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Monday, January 30, 2012

Winston Ways with Borders!

Remember that whole thing I said about not dealing with change well? It doesn’t only apply to sewing machines, cars, furniture and other household objects --- it applies to things like new TV’s and the fact that there are so many remotes in the living room that I won’t watch TV in there because I can’t figure the dumb things out! Supposedly it’s easy….but it’s not familiar to me and I get frustrated so I either watch what is already on, or I leave the room. Forget about trying to figure it out myself when no one else is home because I get so dang frustrated I end up leaving the room anyway!

Books are easy! You just open them!

Kindles are fairly easy --- you turn it on…..

The phone is fairly easy….but it did take me a while to figure it out.

One of the things we did before 2011 ran out was to buy me a new desktop computer because the video card on the other one was dying, it wasn’t worth putting more money into – things were getting obsolete ((Sounds a lot like the sewing machine….I know!)) and and the video card showed every DVD that I put in there with a sickly green cast.

The new desktop computer has sat in its box waiting for me to finish writing the new book manuscript because I had programs on there that I really didn’t want to HAVE to reinstall. This weekend --- it was time to plug in the new computer and I already WANT the old one back, even if it is giving my DVDs a sickly green look….there are programs I can’t get to install at all, like my Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 It works great on my laptop that is less than a year old and is also windows 7 – why won’t it upload onto the new puter? I have no idea. This is the kind of thing I hate! So I’m trying to edit photos in Picasa, which I don’t find as friendly ((Or familiar – and that is my problem)) and my blog post is a bit late this morning because of that…

EVERYTHING needs to be reinstalled, and its going to take a while, but I know eventually I’ll figure THIS computer out too.

So this brings us to what I did yesterday ----I pieced a gazillion more ((No, only really 140)) more 4-patches to go around the border of the Winston Ways quilt. I sewed them on all the Blue Wizard ---and for now I’m happy to be re-bonding with THIS machine!

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After assembling and attaching the checkerboard boarder I spent a bit of time digging through my stash of blues to find something that would work for the outer border. HOW many different blues were there to choose from? I have more blue than anything else in my stash, but do you think I could find something I “really” liked? Nope! This was my best choice, a piece I’ve had for quite a while and I wasn’t sure if there was going to be enough of it to do the job…

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I barely made it! This is all that is left of that long length of border….a piece about 4.5” X 11” or so….so I’ll slice that down and have a 2” strip and a 2.5” strip to add to the pre-cut strip bins.

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The digging didn’t stop with the blue border! I needed a backing! Blues and turquoises, what can I clean out? The two side panels were one length of yardage split down the center….but the two center pieces? Look closer!

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I don’t know if you can even tell from this pic, but the two center blues are Millenium fabrics, circa 1998! The tone on tone one above the gold 2000s looks like blue corks to me…whatever…it’s got a purpose and it’s going to be a back!

So I guess I’ll be spending today uploading and re-installing all my favorite programs that I use on a daily basis. Change is sure a pain, isn’t it? Oh, Picasa…..I’m not sure that I will ever like you as well as my photoshop ----why can’t I get this to install?!

PS--- the one thing I notice immediately is that my pictures are TOO LARGE coming from Picasa, when I can't just choose the size I want them by inch and pixels. UGH! Sorry to blast you with huge ones....this is not turning out to be user friendly!

57 comments:

  1. All I can say is Wow! I love your quilt!

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  2. Anonymous9:18 AM EST

    Love your winston way quilt. Good luck with your computer. Sandi1100

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  3. Love it, love it! Gotta love a quilt with RED and BLUE in it!

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  4. The quilt looks great! I think the blue that you used for the border is a great choice, my favorite shade of blue...it really gives it a little punch!

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  5. love that blue border. The blues make the quilt pop. Awesome job.

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  6. Bonnie, I love your quilt! I am still assembling my Orca Bay! I also am a person that doesn't do well with change so I can certainly understand your loss with your precious Bernina and your computer.

