Close to Nowhere
As a "self-quarantined" person, I'm going bonkers. I see no one except son Kris and he's even more boring than I am. So, I looked back in the archives on The South Reporter website and found this column from April 2010. It's about quilts and gadgets my two favorite things.
I'm the first to admit I love gadgets and gizmos. It's pretty easy to sell me on anything that might involve a new video game, a new computer anything and especially any new sewing technology.
My favorite sewing "technique" is by hand — piecing, quilting, binding. But, since I like to plan on finishing at least a few of the quilts I've started, I do most of it by machine. And (isn't there always an "and"?) I just happen to have an Electric Quilt program for my computer.
I've also found a quilting "app" for my iPhone. Actually, I've found more than one, but I only have one at the moment -it tells me what size I can make triangles; how to convert inches and yards to the metric system; what sizes go with what beds and even how to count stitches.
I've become rather dependent on the technology in my iPhone. Since my brain has no memory whatsoever, having a gadget with lots of memory is fantastic.
I've got all my brother's eye doctor appointments, quilt show dates, church stuff, and lists and lists of just regular ole stuff. I have recipes and addresses and questions I need to find answers for and phone numbers, addresses and emails for everyone I know. I have books I can read and books that my phone will read to me; lots of music and of course, lots and lots of pictures of granddaughters, horses, dogs and quilts.
One day last week I couldn't find my phone as I was leaving for work. I was even later than usual getting to work, looking for my phone.
I was lost and pitiful. I didn't have my book to read at lunch. I had nothing to listen to in the car (never mind the radio and CD player). I had no pictures to show off in case someone hadn't seen one yet. I couldn't text anyone or call anyone. I couldn't even look and see how to count the stitches in a quilt, if I'd needed to!
Turns out, my youngest granddaughter, who'd spent the previous night, had snuck my phone into bed the night before and when I came in, she'd tucked it under a pillow so I wouldn't catch her playing games after bedtime.
Saturday, I packed up my computerized sewing machine, etc. and headed happily off to a quilt workshop in Oxford.
Had to go back home as soon as I got there! I'd left the sewing machine power cord on my desk. Couldn't call home and ask someone at home to meet me halfway, as I'd left my handy-dandy phone at the workshop.
Sigh...