Learning is so much fun!

 So here it is -- the last day of Quilt Canada! This is my second (least) favorite day of any show -- the takedown! The show closes at 4 PM and then we'll be working for about 5 hours (hopefully no more) to get everything ready to ship to its destination!

Yesterday, instead of working in the booth, I was able to take a class on the software for my longarm. OH MY --- this was definitely well worth skipping a day of booth duty. 

The class was given by The Grace Company, which does software for their own machines, and APQS licenses it. This is quite common in the industry and makes a whole lot more sense than every company doing their own version and support. 

I learned a LOT yesterday and the first thing I have to do when I get home is installing the UPGRADE. There is so much cool stuff in the new version. Thankfully it's easy to do. There were two of us in the room with APQS machines. 

We each had our own machine which was great and we learned so many different techniques for custom quilting. And a few for pantographs. 

There are a few things that I'm not sure I would use going forward, but you can bet that I asked loads of questions so I could maximize the fact that someone with KNOWLEDGE was in the room. It's infrequent that we have access to in-person learning for this. 

We got to play with the fonts and that was very cool. It would require a bit of work in the design stage to not have so many stops and starts as I had in my name, but definitely something to play with when I get home. 

The class was all day and I had some time once the class was over. I thought -- great - I'll have some time to visit the quilts and the vendors and to be honest, I went down one aisle and didn't see a thing. My brain was so exhausted that I just went back to the booth and chatted with people and even that was a lot. 

Margaret and I were on our own for dinner last night and we sat and had a great chat, but it was super late by the time I got to bed! But not before having more dessert. My system must be in overload with the sweets. 

I'm afraid it has to be short and sweet this morning. I have my Zoom presentations in 15 minutes. Today is all about show and tell time for the Jen Kingwell quilts. We worked on THREE quilts in two classes. Totally insane the amount of work that we signed up for! And there are so many completed quilts -- I don't think we have time to really talk about them. The number that got finished is UNBELIEVABLE. I'll be posting them on my blog later. 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!

The definition of a good day

 Yesterday was a PERFECT day! Well almost! But let's just say that I see a LOT of light at the end of the tunnel, and it's coming pretty fast!

First - I've been madly listening to audiobooks and just finished The Billionaire Murders - a story written by a Toronto Star reporter about Barry and Honey Sherman who were murdered three years ago in their home. Hmmm - an interesting read, and why did the police seem to mess up this case so much. The murderer is still on the loose, but with BILLIONS of dollars on the line, it almost seems that a family member did it. 

But next on my list is another thriller, and well - I want to listen to it today, but it's Virtual Retreat day! Oh my - not what I expected at all, but I'm already a quarter of the way through. It's called Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier. Hmmm - another Canadian author! Well, I'm intrigued and may have to read some of her other books. My author list is HUGE!! Thank goodness for expanding beyond the standard authors that I was reading. 

Now - I know you want to know what happened yesterday. Is the customer quilt finished? And the answer is YES. I turned on the long arm and fired up the computer. 

Let's just say that there were a few more learning curves to go through, but I managed them myself. The design has to be set for EACH of the setting triangles separately. Sometimes the pattern was on the ends - like in this photo. That was easy. 

The design stitching out on the right of the quilt

Then it had to be rotated (easy peasy!)! However, the first time I rotated the design, it didn't fit. Why not? Same height and width as before? No?  AH - the height is now the width and vice versa. That took a few minutes of thought process, and all was good. 

Stitching along the bottom of the quilt

I even removed a few more stitches from the design when I got to the corner. It's a scary-looking screen with all those buttons, but I think I know how to use most of them now. At least the ones on the right. OK - who am I kidding - I know how to make this work, but what about next time? 

The PatternCAD screen

Once the Christmas craziness is over, I plan to dig out a couple of quilts that I can play around with. As a matter of fact, I have a couple of on-point table runners. OK - I MUST dig those out and play with them. 

Anyway - here's the quilt - done! It's trimmed and already picked up by the VERY PATIENT customer. 

Customer quilt - DONE

I would have liked a bit more coverage in the block, but I think part of it is how the block was designed, so I'll be experimenting with that next week. 

The setting triangle - the design was cut and placed

The design in the alternating blocks

The setting corner

The bottom line is that I learned a TON, and now I'm excited to learn more. I told the customer that I didn't know whether to thank her or curse her for "making" me do this for her. Now that it's over   - I thank her a LOT!!!  Don't worry - I did NOT charge her for my learning curve. 

