Hello friends, and welcome to my day on the ByAnnie Sew Pink Blog Hop 2025!

I’m so happy to be here with you today, October 12th, as part of this wonderful initiative. It’s a privilege to be a part of a community that comes together to sew with purpose, and my project today is dedicated to a very special person.

A Tribute to Tee

This year, my Sew Pink project is in loving memory of Tee Cartledge, a beautiful and creative member of our Army family. Tee was just 33 when she was diagnosed with bowel cancer and sadly, less than two years later, she lost her battle at the age of 35. Her strength and spirit throughout her journey were an inspiration to everyone who knew her. She spent much of her treatment and her final days in the wonderful care of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre (ONJ Centre) in Melbourne.

The Project: A Snapshot of Joy

In tribute to Tee's memory, I have created a ByAnnie Snapshot bag using gorgeous Tilda fabrics. To make it a truly personal keepsake, I have designed a special stitchery that is appliqued onto the bag. We discussed this project together before she passed, through her Auntie Linda, and she shared some of her favourite things with me. This is why you'll see a charming frog, a sweet chicken, and some busy bees in the design—all things that brought Tee joy. Tee was a very creative lady, and it felt so special to connect with her extended family and offer some confort through a needle and thread with this project.

About the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre

The ONJ Centre is a world-class facility that focuses on a holistic approach to patient care, providing not only leading medical treatment and research but also a wide range of wellness programs that support a patient’s body, mind, and spirit. It’s a place that believes in helping people live better with cancer, and it was a source of comfort and care for Tee. All profits from the downloadable PDF stitchery design will be donated to the ONJ Centre, as per Tee's request, so that they can continue their incredible work.

Bowel Cancer: Know the Symptoms

While the Sew Pink program is traditionally focused on breast cancer, the initiative aims to raise awareness for all types of cancer. Bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in Australia, and being aware of the symptoms and testing options is vital for early detection.

Symptoms to be aware of include:

  • A persistent change in bowel habits (diarrhoea, constipation, or a feeling of incomplete emptying).

  • A change in the appearance of bowel movements (such as thinner stools).

  • Blood in your stools or rectal bleeding.

  • Abdominal pain, bloating, or cramping.

  • Unexplained weight loss or fatigue.

If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to speak with your GP. Early detection can lead to more successful treatment. All Australians aged 45 to 74 are eligible for a free screening test every two years through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, a quick and easy at-home test that could save your life.

The Sew Pink Program

The #SewPINK Initiative was created by ByAnnie to promote self-care, awareness, early detection, and support for those affected by cancer. It brings our community together through our shared love of sewing to raise awareness and funds for research. It’s a beautiful way to honor loved ones and make a difference.

Thank you for joining me today in honoring Tee's memory. Your support means so much.

My Snapshot bag in lovely Tilda Wallflower fabrics features a specially designed stitchery on the front in memory of all things Tee. You can purchase the stitchery design to place onto your own Snapshot bag—or use it as you wish. The cost of the design is what you would like to donate. You can purchase it as an instant PDF download or as a paper pattern with an iron-on transfer to be posted to you.

 

I'll be listing all the other wonderful participants and their links below, so be sure to check out all the amazing projects in this year's blog hop.

Happy stitching,

Helen

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Donate to purchase the 'Fly on, sweet bee' stitchery design here

Order Snapshot bag pattern here

Order our Tilda Wallflower kit here

 

The 2025 hop calendar - click on the image to find the direct links for each day's blog post.

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The #SewPink Initiative's mission is to raise awareness for cancer throughout the year.

Efforts culminate in an annual blog hop during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month to promote self-care, awareness, early detection and support for those affected by breast cancer.

To learn more and see the calendar of events visit: https://www.ByAnnie.com/SewPINK