Have you ever been in a bank robbery?

That would be a good question to use for those icebreakers. You know - the one that asks you to write something about you that no one knows! Wait for the story!

Maybe I'll consider some container gardening next year. Cherry tomatoes and maybe cucumber. I'll probably need to put that on my calendar because next spring I'll be excited about something else and forget until it's too late. 

But I agree, gardening and yard work are as hard or as easy as you want them to be. We went the easy route with everything being a perennial, no annuals and replanting for me. We have flowering shrubs for most of the summer, and I would love to take over the front boulevard with perennial flowers that require minimal work but attract butterflies. We get butterflies, but not a ton. 

And I have room for one more shrub in the backyard, and I was thinking of a lilac. I must put my thinking cap on for that. 

But what we have does NOT require watering beyond what we get from rain, and really the only maintenance is keeping the weeds down, which isn't a big deal, and for me, that's about one hour per week over the summer. I can deal with that. When the garden gets to be too much work, I'm not enjoying it. That's me -- I know others love it, but not me. 

As a kid, I spent countless hours hoeing hundreds of trees to build a hedge that eventually saved the house (DARN!!!) from the tornado that flattened part of the family farm. And countless hours planting, weeding, and harvesting potatoes and every other conceivable vegetable you can imagine. Should I even mention the hours spent shelling peas, cutting beans, husking corn, etc. And let's not forget the hours of picking fruit, both wild and domestic. I've done my time with gardening. 

I went to get a manicure yesterday. Just in case there are any close-ups of my fingernails today. I really should go once a month, just to tidy them up. I am not a fan of nail polish, but I do get a clear coat after they tidy them up. I honestly don't know how people can keep their nails looking so good. If I get regular polish in any color, it is scratched or chipped by the time I get home. And then it looks hideous. I could get gel or shellac or whatever the materials are today, but that just ruins my nails underneath. I tried it once and was shocked at the condition of my nail beds after the gel was removed.  

And then you have the decorative nails. They look spectacular, but like funky eyeglasses, I focus on the nails or glasses instead of what the person is saying. I want people to look at my samples, NOT my nails or my eyeglasses. Again --- personal opinion. 

I knew yesterday was going to be "fun" as I set out to get the room set up for the Facebook Live TODAY. Four cameras and my computer are involved, and they all have to be connected to one another through the MAGIC switchbox. 

I hoped to use the areas where my sewing machines sit. I removed all the T-shirts from the temporary design walls and then set up the main camera. DRAT --- I needed a wider angle than this space allowed.  

This area is too small.

So --- I had to set it up in the area where those "current project" tables are sitting. Yep—all that crap on the two tables and a few tubs underneath had to be moved. 

All this had to be moved.

Well, that wasn't exactly a fun task. Let's just say I got a lot of steps in yesterday, and I didn't even go for a walk. But this might be a good opportunity to sort it out before I put it all back and make some decisions. Perhaps I can find a few hidey holes in a closet or on a shelf to make some of that disappear. Wouldn't it be nice if there was NOTHING on those tables? I don't think I can cull it that much, but it's time for an intervention. 

Although this is from a different angle, this is what that area looks like. 

The "film studio"

Let me say that bagging and labeling all the cables was BRILLIANT. It took no time at all to set everything up, and since I've done it a few times, it was super easy. The hardest part was finding the spot to set things up. No equipment or cables were missing - it was a dream. And this is why we declutter, organize, sort, or whatever you want to call it. When I got the new power cord for the switch box, it also went into this bag and was waiting for me. 

Everything was bagged and tagged per camera.

My samples are out, and I have all the supplies I need. I have a few things to set up this morning, and there is one small sample I've been meaning to make, but I didn't, so that is a job for this morning. 

I started rearranging things back in order on the work tables because I'm running out of room with everything turned upside down. Once today is done, I just need my work tables back, and the rest can stay until next week. 

One more presentation is mostly done, but I have a bit of sewing to do first. Once the pictures are in the slide presentation, it's pretty easy to put them in the correct order. Then I go through it at least twice to ensure that the flow is right and to add anything I may have missed. Actually, I had to prep two presentations for the one class because one presentation is about the technique and one is for the pattern. I should have had that technique presentation done years ago, but I always fudged it. Now I'm actually making the presentation, so I won't have to do it again. I can pull the slides whenever I need them. 

And YES—all the pictures and the presentation are in well-organized file folders, so they are easy to find. 

I have one presentation I haven't started, but I hope to get working on it later today, or I might finish this one completely and then focus on the final one tomorrow. I've pulled some fabric this morning, and that is the holdup. What color am I going to make this quilt? 

While I appreciate that Halloween stuff has been in stores for months (hard to believe), I saw this on my walk. OH -- I guess I did go for a walk when I went to the nail salon, which just happened to be in the same parking lot as the thrift store, and it was senior's day. What happens on seniors' day at the thrift store? That information stays at the thrift store! 

