square
6. Send your completed square to:
Rita Summers, Gone Rustic, PO Box 12, St Marys, TAS 7215, Australia
The plan is to make a scroll with all your contributions, quite a long one I hope! This will be displayed in the very first exhibition in our new art shed, which is in the planning stages right now.
i look forward to celebrating together!
Deadline: please mail your square to arrive on or before 31 August 2025
Mine is on the way in the Post!
Just finished my square for you, posting it tomorrow, (20/8) hope it arrives from England before the deadline.
Hi Rita,
I would love to contribute to celebrate this fantastic new milestone for you. Hopefully the postal service between Switzerland and Tassie will be kind!
Love,
Yvonne
Dear Rita, I love you so much and so happy for this wonderful news of being cancer free!! So, I have finished one block!
Hi Rita,
I am already very appreciative of your beautiful style, will make my square today and post tomorrow and hopefully will get to you before the end of the month xx