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  7. Anonymous9:34 AM EST

    Wow, Bonnie! Another stunning quilt - you are knockin'em out of the ballpark, girl! Congrats on a beautiful quilt.

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  8. No worries - I don't think anyone likes change. Human nature. I love that quilt and the big pictures are wonderful for me.... show's things off better. Love, love, love that border fabric.
    Oh - I got a new Mac computer last year at this time and still don't know half the things I should.. same with the new iPhone I got a couple weeks ago. Finally figured out how to zoom in... about the time we were leaving the zoo last week. Now... back to that star struck quilt I'm working on.....

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  9. I feel your pain with the computer mine crashed before christmas Lost anything on the laptop, thank goodness a lot of my pics and music were on the external hard drive but it's still a pain to reinstall and reorganize everything!

    Love the quilt!

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  10. Bonnie--
    The borders on your Winston Ways quilt look wonderful...good job! I am amazed at the number of little four square blocks in the inner border. Those along with the bright blue border just make the quilt glow. Beautiful, absolutely beautiful.

    I feel for you and your computer challenges...I get frustrated with my computer too. Hang in there...

    Enjoy your day-

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  11. I have to do that too (pull everything from this dyeing computer and move it to a new one) ASAP. . and OH how I am dreading it... good for you for JUST DOING IT!! I'm sure with your vast knowledge of computers you'll have it up and mastered in no time.

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  12. Bonnie I sure know how you feel about changing things, especially with computers. Just a quick note to say if you have MS office on PC try to use MS office picture manager for a quick edit program that will resize pics quickly and the exact size you want.

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  13. I feel your pain... my desktop bit the dust right after my sewing machine went on the blink. Seems like it took forever and a day to get the new computer up and running...

    Hang in there...

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  14. That turned out really pretty! I know what you mean about new stuff.. My grandpa really resisted it, and there are days I feel like my grandpa ( and I'm not to the 4th decade!!) Hang in there, all of a sudden it will work and you won't know why ;-)

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  15. Anonymous9:53 AM EST

    Beautiful quilt! Inspires me to dig out all the scraps I have been saving and get busy!

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    1. Anonymous9:54 AM EST

      By the way this is Judy from Indiana. claytonja@live.com

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  16. Your are soooo right, I go nuts with all these changes computers require ! I just changed from Windows XP to Windows 7 and from Office 2007 to Windows 2010 and I can't find anything and nothing works .... my Pfaff is 6 years old now and I refuse to look at new machines or embroidery programmes... I even keep my old laptop only for Pfaff 3D it won't work with the new computer.....
    I'm no Microsoft fan at all :-( !!!!

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    1. and of course I love the quilt !!! beautiful!!!

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    2. Anonymous10:43 AM EST

      Lisa, Windows 2010 just has a few old features of 2003 in it and makes it easier to use. You can get free lessons at your state "unemployment office" on using the programs. I have finished MS Word and Excel in the last 2 montha! Not sure when I will use them, but figured the knowledge would be nice to have. I usually just use the programs that are provided by employers. BBGunn (kwiltpharm@aol.com)

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  17. New electronics can be so difficult to figure out. I blame it on age. My children in their twenties don't seem to have the same mental blocks on those things that I do. On a brighter note...that is one terrific quilt. The block was great. And the quilt is wonderful.

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  18. The quilt is lovely Bonnie. Have you any friends with a friendly teenager? They are very useful in explaining technology. :)

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  19. Sara in Nebraska10:18 AM EST

    LOVE your Winston Ways quilt. Stunning. Thanks for sharing. As for new computers, I feel your pain. Every time I upgrade my computer, I go through the "I hate this new computer" phase.....

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  20. Anonymous10:21 AM EST

    Your Winston Ways is WOW!

    Darlis

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  21. When I got a new computer I found my scanner wouldn't work any more and I think there was one program I couldn't get to install to save my life. Can't remember what it was now. Windows 7 has a "install as" option where you can install a program as though on Win XP. That might work for you. It wasn't any help with my scanner issue because there isn't a driver available for Win7 & the XP version wouldn't work, now way no how. I think once you've used it for a while you'll like Windows 7.