Eager Halloween decorators

As I walked the girls in the morning, I spotted this. Again—someone just dumped this pile of furniture at the curb. It is NOT garbage day today, but recycling day. We used to have big garbage day once or twice a year, but now people seem to think it's big garbage day any day of the week. What does the city say about this? 

More big garbage piled at the curb

Look at this pretty girl! She's so beautiful and desperately needs grooming or at least a bath. I'm not sure that she can handle going to the groomer. I might have to break down and take her to one of those self-serve dog wash places. And I could get clippers and clip her myself. The last time she went to the groomer, she had leg spasms when she got home. I think the stress of being there and standing for so long wasn't for her. 

MOM - I know I'm pretty! 

And when you're hot, you just step into the pool to cool your legs and have a drink. What a silly girl. 

MOM - I'm cooling down

Here's that puzzle I chatted about yesterday. The one that belonged to my grandfather, and I suspect he gave it to my Dad, although Dad had zero recollection of it. I have no idea how old it is; there are no indications on the box, but I'd say it's from the 1940s or 1950s. I can't find anything about the Windsor Jigsaw puzzle company. All my searches lead to Windsor Castle. By the way, did you see that handsome young prince on his first day of school? It's hard to believe he is 13. 

My vintage puzzle

The picture is called Lake Josephine, which is located in Minnesota. 

The puzzle name

There are other titles, but again, searching for them online provides no further information. WAIT  - I did NOT ask the question correctly. I asked again ( I just use a search engine; I do NOT use AI). The Windsor puzzle brand started production in 1932. During the depression - imagine that. OMG—I did a more in-depth search (it's all about what you ask and how you ask it). I don't have time to post it all, but this puzzle was published in the 1940s!!! Pretty good guess. My Dad was born in 1933. 

Other titles in the series

This is a note on the inside of the lid in my grandfather's handwriting. I have no idea what he means - some pieces are short on top. Now I have to put it together to understand. 

A note from my Grandpa

But look at the pieces! They are all irregular. And the colors are so dull. It should be interesting, but not on my radar at the moment. I will keep this one. Not sure if M will want it someday, but since she likes puzzles, it might be a fun one to keep. 

The pieces of the puzzle

And I have this folder of random photos, and I should start posting some of them. A while back, I was digging through my two boxes of crap that I've carried with me since high school. And a few other things got put in the boxes along the way. 

Sadly, I didn't keep the date on this article, but it was in the mid-1980s. I was working for the Bank of Montreal at the time, and my boss and I had these two desks in the corner of that huge main bank branch off Place D'Armes. This is in the (at the time) head office of the Bank of Montreal. I did NOT work for the branch, but for another division, but we were overflow and sat in a corner of the main branch. 

We had smoky glass dividers to keep us separate from the branch, and this branch is HUGE. It's one of those old bank buildings with very high ceilings and lots of columns. 

I sat with my bank to the branch, and I remember turning around after hearing some commotion, and it was over in two minutes. Yikes!!! That was pretty scary, but we didn't even have time to register what was happening until it was over. 

So, yes, we were in the same building as the bank robbery, but we weren't close and definitely weren't the target. 

I was at this same desk when I heard the news that the Challenger exploded (1986). 

This was a cute little corner because we had our own private bathroom. Yep—there was a bathroom right beside my boss's desk, and the ladies in our department (around the corner) and the two of us used it. No one else! It was great. My boss spent a lot of time in there as she was also heavily made up! 

The things you remember. I don't need that article, but it did trigger loads of memories. 

OK—here are the links where you can watch the Facebook Live if you are interested. On Facebook, this is the link. 

And here is the YouTube link. OMG -- there's a countdown clock. 7 hours and some minutes to go!

If you open those pages BEFORE 3 PM EST, you will need to REFRESH the page to start the live stream. We typically go live right at 3 PM on the dot, so that's when you should refresh. 

Even if you are not in the market for a new machine and even if you are NOT a PFAFF person, it might be fun to check it out and see what all the fuss is about! LOADS of new technology to share! 

And on that note, I'm out of here. I have lots to get done today, and it's time to get started. 

It's going to be a fabulous day!!!

Ciao!!!!

The more you do, the more you know!

Oh my --- What a crazy day, but it was a great day!! Three things went off without a hitch! 

I was up early and had those suitcases loaded in the car - the girls were NOT happy that I was leaving without taking them for a walk. More on that in a bit. 

The drive was great even though there was a lot of traffic. A lot of truck traffic, but no accidents, so that was a bonus. I didn't have time for accidents or major slowdowns. 

The Thames Valley Quilt Guild is a great group of people, and OH MY --- I met someone from the Mississauga Guild who now lives in London (Ontario), and then I met two people from the Brampton Guild who now live down that way. Thanks to them for coming up and introducing themselves! That's better than spotting them from the stage during the presentation, and well, it was good to see all three of them. 

