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Saturday, September 22, 2012

Chhhh-chhhh-chhhhanges!

I am one of those who stuck with the old blogger interface for years.  7 and “almost a half” years.

It worked for me.  The tabs to click were close together and didn’t create a need to drag a mouse clear across the screen to choose an option I needed.  It was comfortable.  It worked.

The day before yesterday everything changed.

They said it was coming, but I still waited until THEY changed it ---I didn’t like the new interface and I still don’t.

I write my blog posts in Windows Live Writer --- mostly because I like that I can choose the size of the pictures.  I can insert a graph or a table or do a multitude of effects that I mostly don’t use!  With the old interface, when I trasnfered my draft over, it would appear as I sent it with the line spacing between the paragraphs the way I want it.

With the new interface, there are no paragraph breaks, I have to go back in and set them all.
I know this sounds like a big whine ----and that’s why I’m writing this post.  I need to get over it, get it out of my system, learn it, and move on.

Will I start writing my posts with double spacing in Live Writer ((I like Live Writer because I can write the posts offline, and upload them later –can’t do that in blogger)) so there is less tweaking later?  It’s a hassle.

There is a button for feedback at the bottom of the editing screen on blogger that I’ve started using a lot lately.  Yesterday when trying to edit a post, it had my html all super-imposed on TOP of my compose mode --- I wanted to change some code around.  It wouldn’t let me.

I do stick by the old phrase “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”  and it WASN’T BROKEN.  It had been fine for years.

It is now taking more work to get a blog post the way I want it, and I’ll be using that feedback button a lot.

I also changed things up a bit last night with QuiltCam time.  I pulled out my hand-crank machine and did some paper piecing!  It was fun to show others how it worked.  It’s definitely not a speedy process, but as I’ve said before, it’s NOT a race! 

jubilee 084

I love this block!  It’s called “This and That” by Kansas City Star and was printed in their newspaper on November 15, 1944.  It seems appropriate that I sewed this block on Winston, he was made in 1941!  He would have been just 3 years old when this came out in the paper.

jubilee 087

I hope Siobhan sees this block!  I made it with the blue plaid she brought me when I was in Aiken a couple weeks ago!  LOVE the cool turquoise colors in it, and plaids that have lines that are far apart, and then some close – really add a lot of interest when cut up, don’t they?  I LOVE this block.  I’d like to do more with it.  Perhaps with crumbs?  Could be!

Would you like to try your hand at paper piecing this block?  I’ve uploaded the foundation HERE.

Be sure to right click and save it as a pdf.  Don’t just print it from the page you view because printer sizes and screen resolutions can vary the printing size if you do.  Click to save, and then open it on your computer, and print.  It should make a 6” finished block with each block quarter finishing at 3”.  Measure the units on the printed template page.  With seam allowance they should be 3.5”.

And I’ll try not to be such an Angry Kitty when I send this draft back over to blogger and have to mess with that (*&U@#($*& new interface.

Thank you, Blogger ---for taking something I love so much and making it such a HEADACHE!!

51 comments:

  1. Bonnie - you can indeed upload later with blogger - it's called "schedule" -- on the right hand side of the post editing page (you could do it on the old interface as well, but who cares?)
    I didn't want to change either, but the way you can upload and insert photos now is far easier. It'll be o.k.!!

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    1. Not upload. You have to be ONLINE to write in blogger -- connected to the internet. I don't have to be connected to write in Windows Live writer. I use the "Schedule" all the time in blogger for posts to post later --- but you can't be OFFLINE to write. See the difference?

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  2. I am just now starting to explore the blogging world. I started my blog in Jan of 2011- and just started really writing on it as of this last week. It has been very interesting to say the least.
    I love your blog!I love your patterns! I love your books!
    Thank you for all you do!

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  3. Anonymous9:22 AM EDT

    I LOVE that you showcase your older machines - and Winston is just as handsome as he can be. I think I'll move my Singer 99 handcrank to the livingroom and set up in front of the TV. I've done all of my Orca Bay work with it (it's getting close to completion) )and it makes for a pleasant evening.

