Things are a-shuffling around here, so starting soon (ok, now) you’ll find things over here.
See you on the flip side!
Well, I finally managed to accomplish something other than a nap! Not much, but still… progress! (Also, physical therapy kicked my butt today. Whew.)
One minor annoyance about my beloved Handi Quilter machine has been the uneven surface where the table and the machine meet in certain places. It was nothing more than an irritation the first few years – but after learning how to use (and coming home with oodles of) long-arm rulers, it was suddenly a big point of contention.
While in Utah at HQ’s HQ, we talked to one of their engineers about suggestions, issues, etc – he suggested a fix of adding a washer or two between the support braces and the table top. It worked great for Sandy (my fellow sit-down ‘My HQ Story’ buddy). When I had my husband take a look at it finally this past week, it turned into conversations of building a larger table, etc etc. I asked for some sort of interim solution, and we seem to have solved 95% of the problem with two wooden shims.
Ahhh, simplicity. (Oh, I still need the bigger table, but at least now I’m not stuck in my head thinking that I can’t practice with the rulers.)
Also, part of my Christmas arrived today. Always the whimsical romantic, I requested a Moldex 8000 Series respirator for all the semi-nasty (but fun!) chemicals and such in my wet studio out in the garage.
Lastly, today, I would like to share with you a very important lesson about PAYING ATTENTION if you also happen to use a Handi Quilter 16 not in a frame).
Let’s say you are practicing some small circles with a ruler. You are moving the fabric and ruler together around the hopping foot to create those circles.
Now, let’s say you have a tad too much enthusiasm (aka obsession) and push/pull just a tiny bit too hard. Lets also say, that this little bit…
…the nut which holds the hopping foot in the proper position relative to the needle– well, let’s say it is a tad loose for some reason.
You WILL end up ramming your needle into the edge of the hopping foot when you accidentally pull the hopping foot out of position with the ruler. It WILL make a relatively ugly noise and it might take you several seconds to figure out what exactly happened and how– during which time, all three cats will have left the room at top speed.
Oops.
So tighten it down a smidge, and get busy.
I know, I know. It’s been quiet while I recuperate from surgery. But believe me when I tell you my head is FULL of things I want to get done!
Look for some sketching to get me back in the groove for the new year, both in a challenge and I’m also hopping in on some online workshops with Strathmore.
I’m hoping to do a variety of things come 2011– purge my studio, update my website, and some dye/paint projects with a friend. A few wiki projects are in the works as well, so the geek in me is just as happy as the artist. There will soon be home repair, which may lead to a new studio arrangement. What more can a girl in a cervical collar ask for? (well, aside from better sleep and an end to pain meds)
Did you see the pictures of the DAFA Annual show?
If you live in the Dallas area and you haven’t been by the Museum of Art to see The Mourners, you’d better get moving. They are leaving on Jan 2nd.
I tripped over a gorgeous piece today by Leslie Joan Riley. Scroll down to see Brown Plaid. Yum!
More and more on the way, as I get back to being me…
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