Category Archives: Life

Food, Life

diet and Diets – small D vs big D

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My dad’s a personal trainer. He’s looked at most of the diets, and typically has the same thing to say about all of them

Here’s what I’ve grown up having drilled into my head:

  • Your brain needs carbs to function. It cannot digest protein for food. This does not mean all carbs all the time. This does not mean white flour and empty carbs. Those are not proper nutrition for your brain or body. But you cannot unilaterally cut carbs out of your diet.
  • All carbs are not equal. Continue reading diet and Diets – small D vs big D →
Life, Pets, Sewing Machines

Review: Clover Wonder Clips

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This past week, I had more time than I think I’ve ever had to sew. I’ve been babying my lower back this week, because the last time I thought it was “good enough” (last Friday), I set my recovery back a week, at least.    So with time at the computer limited, and no lifting sewing machines, I decided it was time to finish a number of UFOs.   This seemed a good opportunity to put the wonder clips through their paces.

Most of my UFOs are not quilting projects.

  • I’ve had 2 pair of jeans sitting on my desk for a couple of months that need hemming.  They’re not even marked.
  • Then there are the “thundershirts” for all of our furry creatures.
  • The one quilted project is another featherweight case liner for yet another featherweight (there are 3 in total in the house)

So on to the performance of the Wonder clips. Continue reading Review: Clover Wonder Clips →

Life, Sewing Machines, VSM Repair, Warnings

Ouch! Watch those hinges!

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Ronnie - 1950 Featherweight 221
Ronnie – 1950 Featherweight 221

On Monday I was packing up my things to go to our Sewing Circle.  I was in a hurry, and when I grabbed the case of the featherweight I found last month, I managed to rip a 1.5″ long gash in my left hand.

Now, I’m naturally clumsy, but this only happened because Continue reading Ouch! Watch those hinges! →

Life, Sewing Machines, VSM Repair

Spring has sprung

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Well, not really.  Not here in Central Alberta anyway.  We got about 10-12″ of the white sh…. stuff over the last weekend.

Ever had your bobbin case just fall out while you were sewing?  You’re just sewing along, and the darn thing just gets up and leaves? Or maybe you’ve found it not snapped in when you’re positive that you installed it right.

No,.. chances are that you don’t need a new bobbin case. Continue reading Spring has sprung →

Life, Sewing Machines, Site News

I am so flattered!

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I wanted to just take a quick moment out to say thank you to everyone who reads this blog.  I’ve been seeing things being pinned on Pinterest from my posts on the Quilting Board and from Archaic Arcane directly over the last few days.

I post about the things I do to hopefully benefit the community as a whole.   Seeing people pinning and linking to the QB and to Archaic Arcane so that others can come visit and hopefully I can help them out shows me that you find what I’m doing to be of value.

From the bottom of my heart:  THANK YOU!  It’s so great to know that I’m not just talking to myself.  🙂

Life, Sewing Machines

Second Floor – Hardware, Children’s wear, Ladies’ lingerie… A Universal Desk

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Lately I’ve been experimenting with Free Motion Quilting (FMQ).

Yes, I see that surprised look on your faces!  I do, in fact, sew sometimes!  When I’m not buried elbow deep in the innards of a sewing machine, sometimes I even use them.  🙂

My latest “thing” is FMQ.  It’s really fun, but if your sewing surface isn’t set up correctly, it can be a real pain in the neck, shoulders, wrists, arms, back, and head.   With a lot of damage already in my back and wrists from computer work, (and dirtbikes, and old car wrecks, and skiing,… well you get the picture.)  I had to think this one through pretty carefully.

I wanted a new desk, but had to do it on a budget.  I’m willing to contribute some sweat equity, so I figured I’d give it a go at building something.

Continue reading Second Floor – Hardware, Children’s wear, Ladies’ lingerie… A Universal Desk →

Life, Warnings

Uh oh

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OK, I can’t keep a lid on this one anymore.   I went to the Post Office on the weekend to ship a package.  I was told the weight was 14.62 kg.  It had been a long day, and I was trying to mentally figure out what that was in pounds and had reached the “2x 14.62” part and was about to add the 10% to make the 2.2 pounds per kilogram part.

I was talking out loud at the time, and “mistakenly” said, “OK, so what’s that in pounds?”

The girl at the till, who I’m sure is a recent graduate of our local high school, tells me “Well, I think it’s 6kg to a pound…..” Continue reading Uh oh →

Home, Life, Sewing Machines

Fabric and Pattern Stash management for Windows

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I’m not sure how many of you know what I do for a living. I’m a Systems Administrator / Computer Technician / Business Systems Analyst / Computer Jill-of-all-Trades. Originally though, I was trained as a software developer. Yes, I’m a bona-fide computer geek. It’s been close to 10 years since I’ve done any real development, but I decided a few weeks ago to dust off my old skills, and it’s for good reason.

Rummaging through the closet in the sewing room, I realised how many times I’d bought the same fabric that I already had, or a pattern I already had. Deciding that this year is a good year to begin to shop my stash, I began trying to find a program for Windows that would help me catalog my stash(es). Continue reading Fabric and Pattern Stash management for Windows →