Can you find the problem towel above?  If you have done any kind of Machine Embroidery, you have probably had a moment when an issue came up.  I think more people would enjoy doing embroidery if they gave themselves a break and understood that things don't always work out the first time you sew a design. Frustration will usually cause them to give up but trust me, practice really is necessary to consistently get good results.  I do machine embroidery pretty much every day and I have some doozies in my studio.  In fact I have a path around my house that gets used quite a lot while I clear my head and get out of my workspace. It is the nature of working with an unpredictable medium.  You have so many variables that you have to work through.  First you have the complexity of a machine that wants to stitch in one direction. Think about it. There really is only one way a stitch forms. The arm on the machine moves in multiple directions in time to that stitch forming. If everything is in time, you should see a design taking shape.  Other possible issues are material you are applying the design to, stabilizer needed, type of thread top and bottom, trimmers, needles, digitizing,  dirt and dust, the day of the week- no wait that doesn't matter.  There are just so many things that can go wrong. So why even do it?  It is beautiful when the work comes into focus and a design starts to peek out. Hypnotic to watch that arm swing and sway and the hum of the machine lulls you into a calm place.  If you are a person that likes a challenge and puzzle solving, you might grow to become an embroidery addict.  You just need to develop and have some tools in your back pocket for the times when trouble arrives. It will arrive.   

Here is a recent problem project I was working on.  If you look at the photo above, you will see an unfinished towel.  I had several of them to do and as this one was stitching, I noticed a dull thumping sound when the needle struck the fabric.  That always indicates to me it is time to change the needle.  When you embroider on a machine and become friends with it, you can hear changes.  So , I replaced the needle and immediately, my bobbin wound up tight causing the towel to pull down into the bobbin case.  This skewed the towel in the hoop. There was no way to salvage the design in that hoop. When I removed the new needle, I felt a burr on the end of it.  So even though it was brand new, it was faulty. I had to cut away the thread that had wrapped around the inner case.  Luckily the towel wasn't damaged. Another good reason to stay close to your machine while it is working.  First thing I did was make a note of the stitch number where this happened in the design and I wrote it down. I would need it later.

I was using my multi needle machine to embroider the group of towels and I didn't want to lose any production time, so I replaced the faulty needle, hooped another towel and started it stitching while I worked on my problem piece.  This particular machine does not have a camera function. So if I have to re hoop a design to complete it, I will usually move to my other machine that helps me ensure a good stitch out.

I floated the towel on the hoop with some adhesive spray and tried to get the towel straight but perfection is not necessary when you can scan a picture and see placement.

Here is the hoop loaded on the machine and you can see the screen shows the towel and the design overlaying it.  This type of embroidery machine really gives you great options instead of trying to rely on your hand eye coordination to re hoop and get correct placement. I can see the previous design stitched on the towel in real time. This allows me to line up the electronic design in the machine for better accuracy.

Here you can see the movement and rotation options available. So even though my design was slightly skewed in the hoop, I was able to rotate in one degree increments until I got it right where I needed it.  I will usually go into the embroidery function and test the first few stitches to make sure it is where I want it to be. Sometimes you need to do this a couple of times to get it right. Don't rush it. Then I use the number that I wrote down from the previous stitch out and I forward through the design to the place where it had a problem to begin sewing. Each machine has different functions to accomplish this. Use your machine manual to verify your tools.

Here it is completing the design. I was able to get it just about right. As it is a towel there will be slight fudge room because of the pile.  Still it is very close to the original placement.

The best part of having a second machine is my other towel completed  while I was working with my problem piece so no production time was lost.  

Now this is a trick that I have seen at many trade shows and classes.  Most embroidery artists have a good supply of permanent markers.  If you have a few threads that are not perfect while you are working on that placement, you can very lightly touch them up. Especially something with a pile. Just be very ginger when using these type markers as your fabric will really want to soak up the ink.

So here they are side by side. Left side is an original towel, right side is the re hooped towel.  Unless I told you I had any problems, you might not be able to tell. An embroidery machine with a camera function is a very good investment if you are doing commercial work of any kind.  You can see I was able to save product and keep production rolling along.

I have a You Tube video showing my process below. If you are considering a purchase to upgrade your studio or if you already have a machine with camera, you might enjoy seeing it in action.  I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work.

