Stitch in Time March 2012

[DrDebby]

Thanks for the good wishes Eva. It didn't work. Oh, there was a camera I liked. It was a good price and tho' I wasn't keen on a purple camera (the only color they had in stock) it wasn't pink. But, I went to check out and this particular store doesn't do extended warranties. So, I told them "no sale" and walked out.

Got home and checked online for the store in question. Yes, they had that camera listed, and for an even better price and free shipping. No, no, the online store doesn't offer an extended warranty either. *sigh*

Now what do I do? Buy a camera without the warranty? I've read the reviews and about 1 in 10 of these cameras have problems with the lens gears. But, in that price range all of the brands seem to have that type of problem occasionally or something similar. Hence, the extended warranty to cover such an eventuality. Never mind me, I'm just grumpy.

[EvaJ]

I got my camera without the extended warranty maybe 4 or 5 years ago and have never had any problems with it. They don't even make them anymore so when it goes I will look for something different. The first camera I had was a Fiji and this newer one is a Vivatar. I bought it online with free shipping because it had all the features I wanted in a camera. Now the newer camera have more features but then I don't use 1/4 of the features this camera has.

[poochemio]

Debby if you didn't spend the gift card yet, check online for a camera, the prices are always so much better as well as the selection. Go to one of the price checker sites. We have bought the last umpteen cameras online, since I discovered the digital I bought at Frye's was half the price I paid online. Took it back and ordered the online camera.

Sick day, spent in bed with the dog or on the couch sketching her. No masterpieces but it calmed us both. Up long enough to brew a pot of breathe easy tea and then I'm back to bed with the book I've been reading. First non art related book I've read in a while, nice and relaxing. There's the kettle whistling away. Laters

[EvaJ]

Sorry you are sick Margo. I hope you are better today.

I am sewing the boring but good selling microwave potato pouches. Got almost 2 dozen made up and if I can finish them today, I will get them ironed tomorrow and that should be enough. I am surprised after all these years of a lot of people making them that they still sell. We will see in two weeks if they still do.

[DrDebby]

Eva, what kind of camera do you have? Sorry you're bored sewing potato sacks.

Margo, sorry you are ill. Feel better soon.

No, I haven't bought a camera yet. I'm still trying to figure out if I want to take a chance on a new camera without that nice warranty. See, my research has shown that about 1 in 10 cameras is a lemon and will fail within the first 6 months. Even tho' most manufacturing warranties are for 12 months, consumer reviews are showing that the manufacturer's are not standing behind their products and kind of like a lemon car, it never really gets fixed. So, instead, I finally finished up my taxes. I'm now printing everything out for my records. Then onto getting passports for our cruise.

[EvaJ]

My camera is a Vivitar 7410. I don't think they are being made any more but you may still be able to get them online. It's rechargeable has a zoom and about the biggest screen these little camera have. You can go manual or auto. I use auto only because it is easier and if I need to correct, I do it on the software on the computer plus you have to crop anyway as all the pictures have more in them than you want. It has really been a good camera and it holds a charge a long time. I probably only have to charge every 3-4 weeks and I take lots of pictures and download them as I take them.

I did get all the pouches sewn, now I just need to trim the seams and iron them and pin the directions on them. The no brainer job.

[rue d'oak]

Hi all!
I'm in Utah, skiing and visiting our daughter. My reward after some very tough weeks.

Debby, the pattern system sounds well worth it. Looking forward to seeing what you think as you sew with it.

Eva, evil fabric. But as ever the dolls are sweeties.

Sigrun, Wow! The rugs are wonderful. Such clean strong design. I've enjoyed watching the progress.

Margo, feel better

I am back in a round of theater sewing. Managed to cut right into the front bodice while trimming a seam. Grrrrrr. Ok, god that these dresses are a generic set that we are then customizing with lace for each character. This one now has a mock waistband....

Jen

[DrDebby]

Thanks for the info Eva. Glad you are through sewing your potato sacks.

Hi Jen. cutting the bodice. Tho' I seem to remember doing that when I was making my first wedding dress. It was so bad, mom had to help me cut an extra piece of satin to make a waistband and then covered it with lace so it looked like it belonged.

My pattern stuff arrived in the mail, just a few minutes ago. I've got chores under control and am now going to go open the box and see what I've got to work with.

The camera stuff is still pending. I did some further research and it seems the camera I was looking at was originally manufactured in Japan. People had mostly good things to say about it. Recently, all the latest reviews are complaining. The camera is now being manufactured in China. Too bad, it was a cool camera. I'm continuing my search.

[poochemio]

Hi all

Jen, good you are finally logging some ski time, is the cost of admission making theatrical costumes? Lace is a curer of many sewing ills. When I started making my daughters first dresses I tried a more intricate pattern every time trying to up my skill levels, some of those dresses were pretty lacey. Have a nice visit with your daughter.

Eva I have to admit ignorance here, what is a potato baker bag? Never heard of such a thing. Glad it's a good seller for you.

Debby good luck with the patterns. No digital camera is going to last forever, you just have to find one with the perks you need and the price you are willing to pay. If you want something that doesn't wear out you have to go to an old film camera with self wind mechanisms, I have a number of those, they all still work, but difficult to upload photos with those.

I feel much better today, thank you all . The pollen is still out there and vicious but my body is dealing better with it. I haven't been back to bed once today. I managed to purge a few more things from the studio area, the only way I'm ever going to be able to use it for anything but storage. I have decided it's time for my days of being a hoarder to end. If it hasn't been used in the last 6 months, nor any hope of it in the next 6 gone. If that doesn't get it functional I will just resort to more drastic measures. I can't decide if I want to deal with ebay on this issue and have to store it somewhere else for a week or just be incredibly generous with the Habitat for Humanities Thrift Store. The latter is looking really appealing right now. Not so much lazy just sick of trying to find places for stuff I'm not using anymore.

