Check your subscriptions!

Thanks for the suggestions on computers—I'll look into them because I'd love to get the old computer off the second desk! It takes up a lot of room! 

There was a lot of trepidation in the house as I unboxed the second HP printer. This time, I took pictures as I unboxed it. There's that heavy paper strap around the shrink-wrapped printer. And it worked like a charm. No need to bend deep to pull the printer out of the box. I was very impressed. 

Pull on the heavy cardboard strip to remove the printer

Then I started the set-up process, which meant I had to run between the kitchen (printer's current location) and the office (computer location) to make that happen. As it passed each step with a green checkmark, I was getting excited, but would it pass the "insert ink cartridges" test? 

Setting up the new printer

And within about ten minutes, this is what appeared on the screen. YEAH!!!! It worked!!! I may seem like a bumbling idiot when it comes to technology, but I know how to set up a printer! I mean - how hard can it be? And most companies these days have it so automated that it's almost idiot proof. Not quite, but almost! 

YES -- we are in business! 

And then I did a very brave thing. I printed the alignment page. OK, so that part wasn't very brave. I just printed it. But the next thing I printed was the reason I bought the printer. OK -- it wasn't the only reason - the old printer was becoming very costly for ink (more on that in a second), and I needed to print a photograph on fabric. I couldn't scan on the old printer from the new computer, so it really was time to retire the thing, and me drying up the print heads and the cartridges was the straw that broke the camel's back! 

Instead of printing a test page for the photo, I shoved the fabric sheet into the paper tray and pressed OK. And then we waited. Oh shoot - I need to press PRINT as well, and then it started to print. OH MY -- I can't share the photo with you yet, but the quality of the print? STUNNING!!!!! 

 

Waiting for the photo to print

Now here's the thing with printers. Our old printer was an OfficeJet with four ink cartridges. We had signed up for the InstaInk program, which monitors our ink usage and sends us new cartridges when we need them. It worked for us. I didn't realize that we were paying almost $20 a month for that. DH set it up when we got the old printer, and we used to print more then, but we don't print nearly as much now. 

I set up a new plan that costs less than $10 a month. And this printer uses only two cartridges (the colors are combined in a single cartridge). This printer is also a photo printer, so I'm not sure how that works differently. Anyway, we have a new printer; it works like a charm. I did NOT test the scanning, but I'm sure it's fine. It prints amazing color photographs on fabric, and the ink is cheaper. The new plan is also to print fewer sheets, which also accounts for the cheaper ink cost. 

It should be obvious, yet it isn't. But you MUST check the details of any and all subscriptions you have, because we were overpaying on the ink by double! And if we need to change the subscription level, it's easy to do online! 

After the two very successful presentations in the morning and YES - I got everything done in time, I decided to do a bit of tidy-up work. This is my basket of fabric for Color My World by Wendy Williams. It's a beautiful quilt, and I decided to put away the fabrics that I no longer need. I kept out the backing, the background, and two potential candidates for the binding. 

Sorting out the fabrics for Color My World

So, do you want to see the quilt? 

My almost complete Color My World

I still need to add the outer border, which will be the background. But it's mostly done, and that outer circle fits the inner black circle like a glove! OK -- I had to ease a tiny bit here and there, but it fit amazingly well. I am thrilled to death with it!!! I made two blocks - the grain elevator and the CN Tower, both on the left. 

But what stunned me was the level of creativity that the participants put into their quilts. They left me speechless with the workmanship, the creativity, and the willingness to take a leap of faith and try something most had never done before - design their own blocks. And it was a very odd-shaped block to boot! I am very proud of that group - they've all done a spectacular job. I will be sharing the show-and-tell after the June meeting on the 27th of June, so you have to wait until then, but the wait will be well worth it! 

There is one thing that drives me CRAZY!!! I encouraged this group of participants, as well as anyone in my classes, to step outside their comfort zones and try something new. Many people designed their own CN Tower, and each is unique. Last night during the virtual retreat, we were chatting with someone who made this quilt several years ago. She also designed a CN Tower block. When she showed her quilt to a "friend," they said, "Your CN Tower has a flat bottom," or something to that effect. 

WHY? Can you tell me why people think they have the RIGHT to make nasty comments like that? If you are thinking something negative -- just keep it to yourself. There is NO RIGHT or WRONG --- we design to our abilities and skill levels, and we all perceive things differently. 

NO ONE has the RIGHT to criticize my quilts or anyone else's. If you don't like it -- keep quiet! In case you don't know, you are making yourself look like a crotchety old lady from my mother's era, and guess what? It's not attractive!!! 

You know who you are—so next time? Just say -- wow -- you did a great job and leave it like that. You do NOT get a medal at the Pearly Gates for being overly critical! There are ways to provide feedback if you feel it's necessary. 

Harsh -- I totally get that, but so many quilters have fragile egos, and for them to create a quilt block and then be criticized for it? They will likely never try it again! 

Sorry to harp on this, but negativity seems to stick in our heads way more than positivity does. I don't know why. But imagine speaking to your children and grandchildren with that constant negativity. How will they learn to keep their heads up, be proud of what they have accomplished (even if they made massive mistakes), and build their confidence? You don't agree with what they designed? So be it—have a good laugh with the person, ask if they need help or support, and then move on! 

