The 2025 instalment of Why Can't Things Just Work?

 Caution - boring computer rant in first paragraph, skip as desired.

Yes, that perennial topic of Why Can't Things Just Work arose again this week, when my fairly new Dell PC decided that the latest Windows Update was too much trouble and that it would rather just suspend all operating system user access.  I could use third party apps like Chrome or Word alright, but no access to system settings, not able to print, not even able to access the update history to see what was going on.  I wasted several hours trying a variety of diagnostic tools from the simple (CCleaner, Scan disk, check disk etc) through to the Dell diagonistic Support Assist tools available through the Boot menu.  In the end, the Dell tool said I had no option but to remove and replace the entire OS with a fresh download.  It backed up a few basic User files like Documents and Pictures but deleted other huge folders of stuff.  Luckily I had done my own manual backup (Windows 11 has no actual backup tool, only a File History option which is not configurable and not much good) last weekend.  So I was able to restore the missing folders apart from one big one.  I've lost any work I did since the weekend, including 4 or 5 hours on a new photo book I was making, grrr.  I need to power up my old PC to retrieve an older copy of the missing folder.  Then there are all the user settings and preferences that have to be set up again, and then downloading all the third party apps from Discord to Norton security.  All in all, a colossal waste of time.  Maybe I should have just contacted Dell support to see if they could help, but I think they would have used all the same diagnostics anyway.  I've now put all my big folders into Documents, which makes it 209Gb which makes DH's eyes bug out, but I don't know what other option I have.  I was keeping for example my photo archives in separate folders so that my Pictures and Documents folders could just be active working stuff, but then the photo archives don't get backed up by File History nor rescued in a case like this one.  I suppose I could buy some more portable hard drives and offload the older photos onto those.  Readers - back up your files!  DS says when it comes to computers I am cursed (he is remembering the great hard drive death of 2023) but I don't think that's true. I hope not anyway.

In happier news, I've had some finishes this week.  I finished embellishing the 'Tiny Textile Tin of Happiness' that I started in the Quick workshop at Festival of Quilts.  I had fun adding some random embroidery and embellishments and it makes a very cute little hanging ornament.

I had a go at the Bramble Patch Sun Hat pattern that I bought at Festival.  I have an enormous head so even the larger pattern size didn't fit me when I cut and sewed a mockup in scrap fabric.  So I had to tinker with making the crown deeper and wider, and altering the brim to fit the new circumference.  Circles are tricky to match, so the resulting prototype in quilting cotton still has some tucks and pleats in it.  I'm going to use it for gardening in, as my old gardening hat is pretty worn out.  But it fits pretty well.  I will try again to make a nicer version that I could actually wear out to the shops.

 

I finished my Houndstooth woven handtowel and am now using it with pride. It turned out pretty well, I have gotten much better at keeping my edges even.  After wet finishing, I sewed hems at each end with my machine.  I'm currently warping up the loom to try a similar pattern which weaves up a bit like a rail fence quilt pattern, I'm going to make a table runner.

I've been having fun this week knitting up the Ida doll from the Hobbii yarns free pattern.  The doll itself is finished, I've knit the removable sock/shoes, and I am currently knitting a t-shirt.  I had trouble with the hairpiece not fitting very well, maybe because I knit in moss stitch instead of reverse stockinette, but it turned out alright in the end with a bit of bodging.

I copied a soft storage holder that I acquired somewhere, and used it to draft a pattern for a larger version that I sewed up in some of my Japanese shibori fabric. This is now on my nightstand to hold small stuff.  Love the colours.

In the wake of trying on my kimono last week, I spent some time sewing up some needed accessories: I lengthened all three kimono ties to fit my larger Western body shape, sewed two datejima sashes that help with holding everything in place underneath, and made a 'obi ita' or plastic stiffener belt that sits behind the obi to keep it neat.  The only thing I need now is to sew an appropriate handbag to use if I were to wear the kimono - don't think my daypack is going to add to the look.

Do you remember the handmade journal book that I made before I went to Japan?  Ever since I got back, I have been spending a few hours here and there printing out journal pages with photos, to paste into my handmade book to create a travel journal about my trip.  It took quite a while but it is now finished.  Of course, pasting in lots of extra bulk means that the book doesn't close flat any more. But it's a lovely record of the trip, enhanced by the cherry blossom theme of the journal pages from Vectoria Designs.  I added extra decoration with stickers from Japan and washi tapes.

I have been slowly tackling Filing Cabinet Mountain and have managed to discard a significant amount.  It's been a rather sad exercise in some ways: finding old collections of notes and photos for something I had planned to make one day, or patterns that I optimistically purchased, inspiration photos that never inspired an actual creation, plus a healthy amount of stuff I had just plain forgot about in the years when the filing cabinet was pretty inaccessible behind all the junk in the attic.  I've sifted out lots of  saleable patterns and books to give to charity, and I have a growing pile of stuff that is still of interest to me to make.

I went to a de-stash sale this week, where some quilters had hired tables to sell off unwanted fabric and notions.  I did acquire a few pieces of yardage for cheap quilt backs but most of the rest of it I managed to resist, including back issues of magazines that I would have snapped up in the past. I just couldn't face having to declutter yet more stuff. But I wasn't completely virtuous: I fell for a pack of patterns for a very cute embroidered quilt called 'Down in the Garden' by Leanne Beasley that was originally £105 and I got it for £20.    I have to finish the Gail Pan embroidered quilt before I could start this one so I am feeling a bit guilty.

I watched a Youtube video this week by an American organisational 'expert'.  She was calling out retired women who are 'wasting' their retirement by spending their time cleaning out the basement and decluttering old stuff from their past - instead of enjoying their retirement and doing what they really want.  Which sounds tragic - but somebody has to get rid of all the junk.  We will be moving somewhere easier to manage  in another 7-10 years and we can't take all this cr*p with us.  I am trying to keep a healthy balance between spending time on the decluttering and selling stuff, versus fun stuff like my hobbies.  Eventually most of the obvious clutter will be gone, and then it will be more of a maintenance issue to stay on top of.