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  22. The quilt is lovely! Love the blue border! I feel your pain when it comes to electronics. It used to be such an ordeal to watch tv or a movie in our living room until my son and I got a Logitech Harmony universal remote for my husband for his birthday. You just touch 'watch tv' or 'watch a DVD' or 'play Wii' and it adjusts everything automatically for you! It might almost be more a gift for me than him! I too have many sewing machine options but several of those are 1970's Pfaff 1222s. I have never had anything newer than that so I don't 'miss' all the bells and whistles on the newer machines. It is also mostly metal and will run as long as my husband can get parts either online or from another machine.

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  23. I would take the new computer to the computer guy and have him install everything and test it out!

    Winston Ways is another sparkling quilt. The blue border fabric is just right.

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  24. That is one Beautiful quilt. Congratulations on a another lovely finish. Good luck on the computer, my (limited) advice, install one program at a time. (For me at least) it helps the computer absorb things a little easier.

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  25. I love your quilt....I'm still stitchin' on the Orca Bay, but lovin' it! thank-you!

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  26. Bonnie: I feel your computer pain. Your new computer might be 64-bit and the software might be 32-bit. You need to check that. If that's the case, your old software might not work on the new computer. See if you can find any information about loading it in a program directory with an x86 designation. We had to get a new computer and I couldn't use ANY of my Viking embroidery software so I had to buy all new software. What a pain. Taking it to the place where you bought it and have them install it is a good idea. You might have to pay for it, but it would be well worth it.

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  27. Anonymous10:39 AM EST

    Absolutely stunning and striking Bonnie. Thanks for another inspiration.
    Maryella

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  28. I never have a problem with huge pictures when they are of lovely quilts like your Winston Ways and fabrics, especially really blue fabrics! Great quilt Bonnie, as usual of course! I've loved that block since I first saw it on your Blog Hop post!!!

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  29. I love that quilt! And this post inspired me. Over the weekend I hosted a community sew day, that netted 9 completed twin/full size quilts tops for a local womens center.

    I spent Sunday looking for fabric for the backings. Normally I don't care for pieced backings when I am working on the long arm....but I think many of these will infact be pieced..... and I'll just have to be okay with doing things a little differently. I'm sure the center won't care about the backing anyway.

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  30. I'll be sending postive vibes your way all the way from Winnipeg Canada Bonnie as you deal with your computer stuff today. Winston Ways is gorgeous. When I saw the blue/gold millineum fabric a little voice in the back of my head said "don't you have some of that fabric too?" ROTFLOL
    Katherine in Winnipeg, still recovering from the trip to Venice FL :D

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  31. Love love love that Winston Ways! Thanks so much for sharing your time and talent with us. I am so inspired by you quilting. btw...I am happy to report Orca Bay quilt top done, in the queue awaiting quilting and I am so happy with it.

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  32. Anonymous11:12 AM EST

    I had the same problem with a new computer, it is windows 7, which I like, my laptop took my embroidery program, it was a 32 bit, but desktop was 64 bit and wouldn't take a lot of my programs.
    Love that quilt, the blue is perfect for it. Love your backings, you have inspired me to do pieced backings. Ramona sewnsew@live.com

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  33. I think the blue border is PERFECT with the quilt ... pulls the colors from the blocks beautifully. Great quilt! I work in an IT Department at a company that just changed to Windows 7/Office 2010 on 1,500 computers. We had all day training sessions for the people who were going to be affected; took us months to get everyone's computer updated and have the training sessions. I am NOT a Microsoft "fan". To me it seems that Office 7/Windows 2010 was just another way of making more $$ ... not too much is new, the same stuff is there but in different places than before and my question is WHY??? I feel your pain ... sincerely, I do......

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  34. Love how the quilt turned out! Can feel your pain...we had to get a new computer last November and I still find myself hating the way the files are stored...grrrr....

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  35. beautiful quilt - I love love that blue border. what a hoot. I love Picasa, so much easier to use than iPhoto or Adobe.