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    Replies
    1. I just need something that will work my left arm as much as cranking that machine does my right!

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    2. YOU COULD ALWAYS TURN IT AROUND AND CRANK WITH YOUR LEFT AND SEW IN REVERSE, LOL

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  4. I hate the new Blogger...I'm trying to like it...I don't. I might need therapy once it is all over. :)

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    1. I hear you girl. Searching for buttons that have been moved and having to move my mouse clear across the screen for things that were close at hand before is a pain.

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  5. HI Bonnie - Thank you for quilt cam last night - I really enjoyed sewing along with you. It was neat to see a hand crank in action. I love the accuracy of paper piecing but have struggled when putting paper pieced blocks together due to the bulk. I am anxious to try your technique with the pins and see if that will do the trick.

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  6. Hey, Bonnie, I agree that the new online Blogger interface isn't intuitive, and I use LiveWriter offline, too. But I haven't had to fool around with the posts or photo placement after uploading them, and I've been using the new interface for awhile.

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  7. I hate hate hate the spacing issues and I still haven't figured that one out at all! Love the blue plaid !

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    Replies
    1. Auuughhh! exactly! I just go back in and re-space everything.

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  8. I agree with you. But, I do like free Blogger better over the free Wordpress.

    By the way, I've tried Windows Live Writer and it doesn't work for me. So, you're far more advance than I in that you got it to work for you! I've been writing mine in HTML using Word. There are a few itty bitty changes after being forced to switch to the new interface in blogger. But, it's still okay.

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  9. Good Morning Bonnie!

    I agree with the Not Fixing something unless it's broken. After you mentioned " Windows Live Writer", I found that I have it on my laptop. I'll have to give it a try.

    I love the Old Black Singer. My Mom use to have a black singer in a wooden carrying case. But yours looks older.( Mom's wasn't a hand crank.)

    Enjoy Your Weekend,
    Susan

    http://myhookandi.blogspot.com/

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  10. I had difficulty with paragraph breaks, too, when I copied and pasted my post from Word. Here's what works for me: once the information is pasted on the Create Post screen, I highlight all of it and then click on the "T" with the red "x" in the menu bar on the Create Post screen. It is on the far right next to the spell check button. Magically, Blogger uses the spacing I had already created.

    I hope this works for you, too.

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  11. I love windows live writer. I haven't had any issues with it and blogger.

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  12. Anonymous9:52 AM EDT

    The saying 'new is not always improved' rings so true!!!! Probably a geek-thing. lol - but I hear you Bonnie. Rant all you want girl, this is YOUR blog lolol.

    Ice cream always helps in these cases.
    Smiles, JulieinTN

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  13. I've been lagging behind in updating my blog. Now I'm afraid to do it! Eek! First Facebook and now Blogger. Where will it end??

    I love this block. Took one look and thought, "Oooh!, I'm making that one too!" Then I realized it's one that Randy posted this week. I look forward to Wednesdays the way I used to look forward to Fridays when I was still racing with the rats!

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  14. Thanks for the quilt cam last night, was hoping you would load up the paper-piece pattern..and you did....Your the BEST:-)

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  15. I hate the new blogger. It's hard to use and so I rarely ever post anymore.

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  16. The new Blogger interface has a learning curve, but once you get used to it it is not so bad. I have not had any more problem with the spacing that with the old editor, but I know it bothers a lot of people. Click Options in the editor and see if one of the settings there makes a difference. I've never tried WLW, having started out using the blogger editor directly.

    And to anyone who is copying and pasting from Word, you should know that its formatting code is not compatible with Blogger and could suddenly cause some weird problems with the blog. Paste first into Notepad and then copy from there to avoid this. The unformat tool may be as effective though.

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  17. I sonagree with you! Googgle anoinced they were doing away with their igoogle because they say it is no longer the way people use their stuff! I say BS! I preferto use my computer! (It is currently dead andman i hope ican get itfixed... it has my orca bay pattern onnit!!!!) I cant type well onnmy kindle or phone and I likeeverything onnine PAGE! Just saying I agree with you!

