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OMG --- For real, I'm back! So much to say today!

I have to tell you about this strange phone call I got. I was about to call someone in a different area code when I received a call from that area code. It wasn't the store I was about to call—it was neither of the two stores in that same area code that I needed to contact. There was no name, and although it said "verified number," I didn't answer. 

Funny enough, I received a voicemail, so I listened to it. "Hey Muhammed, I was hoping ...

I'm back!!! I finally had a proper sleep within the right time frame, meaning I got to sew this morning. Does it feel strange? It's totally weird! Let's hope that things are back on track because I have lots that I want to do. 

I hope not to offend anyone with this next sentence, so forgive me if I do. WAIT -- before I say that, let's say this has happened to all of us! Most of us anyway! But hopefully, after the first time, it will never happen again. 

That is the text message (or e-mail ...

I am a slug on a rug!! I did NOTHING yesterday despite the fact that there are quilts to quilt, emails to answer, sewing to do, and so many more things. First, it was a gorgeous day outside, and I didn't want to be in the house. Second, I got reeled into The Rose Code (an audiobook), and while I could have worked while I read, I didn't. Thankfully, the book was finished. Excellent read (it was recommended by someone here). Anything by Kate Quinn is a good read!

I also know what happened to make me feel ...

We had our UFO Club in the morning, and I was one of the few who didn't meet the deadline. That's OK - I'll get it done for next month. I completed part of it, but not enough to say I put in a reasonable effort. I wish I had more time to focus on my UFOs - I'm to the point now where I need this project (Cabin in the Woods X two) off my plate as I'm getting bored with it. OK -- so I am working on applique, which stalls me EVERY time. I like ...

Thanks for your thoughts on mental health! I'm OK, and while I still haven't found those items, and I'm still "frustrated" by a piece of technology that isn't cooperating with me, I'm over that destructive feeling. Thankfully, it doesn't last long, but I wish I could control it. Thankfully, my mind tells me to throw things, but don't break things - like dumping an embroidery machine on the floor! 

Oh my gosh—this is just too cute to pass up. When I walk Lexi in the morning, the other two hop up in bed ...

Well, I did not find that sample, but that's OK because I made new ones, and they are probably nicer than the old ones! It's still super annoying that I can't find them. They will turn up at one point, but where are they hiding?

I'm a bit strapped for time this morning as I have to be somewhere at 8 a.m., which is prime dog-walking time. So the blog will be short, and the spin class will be short, so I can at least get them outside and fed. When someone offers to do ...

Someone suggested I run a defrag on my hard disk. Yes -- that's a good idea, and I must remember to do that. 

What I think I need to do is get myself organized first. I must write down each place where I have storage - how much I pay and what is stored there. There's Googe Drive, One Drive, and soon iCloud. I have Dropbox (which I need to cancel), my external hard disks, and my storage on the two computers. Wait -- there's also the phone and the iPad. Can you see the craziness of all this? And ...

Hmmm --- where was the lightbulb moment last night? We opened the door to Day 10 on the EXIT Game Advent Calendar and figured out what to do with all the pieces (or so we think!). Now, how do we interpret those pieces? We left it - I was going to go back before bed but didn't, so I'll try again today. We may need to look at the clues, but I think we will need all three before this is solved! Some days, the puzzles are tricky, and some are not! 

I stopped at the library the other day ...

There are some mornings when I look at this blank screen, and I think to myself - what witty thing are you going to say today to encourage people to read on! You know - it's like the first impression - you have 30 seconds to make a first impression. Thankfully, I NEVER freeze when I see a blank screen, or if I do - I just start to babble on! 

I just like to write, and that never used to be the case! That comes from my Mom. It's amazing where we pick up our traits and how they eventually influence ...

Oh my --- I had a busy day, but I don't have much to show! But I tried, and what doesn't get completely finished, at least, is a sample. The finishing will come later! I trust the people looking at the samples aren't going for finesse -- we're going for the inspiration and the ideas! Plus, I have some finished samples. 

But the day started with the two Zoom classes, which went great! I am passionate about teaching, and well, I'm just darn good at it! No one toots their own horn often enough, but I'll ...