Then it was on with the next project. I loaded the next customer quilt and the PUFFY polyester batting that she gave me. ICK! Here's that quilt - DONE. 

Customer quilt - DONE

I still have to trim it - a job for later today. And then I need to find some fabric to put a binding on it for her. 

I have a couple more quilts for the same customer. I had to make the backing for the next one. That's done, and the quilt is loaded and ready to go later this morning. 

Then I got to work on the T-shirt quilt. Even though I have a slight reprieve, that's NOT an excuse to set it aside, something I would have done before. NO - get it done. 

This is how it looked when I shut things down last night after our retreat. All the T-shirts are cut - I may have to trim the height from a couple on the right-hand side. I had to do some applique, goofed on the width of one when I was trimming it, but it's all fixed, and NO one is going to know what happened. The left-most column is sewn together. It shouldn't take too long too long to finish this off today. Hmm - I might move some of the dark T-shirts - too many dark along the bottom. That's easy enough to fix by swapping the positions within the columns. 

The T-shirt quilt

And while doing all that, I managed to clean off the cutting mat and keep it clean, so it was ready to trim a quilt this morning. The ironing board is also clear, and the sewing table isn't bad either. The trick is to keep them that way. I'm actually pretty good at keeping the cutting mat and the ironing board clear. I've got it down to a science now. Everything needs a home! No home - it's clutter. 

The cutting table is ready to go this morning

There are really only two main areas in Studio B that still need some work. That's the TWO tables of current projects. I don't need that many current projects, but I need to visually see them for some reason. It's an issue I've had for years. I'm tempted to get some storage boxes from the garage and put everything in the boxes (well-labeled, of course). The boxes can then be stacked in a corner - nothing can be added to those boxes until they are done!!!  

Then I can allow myself ONE or TWO projects to sit on the table. The rest needs to stay in the boxes. And if I have a PRIORITIZED list - that might help. OK - I might try that. I've just not been successful with that stuff ever since I started to quilt. Partly because there was no room to store the projects. Now I have room. I'm better  - but still, a long way to go. It's like going to the buffet and seeing all the tantalizing food and taking too much to deal with at once. Why is that? 

OK - so I'm getting the boxes out right after the girls go for their walk, and I'll see how it goes!

It's hilarious at our house. I walk around the house with my noise-canceling headphones as I listen to my audiobook. DH walks around the house with his noise-canceling headphones while he watches TV because something happened, and the only way he can hear the TV is through the headphones! I told him we need walkie talkies that work through our headphones! 

Remember, today is the second day of the Virtual Retreat. We had so much fun last night, and so many people joined in. They could have stayed on until the wee hours of the morning, I'm sure. Me? Well, I had to walk a dog before bed, and I need my sleep! It's a great place to connect to others as we all stay isolated in our houses. 

Here's the link for today. It starts at 10 AM EST and runs until 8 PM tonight. 

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83501535963?pwd=aXNvRXdzZG02NllIenB3V0M5NUpxUT09 Meeting ID: 835 0153 5963 Passcode: 032336

I was so excited last night that I had trouble sleeping! I couldn't wait to get today started - isn't that silly?

Anyway - here's wishing you a super day!!! And don't forget to pop in to say HI!!

Caio!!!

It's all relative!

How do you handle a task that you dread doing? You procrastinate, you learn about it, you procrastinate, you talk to friends about it, you procrastinate, and then finally months later, you attempt the task. You hate it. The next time that task comes around, you still procrastinate, but you're not so leery. You may still need to get the instructions out. But here's the good news - there will come a day when you don't think twice about that task.

My task, believe it or not, was binding a quilt. Now I've bound a lot of quilts in my time, but at the beginning, it was an ordeal. And if the binding had to be hand-stitched? Well, I'd have a stack of quilts a mile high sitting here. I learned to do binding by sewing machine and I won't look back unless it's a super special quilt - then I'll break down and do it by hand.

These days, I could almost bind a quilt blindfolded!

Going for a walk was the same thing. I love to walk, but I would never consider walking the distances that I'm currently walking. That's too far! I used to think I was giving the girls a good walk by going to the library and back (maybe a 20-minute walk total). Then I started to expand that a little bit to get that stretch goal of mine. And now? I have no issues going for more than one hour at a time.

I used to think that I could walk the girls to the dog park (we haven't been in a long, long time), but that's far away. Well, yesterday, we walked to a major street, then turned left, walked down to the next major street, turned left, walked to the next major street (walked past the mall and then walked past the dog park on the far side from my house), turned left and up to the next major street and back home. Over 7000 steps. I think even Murphy was feeling a wee bit tired when we got home - just a wee bit.