Summer's official start date is right around the corner.  In honor of those long lazy days we have created some really cute water creature designs just released today.  Whether you are on the lake or at the beach, these will help you decorate your summer projects!  Let's take a look at them.

Our Crab With Shell embroidery design stitches up in a 4x4 hoop and would look precious on beach bags or home decor projects.  His friendly grin will make you smile.

This Fish Embroidery Design is also a 4x4 design and has beautiful blended colors. Stitch him in the suggested orange tones or customize with different colors and group them on bathroom decor.

Our 4x4  Seahorse Embroidery Design is very simple and sweet.  Blended threads and an innocent expression makes this a perfect choice for children's decor such as linens or blankets.

Our 4x4 Turtle Embroidery Design is so friendly. He would be another awesome choice for children's items. Look closely and see his shell has beautiful scroll work.

Our 4x4 Frog On Lily pad embroidery design has several greens that blend together and really make him look plump and cute.  He looks ready to hop right onto your next project!

Here are all of the summer critter designs on towels.  If you are looking for a unique way to dress up your kitchen, these just might do the trick.  Not at the beach or the lake? No problem, you can pretend to be by decorating your home and having a "staycation"   These would be really precious stitched on a table runner out by the pool. Add some custom text with summer quotes to make these designs perfect for your decor. I hope you have enjoyed and been inspired by this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

Who doesn't love Spicy Mexican Food?  I know I do and after several months of being at home, I was able to finally dine inside one of our local restaurants.  I can tell you I savored every bite. After enjoying that awesome meal I decided to release several new designs that pay homage to one of my favorite food types.  Let's take a look at them.

There would be Tacos design is perfect for that person that has to be bribed with tacos to show up. Or maybe that person who looks forward to Taco Tuesday every week?  It is a fun way to tell everyone that you are a taco expert.

Of course you have to have Chips Dip and Margaritas with those tacos.  I think those hot crispy chips are my favorite part.  Add some cheese Queso and I can make a meal right there.

The Extreme Sauce embroidery design has several choices of heat.  It looks like you might go for the hottest of the hot though.  This is perfect for that spicy foodie.

The Born To Be Mild embroidery design shows two peppers talking about their "personalities"  This is a cute design for that person that might like their food a little tamer.  Check out the examples stitched on kitchen towels below.

All of these designs are available in my store. Click on the links above to be taken to each one. Maybe this will inspire you to enjoy some of your favorite spicy food. I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work.

My latest embroidery designs are being released today.  These patches are a unique way to customize suspenders. If you are looking for something "different" for Dad, Grandpa or Husbands this might just work. There are several designs that the ladies would rock also. I think suspenders should make a comeback.  They were popular in the 80's after Marty from Back to the Future wore them.  I had a rainbow pair that I wore because Mork from Ork was a favorite TV character.  My husband is in the picture above showing off his custom patch. Let's look at all of the different designs available. Click the links under each picture to visit my store. Remember you will need an embroidery machine with a 4x4 hoop to sew these patches. The designs are digital and not fully made patches.

The Biker Suspender Patch is perfect for anyone who loves to ride motorcycles. Best part is you can customize the colors of this patch to match their wheels. 

The Dressy Attire Suspender patch is perfect for that person who loves to be comfortable wherever they go. Take them as they are because their suspenders are how they dress up!

The Gone Fishing Suspender Patch says it all. They won't need to explain where they are going as you watch them walk out the door.

The I'm Retired Suspender Patch will let all of their friends see the official dress code of retirement. 

The Mister Suspenders Patch is the design that raises it's nose to the belt establishment. No more uncomfortable bellies in tight pants!

The Nerd Suspender Patch proclaims it loud and proud.  Remember yesterday's Nerds are today's and tomorrow's Billionaires.

The Veteran Suspender Patch is a great way to honor that person in your life. If you see a Veteran thank them for their service.

The Groom Suspender Patch is perfect for the groom on his wedding day. Hidden under the jacket but out and proud for the reception.

The Best Man Suspender Patch will let everyone know who the special person is standing beside the groom.

The Groom Crew Suspender patch would be a great gift for the wedding party.  After all, what is a groom without his buddies?

Customizing your suspenders with any of these patches is very easy to do. In fact, when you download the designs, you will receive full color instructions.  If you would like to see all of my tips and tricks, you can watch the You Tube video below. I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work.