My, how times change, and I'm sure new people have joined those two previous guilds of mine. I haven't been a member of either of them for quite some time. I'm one of those people who feel that if I belong to an organization, I need to be involved in the executive or helping out on a committee, and I just don't have the time. And even if I did, I just don't want to, so I'll stay connected with my online peeps. 

I had to laugh at the topic they chose for me to speak on - it was Modern Quilts, and apparently, the members did not know because the program person thought the guild would veto that topic since many of them are traditional quilters. I think the presentation was a hit because I don't think I've ever had so many people come by to ask questions at the break, take pictures, or have a good look at the quilts afterward. 

My presentation is really about how modern quilts aren't modern. Modern quilts have been around forever - decades and probably even longer. It's a very interesting lecture. If they were naysayers on modern quilts before, they didn't feel that way when I left. 

I typically stay until the end, but I had to scoot back because I needed to finish setting up the Facebook Live. Technically, there wasn't really anything to do, as I had done it all the day before, but I still had a couple of things to check. And when the moderator let me in the call 30 minutes before we started, I realized that my laptop was running on battery. WHAT??? So that got fixed. And then the battery warning came on for my main camera. WHAT??? Trust me—NOTHING runs on battery during those presentations. I have power cords snaked all over the floor. Murphy must have rubbed against the cords, as I noticed that the main camera was slightly out of whack - thankfully, it was the camera that was sitting on the very sturdy tripod. 

But all was good -- no technology glitches, though I did notice a couple of slow spots when I rewatched part of the video-- nothing major. 

Phew --- and then that was done. 

If you wish to watch the video, you can do so on YouTube. You can check out some of my machine-embroidered samples of weird things near the beginning. I had so much stuff that I kept losing things! But it was loads of fun, and I was so happy when it was done. Not happy that it was done, but happy that it went off so well. 

I really need to do something about the lights, as I feel there is a dead spot in that room. Of course, there is, almost half the lights are no longer working. I must get the electrician in. But this was what it looked like when I was done. 

The view into the film area

And I literally threw everything on the floor, which is why I kept losing things!! But all was good. I made up for that with enthusiasm! Hopefully I spoke slower - I tried - I really tried, but at some points, I couldn't help myself, I was so excited! 

Just throw those samples on the floor.

What amazes me is how it can look like a disaster in real life, but on camera, it looks nice and uncluttered. Yep --- just like in TV or the movies. And angles? They are your friend in the film world. 

Those table top decoration rods are perfect for creating a wall! It allows me to set up my film studio wherever I want in the room. 

The fake wall for the film studio

That is a heavy piece of polyester fabric that is hard to keep in place on that rod because it's longer in the front than the back. However, I found the perfect solution to that. I bought these decorative bobbles from Cynthia Frenette a while back. They have a large glass bobble on the end and are made with beads. They hang on that rod every day, but when I was setting up the curtain, I used them as weights on the back, and they held the fabric perfectly. I noticed that Cynthia has released a new fabric line with a company. I don't have time to find it this morning, but I'll try to remember to share tomorrow. 

My bobbles become weights for the curtain.

The darn things are very hard to photograph because they are so long. I must tell Cynthia that, in addition to being pretty, they also have a very practical purpose in Studio B. They are supposed to hang in a window, but I don't have windows downstairs, so they hang on the rod. 

The decorative bobbles

I snapped this picture before leaving the house yesterday, and it made me think of those four astronauts so far from home, barreling their way back here at high speed. It makes me very sad to think there are theories out there that this is all fake and they are being filmed in a green room. What is our world coming to? 

The moon is so far away, and yet it's not.

It's been fascinating listening to all their stories, seeing the amazing pictures, and knowing that they circled or at least went to the dark side of the moon. I'm surprised that it has taken 50 years for man to get back into space travel. Sadly, so many of those theories are being fed to uneducated (and probably some educated) people. And they believe the fake stories, and well, I'm not going there. 

I had a bit of downtime yesterday as I waited for the Facebook Live to start, so I got to work on that puzzle. I must admit that I had to do that sky one row at a time because I was looking at the shapes. The shading in the sky was so subtle that shape, for the most part, was the way to go. And when it got down to these few pieces, I simply grabbed the first one in line and tried to find a home for it. If not, it went to the back of the line, and I tried to find a home for the next one. 

Nearing the end of the sky

And before I knew it, the sky was done!!!! Now for the hard part -- all those green trees. 

The sky is done!!!!

I think puzzles with photographs are very challenging. But did you know that doing jigsaw puzzles is very good for quilting? Yep—paying attention to details, learning to appreciate value (related to gradations), and a lot more are amazing exercises in color, detail, and value!!!

After dinner, I decided to walk the girls and took both of them-- BIG mistake. I also had something to do at the library. I realized I had an overdue book, and it needed to be returned before I could get anything done. 

