If you're going to do something, do it WELL!

Haven't we heard that many times? Well, that situation came up several times yesterday, and I should KNOW BETTER. 

I'm working on a project that isn't hard, but it involves MANY steps, and I've had to get super creative to make it work. I'm sure there's a better way, but this is the way that works for me. When I completed the first part of the project yesterday, I was happy, but I was a bit disappointed that I had tried to economize on the process, and it wasn't quite what I envisioned. OK -- let's be realistic - it looked like an inexperienced person had completed it.  

I thought about it all day, and I remember commenting on the work of an educator for another machine company, saying I would never show what she was showing in public. When you have the best tools in the world, you'd better make the sample look like you used them. Mine did not! 

So I sat while we chatted on the Virtual Retreat last night, and I ripped for HOURS. It was not a fun task, but thanks to everyone on the call, they kept me entertained. I did NOT put a single hole in the base fabric. PHEW!!!! 

Then I restitched the project this morning. I took my time, eliminated the shortcuts, and I am SUPER happy with the project. Now it looks like I wanted it to, and it shows how valuable and precise those tools can be! So, can you tell me why I make silly mistakes or compromises like that? I know I won't be happy, and it takes a long time to fix! I need to give my head a shake and do it right the first time!

I am equally happy to report that Dede and I had another play date yesterday with the digital cutter. We had no clue what we were doing since we were cutting Heat Transfer Vinyl, and neither of us had cut it before. Well, I was prepared, as I always am now, that if I screw up a mat, so be it. Move on! 

This time, we were cutting the three vinyl colors that will be stitched onto the foam we cut last week. This time, we had the SVG files that came with the project, so there was no need to scan the files. That saved a bit of time, but I don't regret that exercise last week, as I learned a lot about the machine, or more than that, I reinforced what I knew. 

In case you have forgotten, this is what we are making. 

Terrifying Tower machine embroidery design by OESD

The SVG files opened in InkScape, which is FREE graphic design software you can use for any type of graphic design work. Yikes—I have minimal experience with Inkscape or any digital cutter software. Well, let's just wing it and see what happens. 

Since we had three colors of vinyl to cut, I opened one file and deleted anything that was not the color I wanted. Then I imported the next file (note: import, not open) and did the same thing. I also had to remember to FLIP each piece because we were cutting with our vinyl face down. Trust me - we double checked that a couple of times. 

Assembling the first cut page

We didn't know how to increase the canvas size on screen, so we worked with 8½" by 11". I guess we could have Googled it, but our vinyl was mostly in 8½" by 11" format, so we stuck with that. Changing the canvas size is a task for the next time, and there will be a next time! 

We only had to ask Google for assistance once, when I needed to figure out how to rotate pieces. There were tools to rotate, but only at 90 degrees, and I wanted a different angle. No worries -- double click on the right mouse key button and VOILA --- all the rotation I could possibly want! 

Some of the shapes were pretty weird, but I did my best to snug them close and remember to flip them all. Let's hope I didn't mess up! I would have used the rotate tool more in an example like this, but I was resisting until we came to one piece that we had no choice but to rotate. But we know for next time! I can't wait!!!

Another cut page

We worked well as a team again! And once we had one page ready to cut, it was time to set the cutter's settings. FYI - we're using the Brother Scan n Cut for this exercise. Let's not forget our trusty helper. She INTENTIALLY lies right where she will be in the way! EVERY SINGLE TIME! 

MOM - just in case you need to release stress - you can pet me! 

We experimented with a half-cut versus a full-cut. It took us a minute to find the half-cut setting. Why is it always right in front of you, but you can't see it!!

Samples of half-cut versus full cut

As we were contemplating some of the settings, Dede reminded me that I had several books, and I dug out this one, which has a bunch of recipes for cutting various materials. So we went on our tuition and the recommendations in the book. And all looked great! By the way, if anyone is interested, this book and the one I mentioned last week were purchased from my "favorite" online store. They are print-on-demand books, so if your online store has a printing facility (our local one is in Bolton), they get printed close to your house and shipped to you. 

A ScanNCut book

We played with scanning the mat once the vinyl was on it, and then moved the shapes as a group if they were tight on any side. We had to change the background color from light to dark (grey in the photo) so it would be easier to see the shapes. Here's a hint - use the wrench icon! Whenever you see the wrench icon -- touch it -- there are tools in that menu! 

Ensuring the pieces are on the vinyl on the mat

I was wishing there was a nudge tool, and guess what? We found the nudge tool. That eliminated a lot of concentration and guesswork! We could now be super accurate in placing that group of shapes. 

