What I've Learned about a Go! Baby's Cutting Mat Life Span

I had a nice long chat with a customer services representative at Accuquilt yesterday. We chatted online because when you log onto their website this option is offered. You click and they tell you there is some there waiting to hear from you. They even tell you who is waiting. I spoke to Constance.

Constance seemed very nice. I explained how much (or little as the case may be) I had used the Go! Baby and that I had only had it for a month and a half. I gave as an accurate a list of the total number of pieces cut and Constance told me -
"The cutting mats should last for a few hundred cuts, so you's very well might be woren out. The more blades in the dies the harder they are on the mats"

For a short while I figured that she was right until I did the maths in my head and pointed out to Constance that I had given her the total number of pieces cut, not the number of actual cuts. If she took into consideration that I averaged three to four layers of fabric each time, and usually got two cutting shapes on one die, I was often getting six to eight pieces cut each time. Therefore I had used my Go! Baby well under 100 times.

Constance went on to tell me that some dies, like the rag squares, wear out the cutting board more quickly. That you need to turn and rotate your cutting mat. And she reiterated the 'average number of cuts in a life of a cutting mat'. So I reiterated to her that I did not use a rag die. I did rotate and turn the cutting mat. I did not use the average number of cuts on the mat, far from it.

There was not any word back from Constance for a short while, I presume she went to talk to someone else, or have a snack. When she returned she asked if I would like a new mat sent out to me. I said, 'Yes, please!'




So my Favourite Things Friday this week is getting my own way!! Well, in all truth I do think I was in the right. Judith has suggested that I keep a tally of how many cuts I get out of my next mat. I am very impressed that Judith thinks I even approach that level or organisation, ability and control over my girls. But I do think she is correct and I should do it.

I have another favourite thing for this Friday and it is my mother-in-law. Purely because John had been hankering after going camping in the Lake District this weekend. Well if this change to autumn weather was not enough to dissuade him, or the germs circulating through our house, then there was his mother reminding him that he promised to drive her to the airport on Sunday. Yippee! I am home and relaxed in my own bed. Dreadful attitude, I know, but honestly it was freezing outside last night. I do not want to be in a tent right now.

I have got some sewing done today. My boy baby quilt is sitting waiting for me to hand sew the binding on tonight and then it is finished. I fmq stippled it with the brilliant variegated thread from Aurifil that Lynne sent me. Love the result.

It took me four attempts to upload this photo.
Why does Blogger just not want to play nice some days?

We all know that every cloud has a silver lining. Well the bad news is that Helen now has my  germs. The good news? Her voice is completely gone! She isn't feeling too bad in most respects, but very, very quiet!

Susan