Quilt As You Go, Simply Done

Simply Done

Marguerita

Best Cutting Video Ever

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Debbie Caffrey, from her book Power Cutting. Even if you’ve been cutting strips for years, watch this video, it’s really, really cool.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bkJKQwq4FI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&border=1]

Updated demo video

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I updated the video that shows the Crazy Shortcut Quilts demo. I finally got Sarah to film some footage (talk about pulling teeth!) and so I re-did the whole thing.

Originally, all the videos were supposed to be “just for fun” and I had planned on taking a few comments and then re-doing them. Well, 5,000 views later (on some of them!!) I am just getting there. I had no idea that YouTube was so popular!

So, if you want to see Sarah in action, go take a look at the newly uploaded demo and if you look carefully, you can see that I also uploaded an “out takes” video too. We do have some laughs while we are making the vids.

Do you have vids? Or favorites on YouTube? I’d love to see them! Post a comment and share ….

Great Homemade Table

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I was browsing the creations at Instructables and I found this great table. If you have space in your sewing room for a free standing table (or even if it were pushed into a corner) this looks like a wonderful table for cutting and (with a pressing mat) maybe even pressing yardage. I want one!

Best of all, all the instructions for building it are right on the site! If you have not visited Instructables yet click on over and get inspired and if you have a woodworker or carpenter in your house, send the link to this table and get busy making room for it!

Fabric Withdrawal

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How long can you go without sewing or quilting? I have not sewn or quilted since mid October! I was starting to think that I was cured. Then it hit. Two days of not sleeping well, feeling out of sorts and then *fabric attack*! It’s worse than an allergy attack 🙂

I want to touch it, wash it, iron it, spray it with starch and cut it and then mix it all up and sew it! So, tell me, how long can you go? The Stashbusters Group on Yahoo! has a saying, “find 15 minutes to sew each day”. Do I listen? No, I let it build up like swollen river at a dam! Okay, gotta go, projects and UFO’s are calling!

My Blogging Evolution

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I never thought I’d like blogging, but I am more of a writer and show off than I had imagined. I have about 20 blogs started, plus a few lenses at Squidoo, and it feels messy. I love Google and Blogspot has been very good for me in terms of learning how to blog and making me curious about other blogging platforms, and CSS and now PHP. More than I planned on learning but I am enjoying it!

I’ve learned that not all blogging platforms are the same, a lot of features are more rich on WordPress, although Blogspot holds the key to blogrolling! What it all means is that I have found that Squidoo is good for having something to say that doesn’t change (how-to), Blogspot is great for continual updates along one tangent (lifeblog, workblog, eventblog) and WordPress is good for both. So, I’ve been learning WordPress and been slowly migrating in that direction.

The thing is, my blogging is changing too. Direction and style.

I am learning about video blogging; I’ve written a novel and a half; I want to make the art quilts I’ve been sketching for ten years; I want a blog where I can write about it all – with video updates, downloadable tips/patterns, static page tutorials as well as updates on life in general.

I spend (waste?) a LOT of time on the internet and find cool (exciting, “hot” whatever your word is) stuff and I want to post about that too – -and the super neat people that I find on the net.

So, my blogging is going to change and it’s not all going to be quilting. It may or may not be interesting to you so I am not going to force a re-direct. It’s your choice if you want to see what I am up to.

I call it Marguerita’s Mess – – welcome to my world.

PS. I used to write my opinions on a separate blog – now they are all integrated on one, so you get the nice with the naughty. Fair warning 🙂

Staying in Touch with Yahoo! and Webcams

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My granddaughter and I are trying out some new technology. Sometimes we just have to see each other but we can’t always drive the 125 miles through Alaskan wilderness to be face to face. Actually, she can’t drive anywhere since she’s just 2 years old. So, we bought webcams.

They aren’t great and the lag time takes getting used to, but when she blows me a kiss she can see that she gets one back right away.

This might be a good way to stay in touch if you can’t make the trip to see your family as often as you want. Email me if you want the details, but the basics are 2 cheap webcams with built in microphones, Yahoo! instant messenger and patience.