Wonderful Wednesday #59: In Bloom

Hi all! It's been awhile since I've posted, and I thought a Wonderful Wednesday post was in order - today I am featuring a free pattern called In Bloom by Jess Wariorka that is available on the DMC site. I'll be honest, I wasn't immediately a fan of this pattern, although it's been very popular and stitched in so many creative and lovely ways, but my perspective on it has changed significantly in the past month.

As you all may know, who have followed this embroidery blog throughout the years, I tend to be a very private person because I have never wanted this blog to be about "me" per se, and always preferred it to be about crafting and embroidery. Aside from the fact that I love to embroider, and that my hands have gotten less attractive over the years, you probably don't know much about me, and I am fine with that! The camaraderie we've shared with each other over a love of crafting has always been enough for me.

But today, I feel it is finally necessary to tell you why exactly I've been quiet lately - I have breast cancer, a few weeks ago I had a mastectomy surgery on the affected breast, and I will be starting on chemotherapy next month. My cancer is hormone positive, and I have a very good prognosis for survival and recovery. This is actually my second time around with breast cancer - my first diagnosis was in 2015.

I've struggled with whether or not to share this with all of you, who don't know me personally, but I feel that it's time. My prognosis is very good, so I am doing my best to stay hopeful - my faith in God has carried me through this far, and I know it will continue to do so. I just wanted you to know why I might be quiet from time to time - my goal is to keep up with this blog as much as possible, but as I always share with any of the bloggers who volunteer with us - "life comes first!"

This pattern has begun to mean so much more to me after my surgery - when I first saw it, I felt a negative connotation which has since disappeared. Now, when I look at this pattern, I see the beauty of my own body, both before and after surgery. I see positive growth, inside and and out. I was never very proud of my breasts, which were always quite small and unremarkable, and I never could relate to women who were proud of their breasts, or who found them to be a large part of their identity. But as you all know who have had breast cancer, your relationship to your breasts and body changes when you lose one. Now, I see the beauty of us all, as women, a beauty that should be celebrated in ourselves.

I want to tell any of you who are going through breast cancer, or cancer or illness of any kind, that you are not alone. I hope this pattern and my story brings you hope and inspires you to craft and appreciate everything that you are. I'll continue to share bits of my progress when I feel up to it. I  just thought it was time to share this with you, and I wanted to offer encouragement to any of you undergoing a similar tough time. Love you all, my crafting friends!