I love technology and I know how to make it work!

I can cross the Facebook Live event off the list! All the prep paid off, and the technology worked like a charm, except for that brand-new camera. I could NOT figure out how to focus. Guess what? I'm returning it and will buy the more expensive one. It was a cheap camera, and I understand it doesn't have the bells and whistles, but it was a hassle to set up. All the settings had to be reset each time I turned it on. I'm prepared to bite the bullet to have an idiotproof camera. The cheap one was not! 

Here's the link to watch the Facebook Live. I don't usually watch, but I watched it last night. OK—at the end, I called a few things the wrong name. What's with the SO? How does one stop saying that? 

By being aware! I think I mentioned this once before, but I used to say "hit that button," which technically would be a bad thing on your expensive sewing machine. It was pointed out to me, and I've tried extremely hard to correct that. I do not think I said HIT once yesterday. I now use touch or select. It sounds less violent!

Now it's time to eliminate SO from my vocabulary. But it's a challenge; I often use that word when writing. So, (pun intended), I must correct that habit! 

Thanks to everyone for the great feedback. There were many inspirations and samples, and I got excited watching the video! 

This morning was the aftermath of cleaning up. 

Here's the setup before the Facebook Live.  

The calm before the storm

Miss Murphy was there while I was setting up, but left while I live-streamed. It was too dull. 

Mom - if you need help, I'm here! 

I had to put a little hood on one of the cameras so it would not appear in the primary camera. 

The "hood" on my video camera

I need to work on eliminating all the lettering around the periphery of the camera screen. I've tried to figure it out, taken the camera to the camera shop, and nothing! I can't eliminate that stuff—even on the more expensive cameras. Hmmmm—there has to be a way. I guess I had better Google that and try to find the answer. 

I tossed the samples aside as I finished them. You can hear some of them clumping on the floor! 

Samples tossed on the floor!

Here's the little box that makes the magic happen! I can connect four cameras to the box and switch views as easily as touching a button. It's incredible what we can do in our homes! This switch box is small, but it is the same style they use in film studios. And all those cables are physically connected to a camera, the laptop, or power. And each device is also connected to power - I do not trust batteries. That reminds me of the movie, True Lies. I swear this was the movie's best scene, and I didn't want any of that, so everything is connected to power. 

The magic switch box

The trick is to have all those devices connected and not have the devices or the cables showing. I succeeded, which required a lot of looking at camera angles, then back to the computer, then back to the camera, etc. I only had to put a hood on that one camera to cover the screen that was showing up in my primary camera. 

I think I did very well. While I may be a dolt with technology at times, I know how to make it work—for the most part! I still need to figure out those video camera screens. 

All cables are neatly coiled, bound, and packed until next time. The Zooms I'm currently running are all presented on PowerPoint, which is a breeze. I take pictures of what I sew and put them in PowerPoint. I have no "live" samples to share. It's so easy compared to "live" events. 

The box of cables to run the show

And here's what the space looks like now. The stuff on the table is samples that I need to pretty up or stitch-outs that I need to do something with. I also need to rejig those tables, and I have to figure out how to do that. I have a lot of machine embroidery to do, and I still want to sew, so I will devise a plan later today. It took several hours to get everything neatly packed away!

The space now

When Murphy and I opened the front door for our walk, I spotted a package on my front step. Hmm - what could this be? 

A package

Oh yes -- it's my medal for finishing The Great Barrier Reef virtual challenge. Oh great - another strap that I have to fix! 

My Virtual Challenge medal

We had cool weather until yesterday. What? It was 31 degrees, feeling like 36. Where did that come from? Today, it's cool and cloudy. I swear, there is no "summer" anymore. You just don't know how to dress. 

Now that I had completed the "stressful" event, it was time to relax. I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things, and then I sat in the backyard and enjoyed my afternoon snack! It's not that Facebook Live or a Zoom call is stressful. But I have to consider many things: Will the technology work? Facebook Live involves a lot of technology, so a lot could go wrong. 

My afternoon snack

The gardener came yesterday, and now my backyard looks amazing again. I was trying to keep on top of it, but with a few deadlines, that was impossible. He comes three times a year, and I do the maintenance in between. It looks stunning. I still need to put my new mulch down and will probably add more. If today isn't too hot, I might just make that happen. 

The backyard is beautiful again! 

Wow - what am I going to do with all my free time? ROTFLOL!!!!!  

I now have to focus on Quilt Canada, and there are two things to deal with. Making a new sample or two, or at least sorting and packing for what to display at the show in the SVP booths. The second thing is to finish all the work for my concurrent show, Celebrating 25 years of teaching quiltmaking! I saw the floor plan, and I've seen the banner! But I need to complete some display material as well. I'll be rooting through my stuff for hours to collect it all. If you are one of my students whose quilt is going in the show, expect an email today from me with more details on what to expect before, during, and after the show. 

Plus, there are three more Zooms this week and an in-person event, all of which require prep. I was thinking about this yesterday. I was chatting with the person who "drives" the Facebook Live. She's behind the scenes checking comments and whatever. She's impressed at how organized I am, and that got me thinking about vacations and planning. 

I mentioned this before, but I spend a good part of my day planning and prepping for my classes (hundreds, probably thousands, since 2000) and the hundreds of Zoom calls, so it all looks seamless. That is my forte as a Virgo. I love structure and being prepared. I barely have time to sew these days with all the planning I do. 

But I just let it all hang out when I go on vacation. I have no plans or deadlines, and if something goes wrong, it's so easy to recover because there is no plan. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a total idiot on vacation - I have my personal guidelines, but I just can't bear the thought of having a structured vacation. To me, that's not a vacation. Again, we all have different ways of living our lives, and most people would NEVER want to travel with me since I don't plan much. I'm OK with that - I love solo travel. 

Speaking of travel, look at Murphy! We spotted this e-scooter (for rent) on the path near the forest. I tried to show her that e-scooters are OK. She couldn't care less—it wasn't moving. The second it moves, she wants to chase it! Sigh.

MOM - make it move, so I can chase it! 

I have been lax in my 60-minute-or-less challenge and quilting customer quilts in the last couple of days. I'm OK with that. If I miss a day, the world will not end. I am so fired up today—I can't wait to get started downstairs and try to tackle some of those things that have been hanging around forever! We will make this happen!!! But first, I'll be at the computer this morning! 

And on that happy note, I'm out of here! 

Have a super day! It's going to be a great day! 

Ciao!!!