Replacement for Google Reader

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I've finally made a decision on what to do with Google Reader going away at the end of the month.  After looking around a bit, I'm going to use Bloglovin.  Not that I've claimed my blog.  I'm going to go back to stitching.

Finishing Touches

The binding is finally sewn on the mystery quilt from last year.  But the quilt isn't done until the label is sewn on (so no pictures just yet).  I like elaborate labels.  It's one more place to be creative and do something novel (or not).   I've always done my labels on the computer, first using Print Shop, then Microsoft Publisher and most recently using a digital scrap booking software, Scrapbook Factory. 

I like this software because it gives you all kinds of do-dads you can play with, plus very nice backgrounds so the label can be another color then the off white of the printable fabric. 

It also has really cool photo editing options and lets you use PNG versions of your own photographs as "objects" in your label.  What is a PNG file?  This is my "working" definition.  A PNG file allows me take a single component from a photograph and use it as a independent object in Word, Publisher, PowerPoint, Photoshop Elements and Scrapbook Maker.  As an example:  Here is the original photograph:

Using Photoshop Elements you can "cut" the image out of the original photo and then save it to a new file such that the background is transparent, to keep the transparency the file is saved as a PNG file. 

So to make my labels, I start with a background in Scrapbook Factory that complements the quilt:

I add do-dads or a PNG object from one of my photographs or from  a scanned image of the fabric used in the quilt.  In this case, the object is from a photograph. 

You can play with all kinds of effects, in this one the object is made more transparent.

Which makes it easier to see the text with all the pertinent information. 

You print it on printable fabric (Milliken Printed Treasures or Electric Quilt Inkjet Fabric Sheets), wash it, dry it, and then sew it on.  I know some are concerned that the printing will fade with time or it will wash out.  All of my labels have been printed on fabric.  The only problem I've had is one of the backs was a dark blue and it bled into the label.  That label is still readable, but it's not white as was intended.  One note,  our printer uses archival quality photo inks which are supposed to last for at least 100 years.   I probably won't be around to find out if they actually last that long, but you can't say I didn't try! 

So that's my favorite finishing touch.  Do you have a favorite finish for your quilts?

Computers and Quilting

What do you do with your computer? 

• Do you blog?
• Just read blogs? 
• Buy fabric? 
• Look for patterns? 
• Look for helpful tutorials? 
• Use QuiltPro or Electric Quilt to design your own quilts? 
• Upload your digital photographs (quilt or other)? 
• Track your stash?
• Track your UFOs, PIGS, WIPs, etc
• What else?
• All of the above?

I'd get more quilting done if I'd stay off the computer.  Well, I tell myself that, I'm not sure it's completely true.  I'm usually on the computer when I'm too tired to sew, like in the evenings after work.   Me and a rotary cutter after a day of budget meetings would be a rather dangerous mix.  When I'm tired, it's hard to design. anything either.  There are only so many blogs you can read. Returning emails or acknowledging comments might not be safe either (for some reason my grasp of the English language becomes somewhat tenuous under those conditions).  I really don't need any fabric, patterns, etc. 

So what else is there?  I construct pretty graphs in Excel (I could do a really nice presentation on my stash utilization, UFO completions, WIPs, etc).  I've also discovered Microsoft Publisher.  I have a publication on my completed quilts, and another on my UFOs, which have tables of contents and graphs (I just can't leave them in Excel).   I have publications for quilts I'm planning, with pictures of the fabric swatches, alternate quilt designs I'm playing with, cutting instructions, piecing instructions etc.  Well, I do find the quilt plans useful, since I have a few projects I've been playing with for a few years and haven't yet gotten to where I want with them.   I recently built a publication where I mapped out the complete history of my quilt projects.  I kinda like the map, it's a one page summary of my progress over the years.  But it's not something that I really need.

Does anyone else play with pretty graphics and construct documents that no one else will ever see?  Do you do something unique on the computer that helps you with your creative juices or helps you manage your quilting life?  Or is it just one more thing that pulls you away from quilting?