Happy Halloween

Missing My Clique

All my sewing buddies went to the Houston Quilt Market this past weekend.  I was teary-eyed when I received a call from Mary, Lady M™ (pictured above next to a DIVA license plate…LOL) and Sheree.  I’ll definitely be joining up with them at the next market!

I even missed my buddy, Diana’s, wedding the weekend before.  While she and Anthony exchanged vows on a boat cruising the New York Harbor, I was sitting outside the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia hoping the helicopters landing on the hospital roof might be the kidney my daughter so desperately needs.

I Can See Clearly Now

We made it back home early Tuesday night.  We drove about 100 miles back to our home in Staten Island, NY.  We started off at Exit 3 of the NJ Turnpike where there was a torrential downpour.  I got off at Exit 4 wondering how in the world I was going to drive in the terrible rain.  Marielle convinced me to get back on the Turnpike to beat the rush hour traffic.  When we got to Exit 5, I noticed the lighted driving advisory–CAUTION – SNOW AHEAD.  WTH?  Yep!  Here was heavy SNOW driving through PA and NJ.  Finally when we made it to our Exit (#10), the snow had turned back into rain.  What a LONG drive!

Still No Match

Yesterday we got the results of my youngest sister’s kidney donor testing–NOT a match.  To say we were all disappointed is an understatement.   I’m so proud of my sister as I know she was terrified at the thought of donating her kidney, but still was willing to do so.

My nephew is the next to be tested.  He should have his blood test tubes arrive by Monday.  Would you believe he just received his kidney donor evaluation package TODAY?!  He had requested it on October 9th!!!  The hospital admitted to sending it on October 17th.  Really?  You’d think they would speed the process along considering my daughter is in the final stage of kidney failure (she has just a mere 6% function left!!!).  Don’t they know how to use Federal Express?  Heck, what about USPS Priority Mail?  Guess not.

BOO SWAP

Moving along to happier things…When I returned home, I found a big box from Traci of Bloom Design filled with treasures of our BOO Swap!  YOU ROCK TRACI!  She sent all of my favorite things…

My first love….PEEPS and my 2nd favorite, DOTS!

Check out this awesome EYEBALL Truffle Lollipop!  ROTFL!

She even sent me a beautiful Halloween coffee mug…

and the coolest Skeleton Brew (aka Hot Chocolate)!

 

I laughed so hard when I saw the Potion Powders in 3 frightful flavors-Crushed Toads, Potion #13 and Eye of Newt!

But oh my!  The Lindt Chocolate Truffles filled with White Chocolate are too delicious to share!

Speaking of Halloween, because my daughter was hospitalized for a good part of this month, I never got around to putting out all my handmade ceramic Halloween decorations.  Not a single thing.

Mr. Diva™ offered to take the 5 huge Rubbermaid crates out of the attic and unwrap all of my precious decorations.  However, I’d cry if he broke any of them, so I passed on his offer (see last year’s disaster below).  This will ensure I will still have my complete collection of Halloween decorations next year, KWIM?  And the other good thing is I don’t have to pack them all back up tomorrow!  Perhaps I can get an early start of Christmas decorating…LOL!

 

Hope everyone gets plenty of sweets for Halloween!

Sew Stagnant

I have avoided blogging as I’m afraid of my own thoughts.  Things are not going great.  No happy news to report.  Yes, she’s doing a tad better–but it’s all so temporary.  Everyday brings new challenges and fears.  But I really have to get something off my chest.  I cannot keep my mouth shut any longer.

To say I’m disappointed in the whole kidney transplant process here is an understatement.  I’m frustrated with the lack of urgency in testing my living kidney donors.  See, docs want my daughter on kidney dialysis.  I, on the other hand, have resisted for several reasons.  It has been the understanding of the doctors that I want to get her to transplant without dialysis.  Do they agree, no…but they said it could be done.

Well yeah, it could IF people did what they were supposed to do.  Seems the transplant coordinator and I are not using the same clock.  If I don’t follow-up with her, it doesn’t get done.  I don’t make these allegations lightly.  This has been a recurring problem.

So yesterday I got the courage up and documented all of my frustrations.  Reread it about 50 times to make sure I stood behind everything I was stating.  Then I photocopied the two-page document, handed a copy to a doctor on the kidney team and placed another copy in the front of my daughter’s medical records.

Please understand I have not for one moment questioned the doctors’ abilities.  However, I will not tolerate ANYONE playing God with my daughter’s life.  Period.

I will update everyone when I can.  Thanks to the hundreds of friends and family who have gathered around me and my daughter to support us through this most difficult time.  I am truly blessed.

Sew Unsure

So much for lazy Sewing Saturdays…how I miss those weekends where I can get lost in my sewing room playing with my new fabric and trim purchases.

