Firefox Memory Usage

This post is a tip for firefox users who often visit graphic intensive websites.

I recently noticed that when I went to bloglines and viewed my needlework subscriptions that my system would noticeably slow down. A quick trip to the task manager showed firefox (version 2.0.0.2) using 100MB of RAM and climbing. For some reason this only happens to me on one computer, but it's annoying all the same.

Solution: go to about:config and set browser.memory.cache.enable to false.

The long story:
The reason for the large memory usage is that firefox caches the images along with the webpages. On graphic-intensive sites... like craft blogs... this can cause a lot of memory usage.

Firefox determines how much memory it can use to cache websites based on some configuration settings and the amount of RAM the system has. Since my set-up clearly wasn't producing desired memory management, I went to about:config and looked for some settings that might help this out. Unfortunately, the only configuration option I found was to turn off memory caching entirely. Since I have a very fast internet connection this is not a problem, but for slower connections this might impede web browsing performance.

After changing the setting and restarting the browser firefox's memory usage sits at a consistent 30MB.

Topiary Man eats off of Topiary Dishes

After 6 days, I have completed Topiary Man, a Zipper Kit from Bent Creek. I accidentally made the bird's legs one stitch too long, but by the time I realized it, it was too late to go back.



I should probably go back to my WIPs. I will complete them!

The Tortoise and the Hare fable does not apply here

OK! So, for the past month, I have one needlework completion to show.
Ready? The Scotland International Heart by The Victoria Sampler

Lately, I've been working on Topiary Man, a Bent Creek Zipper pack. Really, just for the past 2 days. I'll probably finish it tomorrow.

I went to a needlework store in Portland and bought a few things. Topiary Man, Selling Fleurs, The Hardanger Basics book (to go with it's sequel that I've had for a while), and some threads for Selling Fleurs. I forgot to get fabric, though. How dumb was that? Oh yes, I also picked up the Sweden International Heart.

I'm not making much progress on my goals. They'd get done much faster if I'd just work on them.

Slow Progress

I've been making slow work on the castle sampler and no work on the pillow.




To justify procrastination of stitching, I've been winding rogue skeins of embroidery floss onto bobbins. It turns out that the motion, or watching the motion, of winding ends up making me feel motion sick. I've wound all of my DMC floss, and am now working on Anchor. I have about 20 more skeins to go.

Status of Works in Progress

Castle Sampler (a wee bit more to go). Today I intend to baste the canvas. The piece is large enough to merit careful preparation. I would like to finish this by 2008.


Kaleidoscope Pillow. I would like to finish this by May as a birthday/mother's day gift for mom.

First Completed Work of 2007!

I'm having trouble working on needlework. I want to. But I don't want to actually do it. So, I decided to stitch a small thingy just to complete something. I decided to stitch the Ireland International Heart (Victoria Sampler). I did not particularly like this heart. I thought that despite its small size it was quite tedious. I think I'm just not into stitching today.

Needlework Goals for 2007

Complete everything I've started but not completed!

1. Needlepoint Mother and Child. By November.
   
2. Moody Blues Square. By March.
   
3. Antique Wedding Sampler (technically started... had to rip everything out, so it's blank) By March.
   
4. Castle Sampler (completed maybe 20 stitches... so far to go!) By 2008.
   
5. Random Needlepoint Thingy. By the end of January.
6. Quilt Top? I don't have a sewing machine, and I won't piece it by hand. So this may or may not happen.
   

5 Things can't be so bad, right? And I've got plenty of projects to start!

Another major goal: Finish the projects! I am really bad about finishing things I complete. I have had one piece framed... I have many projects to finish, and I don't know much about finishing.

Obligatory Introduction and Rationale

At this moment, 24, unemployed, relatively isolated where I live. I've been doing needlework projects here and there since I was 14. My first needlework project was a needlepoint choo-choo train that mom bought for me at the dry cleaner's when I was quite young. Young as in afterwards we probably went to the library where I checked out a book with a title like "Clifford the Big Red Dog". As I've grown, I've found Cross stitching to be one of the most tedious crafts ever... which is why I have at least 3 large X-stitch projects that still need completing... or starting. Why I buy these things I do not know. I prefer samplers with drawn-thread or embroidery work like a lot of the things from Victoria Sampler. They are my main source of projects.

Since August, I have been completing projects. The only new pieces I started were 2 3"x3" quickies. After completing 7 UFOs, I still have about 5 projects... none of them are small. 2 are needlepoint, 1 is Cross stitch, 1 is a VS Sampler, and the other is a little thingy from Sweettree. These projects do not include at least 7 unfinished needlepoint projects my grandmother gave to me in a yellow suitcase. I'll get around to those someday... if only to put the suitcase to better use.

Finally, rationale. With the absense of a New Year Resolution, I've decided to keep a needlework project journal. 1/3 of my normal journal is needlework rambling, so there is definitely enough content for a dedicated journal. And then mom can keep up with what I do. Hi mom!