To all my wonderful customers, I'd like you to know that I feel allot more frustrated than anyone at how long this transition has taken. Again, thank you so much for your patience!
Innova is really good about training, which is included with the purchase of each of their machines. I am looking forward to hands on training however it may not happen until the middle of May! One will be in Yuba City. Jim and the Sew So Shop are in the process of moving into a new building with the space to set up a training center. Jim is now the Innova dealer for all of California and the West Coast. Renea at Quilts on the Corner is covering Utah, Nevada and Arizona. I am hoping to get into her 'Boot Camp' in May.
Meanwhile I am plugging along learning thru trial and error, some days more error, while practicing on my quilts and stash fabric. I have pantos mastered and have completed a few of those for customers. B2B and individual blocks, got that down. Tension is different on this machine, it's almost starting again and as on any machine, it's practice, practice and more practice, even on a longarm.
Learning the software is my biggest challenge. Auto Pilot is VERY different from the Statler system I used on the Gammill. Plus AP runs on Windows 8, another aspect. Which brings me to the subject of names for my machines.
Learning the software is my biggest challenge. Auto Pilot is VERY different from the Statler system I used on the Gammill. Plus AP runs on Windows 8, another aspect. Which brings me to the subject of names for my machines.
HAL is what I decided to name my Auto Pilot because, it really does have a mind of it's own!
The Innova deserves it's own name since it is a separate entity and thankfully is able to run independently from Hal. A unique item on my Innova are it's handle bars, they are chrome. I have not seen or used another Innova with chrome handle bars! There are older models with black bars and all of the ones I have used at shows have grey metal bars. The chrome bars remind me of my motorcycle. After a conversation with Nancy at Cathy's Honeyrun Quilt, we came up with Harley! Come to find out, mine was one of the first to come out with the chrome handlebars, now they all have them! Not unique so I decided on a different name for my Innova, Helena ~ in memory of my mother.
With this long post without pix I went back and found this photo of the bike. It was the last build by/for my late husband. I say 'for' because my son and I finished the the build in his memory after his death eight years ago yesterday. Chris has the bike now. A much younger Crystal in the background. Thought you would get a kick out of this old photo... many moons ago
Enjoy your weekend, Jo
Just now got a call, Mom is not having a good day so I am headed over to coax her into getting up, showering, eating and taking her meds. There goes the rest of my day. Oh how my life has changed!
Oh Jo, so much to learn, but you are always moving forward. Maybe slower than you wanted, but you are headed in the direction you want to go. I love the names! Both are very clever. You have a lot of things going on, and I understand your frustration and panic sometimes at not having enough control or time. And then there's Mom, She is lucky to have you. Take a breath, and one step at a time.
ReplyDeleteHarley is such a beautiful tribute to your late husband.
ReplyDeleteThe inscription on the bike is such a lovely adornment!
I like the name HAL for your innova machine.
sending you big hugs,
Doreen