I got rid of Windows from my computer. This laptop came with Vista installed, and while I had no real personal problems with it, my computer got seriously, virally infected on Saturday so we dumped Windows and installed Ubuntu Netbook Remix. It’s nice. It’s clean and free and (in theory) easy to use. Well. Easy if you know HOW to use it, I guess, but as a total n00b, I’m feeling pretty frustrated by a lot of it, including the fact that it doesn’t support Photoshop, the program I use to manipulate my photos. That I post here. Ugh.
So I’ve installed GIMP and that seems to be pretty close to pshop but different enough to cause a certain amount of frustration too.
I was going to blog about my exciting trip to Fabricland yesterday, the one that’s shutting it’s doors by the end of March in Lindsey and has all it’s fabric and notions on sale for at least 66% off (I spent $26 and came out with an enormous bag of stuff) but in order to go through my pictures I need more time than I have right now. I’ll take care of them later. Good practice anyway.
Here’s the ONE that I managed to whine my way through, it’s thread, obvi. But it’s pretty, shiny rayon variegated thread for quilting with and denim thread for…denim.
I hope it doesn’t gum up my machine.
I have the worst time with gummy uppy threads. Seriously. (Cuz all I use is cheap shit from the Amish shed/store!)
I am very jealous. Fabric stores here are few and far between. Upon inquiry, I keep getting told people in the south don’t sew. Everyone in England seems to shop for fabrics online, but I like to go to Fabricland for their buy 1 meter get 3 free sale and their closing down sales! I like to browse remnants and end of bolt clearances. I miss the dusty factory smell of a good fabric store.
I am lucky i don’t have a gummy thread problem. Adam bought me an amazing new machine for my last birthday. It is more amazing than I ever dared to dream a sewing machine could be while I grew up sewing on my grandmother’s hand-me-down machine from the 70′s. I seriously grew up thinking that tangled bobbins were the machines way of saying that I was not cut out to sew.
Twwl: I use Coats and Clark thread-normally-and Guterman’s too, mostly because they’re widely available, cheap and decent. Normally (and I use that word very loosely) my machine is pretty good about not getting gummed up but when I use something in the top and something different in the bobbin, sometimes all hell breaks loose. Even using different colours-but the same type of thread!-this happens and I yell a lot and Shannon comes in looking sad because he hates yelling.
Laura, please tell me what brand of machine you’re using. Every time I hear about a good great wonderful machine that’s the very best thing you’ve ever used, I want to know the deets because I want a new machine and I don’t know what I want.
Also, you might check out etsy or whatever the uk equivalent is for fabrics. I know, it’s not the same as being there and touching it but mail ordered fabric is better than no fabric. I am kind of sad I didn’t have more time in there, actually, I would have bought a lot more yardage if I had. And patterns, thread, zippers, ribbon, glue, dye, buttons, scissors…
Ooooh, that multi-colored thread looks YUMMY!!!
The universe is punishing me for boasting about my love of my machine. I have been sewing the same patch over and over for an hour and a quarter while crying and pounding the table. The result is always the same…tangles of thread in the machine.
I recently wrote a piece for a friend about modelling behaviour for our children…when I yelled and started crying Ella burst into tears as well. I can add guilt and hypocrisy to my frustration and anger.
I’m scared of the pretty thread, I think I might just dip it in wax and put it on a high shelf, where I can see it but I’d never be tempted to touch it or even worse, sew with it.
Laura, clearly the universe is telling you that YOU’RE A TERRIBLE PARENT! HAHA! I am kidding, but you knew that. Babies are always sensitive about yelling, they’re funny that way. I recall a conversation I was having with someone where I was defending my choice to be with Shannon and my voice was getting louder and more…defensive and suddenly one of her children, who was napping, started crying because of the noise and I felt terrible on all levels-that I was being judged not just by her, but also by her 5 month old baby! GAH!
Yikes! Baby judgement is the worst kind! At least with grown ups you can chalk it up to them being ignorant, and not realizing that you are right and they are wrong. with a baby…well, they have these pure, innocent souls that would never hurt anyone vindictively which in turn makes you think that they must be right!
It’s a shame that anyone would feel the need to challenge your relationship to such a point. I always wonder about conversations (arguments) like that. At the end of the day, regardless of how you feel about someone’s partner, it’s not YOUR partner, so why the fireworks?
I am trying to find a good internet resource for local B&Bs or guest houses etc. the problem is, that there are TONS of them on the south coast, but hardly any of them are online. However, if you are adventurous, I am sure you could find any number of them once you get here. There are also some neat hotels in Brighton down the road with some good history and such.