You EARN luck - it just doesn't happen!

Oh my goodness—what a crazy day yesterday was! But you know what? It was the kind of day that I absolutely love! I didn't have to be anywhere; I had ideas bouncing around in my head, I had two embroidery machines going, and I attempted to sew, but I got the grand total of ONE seam sewn, and that was it! 

But several times during the day, as I calmly walked through the debris field that is Studio B, I thought about how fortunate I am to do what I do. Having a great day like yesterday calms me, relaxes me, and the time just passes! When this event is over, I need to start tidying up.

I think I started at 9:30 AM and ended at 8 PM. As I was stitching, more ideas came to mind, and a BRILLIANT one popped into my head - actually, it was a solution to something that I've tossed around for a while. Oh yes--- if you are at all interested in machine embroidery and making small, simple projects, today's tutorial is going to be very interesting. 

Yes—today is a tutorial, with MANY other concepts thrown in, but this is the type of project we're going to recreate! They are so fun and make an amazing gift. The first one was just for fun; the second one is my word of the year!! I am struggling to choose just one word for next year! Except for the binding, these are all done in the embroidery hoop!

One of the projects on the Facebook Live today

The second project is my word of the year for 2026

Someone mentioned they may want to follow along—if so, I suggest following along with the computer part only. I won't be doing much stitching, and the focus will be on the computer. If you want to follow along, here's another tip: select a single word you want to play with. You will NOT get to any stitching, but you can have your project designed!

And here are the links again:

Husqvarna Viking North America  - https://www.facebook.com/events/1475580608011503

PFAFF North America - https://www.facebook.com/events/989058440360763

The event will also be livestreamed on YouTube (on both PFAFF North America and Husqvarna Viking North America) at 3 PM EDT. 

If you can't attend, you can watch the video on YouTube, and I'll post the links. 

I know you can't really see it in this picture, but both embroidery machines were working for most of the day! It was exhausting, as there was no clear path from one to the other, but I got in a ton of steps yesterday because of it! 

Two embroidery machines at work!

And I had a 2-hour session to watch in the afternoon, so I sat at the table watching the video on my external monitor, designing my next machine embroidery project on the laptop, and babysitting two embroidery machines. It was crazy, but I had my open earbuds in, so I wouldn't miss anything. I used up a lot of bobbins yesterday - I forgot to take a picture of them! I might want to go back and rewatch part of that session yesterday, since my brain wasn't always focused on the video.  

Watching a video on the external monitor

I'm not quite finished and have about one hour left of embroidery this morning. Then I connect to the Livestream link, double-check the camera angles, and walk through the presentation to make sure all the supplies and samples I need are ready!

I laugh as I write this because I don't think anyone can truly appreciate how much work goes into prepping these presentations! Actually, it's not that much prep - the issue comes when I decide that I absolutely MUST have a sample of something and then I go down a rabbit hole. That's what happened yesterday - I made THREE new samples. I NEEDED those samples! Why? Because it's easier for me to explain some things. As I walk through the presentation in my head, I anticipate what questions I would ask, and if I don't have a good way to show the answer, then I make a sample! 

Plus, the samples will be great for my embroidery club if they aren't watching this video, and they will work for my in-person presentations too. 

And you know the MOST IMPORTANT reason I make those samples? It's technically NOT for you; they are for ME!!!! I learned some amazing things yesterday, which I will share with those who are interested. 

It never ceases to amaze me how people think they can learn: they buy a new sewing machine, new software, or whatever it is. Then they want to learn - but all they want to do is have someone feed them that information, and they are terrified of actually messing around with the new item. Well, it was only because of my past experiences, my curiosity, letting my brain have a play day while I worked, and anticipating a question from you that the lightbulb went off and I had to make another sample!

What came to mind was such a simple concept that I'm almost embarrassed to tell people, but it just goes to show that when you get the creative juices going, you never know what will happen. Plus I need to stop walking the girls! LOL—that's another time when ideas come to mind. 

Perhaps my brain is wired differently, but here's something to contemplate. When I walk the dogs, babysit embroidery machines, or mess around with the software, I run through scenarios and let my mind wander. 

What's the problem or the project at hand? 