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  18. Hi Bonnie,

    I follow you all the time and love your scrappy quilts. Since I've been following you I look at all patterns scrappyish! The same block 30 or 40 times looks boring to me now. THANK YOU so much for giving us the pattern for this and that. I love it and will try it soon.

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  19. Anonymous10:30 AM EDT

    Drat! I am sorry I missed quiltcam last night to see you on the hand crank machine. I have one too! I did sew something on it a long time ago when I bought it, but I don't like not having my right hand free to help out. When they first came out, it must have been an amazing improvement but now, not so much -- ha!

    Andrea in Canada

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    1. janice in gastonia5:10 PM EDT

      i hate i missed it too b/c i would love to learn to paper pc and also see bonnie using the cranker :)

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  20. I don't like the new Blogger either.. maybe we should start a revolt!! lol I agree with "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!"

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  21. Anonymous10:45 AM EDT

    Bonnie, I'm sorry I missed quiltcam and the hand cranking! I've been painstakingly "saving" a 1917 treadle head and have added a hand crank conversion kit. Poor thing had been in a barn, neglected, for years. I love following your blog and have become a scrap-addict! Thanks for all the inspiration, Theresa in Sugar Land theresajames5@gmail

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  22. Anonymous11:08 AM EDT

    Thank you so much for the pattern. I love the way your block turned out and do want to try this. You are so nice to share with us the way you do. Also enjoyed quilt cam last night.

    darlisj@kinex.net

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  23. Totally agree with you, Bonnie.We didn't change the Blogger too, and just faced the new, ugly, messed up surface one day this week. :(

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  24. Cindy, The Purple Quilter11:26 AM EDT

    Seems change is hard for most of us, in so many aspects of our life. I don't blog, but I can empathize with what you and others must be going through. A year or so ago my favorite quilt site had a major change. The new site was so hard to learn and get used to that I have just given up and quit going online. I started using another one that a lot of us switched to, but it was just not the same. Now I spend most of my computer time just keeping up with you, Bonnie!! :) So, I guess in the long run, the change turned out to be a good thing for me!! :)

    cmagee84@juno.com

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  25. Anonymous11:28 AM EDT

    Thank you for sharing the block. Just printed it on 2 different printers. The HP came out about 1/8 inch smaller than the Brother which is exact. Very interesting! Love your bog and camera time. Thanks for being so sharing. Lynda from Chicago, grannylynm@gmail.com

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  26. Bonnie--I HAVE to agree with your upset @ blogger. They need to get a good slap upside the head--if it works, and it did, why change it? I am slowly getting used to it, also...Thanks for the pdf--Julierose

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  27. Bonnie, honey, I agree with you 110% and more. I send them feedback every day telling them how much I do not like the changes. Everytime something is changed - to make it better - it makes things worse. I still haven't forgiven them for the changes they made when they launched Windows 7. Your block looks great, thanks for sharing. I love paper piecing!

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  28. Sometimes it seems as though it's just change for the sake of change. I don't mind progress, but it has to be PROGRESS, not just change. Anyway I enjoyed sewing along with you last night. Especially like the closeup of the block so that we can really see the blue fabric. That type of plaid looks good no matter what direction it lands. Sometimes, it can look pretty discombobulating when the lines go every which way. Again, doesn't bother me, but some folks are anal about that.

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  29. AGREED!
    Same with commenting and how they've made it so difficult with the "prove you're not a robot" thing which I can never decipher!

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  30. So disappointed that I was only able to catch a small portion of your Quilt Cam last evening. I saw you cranking away on Winston, and I was just a little confused! But, now that I have read your blog, it has all become clear!! I absolutely love Paper Piecing, thank you for making the patterns available here. Love than blue plaid you were using. Do you know if you will on the Quilt Cam over the weekend.
    Grace

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  31. I am SO unhappy with the new interface. I'm with you, hanging on to the old one until THEY changed it. It is not user friendly. I have to hunt for buttons that used to be right on my dashboard. If I knew more about computers I might change to Wordpress, but I don't know that it would be any better. BUT it does have a larger picture capacity. Blogger only hosts 1G for free, Wordpress will give you 3G. I'm sure there will be more changes in the future. They like throwing things at us :-(

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  32. I thought that plaid looked like you! So glad you like it! I watched a bit of the Quilt Cam while ironing last night...love the hand crank machine!