On Friday, my Sunshine Girl (Marielle) was transported to Philadelphia due to uncontrolled high blood pressure.  Since then the docs haven’t been able to figure out what is going on.  Yes, we know she is in need of a kidney transplant, however, something else is happening.

Tonight they’ll be moving her to the ICU so they can give her around the clock IV blood pressure medications.

We got the results for my brother yesterday.  No, he is also not a match for a kidney donor for Marielle.  Next we are testing my youngest sister and then two friends and perhaps a nephew.  We’ve also received several offers for cadaver kidneys, but none have matched.

Because my daughter received a liver transplant as an infant, she carries not only her own antibodies, but that of her liver donor.  Therefore, she is a harder match than most.  If you would like to find out more about being a kidney donor to my 15-year-old daughter, Marielle, please contact Joann Palmer of Children’s Hospital of Philadephia at (215) 590-2449.

Please help me spread the word.  Feel free to post this to your blogs and web sites.  I would be forever grateful.

With friendship,

Lisa Carroccio

Exhibiting at the ENK Children’s Club Clothing Trade Show – Downtown Joey Booth Display

As promised, here are some pictures of my first trade show booth displaying my new boys’ clothing line, Downtown Joey.  Can you tell I’ve never done this before?

Anyway, once the  blue paper and city skyline were up, the rest was a breeze.  I was glad I purchased an extra set of lights.  However, next time I will also get electricity (I couldn’t light up my traffic light).

My Downtown Joey vinyl banner was too large, so we folded it in thirds and hung in vertically.

I added a NYC Manhole Cover rug and a Dead End rug I picked up at Bed, Bath & Beyond.  Next time I’ll add a One Way street sign and even a No Parking sign.

I had brought 4 mannequins with me, but only needed two.  When my line is bigger, I’ll be able to use all 4 of them.

Never did get my raglan t-shirts printed, so glossy color photos sufficed.

After the first day, I decided to add more to the right side of the display (but of course, I forgot to take the final pictures…LOL).  I added additional posters and another garment to the display to fill it up.

 

In hindsight, I will have 8 foot tall paper printed with a skyline to make set-up easier next time.  In addition, I will increase the size of my line.  Currently I have 8 woven (dress) shirts, 2 pants, 3 board shorts, 3 sweat jackets, 2 hats and 16 raglan t-shirts.  I think another 6 prints for the woven shirts would be a good idea and perhaps 2 more colors of pants.

I’ve been to almost every ENK Children’s Club trade show in the last 4 or 5 years.  This was definitely the slowest show I’ve attended.  More about that in my next post.

The ENK staff was awesome!  What a great bunch of people to work with.  They made such I had everything I needed.  I will definitely be displaying at their future children’s trade shows!

Time to make the donuts…

ENK Children’s Club Booth Set-Up Day 1

Ok…after a day like today, I’m NEVER hanging paper in my booth by myself again (Marielle was too weak to even hold the paper roll up for me).  Yes, I saved $990 doing it myself and not hiring the show contractors to do it.  However, next time I’ll bring along two strong teenage boys so I can delegate…LOL!  Now you’re wondering what the big deal is.  Well, try standing on top of a little step stool on your tippy toes to clip the paper to the wall.  At the same time, you need to balance the whole roll of paper.

Thankfully, I bought the 52″ paper.  I couldn’t imagine working with the wider 108″!  But the fun didn’t end there.  I then attempted to construct my 8 foot high NYC skyline background.

It’s almost physically impossible to put together an 8 foot by 25 foot heavy corrugated monstrosity in a space only 7′ x 15′!  There was absolutely nowhere to move.  I was able to get half of it together and hopefully tomorrow I’ll find the strength to finish the other half.

Now off to finish ironing all my samples to get them ready for the buyers!

Pins & Needles and My New Boys’ Clothing Line

I am sitting here on pins and needles–waiting for a call TODAY from the kidney transplant center.  The blood match and tissue typing results for my sister and daughter are due today.  Tic. Toc.

The wait is over–my sister from NC and Marielle are NOT a match for a living-related kidney transplant.  We are quite disappointed.  My brother has already contacted the transplant center today to start his donor evaluation.  Let’s hope he’s a match.

In the meantime, I’ve been beyond busy preparing for the upcoming ENK Children’s Club trade show this Sunday.  This is HARD WORK.  There is absolutely no “glamour.”  So much for being a “fashion designer”…LOL!

I’ve worked countless hours preparing all the printing material needed.  However, I couldn’t have done it without the talents of Carrie, Mary, Ingrid and Suna.  You girls are the BEST!  Seriously.

Ok…so you want to see some of the goodies these girls helped me with?

First, the postcard:

And one of the posters:

Lastly…my line sheets for my Spring / Summer 2009 collection:

Now we need to add it all to the Downtown Joey web site by Sunday!

Still need to finish printing the knit t-shirt graphics…everyone keep your fingers crossed that all will work out as planned!

Now back to my insanity…

With friendship,

Lisa