Thursday, October 11, 2012

Converting my files #2

There are two websites that tell you how to convert from one format to another. Some conversions are fairly easy while others take a bit of time but are still fairly easy.

Check out Ducky's Designs and Digital Designs by Stephanie for instructions.

Hope this helps!


Suggestion & requests for files always welcome.

See you soon!
Judy
Website

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Converting my files #1

I have been asked about converting my files. Currently my files only are available in JPG, MTC and SVG formats. I am considering making them in more formats, but at that point, I will have to limit the lenght of time that the files are free - after the free period, they will be available for sale.

I am thinking that I will make the files available in:

AI
This is an illustrator file. KNK Studio can open this file type. Inkscape can open Illustrator files that are saved with PDF compatibility.

GSD
This is a file type that works with the Robo Master program.

WPC
This file type works with the WinPC/SignLab programs. WPC 14 in order to make them accessible to the most users with Funtime or Scrap Savvy Funtime etc.

PDF
If you would like to use them for a paper piecing and do not own a digital cutter yet.

And they will still be available in JPG, MTC and SVG.

Since this is a time intensive project, I don't expect all the files to be converted until after the first of next year.


Suggestion & requests for files always welcome.

See you soon!
Judy
Website

Friday, August 10, 2012

Results #3 - Arthroscopic Surgery on my Knee

I went to the doctor today for a post-op check-up on my knee. I think I surprised him with how much flexibility I have in the knee. He had me straighten my knee out and then asked me to bend it as far as I could without pain.

I twisted a bit to the side of the table and then bent my operated knee as far back as my other leg goes. He said, “That is impressive, how long has it been since your surgery?” When I told him it was 3 weeks, he said “you are doing very well”.

I still have to do the stairs one step at a time, but I am able to go up & down the stairs a couple of times a day. I still need to use my cane when we go out so I don’t over use the knee, and I have to try not to make sudden fast moves; I am doing great.

In fact, we are going to Reno next month for a Poker Tournament, and I think we will be able to take the motorcycle there.



Suggestion & requests for files always welcome.

See you soon!
Judy
Website

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Results #2 - Arthroscopic Surgery on my Knee

Pain in a lot less in my knee, but it is still there. I know the pain is recovery/healing pain but it is still frustrating. I am doing the exercises that the doctor gave me, along with using my pedal exerciser a little.

I miss being able to go upstairs to my studio anytime I want, but I know that I need to let my knee rest & heal before I tackle that stairs. The frustrating part is that I thought I cut out all the parts for my paper piecing swap projects, but realized that I forgot an important part. I guess my swaps are going to be late.

I have made quite a few cards while sitting here on the couch, so I have accomplished something. But even with Xfinity On Demand, I don't have much to watch on TV. I watch the few sports I enjoy on the Olympics, but for the most part I read my magazines & read blogs.

Last week I thought that I would enjoy the quiet relaxed time recovering, but after a week of it, I am bored to tears. I would love to be able to create files for cutter machines, but the program doesn't run on an iPad. I guess I could try to work do it on my netbook. At least that would keep my creative mind active....


Suggestion & requests for files always welcome.

See you soon!
Judy
Website

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Results #1 - Arthroscopic Surgery on my Knee

I didn't get all nervous until I got into the pre-op, then I started talking my head off the the nurse while she was getting everything ready. After they gave me the sleepy shot, I made it almost the the operating room before I was out.

When I woke up in recovery, I was groggy of course, but right away I noticed that I did not have any pain in my knee!!! After water, crackers & a Norco (Vicodin on steroids), I was ready to go home.

When we got home, I settled on the couch with my pillows to watch TV, but fell asleep until 6:00, got up, went potty and while walking back to the couch realized "no pain" in my knee. Slept some more, eat dinner, watched some TV and went to bed

Woke this morning to some pain behind my knee, but I know that is recovery pain, not knee pain. I will be spending the next couple of days on the couch with my card-making supplies and my swap projects, my magazines and watching "my shows" on TV. I like the paranormal & ghost shows but I don't get to watch them most of the time because I baby-sit my grand-daughter & those would scare her. And my hubby doesn't like them either, but this week I get to watch them because "I am recovering".

So far I am happy with the results, I will know more them the swelling goes down. Thanks for the prayers, I am sure they helped.


Suggestion & requests for files always welcome.

See you soon!
Judy
Website

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Arthroscopic Surgery on my Knee coming up!

I have been dealing with bad arthritis in my right knee for years - even before my stroke. Though the winter I though the pain was just from the arthritis and figured it would get better when the weather warmed up as it always has in the past. WRONG. It just kept getting worse & worse until the point that my primary doctor took an x-ray and stated that it was indeed arthritis and to just take 2 Tylenol every 4 hours. I didn't like that idea, but said I would try.

4 weeks later I emailed my primary doctor & told him it was worse and that I was in pain 24/7. He sent me to an orthopedic surgeon and he said I could either take the Tylenol and deal with the pain, or have an arthroscopic surgery done and that should make the pain go away.

He said that I would probably need a new knee eventually, but because I am only 55 and overweight, he said that he wouldn't do it anyway. Basically, he said that I need to lose the weight & I need to wait at least 5 years before anyone would do the surgery. My weight would cause the knee to have problems in either case, so "lose the weight".