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  36. Ah...I feel your pain. I'm still setting up my Christmas gift from DH. I find it has to do with the time it takes...away from my sewing! Winston Ways is hopefuly available to us soon? Don't have my BH library handy right now. Don't think I recall it though; must be your next book. Sandi

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  37. Anonymous12:03 PM EST

    Bonnie: I SO get what you are saying. If my husband or son aren't home, then I don't watch DVD's. I know it is a simple process, but I get SO frustrated trying to figure things out that I too, leave the room. The new quilt is beautiful (as always). Have a great Monday. I'm headed to a doc appt (routine maintenance........that's what happens at my age!0 Joy in AK

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  38. Love, love, love WW! Stunning.

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  39. awesome quilt - love that blue border, it makes the best frame for your quilt!

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  40. WE must be sisters of the cloth Bonnie, I too can't stand to watch TV cause I can't work the remote. Have never watched a movie using a DVD player or VHS player. Can't watch with hubby as he is always changing the channel,,,,so I sew. I also hate change. Just about the time I figure something out it goes to pot on me. Give me the "same ole, same ole" and I am good to go. Love your Winston Ways Quilt. Might have to make that one. After starting a month behind on Orca Bay, it is done! I made a few changes in the border. I have the black up against the middle black border as it is harder to sew black on black if I use black for the binding, so I made a simple switch. Works for me, and I love it. Thanks for the pattern.

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  41. Bonnie

    The "export" on the bottom of Picasa has the option of changing the size of the photo. It works really well!

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  42. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  43. New stuff!! Well, some of it's good or else we'd be driving buggies and sewing on treadle machines. But I DO hate the TV remotes in my house too. I love the pictures; some of us have senior-type eyes, and we appreciate bigger photos. I just love the quilt.

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  44. This is a super cool quilt!

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  45. Anonymous5:10 PM EST

    Oh, Bonnie, I feel your frustration! I am an intelligent woman, but some of these compupter things make me feel so darn stupid! I should be able to figure them out, but, oh no! And I haven't used my EQ6 program for months, so do you think I can remember how to design a simple block? Egads!
    Kathy M

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  46. Another great quilt! The more I see of this one the better I like it. How about the pattern?
    I'm facing having to replace my 5 yr old computer too. Everybody thinks I'm nuts to keep this one, but I know this one, it works just fine and I don't want the frustration of learning a new one.
    Just call me lazy, crazy or old fashioned, then call me content!

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  47. Oh Lordy, another one I'll just have to make!! Just beautiful.

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  48. You might need the install disk or whatever with the photoshop elements- you can only transfer data not programs- or call your computer guy...
    Quilt looks fabulous- once again- how the heck do you keep up with yourself!!! Great work Bonnie!

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  49. Stunning, stunning, stunning!! Thanks for sharing.

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  50. I love it!!!! Thanks for sharing.

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  51. Love your Winston Ways quilt, I knew I was collecting reds for a reason! For your Photoshop, it's my guess that you'll have to connect to the internet and uninstall from one PC before you can install it on the other one. In the past we could install one software package on as many PC's as we wanted, but now you have to get additional licenses if you want it on more than one. The software probably thinks you're trying to install an unauthorized copy. Sad but true...

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  52. Bonnie, I totally feel your pain. I no longer feel alone in a world of remote control madness. I know I'm not stupid but heck if I can figure out the remote control thing.

    And the picture thing. Again...when technology things so sideways I get a major anxiety thing going.

    Love your Winston Ways quilt and really also love the Midnight Flight quilt. The movement is amazing! I have no idea how you accomplish what you do when you travel so much. As always, I stand in awe!

    Thank you for all you do for the quilting community. Mavis

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  53. Winston Ways is another beauty! Perfect border. I love the Y2K fabric on the back.
    I don't think the photos are too large. Makes it easier to see without having to enlarge the photos! : )

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  54. Anonymous1:53 PM EST

    GORGEOUS quilt Bonnie! Listen, I love Picasa. You're brilliant and you'll figure it out then maybe you'll love it too. - Shelley shellbayer@cox.net

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