What supplies do I need? Is everything ready? If not, I need to prep it. 

Then you start to work the problem - one by one and POOF- the ideas just pop into my head. But that's NOT just because my brain is wired that way—I LET the ideas pop into my head, and because I have so much experience and am willing to make mistakes, those ideas just come. 

PLEASE - do NOT call me talented, lucky, or creative when it comes to what I do. I will be insulted! There was a time when I had no clue what machine embroidery was all about - NOTHING!!! But I've built up the learning curve and am thrilled to make mistakes, and well, that's why those ideas come to me! So please - do NOT call me lucky - I am not - I've worked hard to get lucky! 

I'm not alone in that thought!!!

You might not want to put 12-hour days into machine embroidery, and I'm sure the hours on those machines just yesterday alone are more than some people have on theirs after owning them for months! My plan? Blow the clock up on those machines!!! I'm going to call it testing the longevity of those embroidery machines. 

This morning before the session, I NEED to get some homework done for the weekend. Everything is prepped and ready to go! I just need some quiet sewing time. 

Of course, I got additional steps because of these two. They wanted in; they wanted out. Murphy came down to visit and then needed help to get up the stairs. DH is away, and they are very needy, and with me in the basement, they are not happy!!

MOM - We NEED YOU!!!!!

I could NOT find the darn charger for my iPad, and I needed to get a new USB multi-port for my laptop. I remember from the last Facebook Live that one of them wasn't working properly. So I headed to the mall and took the car. It was after dinner, and I didn't want to walk in the dark, and I didn't have the time. I didn't go for a walk yesterday, yet I had almost 17,000 steps. 

Remember that flower stand in that shop window? It's been restocked. There is another side that you can only see from inside the store, and I didn't go in. But they are selling the flowers for $10 apiece. I guess it must be a big thing since they have restocked or maybe this isn't a display, but they are actually selling the flowers. 

More crocheted flowers

And everything is set up for Christmas. I can't wait for Santa! 

Santa is coming!!!

To reiterate about my Christmas cactus—there isn't just one bud at the end of a single leaf, but buds at the ends of ALL the leaves. I better repot that thing this weekend. I probably want two pots - one for the Christmas cactus and one for the other cactus that is also in that little bowl. 

Lots of buds on the Christmas cactus

As I was scrambling to find my lost iPad charger, I opened this drawer of cords. What a flipping mess this is. I need to go through it and see what I need or don't need. I suspect that the ends of those cords no longer work on anything, and they should be tossed. It is such a waste when they change the ends of our devices. I think most of these are old cords with the Lightning connector on the Apple side (iPad only in my house) and some other connector for my old phones. 

A mess of cords

So I need to go through that - I think there are two drawers and I probably don't need any of it. 

The fellow at the store told me not to buy the Apple charger because it was way more expensive than a generic one, and the one he recommended was sanctioned by Apple. I found a slow-charging cord; it's not a good solution, so I bought a new one with a 6-foot cord. There is nothing so silly as to have a short charging cord. I hated that charging cord, so that is probably why I lost it! LOL. 

I remember tossing it somewhere - in a suitcase? With samples? No idea. But it will surface, and then I'll have two. 

DH is scheduled to arrive home sometime today. Oh boy—I had better warn him that it looks like a bomb went off in the kitchen. There are samples everywhere! OK -- just on the kitchen island and the table, but still! I will try to tidy that up before he comes home. And perhaps sweep the leaves off the floor! 

It is Remembrance Day today - November 11th. It is the day when the hostilities in WW1 ended. At the 11th hour on the 11th day (how accurate is that?), an armistice was reached between Germany and the Allied nations. 

Please stop for a minute at 11 AM this morning and remember what so many people gave to keep our world a free one. We owe them everything! 

What I love is that there is so many poppy displays these days. I'll share some of them tomorrow - I don't have time this morning as I'm off to the gym. Wear your poppy with pride, and remember those who sacrificed so much to give us the life and freedom we take for granted today. 

I'll see some of you on my call later today!!!!

Have a great day!!!

Ciao

PS --- AI sucks!!! I swear the editing software had a gremlin in it this morning. I'm probably going to miss that 6 o'clock traffic light. That's OK.