Here are some observations from that walk. Oh - and this is what I'm grateful for today. The ability to WALK. Walking is a skill that one needs to do every day to keep up that skill. Yep -- some people can't walk for whatever reason, and many people can walk, yet choose to walk very little. And as we get older and it's comfier to stay inside and we walk less, we can lose the ability to walk. I know - that's darn scary.

As I get older, and walking further, I'm not a fan of walking when the sidewalks are the slight bit slippery so when I'm stuck in an apartment or wherever I end up, I'll be walking those halls! Do I care what people think of me? Not in the least.

So the world is experiencing a pandemic at the moment. In the beginning, people were desperate to get gloves and masks, although gloves don't seem to be as important anymore. But why or why do people who are freaked out by the germs enough to get gloves, feel it's OK to just toss them on the sidewalks???

A used glove

Another used glove

 There are dozens of used gloves just tossed aside. I don't get it. Do these people think the glove fairy is going to come along and pick up their germ-filled glove? Seriously???

I've seen masks in the past, but I only saw one yesterday so I'm not sure what has happened to the other ones that were tossed. But the same thing - if it was important enough for you to get a mask to protect yourself or to protect others, why toss the used mask on the sidewalk?

Used mask

I'm fascinated by some of the buildings near me. This one in particular and it's so hard to really look at it when you're in the car so I stopped to snap a couple of pictures. I know I've posted before, but it's just a beautiful building.

The Arc

And here's my favorite view of it.

The end of The Arc

Other than an hour very early in the morning, I didn't turn on a single sewing machine yesterday. Not the long arm, not the serger, not a sewing machine. I had a couple of calls that went on for a wee bit of time in both cases. But that's OK - both calls were with friends and we talked for a LONG, LONG time to catch up. I managed to solve two problems that they were having. One with EQ8 and the other was with QuiltPath which is the software that drives the long arm.

I just sat in front of my computers and was able to run them through their questions and a lesson or two. It was great.

But once that was over, I decided it was time to do something that I was supposed to do before Christmas. My QuiltPath computer needs to be updated. I have put it off and put it off and I decided that since the computer was NOT on the long arm (having removed it for the phone call) that this was as good a time as any.

The computer is a very simple thing. It's just a tablet. Yep - a Windows-based tablet. Hard to believe that something so small is so powerful.

The tablet that runs the long arm

I had received the documentation which looked daunting which is why I put it off. So I bit the bullet and got started. I had to back up all my digital quilting patterns onto a USB - just in case something went wrong. Then I had to download and install the latest upgrade for Windows 10. Now here's the thing about APQS (American Professional Quilting Systems). The document to do this upgrade and get all the settings back to normal BEFORE I start upgrading the actual software to run the long arm is FIFTEEN pages long. See what I mean about daunting?

Well, most of that was pictures - very clear and explicit pictures on what the screen should look like, etc. It really wasn't that big of a deal. But I love how you get these big messages on the screen - I'm guessing that's because people are impatient and then really screw things up!!!!

Waiting for the tablet to restart

I'm on page 10 of the Windows upgrade instructions. Only five pages to go, but I ran out of time last night and I'm sure that most of this is just checking the settings so it shouldn't take too long to finish off those instructions. And then I'm going to tackle the second upgrade. Hopefully, it'll all be done today and I'll be good to go.

Speaking of computers - I'm doing it again. You can't really see in this picture (oh yes you can), but I have a LOT of windows open along the top of that screen. I can't help it - I find something that I want to investigate further and it sits there for a day or two. It's just hard to get to all of them. There's so much to see and read and check out.

My computer screen

 I will say that if you're looking for something to do and you have some Creative Grids rulers, you should check out their YouTube videos. They have a TON of very good information about how to get the most use out of their specialty rulers. I was very impressed when I was reviewing a video for the Wonky Triangle Ruler.

So what else did I find in those two cabinets beneath the sewing table? The User's Guide for the H|Class 100Q that I sent to M. Of course, I couldn't find the book when the sewing machine went, but I have it now and I'll be sending it to her.

User's Guide to the H|Class 100Q

That machine doesn't have all the bells and whistles of my big ones, but it's a great little sewing machine.

I found some practice quilt sandwiches which I think are totally used up. Time to let this one go.

A practice quilt sandwich

A sewing machine cover for my Husqvarna Mega Quilter. Oh boy - I don't think this cover has ever been used. The sewing machine is in the Stash Room so I took the cover down and put it on the machine. 

