What happened before we went to Quilt Market...

I know everyone wants a Quilt Market report, but I thought I would let you know our little disaster that happened before we left.

It all starts with a computer.  We call her "The Old Gray Mare".  Because she's old.  And gray.  And she ain't what she used to be.  She is so old and slow that we don't even run the internet or send e-mails on her anymore.  She just can't handle it.  All she can handle is processing orders.  Problem is, she is our only computer (there are 4 in the office) that has the software to process orders.  Big mistake.  Big. 

The week before market she decided it was time to die.  Of course, she has died before and has miraculously come back to life.  So we thought it would be no big deal.  Just send her to the computer doctors and they would fix her up.  Probably has a virus.  Or two.  Or one thousand six hundred and thirty-six viruses.  That is exactly what she had.  Which means it wasn't a quick fix.  Which means she was gone for five or six days.  Which means we can't send orders because we can't run credit cards.  Which means a whole lot of people aren't too happy with us.

Okay, so it wasn't that big of deal that Old Gray went down.  Except she surprised us.  I don't know how computer viruses work, but I figured if we didn't even use the internet with her, she wouldn't infect anything else.  I was so wrong.  She got mine.  And I cried.  My life is on my computer.  All my work files.  All my personal files.  And a whole lot of work that needed to be done before we left.  And a whole lot of e-mails that need answering.  And a whole lot more people who aren't very happy with us.  No orders sent out.  No e-mails answered.  No nada.

In my panic, I rushed my "baby" to the first place that said they could look at it right away.  I had to have it fixed.  I told them I was desperate.  All of our photos, pattern fronts and brochures for market were on my computer- and I needed those files to be sent to our printer so we would have them in Houston.  In addition, all our Label Crew files are on the same computer.  The club kits go out the day we get back from Houston and I wasn't finished getting them all ready. 

They promised they would get on it.  I called.  And called.  And called.  They were tired of me calling.  Finally, they promised that on Tuesday afternoon at 5:00 it would be done (I dropped it off the previous Friday).  Yes!  I had to drive 60 miles to get it, but at least we would get to go out to eat! 

So at 4:50 on Tuesday afternoon I arrived to pick up my computer.  Except the door is locked.  I cried again.  And beat on the door.  Nothing.  Now I'm mad.  And frustrated.  And missing my computer. 

The next morning, I drove the 60 miles again to get my baby. And I finally got it.  I found out that the computer place sometimes closes at 4:30 so the tech can go to his exercise class.  Seriously?

Oh well.  No time to argue.  I had to leave in less than 24 hours and had a million things left to do.

It all worked out okay- thanks to a few hundred dollars in overnight shipping charges.  We are back in the computer world and back from Quilt Market. 

If you sent us an e-mail, ordered anything or in any way tried to contact us, we are so very sorry.  We are desperately trying to catch up on everything, so please hang in there with us!

As for market, we will get to that in the next few days.  Here is a couple of preview pictures of our booth:

 
 

Comments

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[WendyMT]

Been there, done that ... Totally. Feel. Your. Pain. I'm sorry! I still don't have my one year old laptop back up and running yet. However, I'm more sorry for your stress as we all love you and your beautiful work yesterday, today, and yes,tomorrow too. You are human, need to breathe and please know we'll be here waiting for you when you catch your breath in the whirlwind you call your beautiful life. God bless and thank you so much for sharing you gifts with all of us.

[Claudia]

Oh, I know your pain but not on the scale you experienced. Good luck catching up and reorganizing your systems to prevent the same in the future so that you can focus on the things you do best -- designing new fabrics and projects. Claudia

[Michelle Balletti]

I hope you got some kind of discount for driving all that way and not being able to get your baby and then having to drive back again the next day!! I know how you feel. My computer took a poop and I had a lot of pictures on it of my son when he was born. OMG!! I was able to get all my files transferred to a hard drive and my hubby lovingly gave me a new computer for my birthday in April. I decided to get Carbonite. It's an offsite place that stores all your stuff. I don't work for them and am in no way getting any type of commission, but I do reccommend them. I have it and so does my Aunt (after, of course, her laptop got stolen). As soon as you turn on your computer, it looks for updates and new files in the background...Wishing you guys all the best of luck!! Oh, btw, after you respond to your bajillion e-mails, I would love to get your opinion...I won the lovely Sunkissed layer cake and was thinking of making a quilt for my BFF who is having a girl and would love to get your opinion on a pattern I could do. I'm a somewhat beginnerish sewer....thanks...LOVE SWEETWATER, you guys ROCK!!

[badlands quilts]

Oh my!

(love the new fabric line!)

[amber]

Oh I'm so sorry!!! That is SO not fun. And to drive all that way and not have anyone be there! That would have made me furious. Well, that's good it's over with and your booth looks great!

[Mary Ann]

I just love your new line...oh and the one before that...and before that...lol. And my labels! we do love our computers when they are working!

[Laura]

Thanks for the laugh...regarding the tech guy leaving early to exercise. After all that, you need some comic relief :)

[SofiAlgarvia]

All I can say is now that all is working: keep calm and carry on :)
Everyone who loves you, will understand and will be patient to let you get on with you nice work, you'll see! :)

[Asiyah]

All's well that ends well!

[Megan]

Ulgh, what a mess! Good luck catching up! Computers are great when they work but the pits when they decide to stop working.

[Misha]

Buy yourself an external hard drive! They sell ones that you can plug in and they will automatically back up your files etc. It's a lifesaver when something disastrous happens to your computer. That way you can still access your stuff from another computer. I've had way too many close calls and loss of stuff completely because sometimes your stuff cannot be rescued!

I'm loving the bucket with the little fabric leaves, too cute!

[sharin`]

Oh, you are such a tease. OK, I'll wait. Your pictures make it that much harder though! What an attractive booth! And the little pail hanging in the branch covered with such sweet fabric -- Darling!

Can't wait for your update! (And for my December Labels to arrive!! I love being a member of the Label Crew. ;))

~sharin

[CaraQuilts]

Oh hugs. That sounds horrible! Sunkissed is so gorgeous! I have some for Bake Shop and ever time you put out a line I say it but this is my all time favorite fabric. I've already lost the quilt-not-yet made to my daughter because she actually stole the layer cake and took it to bed with her and wouldn't give it back until I promised her the quilt.

[Brooke]

Oh My Goodness!!! I can so totally relate to the driving 60 miles each way to get something fixed!!!! The computer infected - yep I can relate to that too! I probably didn't have near the to do list, but I can understand. Glad all is well now - hopefully!