I tied the girls up outside the library, well away from any paths. The two of them were good. My intention was to return the book and ask some questions. When I got into the library and asked my questions, I found the PERFECT person: she was willing to do what I wanted right then, asked if I had a few minutes, and gave me a mini-lesson. WOW!!!! That librarian sure loves her job. 

However, once the job started—don't worry—I'll share with you, but not right now. I had some time to kill, so I wandered around the library, then went outside to see the girls so they wouldn't think I had left them. They went wild!!!! 

MOM -- we are bored and need to get moving NOW!!!!!

Anyway, I eventually finished at the library, and it was time to come home. I swear the two of them were like wild horses that had never had a bridle on. They were insane, and both of them were tugging at their leashes most of the way home. Lexi is never like this, but she was jumping and leaping around like a crazy dog. She never talks, and she was pretty vocal. 

MOM - we need to get home - Dad is alone!

I guess they were happy to go on the walk, but not so impressed to be tied up outside the library for 30 minutes. Look at Lexi - she is pulling on her leash, and she never does that on the way home. 

When I let them in the house and off their leashes, they went wild. Lexi ran into the family room at full tilt, jumped into her bed, and then off the bed, running around the kitchen, and then back onto her bed. It's like she went mad. Muprhy wasn't much better. So I let them outside, and they ran like wild dogs around and around and around their obstacle course. 

MOM --- we were trapped for 30 minutes on our leashes 

And when they finally calmed down, Lexi came in and went to her bed. I had to remake her bed as the blankets were shoved into one corner by her jumping at full speed into it. But look at that look on her face!!! 

MOM -- I'm beside my Dad, and I'm happy

All in all, it was a hugely successful day. Why is that? I certainly didn't get lucky! I was prepared, and the more prepared I am, the more likely that everything is going to be a success. The more Facebook Lives I do, the more comfortable I am with the technology. It's all about the more you do, the more you can do, and start refining the process. My next Facebook Live is in September, and I'll be sure to let you know as we get closer to the date. 

What blows my mind is that I'm in Toronto, the moderator was in Texas, and people joined the call from all over. That is NOT fake! 

Well, I now have three days to prep for two in-person presentations (in Ottawa) and finish two online presentations. Hopefully, I won't have any issues and can get all the embroidery done on the jacket. Once those presentations are over, I can hit the road running to finish it. It's going to be tight to get everything done, but a little bit of pressure every now and then is good. I would NOT have had this time issue if I hadn't had to step in for my colleague, who wasn't able to do these scheduled events. My time management was right on and allowed me to do this favor. 

On that note, I'm up and on my way to the gym with Brooke. I haven't been there for two weeks and didn't do as much stretching as I should have. It might be tough!!! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

The calm after the storm

It's 4:30 AM, and I see Brooke sent me a note last night (I was asleep) saying she is unwell. I'm up and dressed, so I'm going to the gym on my own this morning. Look at me - a gym geek!

Thanks to everyone who watched the presentation live yesterday! It means a lot to me for all your support and the feedback you gave. When I'm going to do something, I try to do it to the best of my ability. What's that quote? If you can't do it right the first time, you don't get a second chance? On something like this, there is no second chance!

I got a chuckle, and so will Murphy and Lexi, when one person said that I have no UMs and avoid unnecessary chatter. This is why I entertain Murphy and Lexi on the walks. I go over and over the darn presentation (as if I were presenting it), and I'm paying attention to what I say. I rarely say UM, and I think I've mostly eliminated that word from my vocabulary, but it is easily replaced by NOW, SO, AND, and probably one or two other words. 

By rehearsing it, I catch those words and try to correct myself BEFORE I do the presentation!

And as the clock was ticking down to 3:00 PM and I said "goodbye" to Aimee (the behind-the-scenes person), my mind went totally blank!! Yikes --- what am I supposed to say again? And then, because of the rehearsal, it all came back!

Thanks once again to everyone for watching. If you missed it or want to watch it again, here are the links. 

Youtube: 

Facebook:

While I love doing the presentation, I love the technology involved in making that happen. I decided to try adding a fourth camera to the mix using my iPad. It worked like a charm!!!

What I love is that I was able to manipulate the angles so you can see me and the embroidery machine, but you can't see the TWO cameras behind me. 

I'm hiding two cameras behind my back!

There was one camera on the needle and one on the screen (the iPad). I think I did a pretty good job of setting up! I have never tried using my iPad as a camera, but one of my colleagues has, and it was amazing. The only thing about an iPad is that it drains the battery faster than it can recharge, and as I was nearing the end, the battery was nearly depleted. No big deal—next time, I won't let it sit for so long BEFORE I start presenting. But for the hour and a half I'm online (30 minutes before the start time are just waiting and a last-minute check), the battery life is fine!

The two hidden cameras

I love doing these videos, whether it's been with Fons and Porter or on my own. But so much is happening BEHIND the cameras, and you don't get to see it! 

