Over the Kitchen Counter: Angie's Place for Cooking and Crafts

The Big Switch!

Well, we are empty nesters (for the school year, anyway!) once again and kid #3 is moved and settled. We are feeling pretty proud of ourselves to have three kids in university and we survived transporting them and all their stuff.  We are getting too old to be the movers though!

With that all taken care of I have decided to make the big (HUGE, for me) leap from PC to Mac.  I have been pondering this for years and the time finally feels right to do it.  I am kind of terrified and worried about all the PC programs I will have to leave behind (e.g. Embird, for my embroidery) but am hopeful that I can make the switch without too many headaches.

I've done quite a bit of homework and since I am already comfortable with Apple products (iphone, ipad, ipod) I am not too concerned about the learning curve.  Techie stuff, gadgets, and new hardware are my thing anyway so I am much more excited than anxious.  We even threw in Apple tv so hubby will have some fun too!

One of the reasons I have chosen to do this transition now is because I really want to get the quilting software EQ7.  It seems like the most fabulous tool, allowing you to design your own quilts, print patterns, audition one's own fabrics, create labels, ...the list goes on and on!  I am beyond thrilled at the prospect of so much unlimited design potential and think it is going to be a phenomenal help - it does all the math for you and even tells you how much yardage you'll need!!!!  Eeeeek!!!

I have my fingers crossed that not much will change in terms of the way I do things on this blog.  If you notice me gone for a few days in the coming weeks (hopefully not longer than that or something is scarily amiss!), it is probably just a hiccough in the process.  I have paid for support and have three Apple-loving/pushing kids to help.  Now, this post came full circle, didn't it?  I still need those children as much as they still need me!

If you have any input regarding the change from PC to Mac, I welcome all advice!  If you use EQ7, please let me know how you like it and if there's anything I should know before I buy!!!  Please leave a comment - I love to hear from you!!!

Arcs Done, I-pad Love, and a Gorgeous Wall Hanging

All the blocks for my DWR quilt are done now.  I powered through the plum arcs having learned the most efficient way to stitch them.  It took me a few minutes to remember how to paper piece the last arc I had omitted - it's amazing how quickly you can let yourself forget something. A few weeks ago I could have set those swatches in my sleep but as I picked up the replacement template the first thing I realized was that I hadn't even cut the shape out from the Carol Doak's paper!  It did come back to me once I got started and only took a few minutes to make one more arc.  My light box worked so well and I'm excited to use it now to trace the quilting design for my hand-quilting project.  I noticed that my nail polish matched the fabric too so I was totally in the groove!  The next step will be sewing on the corner triangles and then removing the background fabric and paper from the blocks.  I'm ready to move on and do a different task and get a step closer to assembling the quilt top.

A friend recently asked me if I enjoy my i-pad since she knew I liked to have it next to my sewing machine. I actually love, love, love my i-pad, especially for watching Craftsy classes.  I always watch the classes several times through and it's a perfect activity while I sew.  I can just listen to the lesson, glancing up when I want to, and get an overview of the content of the class.  I like to go back sometimes as well and get a refresher or listen to a section of a course that I didn't focus on initially.  For example, while I appliqued my million arcs I replayed Gail's Classic Double Wedding Ring class.  When I first started the course I only watched the intro and section on the version of the quilt I am doing (the king size Downton Abbey one) but there are two other methods for making the double wedding ring block: the traditionally pieced version and one made using acrylic templates.

When I was at Gail's shop she pointed out the actual Double Wedding Ring wall hanging from the class.  I didn't even know about that because I hadn't watched that section!  It is absolutely beautiful and of course, now I want to make that too!  The fabric is so pretty (Gail's design) and I like the idea of trying the template way of making the blocks - so easy!  I don't think I want to try the traditionally pieced quilt though because there is a lot of pinning of curved seams.  Maybe one day!

Anyway, I really enjoy sewing while watching sewing classes.  I get very inspired seeing other people create so it's kind of cool to actually be stitching at the same time!  I can catch up on classes I haven't watched yet, decide which things I want to try, and then when I'm ready to work on the project I can go back and pay closer attention to the details.  The time just flies by and I am accomplishing two things at once - always a bonus in my book!