I have to say that I'm super PROUD of my kid! While we don't always agree, she has a head on her shoulders and didn't panic! 

She's been in Turkey for the last couple of weeks. She met up with a couple of friends, and they've been having a blast by the look of the pictures. They were initially going to Turkey, Jordan, and Egypt, but thankfully, they changed their plans. I did not say anything. It's not my vacation and not my life! 

Now, it was time for her to return, and she ...

It was another intense day of automation in Studio B! But first, we had two Zooms (EQ8 and digital cutters), which were excellent sessions. I now have some follow-up work, and there is always paperwork, but not today, as it's Monday sewing! 

This is what I worked on the day before. I started with the mySewnet embroidery software and created this. Note that I have made modifications to it since I took this picture. I dabbled in embroidery software years ago but had no idea what I was doing. Now -- do NOT attempt to take my embroidery software away ...

Thanks for the tips on sorting digital files and scraps! In an ideal world, all my photos would be tagged and stored in Photoshop Lightroom, making it a snap to find any of them! Sadly, they are not, but I'll work on it! And my computer files are mostly named correctly; however, I think it's mostly because of their location in the file system that I can find them. And I will say that, for the most part, I can find those files very quickly - except for the other day when I needed them for my presentation! 

The ...

Several years ago, I worked for a fabric company, and I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I won't go into detail, but let's just say we did not see eye to eye. I was let go (a..k.a. You're FIRED!), and I felt a bit sad at the time. 

However, I've realized that was the BEST thing that could have happened to me. The industry/market experience I gained was invaluable (yes -- enough to put up with the "issues"), and now I have an even better job. I'm working with technology ...

I will say that this retreat is a first. A first in what you say? While I did throw stuff in a bag without much thought, I didn't pack much. And after this morning, I'll be able to say that I worked on EVERY project that I brought! Now how did that happen? 

Saying that I worked on every project is a bit of a lie. There were two I brought that I couldn't work on anyway because I needed special presser feet. However, I went through the projects and highlighted what I needed. When I'm ...

I see the inevitable has happened. The price of regular gas has hit $2.00 a liter. Remember when it hit $1.00? That was an issue as the pumps couldn't display the price. Well, did they take into account that someday it might be $10 a liter? I'll have given up my car by then. 

Someone mentioned that raising the price is forcing people to buy electric cars. Seriously?? If anything, it should be encouraging people to buy more fuel-efficient/smaller vehicles, but that will NEVER happen. People will absorb that higher price and think nothing of ...

WOW --- what a day! I accomplished so much, and I learned a TON. I bought my digital cutter (I have the Brother Scan and Cut -- the DX 225), which is discontinued. As with most tools, there's a learning curve, and I was either too afraid or too lazy to really dig into making that thing work. 

With all the machine embroidery and other people interested in digital cutters, there's no time like NOW to get it out and learn. Remember, it now sits on a table in Studio B, so I don't have to dig it out ...

So what happened yesterday? This is April -- the Easter Bunny has already come and gone, and we get this? 

A winter wonderland

Thankfully, the roads and sidewalks are dry this morning, but we do NOT need this snow. The landscapers are supposed to come and open my pond this morning, and I was going to clean up the backyard (from the dogs), and well, I was out when it started to snow. So the yard didn't get cleared. Sigh..................

I'm happy to report that I was able to finish all the quilting on my Cherrywood Challenge with the ...

I squeaked through another day! Oh gosh --- there's so much exciting stuff that I can't contain myself. I can't share all of it with you today, but WOW --- I'm so lucky. I've surrounded myself with some very talented people, and we are sharing all kinds of amazing information!! You'll be able to participate in that sharing either through the blog or through some future clubs. 

But here's the thing --- it works best if a great majority of the people are participating. You all know about the 80/20 rule --- 20 percent of the ...

 OK -- so I have FOMO. Linda's Sonos speaker works with Alexa!! I think I could make that happen, but it has to be connected to my phone via BlueTooth. I'm not quite awake yet - I may need to think about that one. 

The GREAT news -- I'm done working for the week! I can now enjoy the rest of the retreat, which is super exciting. At first, I was slightly miffed that the timing was terrible, but it worked out OK, and I'm glad I went. Met new people, visited with people that I already knew, and ...