My mini film studio setup

Of course, I had help in the morning when I was running through the samples and getting them in the correct order. That is my small chair, by the way. I don't want my chair to be a distraction on the camera either, so I have this small one, and it works. I had plenty of room between the tables, so I stood up for some of the work, especially when working with the embroidery machine. I didn't want to bump the tripods, although I think I did right at the beginning. No big deal!!

My trusty helper

I started to pull things apart yesterday, but I will finish it this morning. Before I put things away, I'm going to bag the cables for each camera, put them in a labelled bag, then put that bag in a large bag, and put the large bag in the bin with all the other cables. That will make it that much easier to set up, as I have another session in September. Why waste time when I can put things away even more organized? And perhaps by then, I'll have found that missing power cord. If not, I'm making a note that the power cord for my Cricut works on the switchbox!!!

It will be so nice to take a break from machine embroidery for the rest of the week, although I have my UFO homework to do and I have some blog post writing to take care of! It will be calm and quiet! 

As I was leaving the house for spin class, I saw a big flash of light out the front door. What? I thought it was a car, but it didn't last. OH MY --- that was lightning, and the thunder wasn't far behind it. The dogs went out and did their business (on leashes), so we were quick. I got in the car and drove up to the lights to get onto the main street. If you arrive at those lights before 6 AM, they immediately go into the sequence to change. After 6 AM, you need to wait for however long it's programmed for. 

As I was approaching, there was a massive flash of light, followed immediately by thunder, and all four lights started flashing RED. WHOA!!! What just happened? I made it through the light and in the four KM to the gym, it started to rain and hail like mad. I mean, it was like a monsoon - the wind was blowing, and the hail was coming down so hard, I worried the car would be damaged. 

Then I got to the gym, and it's still crazy. Needless to say, I parked as close to the building as I could. I usually park far away and walk. Then the question was: do I wait it out or run? I ran and got thoroughly soaked in the one minute I was outside. 

This is the hail on the car's sunroof. 

Hail as seen through the sunroom

And this was the rain on the windshield as I waited in the parking lot. 

A monsoon

Thankfully, there are lots of towels in the gym, so I dried off as best I could and went to spin class. When I exited, it had stopped raining/hailing, but there was still ice on the ground. What a crazy day. 

While it was wet, that didn't deter a certain girl from enjoying the backyard. And seriously? That is a flower bed, not a bed for dogs. What a goofball!

MOM - -this spot is for me! 

I'm going to take turns tidying up and sewing today - I have a "few" things to do before UFO. Perhaps I bit off more than I could chew this month! Oh well -- I've made good progress, so I'm not worried. But there are a few more things I'd like to finish, and I now have THREE full days to dedicate to getting that done. It's going to be nice to be quiet. 

And I hope my tummy feels better today. Again, no need for the washroom, but just not feeling right. It wasn't the presentation, as I don't get nervous about that kind of thing. I ate some yesterday, but not like I usually do. I'm feeling pretty good this morning, but tentative about eating anything and getting it started again!

I have a question for you about air fryers. We have one temporarily in our house, and I have no desire for one to be here permanently. I think it's another fad like the Instant Pot (which we never got), but DH is so influenced by the gadgets that his guy friends have. It's been used three times since it was brought into the house, and every time, the SMELL has been horrific. The air fryer just intensifies the smell of grease from whatever is being cooked (meat), and I find it absolutely disgusting. Is that just me and my biased opinion, or is that true? 

On that note, I'd better get moving. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

What's your plan B?

What a day! I got out my bucket of cables and other supplies as I was setting up the cameras for today's Facebook Live. No fear of losing a tripod since they are relatively large, and I keep the two video cameras attached to them. The third tripod is for my cell phone or the iPad since I now have a holder for it. 

Tripods and cameras - check!

There's the bucket of cables and one more camera. 

Bucket of cables and document camera - check!

And then there is the swtichbox. As I was sorting through the cables (I keep saying I will label them, but I can figure it out), I realized that I did NOT have the power cord to the switchbox. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? 

Switchbox - check! Switchbox power cord - FAIL!!!!

I have been so diligent about putting things back where they belong, and I have no other place to use this power cord. I would not have stolen it for another device - it's pretty specific. I searched everywhere, but obviously, I didn't because I couldn't find it, and without that power cord, nothing will work. 

I looked online, and NOPE—I can't get one until later in the week. So I was off to the camera shop, and no, they do not sell these, but the staff member I chatted with said he had a box like it, and I asked if I could borrow his cord. I told him I'd call him back if I needed it. He seemed reluctant - I guess he has never been desperate before! 

I stopped at Best Buy and spotted something I thought would work, but after asking the staff there, they said NO. Seriously??? How come I can't find a power cord? Back home and a bit more research online, and while I can get one, I can't get one quick enough. 

I called the camera shop back to see if I could really borrow that guy's cable. I was willing to give him some cash for it, and then I scoured around the studio to see if anything else had that kind of connection. Oh my—let's try this cord. It was the power cord to my Cricut digital cutter, and it worked!!!!! I stayed on hold with the camera shop until the guy came on and I explained what happened. 

