Lots of Learning Experiences!

I can hardly believe all the learning experiences I've had since my last post!

For starters, Microsoft kept on pushing me to switch from Windows 7 to Windows 10, for free yet.  I loved my Windows 7, and didn't want to upgrade, but got tired of being harrassed.  So I downloaded Windows 10, and hated it immediately!  (Remember, I'm an old lady who strongly resists change of almost all kinds.)  I finally was able to find all my files, but I had to go around the world to do so. Then almost immediately, my HP printer refused to print!  I ran every test HP had, and I just couldn't make it print, even with a full set of new ink cartridges.  Even all the help from HP couldn't make it work.  Of course, I blamed Windows 10 since it was working perfectly prior to the upgrade.

I have a friend who is a computer guru, who agreed to look it over and fix it for me.  I told him for starters, I wanted to go back to Windows 7 while I was still in the 30-day period which allows for that.  He couldn't make the printer work with W-10 either, so he put me back with W-7, which made me happy, but he still couldn't get the printer to work.  He advised me to buy a new printer, which I did that afternoon.  I installed it that night, and of course, it is different from the old one, which bought on a small learning experience, but I've been able to print ever since!  Yea for the old lady!

In my last post, I showed you my experiment for quilting the little 2" blocks on my big Ciil War quilt. Here is the experiment in  progress on the quilt.  Double click and you can see how it looks down close to the date in the picture.

   

I have completed the quilting of all those little squares, which indeed was another free motion learning experience!  

I've spent several hours trying to locate feather stencils I like, and maybe could stitch, that would fit in the 18"x6" and 6" squares, but have been unsuccessful.  So I've been forced to experiment again --- a lot more learnig experiences!    A friend loaned me a couple of stencils, but I really didn't like the way it looked on paper for my space, so I've used lots of paper and time, and I think maybe I've created something that I can use; still have to test it!  It won't be the fancy feathers like so many of you do so well, but I keep telling myself that the quilters of Civil War days probably didn't do your fancy feathers anyway.  How's that for rationalization?  It won't fit properly, but I may try it out for stitching practice on that simple baby quilt I have to finish by Monday to replace the one I bowed out on at quilting last month.

Perhaps the greatest learning experience I've had these past weeks is that I know now I'll never be very good at free motion quilting!   But...I'm going to keep trying a while, even if I do ruin some fairly decent pieced quilt tops!  

I haven't seen m little blue parakeet  since July 2.  I think the first time I saw him was May 25, so that was quite a while for him to survive in my yard.  I hope some neighbor cat didn't get him!

Notice the dove at the top.

Got lots going on next week; don't know when I'll get much more done on my quilt.  I hope soon.

Hope the rest of you have lots of good quilting time!

---"Love"