On the 22nd, I go in for the arthroscopic surgery and he said that I would need to rest on the couch for a few days, but I would need to get up and walk every hour or so. For me, as long as the constant pain goes away, I am willing to do just about anything.

Anyone have arthroscopic surgery on their knee? What should I expect?


Suggestion & requests for files always welcome.

See you soon!
Judy
Website

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Organization Celebration

Is organizing you home & life one of the things on your "To Do" list? Do you want to start de-cluttering your home? Do you want some help in planning ahead for things rather than just trying to remember to do them?

Then you should hop on over to Jennifer’s Jumbles to find out about her Organizational Series and Giveaways. The celebration includes challenges and prizes, and starts June 29th 2012. Plus she has a prize up for grabs for spreading the news about her event. Click here for more details.


Suggestion & requests for files always welcome.

See you soon!
Judy
Website

Monday, May 14, 2012

How to Make a Fine Tip for Glue Bottle

I am sharing this because after I found this tip, I have found that my paper piecing is much neater

By: Heidi Borchers for Inspired at Home

There's no need to buy two bottles of glue for different craft projects. Heidi Borchers of Inspired at Home shows us how to create a temporary fine line tip for a glue bottle with little more than tape and scissors. This will allow you to create fine lines as for this paper piecings and other projects.

Instructions:

  1. First, cut off about ¼” from the tip of the glue bottle nozzle. Next, referring to the diagrams, wrap a 4” long piece of transparent tape around the tip of the nozzle. This tip will give you a finer line of glue than the nozzle and can be disposed of when you are finished using it.
     
  2. Align one long edge of tape with top edge of nozzle as shown. Press tape firmly to nozzle to prevent leaks.

    How to Make a Tip for Glue Bottle 1
     
  3. Rotate bottle to wrap tape around tip.

    How to Make a Fine Tip for Glue Bottle 2
     
  4. Continue rotating bottle and wrapping tape until the tape reverses direction and winds back down toward the bottle.

    How to Make a Fine Tip for Glue Bottle 3
     
  5. Press tail of tape to top of bottle for easy removal. If needed, you can cut the top of the tape to desired opening size.

    How to Make a Fine Tip for Glue Bottle 4


Suggestion & requests for files always welcome.

See you soon!
Judy
Website

Monday, January 30, 2012

Cleaning the Dishwasher

Have you ever looked, REALLY looked, at the inside of your dishwasher, right below the bottom rack, near the door? If you are like me, you never have. I have one word - YUCK! You are always cleaning your dishes in the dishwasher, but when was the last time that you cleaned your dishwasher?

I didn't take a picture, but believe me, it was pretty bad, I am surprised we didn't get sick with all the tiny bits of food, grease and soap scum stuck together and were deposited in corners of the dishwasher and in crevices around the door. YUCK! It took cleanser, a small scrub brush, an old toothbrush and a lot of scrubbing to get it clean.

I just ran the rinse cycle to wash all the cleanser away. Next I run the dishwasher empty and place a bowl in the bottom rack with a cup of bleach in it, and will set my dishwasher to run a complete cycle. The bleach will whiten the tub and kill any mold that may be growing it.

Once that is done, I will open the door and place a cup of Vinegar in the bowl, and again set the dishwasher to run a complete cycle.

I just added "clean the dishwasher" to my monthly kitchen cleaning list so this won't happen again!


Suggestion & requests for files always welcome.

See you soon!
Judy
Website

Monday, January 2, 2012

What is luck?

Luck, there is all sorts of luck, good & bad. I think, for the most part, we create our own luck, good or bad, by how we approach life.

Sometimes luck that at first seems bad, in the end turned out to be good luck. That is how I look at my stroke – It was bad luck that I had the stroke, but in the end it changed my life in so many positive ways.

Mike & I quit smoking the day I had the stroke, we had talked about wanting to quit, but we kept putting it off. Life said “You will quit NOW”. Who can argue with that?

It brought my family closer together – from my brothers to the extended family, we are closer now. It brought all the kids closer to each other and I think closer to me too. Heck, even Helen has come a bit closer to me too.

I think that the biggest positive change is how it brought Mike & me closer. I mean we were close, but we were sort of plodding along with no goals ahead of us. Now we have bought a house again, we are making plans for making improvements to it, and generally looking forward.

I’ve come to know that my “email buddies” are very important to me. They are one the reasons that the first thing I wanted to be able to do is use the computer again. Granted, I not only needed to learn to use the computer again, I had to re-learn where the specific letters were – nothing like having to hunt & peck & try to spell at the same time.

I now truly realize how much my “studio” and my “crafty stuff” means to me too. I thought that I lost the ability to create scrapbooks, and that really depressed me because I had not finished my Dad’s memorial album. But again, I wanted to get back my crafts, and a year after the stroke I finished the album and presented it to my Mom & the rest of the family.

I’ve learned just how strong and stubborn I am, how determined I can be to get my life back as close to what it was. Things have changed, I have changed. Some of the things that were important to me before my stroke have become less important. I didn’t think that having a cat and being responsible for it was important, now I have a furry friend that brightens up my day.

So Luck – it is what you make it to be, what you want it to be. Good, bad or indifferent, it exists and it affects our lives.


Suggestion & requests for files always welcome.

See you soon!
Judy
Website