The Cricut cord is the white one in the mess above. 

It was funny because he seemed to think I was trying to borrow it through the shop. NO - I'll pay YOU, just loan it to me. Fortunately, we didn't need to go that route. 

Then it was time to move the tables and set up the backdrop and all that other fun stuff. The excess cables got put back in the bucket. I was testing all the cameras at this point and making sure they were charged, although I do NOT run them without a power source. Can you imagine, in the middle of the presentation, one camera losing battery power? Not happening!

Testing the cameras for connectivity

Thankfully, I've done this a few times, so I got the whole mess down pat, but here's where you would love to have a LOT of power bars and extension cords running all over the place, because getting power to all the devices is sometimes the hardest thing. I'm not sure how I ever did this the first time! While the embroidery machine is madly stitching in the background!

Testing the connectivity

 

At last, everything has power and is connected to the switch box. And the lights are out, although I could use more light. All the while, I had my embroidery machine working away in the back! I still have a couple more samples to run this morning, and I have to run to Staples to print out two things because our printer is acting up. Yippee!!!!

Lights, cameras, action!

When I was out, it was close to lunch time, so I stopped at Harvey's for a treat. It's funny how people do things on autopilot. They ask when I'm at the window, "Do you want ketchup?" and I reply, "NO." When I open the bag, this is what I see. EVERY single time!

What you get when you say, NO KETCHUP!!

But then I didn't feel well in the afternoon. DH also had lunch from there, but it only hit me. I wasn't sick, but I just didn't feel well. So I lost a couple of hours as I went to bed. And poor Lexi had tummy issues overnight and had to go out TWICE!! Thankfully, she makes a huge racket, although I didn't hear her the first time. DH did that run. But I heard the alarm system say, "Back door closed," which only says when the back door closes. I hadn't heard anything else, so I went to investigate. DH was sitting in the family room waiting for her to come back in. Of course, she isn't one to run out and do her business and then come back in. Nope -- she has to explore a bit. 

Well, I heard her the second time, and now she's back in and settled in her bed. Hopefully, she feels better. I feel better, but I'm tired this morning. However, I'm still going to spin class. 

And this was Murphy's take on the whole day. I had left the backdoor open in the afternoon because it was so warm. I didn't even get to enjoy a walk in the warm weather because I was in bed. But the girls are so happy that they have had a couple of days to come and go as they want. The door will be closed today because it's much cooler, but still above freezing. 

MOM -- I'm watching you!!!!!

I didn't even eat dinner last night. I just wasn't up to it. I had my snack before spin class, so let's hope that all is good. Again, I didn't need the washroom; I just had a lot of discomfort. But all seems to be good this morning. 

After "dinner", I went back to my jigsaw puzzle to see if I could finish it, and VOILA -- it's done. 

The 1000-piece puzzle is done!

I continued taking a handful of pieces at a time and tried to find a home for them without using the box, and by this time, I was getting pretty good at it. And before I knew it, the puzzle was complete! Yep - even the missing border piece was found. It's weird how that one piece was missing until almost the end. I've left it up, but I will dismantle it later today as I want to take this one with me at the end of the month to give to the fellow at my parents' apartment. I think he'll have fun with it. 

And I have another one that I'll open later tonight. 

OK—so if you want to watch the presentation live today, here's what you do. 

Go to the main Husqvarna Viking North America page on Facebook. Here is the link. 

You can have that window open as you wait for the presentation to start. It WILL NOT start until precisely 3 PM EDT. Now here's the trick: at 3 PM EDT, you must REFRESH that window to get the live feed working. The pages do not refresh on their own. The same applies to YouTube if you plan to watch the presentation there. If you have the page open BEFORE 3 PM, you must REFRESH the page to get into the live feed. It is supposed to start automatically. So if you open either page at 3:01, it should already be broadcasting the live presentation. 

Here's the link to the YouTube page. 

So you can watch in either spot—just be sure to REFRESH the page. I'll be there at 3 PM, but I'll hold back a minute or two before I really get started. The presentation will be recorded if you miss the beginning. 

Oh --- I have some advice for you! If you are a Facebook scroller, and I confess, since I wasn't feeling well yesterday, I did a bit more scrolling than I would typically in a day, but it wasn't for long—it's so boring!!! 

Anyway, my advice to you is: if you spot some information that looks REAL on Facebook, go to a web browser or a news source and fact-check it. There is so much FAKE stuff on Facebook that it's disgusting. You'll see lots of things you wish had happened, but when you fact-check, they did not. Or you have loads of people reporting on things that seem legit, but they didn't quite happen the way that person makes them appear. FACT CHECK from another legitimate source. 

What I think I need to do is subscribe to a legitimate news source, but which one? 

