Technology – Get a kid!
As we clean out our attic, I am making some discoveries. I found my dad’s first computer that he bought back in 1990. I remember going to his house and spending hours on the thing just “surfing” and boy, did I think I was pretty slick that I could do an email!!! The monitor was huge!!!
Today, I sit in front of a brand new imac that takes up hardly any room. No tower and no wires. But I need a KID to help me work it. The software that is out there nowadays is mind boggling. For quilters alone there is Electric Quilt, Quilt Pro, Machine Quilters Business Manager, The Organized Quilter and Business Suite. As Merry and I move forward in our business into new areas of the quilt world, we’re finding that we must also learn programs such as Photoshop and Adobe In Design!
My husband bought an iphone for me so he could keep in touch with me by email, texting or phone when I am travelling. While I was excited to have a new cell phone, I was totally overwhelmed by what this device can do. In fact, in the first three days, I managed to re-set and wipe it out to the point where I had to run to the Apple Store to have them make it work again! OK, so I now know which buttons not to push. Our favorite bartender at our local TGIF loves when I come in because he “bumps” my phone (or something like that) and next thing you know, I have pictures! My daughter makes the phone ring in different tones for different people for me (so I know who is calling) but I still have issues trying to answer it!!
For as little as I know, I must look pretty good doing it because my husband sits at his computer next to me and is watching me go at it to the point that he now wants an imac for his christmas gift! So at least I’m looking good!
My sewing machine is a simple Bernina 153. Love it. No bells or whistles – it just goes and does what I need it to do. I should mention I have a great repairman, Stephon. When I jammed my Bernina one day, I asked hubby to see if he could “fix” it. By the time I went to the ladies room and back, my machine was completely taken apart. The pieces were placed into a baggie and I brought it over to Stephon and handed him over the shell and baggie. I got a whole machine back – and handed the bill to hubby.
My camera is a simple one (now). I bought a Nikon Cool Pix so I could get the proper photos in the right resolution for the magazines and patterns. We had bought a different camera, but there were SO many settings and fancy things, I just gave up.
You CAN teach an old dog new tricks. And us “old dogs” can certainly benefit from having a kid around. I sit in the Apple store and watch these young kids jump on the computer clicking here, there and everywhere having a good ‘ole time. I was that slick once.
Linda Hahn
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About the Author: Linda Hahn
Linda received her National Quilting Association Teacher Certification in 1999. She has been three times nominated for Professional Quilter Magazine’s Teacher of the Year award. She was also nominated for the 2008 Certified Teacher of the Year award from the National Quilting Association. She was recently been named Marketing Consultant for Elizabeth’s Studio, a new fabric company. Linda is on the faculty for the 2008 NQA Show in Columbus, Ohio. In August 2007 she taped a quilting segment for EBRUTV, Somerset, New Jersey. She has been part of the faculty at the New Jersey Quilt Convention since 2005 and was the featured teacher at the Frost Valley Quilting Weekend in 2004. Linda is on the teaching staff at Creative Sew n Sews, Englishtown, New Jersey. Linda has taught in Bermuda twice and twice on a quilting cruise. Linda, her daughter Sarah and business partner Merry May, present Bed, Breakfast & Quilt Getaways – affectionately known as “BBQ”. Linda and Merry are currently working together on several books and will be designing quilts and patterns for Elizabeth’s Studio. Linda has done commission work for Elizabeth’s Studio, Shamash & Sons, Kreinik Thread Manufacturing Company and Sullivans, USA. Her work has appeared in Quilting Now Magazine, The Professional Quilter, Quilt Almanac, Quilt Magazine and the NQA Quilting Quarterly. Linda is co-owner of Two Country Quilters, a long arm machine quilting business. Two Country Quilters also vends hard to find and specialty quilting items at New Jersey Quilt Shows. She lives in Manalapan, New Jersey with her husband, Allan, daughter, Sarah and her golden retriever, Amber Lynn, all of whom are involved in quilting!
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