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  33. I'm so glad to see I'm not the only one unhappy with the changes to blogger. I'm also unhappy with Windows 7. I liked XP just fine and it worked for me. Hate the new look with Word and Excel. I liked the drop down menus I knew where to look for things. Think I'll go quilt and see if it soothes me back into a happy place.

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  34. I got so sick of Blogger and all their changes last year. I ported my site over to Wordpress and I'm much happier now. The templates are better too.

    Hope you figure out an easy way to blog again in Blogger!

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  35. Bonnie,
    I am sorry that you have to deal with all these things, just to
    deliver your messages to all of us. I for one, cannot express my
    thanks enough, for all the time and effort, you put in to sharing
    your love of quilting with all of us. I myself, not having been able to personally attend your classes, have learned so much from your
    blog and patterns. Your tips are invaluable, do you know how many
    pages of templates that I have printed, only to have them come out
    the wrong size, can't thank you enough. I really appreciate all
    that you do.

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  36. Thanks for quilt cam last night, Bonnie. My hubby heard you explain how you pin to match points and he said "She is a great teacher. She gives you the whole procedure, step by step with hints and different ways to look at it." I thought you'd appreciate the praise. He's a 6th grade math & science teacher.

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  37. Thanks for continuing to showcase the vintage machines! Using a handcrank machine for accurate piecing is such a joy! I am always amazed by quilting bloggers who voice their frustrations about problems with their modern machines, but (for whatever reason) never contemplate using vintage or antique machines. I hope your support of these wonderful old machines will help spread the word!

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  38. janice in gastonia5:04 PM EDT

    can you show a picture of the bobbin case you need?

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  39. Modern technology, I love to use it but hate to learn it! I am fast becoming a dinosaur when it comes to computers, but I had changed over to the new interface. I have had no end of problem posting and in the end started using Goggle Chrome cos they said it would fix the problem. It did, but now when I go to read some peoples blogs it will freeze half way down the page and I cannot move up or down. It helps if I refresh...but having to refresh and then try and scroll down really fast, every time I want to read the next 3 lines, let alone see a picture...is VERY annoying. MORE annoying then having to use word verification to prove I am not a machine!

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  40. Sounds like a healthy concensus on change - I agree! The difficulty I've had with Blogger the last couple days - trying to get a video to post. It keeps giving me a message saying an error occurred and I try to find someplace within Blogger for 'help' and sheesh, way too confusing for this old girl. When I was a girl taking home-ec in high school, my gram. gave(?) us an old treadle machine and that's what I sewed on at home. It's long gone, tossed by my mom though she kept the cabinet for awhile. Seeing the treadle machine triggered a thought that it would be a nice thing to have should we ever lose the power grid indefinitely. I think I'll make a list, lol.

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  41. I haven't done a blog post with new interface yet (later today I will) and I use live writer too, after you recommended it ages ago.
    My son works for google (maps) but both his room mates work on blogger so he said I can have direct support ;-).
    I know that this is the first few days so hopefully this spacing problem will be sorted. I will get my son to tell his roomies it needs fixing now

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  42. Maree mynanamaree@yahoo.com7:23 PM EDT

    Love This and That! Thanks a bunch for sharing the foundation! ☺ Loved watching you make it on your hand crank! Love watching anything you do! ♥

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  43. I too put off getting the newer version of blogger. I hate it to read my blogs in too. I tried providing feedback and it crashes! I wish they would ask for input from users on what may need to be changed before they go changing something that wasn't "broke." I need to just get over it too.

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  44. I don't change any technology related stuff until forced to. LOL
    Guess I am now forced.

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  45. Although I don't have a blog, I empathize with you about the changes.
    "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

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