Scanner

I think my scanner just died! I've checked all the connections, even switched the plug in with the speakers, and it just won't turn on. The speakers come on in either plug in, so I think I'm going to have to go shopping for a new one after I get back from Paducah, Kentucky. Oh yeah, I'm headed to Paducah in the morning for the Annual American Quilters Society Quilt Show and Contest. I'll be back home Sunday night.

Finished Quilt

Finally, a new post! I've been trying hard to quilt every day, and I've managed to succeed almost every day. Today I finished this quilt that I've been working on. I wanted to get it finished before I leave for the State Retreat on Friday, because I want to show it there. One of the classes I'm taking at retreat is being taught by the woman I bought this pattern from at a previous retreat (she taught the class at that retreat, and I didn't take the class - but when I saw the quilts that were done in the class, I bought the pattern from her). All I have left to do is hand sew down the sleeve and the label. But even if I don't get that done, I can still show the quilt at retreat.

I've been having some trouble with my laptop's power button - sometimes it doesn't turn on when I press the button. So I took it in to have it looked at (while it's still under warranty). And as kind of an afterthought, I also asked them to look at the USB port where I plug in my mouse, because it's loose. Well, they didn't find anything wrong with the power button (I must not be pressing it in the center of the button), but they have to send it in to have the USB port replaced. I need the computer over the weekend and the first part of next week (I really MUST finish our taxes!), so I'll have to take it back to them to send in next week. I'm going to HATE being without it!! But we'll be traveling during part of the time, so that's really a good time to send it in (although I usually take it with me when we travel). I guess I'll just sketch and photograph while on vacation.

New stuff

I got my new notebook yesterday, and I've been installing software ever since (and I'm still not finished)! But I think I'm really gonna love it. Much faster, and it has a widescreen display. Plus the display is much brighter than on my old notebook.

On the new car front, sometimes the littlest things can really bug you. This car doesn't have any place to put the garage door opener. I mean really - who doesn't have a garage door opener these days? And we took the clips off our old ones ages ago (when we got cars that did have places to put them). So yesterday, I had to get a new clip for my opener, just so I could clip it to the sun visor. I KNOW something like that isn't worth the additional $6,000 that the Camry cost, but I really wanted that Camry. So I have to get all these little things settled so I can finally put the Camry out of my mind and enjoy my new car. I SAID it was a little thing! :)

More Fabric Postcards

Here are two of the postcards I've finished in the past few days. This one is for a swap using angelina fibers. I started with the batik background, added the angelina fibers, then fused the fish on top. I free motion quilted the whole thing, then free motion stitched around the fish to finish the edges. I think it turned out pretty good.



This one is for a swap called Cats Cats Cats. I fused the two background fabrics onto the stiff interfacing and quilted it. Then I fused the cat face and free motion stitched the edges (like I did to the fish). I also used a decorative stitch between the two background fabrics where they come together. I also couched down a flat ultrasuede-type yarn around the edges. I'm pretty happy with this one too - I just hope my swap partners like them.



I didn't get my computer today. I was really hoping for it. I think I was almost as excited to get it as I have been over the new car. When I talked to the guy I ordered it from last week, he told me that after I put in the order on the internet, he would call me for my credit card number right away. When he didn't call the day I ordered it (last Friday), I thought about calling him, but then I thought that maybe he didn't call because he was going to get the number when the computer came in. Finally on Tuesday I called him, and at first he couldn't find the order! I told him that I'd gotten an email confirmation from him and gave him the order number. Turns out my order went to a folder in his email account and he hadn't checked that folder, so he didn't see the order when it came in. Now a copy of the order also went to Nobilis, so I asked him if that would delay the order. He said he didn't think so because they had started on the order and were waiting to hear from him. But he had also told me last week that it usually takes 4 business days to get, and it's now been 5 and it's still not here. So I think it probably did delay the order. And I'm really kicking myself for not calling him as soon as I placed the order! Oh well, I guess it will get here sometime next week.

At least my Amazon order came in today. And it's a good thing, since one of the things I ordered is a book for my DH for father's day. I just tracked the order this afternoon, and it said it was scheduled to arrive on the 21st, so I had a few minutes of panic. But it came today after all. The other things I got are the second book in the Guenevere trilogy by Rosalind Miles and a book called Creating Sketchbooks for Embroiderers and Textile Artists by Kay Greenlees. I've never used sketchbooks before, but this appealed to me for some reason. At first glance, it looks pretty good.