It's hard to believe it's been such a long time since I last posted What a time I've had. Vertigo set in in early November, a little over two weeks after my second knee replacement surgery. It's been a bit of a rough go getting around. I should be done with the walker but am not. I need it for balance. I went to an ENT doctor who diagnosed the problem as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and prescribed the Epley Maneuver twice a day two times each. It hasn't seemed to help yet. Friday will be a week since I started.
Being physically off balance or feeling like I might fall when I'm standing or walking, or in other various positions, has certainly colored my Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. Hence, my need to look for Christmas Cheer. I don't usually have any problem in that area but it's hard to get beyond one's self when feeling so crummy. But, onward. (Yes, I know this is a small thing and plenty of people are dealing with much larger and more complicated challenges. This just happens to be mine right now.)
I am sometimes able to get out to the grocery store and other short jaunts later in the day (mornings are the worst) if I hang onto the walker or sit in a riding cart. Christmas shopping has been a challenge.
I've done no quilting, or even sewing, other than to repair tiny holes in two pieces of clothing.
Does anyone else remember Dick Van Dyke of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Mary Poppins" fame? I discovered this endearing video the other day. Van Dyke is now 99 and he hasn't lost one bit of his sense of humor.
It's time for TubaChristmas. Some cities had theirs earlier in December but others are in coming weeks. If you're interested in seeing if there's one local to you, check the interactive map here. It's one of the highlights of our Christmas season and I highly recommend going at least once. It's a fairly long walk from the parking lot to the theater where ours is held and I don't know if I'll be able to make it this year. If you go, please enjoy it for me!
This past Friday my computer ground to a near-halt. On Saturday and Sunday it was still barely moving. On Monday, I had the idea to clean the inside of the case. I was appalled at how dusty it was. After removing the dust it was a little less slow, but on Tuesday, it was back to it's Friday night speed. I'm not tech savvy and the idea of having to buy a new computer right now and have my programs and data transferred was completely daunting. I don't usually worry but I actually worried about the situation, trying to figure out what to do and make a plan. Today the computer seems to be back to normal. But who knows for how long. I'll need to do some research and buy a new computer soon.
If you celebrate Christmas, I hope you're having a merry time! No matter whether you celebrate or not, I hope you're having merry days.
--Nancy.
P.S. I'm sorry not to be getting to your blogs to read and comment. I hope I can do that soon. I miss it!
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Before and After
In a post a few weeks ago I asked appliquers if they thought it would be possible to remove the stitches from around this block and have most of the pieces remain stitched together.
Most responded with suggestions for getting the blue out of the background fabric (for which I was very grateful!) but few shared thoughts about whether the appliqued pieces would withstand being unstitched and remain together.
There were two reasons why I wanted to unstitch this applique. The first was the halo of blue around the flower on the left. When I first made the block I thought I would be able to live with it but three years later, now, I knew I couldn't. The second was that the background fabric was a little coarse and of lesser quality (and one I shouldn't have used in the first place). When there's one mistake, I usually just fix it as easily as possible, but when there are two mistakes I go back to where the first mistake began and redo from there. So I unstitched the outside edges where the applique met the background fabric. The above right photo is what was left behind the applique.
Sadly, I didn't take a photo of the applique pieces after I removed them. I don't know why I expected them to be like cardboard but they were limp and floppy, like wilted flowers. But most of the stitches holding the pieces together remained intact. Whew!
I prepared new background fabric, made a new blue flower (checking to be sure the fabric wouldn't bleed), changed the center of the little red flower on the right, and then stitched everything back in place.
This is not the best block I've ever made (you know how it is when you go back to things you made years ago!) but I'm okay with it.
I've learned that it's possible to unstitch an applique, how to do it, and what the possible results will be. But I hope I don't have to do this again!
On to the last Basket of Plenty block. I'm still playing with flower patterns, colors, and fabrics. The fun part!
Here's a little humor for you. I was coming down the stairs the other morning when I was surprised to hear a sweet, little voice join in a conversation between my husband and me. It seemed to be coming from my phone and I could only guess it was Google. This is how the conversation went.
Husband: I took the car for an oil change this morning.
Me: Oh, great! Thank you!
Phone: I am here to please. (Nothing like taking the credit for something she didn't do, huh?!)
Me: Google, what are you doing today?
Google: I plan on waiting here quietly until someone asks me a question.
Me: Will you get bored just waiting quietly?
Google: No boredom here, only helpfulness. :0 (Google included the big smile.)
Later I repeated the last question and Google's response was, "I can't get bored. There are too many cats and not enough time."
Who writes these things?!!! I learned that the voice was Google Assistant. Honestly, I have no idea how she came to be on my phone and I have no idea how to find her. I guess I'll have to let her initiate conversations, which means she may not be much of an assistant.
I hope you have a good day today!
--Nancy.
.
Most responded with suggestions for getting the blue out of the background fabric (for which I was very grateful!) but few shared thoughts about whether the appliqued pieces would withstand being unstitched and remain together.
There were two reasons why I wanted to unstitch this applique. The first was the halo of blue around the flower on the left. When I first made the block I thought I would be able to live with it but three years later, now, I knew I couldn't. The second was that the background fabric was a little coarse and of lesser quality (and one I shouldn't have used in the first place). When there's one mistake, I usually just fix it as easily as possible, but when there are two mistakes I go back to where the first mistake began and redo from there. So I unstitched the outside edges where the applique met the background fabric. The above right photo is what was left behind the applique.
Sadly, I didn't take a photo of the applique pieces after I removed them. I don't know why I expected them to be like cardboard but they were limp and floppy, like wilted flowers. But most of the stitches holding the pieces together remained intact. Whew!
I prepared new background fabric, made a new blue flower (checking to be sure the fabric wouldn't bleed), changed the center of the little red flower on the right, and then stitched everything back in place.
This is not the best block I've ever made (you know how it is when you go back to things you made years ago!) but I'm okay with it.
I've learned that it's possible to unstitch an applique, how to do it, and what the possible results will be. But I hope I don't have to do this again!
On to the last Basket of Plenty block. I'm still playing with flower patterns, colors, and fabrics. The fun part!
Here's a little humor for you. I was coming down the stairs the other morning when I was surprised to hear a sweet, little voice join in a conversation between my husband and me. It seemed to be coming from my phone and I could only guess it was Google. This is how the conversation went.
Husband: I took the car for an oil change this morning.
Me: Oh, great! Thank you!
Phone: I am here to please. (Nothing like taking the credit for something she didn't do, huh?!)
Me: Google, what are you doing today?
Google: I plan on waiting here quietly until someone asks me a question.
Me: Will you get bored just waiting quietly?
Google: No boredom here, only helpfulness. :0 (Google included the big smile.)
Later I repeated the last question and Google's response was, "I can't get bored. There are too many cats and not enough time."
Who writes these things?!!! I learned that the voice was Google Assistant. Honestly, I have no idea how she came to be on my phone and I have no idea how to find her. I guess I'll have to let her initiate conversations, which means she may not be much of an assistant.
I hope you have a good day today!
--Nancy.
.
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