Sewing machine cover

 There was a cover on the machine, but it didn't fit as nicely as the one that is supposed to be on it. I'm just amazed at myself at how I didn't want to use the proper things? Like why hasn't this cover been on that machine from Day One to keep the dust and lint out?

The cover is now on the sewing machine

The cover that was on the Mega Quilter, is very pretty, but it's NOT huge. I tried it on the Husqvarna Viking Ruby deLuxe that is sitting in my small cabinet in Studio B. It barely fits.

The sewing machine cover barely fits this machine

Hmm - I also found a stash of plastic pellets and some crushed walnut shells that you use for filling a pin cushion. Funny, I had found two other packs of pellets somewhere and didn't know what to do with them. They are all together now in the drawer. The trick is going to be remembering that that stuff is in that drawer. I'm not sure that it's the best place for it, but for now - it's all together.

Plastic pellets and crushed walnut shells

 I guess I'm going to have to make some stuffies or something to use up those pellets. I've got a LOT of them. Again - seemed like a good idea at the time and cheap - so why not buy MORE.

Let's see - I also found all this. What the heck???  Oh yes - this is for the Featherweight sewing machine. Oh boy - I had completely forgotten I had this stuff. It's all now in a box and I put it in one of the drawers in one of those cabinets.

Supplies for the Featherweight sewing machine

And I found this stuff in a drawer. Oh boy - I wouldn't have remembered that it was there.

Bits and pieces that belong to several sewing machines

This is the foot pedal and power cord to several other sewing machines. The Mega Quilter and the Embellisher (for felting). Yikes - I'm not sure this is the best place for this. I'm thinking I have some room in a set of drawers by the long arm and that might be a better place to store all extra things for the machines. I'll check that out later today and maybe move the stuff and then I can use the drawer for something else. What? I don't know but I'm sure I"ll find something.


I have four drawer units in Studio U and none in Studio B. I might empty one of the units upstairs and then take it downstairs with some basic supplies so I don't need to run up and down, although that's amazing exercise!!! I'll see how it goes - for the moment, things are neat and tidy and together so I'm not worried about it.

I got another inspiration board hung up the other day. I really need to go through all the stuff hanging on it and see what can be tossed. For the moment, it's hanging up and stays as is!

One more inspiration board hung up

Here are some bindings that I finished off the day before. The binding is now on this quilt.

The binding is now on this quilt

I made the binding for this scrappy flannel quilt that I quilted the other day. It's now completely sewn on the quilt and in the pile of quilts to be donated to Project Linus. Oh - I didn't post the picture of this quilt. I'll find it and post it. Just a bunch of scrappy blocks made with flannel bits.

One more quilt - DONE

Here's the picture of the quilt.

Community projects quilt - DONE

As I've been cleaning up, I've come across several quilts that needed a sleeve attached. This one had a temporary sleeve pinned on. It now has a permanent sleeve that is hand-stitched in place.

Prepping the hanging sleeve 

I couldn't find any of that backing fabric, but I found something that works just fine. I watched another episode of The Quilt Show while I stitched that in place.


Here's one more quilt on the Princess bed. I think I have most of the lap-sized quilts on the bed now and starting to put some of the small ones on. You would NOT believe how high that bed is.

More quilts on the princess and the pea bed

I don't think the Princess panel is out yet, but I want one!!!

As I was messing around with the computer yesterday, I came across this photo which I have to share with you. What is this? OH MY GOD - it's STUDIO B. I don't know when the picture was taken, but look at that mess!!!!!  We've come a LONG WAY from that mess.

What Studio B used to look like

I just laugh and shake my head that I could even work in there. If only I could find some of the very early pictures of the heaping cutting tables. It's shocking that I put up with it and that I even allowed it to happen in the first place. NO MORE.

If you're looking for something to do, here's a virtual art show from a gallery. There are loads of these virtual shows out there so we can never be wanting for something to look at.

Now - I've got a question for you - has anyone participated in an online class using Zoom technology or other technology?? If so, can you send me the link or e-mail me?? I'm going to do some more investigation about this as I really think that many of the classes and venues I teach at, will NOT be hosting group classes for a while.

On that note, I'm out of here. More admin work regarding upcoming quilts, more computer work and hopefully some sewing time.

But first, it's a walk with the girls. What's with this weather??? I'm a patient person, but even I'm getting tired of this cold, windy weather.

Have a great day!!!!

Ciao!!!