I could go on and on about this. Are you a fixer or an interrogator? And so many other things. I'm not perfect by a long shot - I am quick to respond, have anger management issues at times, and am slowly learning to back off and to apologize if I screw up. Be humble!!! Read The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield. It's an eye-opener about our behavior toward others. 

KU and I headed off to Fabricland in the afternoon to pick up some supplies. I have three small things to make/alter for the wedding, and I need to get moving! But I needed a couple of things. Now that I have the stuff, I'll start working. 

Once we got back and set up the printer, I really didn't feel like sewing. I was going to go for a walk, but it poured all day, so I sat down with the jigsaw puzzle and started working on it. 

It was a challenge right to the end. I had this hole in the puzzle and these remaining pieces. The issue was that some holes were filled with TWO pieces, making it challenging to find the right spot. 

The final challenge

And there it is --- done!!! That was probably the most challenging puzzle I've done recently. My puzzle artist friend (Cynthia Frenette) says she has received feedback that her puzzles are challenging, which is good, since I have a few! I paid $6.99 at the thrift store and likely got a discount. A very good value for the money, and it helps offset the cost of the new ones. No pieces missing. 

The puzzle is together

The next puzzle is pulled from the closet and follows the theme (Canadian Jigsaw Puzzle Association) for the June puzzle-along. I won't open it until I'm back from the quilting retreat. But yes -- I snuck a 500-piece puzzle into my retreat bag! OH - the theme is Colors, Gradients, Rainbows!

My stuff for the retreat is sitting in the garage because the cleaning service came this past week, and I needed to get it out of the living room. It will take little time to wing it in the car. I have ONE last-minute packing bag downstairs, and as the day goes on, I'll wing stuff into it that I think I might want to work on! It's ONE bag, and I can always leave it in the car! 

My panic-packed bag for the retreat

Speaking of wedding things, as we chatted on the Virtual Retreat last night, I pressed the lace I had removed from the pinafore and removed all the loose threads. It's rolled up and ready to go. 

The trim is ready for the bouquet.

I didn't get much done during the Virtual Retreat. But I managed to get the pieces cut for another scrappy backing for the next community project quilt. You can't really tell, but the mottled fabric is made up of many vertical strips. I'll sew them together today and then add that to the snowflake fabric. And there will be another scrappy backing. I don't waste anything, and when I set out fabrics for the backing, I'm generous. I've had to put half the stuff I pulled away because of my ingenious piecing; I didn't need nearly as much as I originally thought. My goal is to use up all the blue flannel for the backing of these quilts. 

The backing is ready to piece

And I can't tell you how excited that backing makes me. I love solving puzzles, and figuring out how to use scraps to make something is just that - a puzzle. This exercise helps build many skill sets. It may take time and not be easy, but it's worth it to me! I don't make notes, and measure - I go by eye and gut feel. My gut feel is getting a good workout, and it's highly tuned because of all the experience I've gone through! 

Before closing up last night (we finished the Virtual Retreat at 9 PM), I managed to trim this group of HSTs. Yeah!!!!!

Another group of HSTs trimmed.

That leaves this pile that I just stitched this past week. So I'm pretty current, and I should be able to get those done later today? 

The last pile of HSTs to trim

I got the two UFO presentations ready this morning - I am so darn productive in the morning, and while going through emails for something, I spotted this picture. Oh my—these are signature quilt blocks from an exchange I participated in years ago. This is not my quilt, but I have my set of blocks!!! 

A signature quilt from years ago

There are tons of exchanges going on these days, and I really don't care about them. I think they are wonderful things to participate in, but I remember one year that I spent most of my time working strictly on these exchanges. I was probably working on at least two Block of the Months, then many blocks or fabric swaps, and that was all I did that year. I've done so many different styles of exchanges and group quilts that I'm done! I now want to finish my UFOs. 

They were fun to participate in,  but so many of the exchanges sit as UFOs today. 

And what day goes by that Murphy doesn't do something silly? She seems pretty agitated these days - well, that's not a good word, but she is just constantly moving. Well, that's not true -- I'm not sure how to pinpoint it, but she seems different. It might be my imagination. The girls had a few days of freedom to come in and out as they pleased, but with the plummeting temperatures, the doors and windows are tightly shut. I'm tempted to turn the furnace back on, but instead piled on two sweatshirts! 

Anyway, as mentioned, it was pouring rain yesterday, and she saw fit to go outside and just stand on the deck! 

MOM - it's raining!

I need to alter this bowtie for the wedding, and it has Bear's scent on it. Murphy almost ate the bowtie in her eagerness to sniff it!!

MOM - where's Bear? 

I managed to go through all the emails from people giving their thoughts on what quilt to pick for the fall sew-along. OH -- could I be tempted to do more than one? ACK!!!! Be strong!!!! I'll take the list with me to the retreat and try to figure out what's going to happen for the fall. 

I'll be sure to share with you. 

Have a wonderful day. Stay warm and dry!!!

Ciao!!!

Here's the link for the Virtual Retreat today. We start at 3 PM. It's a perfect type of day to stay inside and sew! Come join us!

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89869001291?pwd=h57kT9axwTnd2xtJvuO0z2UOmUo45w.1

Meeting ID: 898 6900 1291
Passcode: 136711