Oh oh, I have hit a lull in my work load. That means I can start calling new folks for work, call my existing clients for a chat and ask for work or I could get on and do those things I keep putting off. Clean the office is right up there with my most hated chores but the other challenge I have given myself and staff is to discover one new thing about my software. The rule is it can either be something that I haven’t used before or something that I didn’t know I could do.

I decided to start with the intellectually lazy thing first and spent an hour cleaning up the office. I now have a pile of rubble at the door waiting for another moment of inspiration to get it to the curb. I do enjoy the new tidiness but have hit my maximum for one day. It doesn’t take much.

Now onto the software. I have the Maestro level and although I have been digitizing for 20+ years I have been working on the Maestro for about five years. One thing I have discovered is it is huge software. I easily learned the basics necessary for me to be functional very quickly, but I also realized there was a whole lot more to learn. Much like house work, exercise and dieting I will be inspired for a time and then I’ll get lazy. I tried to learn a hot key every day but as soon as I learned the ‘easy to remember ones’ I got intellectually lazy again and stopped. So with time on my hands and being old school I know I haven’t maximized the branching tool. I was always quick switching between run and satin which is the way I use to have to do things to get the pathing correct. I know I didn’t need to do things that way but never forced myself to learn to use the software better. Now is the time. After a few minutes, and I mean a few, I have mastered that tool. I guess it just goes to show you, you can teach an old dinosaur a new trick.

The Embroidery Dinosaur

Beverley Field