Saturday, September 29, 2012

Update on Des Moines Teaching

I am sorry to report that due to injuries to my hands that  I sustained earlier in the week in rescuing my cat Oliver from a very serious household accident I will be unable to teach at the AQS Des Moines Show this week. 

I apologize to all the quilters who have signed up and were looking forward to time with me to improve their quilting.  ER doctors as well as my internist have assessed the damage to my thumbs and hands and said I must rest them until healing is complete or risk further damage to nerves.   I am on a strong antibiotic cocktail of several meds and the side effects are also giving me some serious symptoms.

Travel would be too difficult and I can't use my hands normally now.  No scissors, picking anything up, much less actual quilting at the machine are in my future for awhile.

Oliver is doing well after surgery.  I hope you all understand that accidents just jump out at you from nowhere and happen to all of us despite our best intentions to fulfill our obligations. 

AQS has found another teacher, Joanie Poole,  to fill in at very short notice and she will do her best for you.  Take a look at her work at www.heirloomquiltingdesigns.com  Her students have given her excellent reviews. 

Please send some healing thoughts my way, and thanks for understanding.
Diane

42 comments:

Brita said...

Oh, my! I'm glad Oliver is doing well, but I'm so worried about you and your hands -- they are what create the magic that you do! Please take care of yourself and know that there are lots of us sending out our best wishes for a complete recovery.

Wendy said...

Hopes and prayers for you and Oscar!

-Wendy

Jane said...

Do get better soon, hope you have plenty of good books to read, and maybe a good old movie to watch to pass the time. Sending healing thoughts from Brisbane, Aus - where all I can do is quilt on a very tight show deadline...A bit crazy- but stil enjoying it!

Anonymous said...

Oh, Diane, I am so sorry to hear about the accident. I hope you and Oliver continue to recuperate as quickly as possible. My healing thoughts are coming your way.

Big hugs,

Gigi Kandler (who visits the ER herself now and then)

What Comes Next? said...

healing thoughts and cyber hugs for both you and Oliver.

Judy Dietrich said...

It would have been grand to meet you at the AQS show~~I signed up for the bananas quilt class after reading that there were openings on your website. I want to thank you for giving me the boost to attend a class at this level of show~~meeting you will stay at the top of my bucket list!! I was a little anxious to have you see my quilting stitches--so I will take your handouts from the class and "practice". Anyone who would risk their own body parts for a cat, is my type of quilter!!! Sending prayers to you & Oliver--please rest and get well for both your sakes.

linda f said...

Diane

So sorry to hear about you and Oliver's accident. Healing thoughts for both of you. Take care of your self.

Linda

Diane Gaudynski said...

Thank you all so much....it means a lot to receive such comforting thoughts. Oliver is getting better and better, he is young and healthy and will fully recover.

I will take awhile to be back to my old self, but my goal is making it to Paducah to teach there in a few weeks.

When things settle down for us I will write more about what happened, but know that we had a wonderful neighbor, the 911 rescue squad and the great responders who took charge and literally saved Oliver's life, and the absolutely fantastic emergency vet hospital which is only about 14 minutes away from home.

Gigi, I do know you have had time in ER's too.....

Diane

Jenny K. Lyon said...

Oh Diane I am so sorry to hear this! My prayers follow you and Oliver in your recovery. I hope you are able to be back in the saddle in a few weeks. Hug and kiss that Oliver!

Jacquelin said...

Tienes razón los accidentes no se pueden preveer ocurren cuando menos te lo esperas.
Te deseo una rápida y pronta recuperación.
Un beso.

sherry said...

oh how i love compliant patients...they make their lives so much easier...do what the docs say and let them heal...sorry to hear you can't quilt...glad oliver is doing well...another door must be opening somewhere for you..

Dee said...

It sounds scary, but I'm glad you're both OK. I'm praying Oliver stays away from any more 'household accidents'. From reading your blog, I can tell how precious he is too you and I hope for a full recovery!

Jocelyn said...

Oh my Diane, I hope that you will recover quickly. Although I am sure your students will be disappointed, it is better for you to have a complete recovery then to risk permanent damage to your hands.

Jocelyn

kathyg said...

I send prayers for you and Oliver. Follow the Dr.'s directions, rest and spend quiet times with Oliver, the rest will take care of itself. Blessings to you both.

Frog Quilter said...

I hope both you and the kitty recover soon.

Fiona said...

wishing you all the best for a speedy recovery... and Oliver too....
Hugz

Joannag said...

Dear Diane,

I'm so sorry to hear that you and Oliver have been hurt! I will be thinking about you both and hope for speedy recoveries.

Thank goodness good medical care was nearby for both of you.
Joanna

Karens Quilts, Crows and Cardinals said...

Diane -- best wishes for a speedy recovery -- and so glad to hear that Oliver is well.

Hugs,
Karen

Anonymous said...

