Through the ages........

OOOPS --- yes -- I knew I misspelled WAZE and didn't have time to go back and check it. It is WAZE!!!! 

But here's the thing --- I used Google Maps yesterday to get to my meeting even though I knew where it was, but I like using it to give me the ETA (estimated time of arrival). I used it there and back home. When I left the house, it estimated I would arrive at 8:11, and I arrived exactly when it said I would, even though there was traffic. It had precalculated the time I would arrive BASED on the traffic. And if there was a sudden change, as on the way home, it adjusted the time. I get notifications of construction, objects on the road, etc. 

As I say to DH all the time, if it works for me, why should I change? It's never gotten me lost, it's never messed up my plans. It's easy to check on my computer before leaving, and I use Google Maps all the time for other applications, not just driving. So I'm not knocking it before I try it", I just don't see a reason to switch. But thanks for the information! When I hop in the car, it already knows where I'm going if I checked my destination online before leaving the house. And sometimes, it already brings up the destination based on my Google Calendar. I don't even have to search - it already knows where I'm going. And it's easy enough to give Google verbal commands to go anywhere. 

In fact, Google Maps has corrected me on occasion. If I only give it a partial address, it knows where I'm going. And once I gave directions to a place that had a different name. It corrected me and told me the CORRECT name of the place. How cool is that? So when something is working, don't rock the boat! 

You know me and technology - if something works --- don't touch it! I equate this to whether I want Apple or Android for a phone. Hands down - I'll take Android any day. I have my reasons, and see no reason to switch to Apple. I won't go into detail, but I'm very brand loyal. VERY brand loyal! 

And you have to love the voice commands with the CarPlay products. I needed to send DH a text when I was on the road. Of course, I'm not in Africa, so I'm not touching my phone. Trust me, they text and drive all the time! So I decided to try the voice commands. I asked Google to send a text message to him. But WAIT ---we don't really text, we do WhatsApp. Will that work? So I asked Google to send a WhatsApp message to him, and it did. It sent both. WOW  --- OK -- I'm not a total idiot, I know how to respond to a message that comes in, but I hadn't initiated sending a message before. I'm not a big messenger person. I rarely get any messages in a day, so it's not a big deal! I have a tiny circle of people I'm in regular touch with, and I like it that way! 

It was a great meeting and I always learn something at the meetings. There are some excellent new products on the way. Of course, I already knew about them, but it's good to get the official word that is communicated to the stores. Plus, just chatting with the other team members brings you up to speed on many things. I just say after what seems like a very long break, I feel a bit out of the loop! It's time to get back in action! 

I'll be hosting a 'What's New' event for PFAFF and Husqvarna Viking on September 23 at Stitch by Stitch in Kingston. If you're a mid machine user, you might want to come and see what's coming. It's pretty exciting!!! This is an in-person event. Even if you are not in the market for a new machine, come check it out. It's a great way to stay informed about the technology, so when you decide you want a new machine, you have some idea of what to expect. These are not your grandmother's sewing machines! 

While some of the business matters were being discussed, I sat with my laptop and designed projects for my upcoming Facebook Live this week. I'll be using the PFAFF machines for that event, but the inspiration can be translated to your machine of choice. Oh yes --- of course, I want to make some new samples. So I have a bunch of stuff designed, and I've pulled fabric or ready-made items, and I'm ready to stitch. 

First, I needed to clean that machine, as it's been a while. 

It's cleaning time

Oh -- there was a little bit of lint in it, but it's all clean and shiny now. 

A "wee" bit of lint was removed

I dug into one of my bins of fabric to find things that are fall-inspired, and I found this. I wirelessly sent the design to the PFAFF creative icon 2 and pressed START, and it's stitching out. As a matter of fact, while I'm writing, I can monitor the progress of the design on the Creativate app on my phone. You have to LOVE Wi-Fi-enabled embroidery machines. And having said that, if you don't have one and the top of the line is out of your budget, you may want to come to the What's New next week at Stitch by Stitch! 

Let the embroidery begin

Oh -- as a matter of fact, while I was sitting at the computer during the meeting, and loading some designs, I had the choice to send the design to my laptop or my computer. I accidentally sent them to my computer twice, and when I got home, the designs were sitting there waiting to be used! Yep --- this Creativate network is the best!!! 

Now, if I had smart dogs, and I had left the embroidery machines on, I could have sent the designs to the embroidery machines. The girls could have pressed Start, and it would have been stitched by the time I got home. How wonderful that would be!!!

I found this photo transfer in the basket of dog fabric! Oh my goodness, this was taken many years ago. Of course, that is M, who hasn't lived here in over 10 years, and Sparky, and of course, our little Sammy. OK -- I don't have a favorite dog! OK --- it's hard to forget Little Sammy! She was a rescue and had many issues, but we worked them out. But how can I ever forget her - she bit me once (my fault for surprising her) and I have a split thumbnail and will for the rest of my life! 

My girls!!!!

I'm not sure I should show you the following pictures, but OH MY GOD -- how we change. 

I was looking through the filing cabinet the other day and found these. I'll just give you the dates they were taken. I won't mention where the pictures came from - I think you can figure it out. 

OH -- I look like I have a bird's nest on my head! And I really look like my Mom in that photo  - at least when she was younger. 

1987

This was obviously my punk rock era! And am I on drugs or what? 

1993

This is my softer, Suzie Homemaker phase. I even curled my hair, but I bet it didn't stay like that for long! 

1998

Obviously, a very bad hair day. This looks like a mug shot! 

2004

Seriously? I'm not photogenic at all, unless I smile, and that at least gives me somewhat of a good image! Not so with these ones! 

2009

A little washed out in this one and zero smile! You probably won't notice, but I wore the same shirt in the 2009 and 2014 photos. I still have that shirt, and it looks as good as it did the day I bought it. Actually, I don't think I bought it - I think I got it as swag at a fundraiser. Or more likely, DH bought it at a golf tournament! 

2014 

At least I look somewhat distinguished in this photo, with that slightly raised chin! The hair is definitely better, but where's that smile? Where's that twinkle in the eye? Nope -- just a dead stare! But that's what they want, so that's what I give them! 

2024

It would be fun to set that up into a morphing video. I'm sure AI would do that for me, but I just don't have time to mess with that. And no one needs to do that. 

I managed to get one embroidery machine up and running today, and my goal is to get the other one up as well. I would love to get five new samples done today and five more tomorrow. I also have to set up the space with all the cameras, but that shouldn't take too long. 

There's so much paper crap surrounding my desk, but I won't be able to touch that until after September 27. I know that many people have been signing up (by paying) for the Colour My World class. I will acknowledge those hopefully this weekend. It's a time challenge to send out individual emails, so I'll think of a way to make that happen. 

I see a dumpster in the driveway of the empty house two doors from us. That house has been empty for two years. It had been rented out to a very large family or a very busy family for several years, and they trashed the interior. I've no idea how badly it was damaged, but the homeowners were heartbroken. And it sat for two years because they didn't know what to do with it. I'm guessing now that there is a dumpster, that they are going to renovate and sell? I'm not sure what their plans are, but it would be nice if someone could make use of the house rather than it sitting empty. 

Well, on that note, I'm out of here! It's going to be a busy day, and I'll be focused on organizing the space while the embroidery machines work away, and then I have to collect stuff for the machine embroidery workshop this weekend. If you are in the Windsor area and want to know all about machine embroidery, that is the place to be. You can contact Heather at Thimble Quilts and Sewing. Check it out! 

I need to change the thread before walking the girls. I can't afford downtime today!!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!