On that note, I'd better get myself moving. I have a ton of things to do this morning, and I need every second. Well, it's not that bad, but I'll be running samples, getting pictures printed, and well, that's it. I was hoping for a manicure, but I might have to settle for a home-based one! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!

A long day of machine embroidery

I'm so glad you enjoyed those "through the ages" photos. It's hilarious to see how we age, especially under the harsh requirements of those pictures - no smiling! 

What a wild day yesterday. OK -- so it wasn't that wild, but I was married to those two embroidery machines. 

Two embroidery machines - hard at work

They are on opposite sides of those two work tables, and it seemed that I went around in circles all day as I fed them thread. Except for two broken needles, everything went as planned. 

ACK - -a broken needle

I have a funny feeling that I wasn't tightening the needle screww tight enough. Once I caught onto that, no more broken needles. Thankfully, my projects were unharmed. 

All my thread colors are lined up. I never use the colors recommended by the design. I open my boxes and pick what works for me. I could never understand why you would want to paint your picture exactly like everyone else. But then I roll to a different drum, as do many others. 

Threads for this project

It's becoming increasingly difficult to find a local source for machine embroidery thread, and I'm considering placing an order online from a Canadian supplier. I'll deal with that after my crazy week. But I am going to be visiting a store that sells thread, so I need to take stock of what I'm missing and buy there. 

In preparation for my Facebook Live on Thursday, I need to tidy up this area. That is not one of my favorite jobs - prep the studio area. It's a disaster, and I really need some time to get things organized and done, and then put away. Wouldn't it be nice to have a studio already set up, and it stayed that way? I would love that. I have a room where I could make that happen, but the internet sucks, so I broadcast from a corner of Studio B. 

My "broadcast" booth

So while the machines were busy working away, I got to work, and within a few minutes, I had empty space. I even cleaned the floor.

Empty space!!!!

Of course, I've since messed it up as I pulled out my Singer Momento (digital cutter) and have stuff strewn all over the space. No worries --- I need that stuff for my presentation. Now here's the thing -- I hear over and over again that people aren't getting enough training. They need lessons. Believe it or not, we don't get lessons on how our tools work. That is up to us to figure it out. Oh - I pick up tidbits here and there, but the onus is on us to learn. 

One thing I will say about the Momento is that it is so easy. All you do is follow the directions on the computer. You need to use the software on your tablet or computer. Let's say you want to create a card with writing from the vault (storage area). Bring the card into the software, then select OUTPUT. Then, insert the pen, scoring tool, or cutter as instructed, and voilà - you have a card. 

I'm amazed at how easy it is to operate. Of course, it can get very complex if you wish to create your own designs, but there are so many to choose from that it's super easy. And you tell the machine what you are cutting, so it sets all the settings for you! I go in and modify (simple modifications), and it's so easy. What I love is that ANY line (or almost any line) can become a cut line, a scoring line, a pen line, or whatever you want! And you can cut the images from cardstock, fabric, paper, or anything else you heart desires. 

Anyway, I had to make an "emergency" trip to Michaels last night to get some supplies. And you know what that means? I need to tidy up even further. I have cardstock in the house, but where is it all? Thankfully, the few items I needed were all 50% off, so I lucked out. Yikes - I haven't been to Michael's in eons, and to think I used to go there weekly! Or so it seemed. 

And what's with this giant ball of yarn? I should have put my hand in the picture to show the scale, but this thing is massive!!! 

A GIANT ball of yarn

There is an entire aisle of T-shirts, sweatshirts, and other wearable items. Those were all 50% off as well. Darn it, I should have bought a neutral sweatshirt to make a sweatshirt jacket. I don't have time to go back, but maybe on Sunday, and let's hope they are still 50% off. Or if I'm too tired to work tonight, I could make another trip. 

The T-shirt aisle at Michaels

I know when I'm in production mode when the drawers are open. One is for bobbins, as I'm going through bobbins like crazy. I finished stitching three of the designs I made while at the meeting. And one more is half stitched. The four of them total about 300,000 stitches. I love machine embroidery, and I'm looking forward to having a bit more time so I don't have to work that intensely in one day. But it was fun. 

The supply drawers are open! 

The cutting table, which thankfully was pretty clear, is getting used for hooping fabric and holding thread bins. Today, I must get all the Momento stuff cut and then set up those cameras so I can test them. It's going to be another long day. 

The cutting table is being put to good use

But by 6 PM, I was done. My back was tired and I was exhausted, so that's when I went to Michaels. I even went there wearing my black socks and white sandals, which I usually wear around the house. Too tired to change my shoes. I don't care - I'm on a mission. And seriously? The store wasn't busy, but there were still a fair number of people shopping. Others were making emergency supply trips for craft items as well. 

I didn't get started as early as I would have liked because I had two tasks to accomplish that had nothing to do with sewing. Remember when I had the router replaced? That was several months ago, at DH's request. We needed a new modem. But WAIT -- it wasn't the modem he wanted replaced, but the receiver! ACK!!! Ours is very old, and he wants a 4K box - whatever that means. Better signals, I suppose. 