Diane, you are in my thoughts and prayers, as is Oliver. Man, I hate when flukey things happen.

Hope you are both up to snuff, sooner rather than later.

(((HUGS)))
neen scott

YankeeQuilter said...

Praying for a speedy recovery for both you and Oliver...

Missy Shay said...

I'm so sorry to hear of your accident! I'm glad you are both okay and am anxious to hear what happened. I have six cats and they are always getting into some kind of predicament.

Janet Stone said...

Diane, I'm sorry that I won't get to meet you in person in Des Moines, but glad you and Oliver are on the mend. Those crazy kitties have a mind of their own sometimes...actually, ALL the time!Thank goodness for a nearby emergency vet, good neighbors, and 911! I wish you both a speedy recovery!

Anonymous said...

Ohmigosh, Diane! I read that you had to cancel on the AQS website! I am so sorry to hear of your injury and Oliver's accident! Healing energy is being sent to you and Oliver with hope that you will be "on the mend" and quilting again soon! Take care of yourself...
Joyce in MI

Diane Gaudynski said...

Thank you everyone, so very much. Knowing you care and understand is helping more than you can realize. Oliver and I have a way to go to recover but we are doing ok. It's so hard to see my much loved little cat go through pain and stress. I will try to do everything I can to help Joanie with teaching the Des Moines classes so they are a success. And I will write more about what happened when I am better. Thanks to all,
Diane

Rilene said...

Oh, my goodness! Please take all the time your hands need to get back into their normal artistic shape! Warm wishes!

Mimi said...

Dear Diane, I love hearing about Oliver's escapades but not this time! I am a great fan of his, knowing him of course through your tales, and I am an even bigger fan of yours. Take good care of yourself and him, remember to breathe deeply to relax and to help healing. You both are in my thoughts and I am wishing for a speedy recovery for your speedy guy (and for you).

Anonymous said...

Dear Diane, Please focus on your recovery and everything else will fall into place eventually. Hope you and Oliver healing comfortably.
Sandy from Maryland

Paula said...

Dear Diane,
I'm so sorry to hear about your's and Oliver's accident. I hope Oliver gets better soon. Please get the rest that you need to speed up your recovery. My best to you. Paula from Nevada

Jayardi said...

• • • Sorry to hear about your accident, but am equally pleased to hear you both are on the mend. I can't imagine not being able to quilt when I want due to injury. Please take care and maybe I'll see you in Paducah.

Louise said...

Dear Diane
How awful for you and Oliver - I wish you both a speedy recovery. Take care
Louise x

Rebecca said...

Diane, I love your work and can't think of anything more devastating than an injury to your hands. Please take care and hopefully all will be well soon. And Oliver, Oliver, Oliver - tears are streaming for him too. It is hard on us but injuries to animals are so heartbreaking. I'm sure since your hands are involved, it is even more difficult to try to comfort him. My Nicolas, big gray cat, and I will be thinking about your both. Rebecca

Barb said...

So sorry to hear about your & Oliver's accident. Hope the healing is progressing fast. I want to thank you also for the giving me confidence in my machine quilting last Oct. in Paducah. I won a prize in our guild challenge even though some thought the feathers were done with an embroidery unit & the Diane-shiko was pre-quilted fabric.
Hope that makes you smile!
Prayers for you & Oliver.

Linda E in NM said...

All of us share our thoughts and prayers for both you and Oliver to have a complete recovery.

Mary said...

Dear Diane,

I am so sorry about your accident. I hope you heal quickly and can quilt again soon. Take care, Mary

iamaquilter2 said...

Dear Diane, So sorry to hear about Oliver and your injury. Keeping you in my prayers for a speedy and complete recovery.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

Keeping you both in my thoughts that you have a speedy recovery. ((hugs))

Anonymous said...

Dear Diane- I wish you and Oliver a full and speedy recovery. Please take care of yourself - your hands are a national shrine to the quilting world. I try to imagine what happened and only gory pictures arise. I am thinkning of you and hoping you will recover.

Barbara Chainey said...

Just wanted to add my two cents to all the others - healing thoughts to you both from this side of the Atlantic.

Unknown said...

So very sorry to hear to read this. Praying for a speedy recovery for both you and Oliver. take care!

Cynthia said...

That's awful. I'm so glad help was near for both you and Oliver. I know your students will be disappointed to miss working with you, but you really have to take care of your hands so you will be able to teach again in the future.

Give Oliver a kiss for me and take care of both of you. I'll be sending prayers your way for both of you.

antique quilter said...

Oh Diane I hope your feeling better and your hands are getting better, yes you must take care of yourself and Oliver , please do what the dr says. we need you to recover and quilting again, your always an inspiration
thinking of you
Kathie

Ivory Spring said...

Diane,

I just read about your latest. Oh my goodness --- I am so sorry to hear about your hands. I am sending thought of speedy and complete recovery your way!! Meanwhile, please know you remain my most admired machine quilter!!!