[EvaJ]

Marge here are the microwave potato pouchs. This is an old picture and I don't have them in these fabrics any more but thought I would show you what the look like. They are made of two pieces of cotton fabric with polyester batting in the middle, they end up looking like a large envelope with a flap at the top. You put your baking potatoes in them (I include instructions with each bag) and cook in the microwave. Your potatoes come out moist inside and out. Even the skins are soft and moist. You can also reheat rolls, do corn on the cob and sweet potatoes and lots of other things cook well in the pouch. I did not come up with the idea. Saw them at a show several years ago and bought one to try out for myself and then started to make them for sale. From what I heard, a lady in Utah started them about 10-15 years ago.

Spent almost 2 hours at the doctor's office today. Most of it just sitting and waiting. John has a slight kidney problem, his counts were off, so will have another test next month. I had a low grade bladder infection, don't all women get these? Drink lots of cranberry juice and urine test again next month to make sure it is gone. So bought some cranberry juice and guess I will be drinking that for a while. Not my favorite juice. John just has to drink lots of water and see if the kidney function will correct its self. If it isn't one ill, is another and old age is not fun at all.

Debby, hope you have success with your new pattern maker.

Margo, glad you are feeling better.

Jen, have fun skiing. Oh and the cutting the fabric and adding something to hide it, I think we have all done. Glad it could be fixed with lace and fabric.

[poochemio]

Wow Eva that was quick! Thanks for the show and tell. Not sure how I missed hearing about these. Sound useful. Sorry about the trip to the doctor. Having you ever tried diluting your cranberry juice with a bit of fizzy water? I like it that way, maybe it would make it more palatable for you as well.

[EvaJ]

I diluted the cranberry juice with water tonight. I bought the Lite juice but it was just too sweet for me. The water helped it. My daughter thought the doctor should have given me some pills for it but I would rather not take anymore pills, as I already take too many pills every day anyway. The infection was light so the doctor said it should clear with the cranberry juice. I haven't had a bladder infection in years and I didn't know I had one now. I haven't had any pain so it couldn't have been much infection. Oh well, it will go away.

Off to bed now at it is almost 11pm. No plans for tomorrow so maybe the cat will let me sleep in. Haha! Wishful thinking.

[DrDebby]

Margo, I guess I was spoiled. The first digital camera I had before this one that just broke, I had for 10 years. I'm looking for that quality. Glad your allergies are doing better. I'm a give it to charity kind of person, myself. I tried yard sales and ads and such. It was way more headache than it was worth and people wanted to whittle the price down even further from my already rock bottom prices. And, actually, I probably should do a bit of clearing out myself.

Eva, I always cut any juice with water. Can't take the stuff straight. And the reason your "lite" juice tastes so sweet is because they probably added Splenda instead of sugar or corn syrup. Hope your infection clears up soon and John will stabilize on the kidney function. You are absolutely correct getting old is not for wimps.

Lots of stuff in the box of pattern making. I'm working my way through the DVD today. I'm also trying to get chores done. In addition I'm distracted by a book that I had reserved at the library and it came in yesterday afternoon. It's "Crafting Handmade Shoes" by Sharon Raymond. These are flats, not heels. But, I can't and won't wear heels. Off to learn some more stuff and do chores in between.

[EvaJ]

I stripped and washed up both beds today. We went out this morning to see if I could find some sandals and John some slippers. No luck on either. We also dropped bills in the mail box and went to bank and paid for the car for another month. Stopped at Goodwill (of course we did that) and found a Cabbage Patch Kids rocking high chair and a giggling doll.

We need new flooring in our kitchen but just can't afford it right now so with some of the money I got from making dresses, we bought a rug to cover the bad spot. I went on eBay and got free shipping so it came out the same or less as if we bought it in a store and it will fit great in the kitchen. Also that way we didn't have to run all over town to find what we wanted. It is beige and burgundy. It would have been better in southwestern but it didn't come that way and it will still work. Our counter top at the dusty rose color of the 1980's.

Debby, hope you get through your DVD and you can start making the clothes you want. Making shoes...never thought of doing that. Let me know what it is all about when you have time to look through the book. Sounds interesting.

Cleaning out...Margo..I don't know where you can get the best prices for doing that. I have so much stuff I need to get rid of and just don't want to take the time to get through it all. I know a lot of the stuff I will just take to the local thrift store. We did that with a lot of our books and clothes. My craft stuff is what I really need to go through. I have a ton of faux fur that I will probably never use again and bear making supplies too.

[poochemio]

A lovely day in the neighborhood. More flowers poking their heads out of the dirt. My landlady was here fixing the watering system and gave me a tour of all the plants that would be coming up, pretty much everything on my list is already here, or will flourish! I'm a happy camper. It's very exciting seeing things green up, even if it means allergy city, if I could survive New Orleans and all the mold and all that blooms there, I can do this.

Well...some of the stuff will definitely go to the thrift but I have some china still and designer purses, that I might not mind having some of the money from. Can't do Craigslist here, too remote and I do live in the country. That worked good in Austin, we sold all the household furnishings other than the antiques that way. I think I'll give Ebay a shot with some of these items. I would like to take a class with Tony Ryder this summer and they are pricey. I'm afraid hauling it all to the thrift store is my magic wand when I can't bear to look at it again. So it depends on how high my fever to be rid of gets, it may all fly out the door tomorrow. Part of the goal moving out here was to pare down and to simplify life. Less stress more beauty. Okay I have energized myself into action, things are going to start moving NOW!

Bye bye.