So after 40 minutes on the phone with the provider, I finally got everything settled. 40 minutes? They certainly don't have time limits on clearing calls. I spoke to three different departments before I could get the right person. And even then, I ended up in the loyalty department. Why? I just want to switch out the box.

I don't know if the call center people only have scripts to follow or what. But seriously? How hard it is to look at my account, place an order, and then be done. No --- that requires multiple confirmations of what I want done. They give me a date for an appointment to make it happen. Then about ten minutes later, the guy says, OK, let's book the appointment. Didn't you do that? No -- it was just a date he gave me, not setting an appointment. I don't get it! But apparently, I have an appointment on October 6 to get the new receiver installed. I never even asked how much it would cost - I couldn't bear to deal with them longer. 

But it seems that every time I call about something, it takes forever. Fast service is not their priority. Perhaps they need to start implementing call duration metrics. I bet they could clear calls much quicker, although I didn't have to wait to get into the call. More and more, I think I'm going to check the website FIRST before I call them. 

So that task got done. Of course, DH asks why the installation is so far away. Well, if you wanted it sooner, you could have called. I called and I picked a date that was convenient for ME. Sheesh!!!! I am NOT his secretary, but since the account is under my name, it makes sense that I do the calling. 

Then I had one more call to deal with. Miss Murphy needed to get a renewal on her medication - Propaline for her bladder incontinence. I had thrown the box away with the sticker on  - who needs to keep the box? And our vet retired this summer, so the files were sent to the new vet. I called the new vet, and they do not see a prescription in the file. So I called the old vet office, left a message because they are no longer answering the phones, and then she called me back, while I was on the other call. 

No prescription in the file, and no doctor to write one. So guess what? Yep -- Murphy and I had to go to the new vet because they would not just fill the prescription without the vet seeing her. Just like humans!

MOM -- I don't like waiting!!!!

It was about a 20-minute walk, and you know Murphy. She likes to walk fast, which was good because there was no time for sniffing. We needed to get there on time, which we did. We arrived exactly on time. But of course, it was warm and she was panting and hot, and I bet her heart rate was up. 

The new veterinarian comes in and takes her heart rate. I forgot to mention that we had just walked in the heat. But he was concerned about this medication - it can cause panting and high blood pressure. Had we ever had it checked? No. So now we have to go back for that (OK -- a second appointment to fill my October!). But I checked online and didn't see any red flags for Propaline for dogs. Whatever! But that was an expensive visit. $84 for a BRIEF visit. Oh, Murphy -- thank goodness you are cute. 

As I was sitting in the room waiting - at least they have chairs, other vet didn't have chairs in the rooms, I was looking around and spotted this. Good grief - AI is everywhere. 

AI is everywhere!

Now, I need to go back because I want to see how this works.

And not to leave Miss Lexy out, but this dog loves to trudge through bushes and flower beds. And of course, she gets debris on her all the time. She is in her glory when this happens. 

MOM -- look at me - I'm beautiful!

I have to drag her out of the neighbor's flower beds. It's not enough to step up to them and sniff, but she literally has to step INTO the flowers and onto the plants. I don't know what it is about her. 

Well, I'm off to spin class this morning. And then I'll be back to get more samples done. So don't forget my crazy schedule, and if there is something that interests you, be sure to sign up, attend, or whatever is appropriate for the event. 

September 18 - 3 PM EDT   -- -FACEBOOK LIVE -- Inspirations for fall --- machine embroidery, digital cutting, and hopefully a sample or two of sewing. It's for PFAFF, but it's mostly inspiration, so it works for all brands.

September 19 and 20 - Machine Embroidery Workshop - Thimble Quilts and Sewing Company, Lasalle, Ontario   --- call the store to get the details and get signed up. This is a great event and loads of information. If you are new to machine embroidery, you will go home an "expert." Or at least a whole lot more confident. 

September 23 - Stitch by Stitch, Kingston, Ontario, A what's new with PFAFF and Husqvarna Viking. Two separate events. Check for times - one is in the afternoon (PFAFF), and the other is in the evening (HV). 

September 25 - Store Opening - Sewing Machine Magic - Coburgh, Ontario. This store sells PFAFF sewing machines, and I'm excited to present a series of demos that day. It's all about the magic!!!!

September 27 - Colour My World (Online class hosted by me) at 9:30 AM. I need to send out an acknowledgment to those who have paid. But you have all the information you need. No supplies required for the first class. 

September 27 and 28 - Virtual Retreat - the links will be posted on my blog next week. 

So yes --- from now to the end of the month is going to be insane!

And then October looks like this:

October 

NOTHING serious booked but my regular online classes (two) and online clubs (5 at the moment), and an appointment for the receiver to be exchanged, and an appointment for Murphy. Hmmm -- can I handle the pressure? 

On that note, I'm out of here. I'm going to be late for class!!!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!