The NUDGE tool

And then we were on our way to cutting. Check those settings first! And we always cut at 1 (speed), which is the slowest. I know—we could have cut these shapes faster, but the longest cut took five minutes. I'm OK with that - we were not in a hurry!

Check the settings before pressing START

At one point, I didn't load the mat properly and bent a corner, but I figured out a way to keep it working. Use your stylus to keep the corner down until it loads under the little wheel on the right-hand side! And on our final cut, we had to tape the vinyl down. It was a bit stiff, had been rolled the wrong way, and just wasn't happy. 

Taping the vinyl to the mat for extra security

But guess what? We got all the vinyl cut! It's still in sheets because it's heat transfer vinyl, and we did a half-cut. When we want a shape, we simply peel it off the plastic topping and place it where we want it! By George - I think we did it!! 

My half-cuts of vinyl

And everything is back in the project box, although the sample is buried beneath my vinyl sheets. The project box is back on the current projects table, and we have scheduled two days in January to get together and do the machine embroidery. 

The Terrifying Tower project box

We are sticking to our guns. No buying a new 3-D haunted building UNTIL this one is done. But we are working on it, and I see no reason why we can't finish. My guess is that it's going to take longer than two days to stitch out. There are 22 hoopings, and each hooping averages 20,000 stitches. That's a lot!!! 

When I first went down to Studio B this morning, I was avoiding the job of restitching my project. So I grabbed a container of stabilizer bits and started sorting them. Oh my—there were multiple bags of the SAME type. Why aren't they together? 

My odd pieces of stabilizer

So I sorted them into bags, although there are still lots of bags within bags, but I can live with that. At least, there is ONE main bag for each type. And of course, the lid doesn't close, so I'll further sort and straighten later today. A good job when chatting on the Virtual Retreat later today. It seems a shame to throw all that away, so I'm going to make up new sheets large enough for the hoops we'll use for the Terrifying Tower. I have it, I might as well use it! 

The lid doesn't close! 

Now what to do with those empty plastic bags? Well, a while back, I sorted all the plastic bags I had and gave away a ton of boxes of bags I would never use. I've not missed any of what I gave away. 

Then I sorted the remaining bags by size. Regular size, large, and all the odd-shaped, smaller bags. Each size went into a larger bag, which resides on a shelf under my cutting table. Do you know how much time that has saved me? I am constantly putting a bag back or digging one out, and since I know which bag to grab, it makes my life super easy!

The plastic bags are sorted

I cannot say enough about the importance of being organized and keeping your tools in the right place. Yes -- there is a lot of stuff around, but I'm trying to keep the tools sorted, organized, and in their rightful home. That is HUGE. I think I'm pretty much done with that job, and it took years to get there. I don't find it hard to maintain at all, since I know it's in my best interest. Yes, a couple of things have gone astray, and when I find them, they will find a home. 

Now the cutting table is relatively clear this morning, except for the projects that I am working on this coming week, including my bucket of UFO projects. I need to be very careful, not get too enthusiastic, and bring out more. I can't do more - I already have a lot. I think I'm in excellent shape and that makes me very happy!

My clear cutting mat

As I finished the last of the stitching this morning and put my thread away, I noticed I was only wearing one shoe. OH!!! What did I do with the other one? I found it under my worktable. 

ACK -- how did that get there?

No big deal, right? Well, if you notice, there is NO foot pedal under that table because I was doing machine embroidery, and I generally don't use it when I'm machine embroidering. However, I often have the pedal under the table, as I sometimes like to embroider with it when something is delicate. This morning, I could have used the foot pedal, and I guess that was when I kicked my shoe off. Since I was too lazy (oh dear!) to get up and get the foot pedal, I just slowed the machine right down, and it worked. I need to get the foot pedal out! 

I did a little bit on the jigsaw puzzle, but I had other priorities yesterday. Lots of writing happened, which was good, and I hope to work on the next project and do more writing today. 

I have a virtual retreat scheduled for this afternoon. I swear, these are my salvation! While I did have an in-person session with Dede yesterday, there's nothing like checking in with my friends all over Ontario and sometimes from elsewhere. We solve problems, we support each other, and we help each other. It's such a fantastic network, and anyone is free to stop by. Do you have a question? About anything? We can help! 

Here is the link, and it starts today at 3 PM EST

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81073536036?pwd=uxRqMnK1aSKrmrcSO78w8QQs5g44eA.1

Meeting ID: 810 7353 6036
Passcode: 596838

Stay safe as we have some crazy weather coming, but the sidewalks were in great shape for a walk yesterday, and I didn't even wear a hat! 

Have a wonderful day!!!

Ciao!!