My latest project for my home has recycling, gardening, sewing and embroidery all together.  I really hate to throw away any kind of container and when I recently had problems with my washing machine, the leftover parts gave me all kinds of crafting ideas.

Here is the original tub from our front loading washing machine. It is the back end of the tub. The front end has two large pieces of concrete that act as counter weights so the tub will spin correctly.  My washer sounded like an airplane taking off when it would spin. In fact it was so loud, we had to close doors to hear anything.  We tried to first change the four shocks on the tub which was the "Hopefully Easier Fix". After taking everything apart and rummaging around in VERY tight spaces to change those shocks, it helped but we realized it didn't completely solve our issue.  We ordered the rear tub part and found that our bearing had blown out when we disconnected everything. The tell tale oil dripping out confirmed we had found the problem.  We did have to move the washer in and out of our home twice and that is how I can assure you that if the repairman gives you a price, you may want to bite the bullet and pay the man. Unless you have a handy husband and two grown sons to help disassemble it. Or you are extremely cheap with your money and are too stubborn like us to at least give it a shot. I can say that instead of purchasing a new washer that might have cost upwards of $1500, we spent $127.00 on the parts. So not too bad.

The silver lining to all of this besides being able to run my laundry with all doors open is I had a very heavy duty container complete with drainage holes.  I knew a planter would be a great project.

First I painted the tub with spray paint. It is amazing how a little color can transform any object. 

I had already started a flat of zinnias and marigolds from seed several weeks ago, so plants were ready to go in. It's almost like I planned this. No I wouldn't wish that repair on anyone.

I love garden flags so I knew I needed to come up with some kind of hanger.  I had several PVC pipes and a T connector from other projects.  When I tried them in the bearing hole, it was light bulbs and excitement as I began to figure out my flag options.

Using a spray paint that resembles metal helped hide the PVC pipe and gave the stand a sturdy look.

I digitized a sunflower design and added some fun text to stitch on my fabric which by the way is Duck Canvas.  Canvas is a great choice for outdoor projects. It isn't UV rated, but should last for the season. This embroidery design is available in my store in a large 9.5x14 size here or a 5x7 size here.

I sewed the flag and added buttons with elastic to the back so it would be very flexible on the stand.  Then I planted everything and added rocks from around my yard.  This was such a fun project and I filmed a You Tube video showing the entire process including how I sewed the flag. You can watch that below. Maybe it will inspire you to recycle containers for planting or sewing a garden flag. Or repair your washing machine????

I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work.

Did you know you can sew your own garden flag?  I am a fan of exterior decorating throughout the seasons. Flags are one of the ways I do that because they add that extra pop of color and excitement. Even when my landscape is in the cold dreary days of winter, I will usually have some kind of flags stuck in the ground to cheer me up. Memorial Day is fast approaching and I digitized this design in honor of that.

Here is my flag installed on a hanger.  I used a fabric called Oly Fun. You can find it at most hobby or craft stores. It is a synthetic fabric that will melt if you apply too much heat. You can sew with it easily though. I have seen projects where it is used for costuming because of the light weight and non fraying quality.

I have a You tube Video below that shows how I created my garden flag.  If you don't have the Oly Fun Fabric, you could use another type and have a lot of fun changing with the seasons.  Check out the design in my store here.  

Thank you to all who served our country in the past and currently.  We all owe our freedoms to you. I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

Mother's Day should really last a lot longer than 24 hours don't you think? I wanted to do several embroidery designs in honor of my mama.  I know she would love this Mom Frame design.  When I was growing up, one of my chores was to press laundry. My mother loved to see crisp linens and she always had beautiful things in our home that were feminine. This design would be right up her alley.  Perfect for pillow cases or tea towels.  

Mom really does make it all better. With a kind ear and sage advice, most moms can sooth frustrations away and keep us in check so we don't feel too sorry for ourselves.  This design is digitized to stitch out quickly. It would be precious on pillows or bags for your mom. Check it out here.

Mama Needs A Nap.  Oh yes she probably does.  What better way to let her get some rest than an eye mask that will tell everyone to SHHHH!!  We stitched this one using some really pretty elastic with ruffles.

  If you are lucky to still have your mom, give her some love and let her know how much she has helped you. You know moms show up everywhere in our lives. Don't forget those moms that are mentors, co workers, friends and family members. The best gift for moms is your TIME ... and a NAP.  I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work.

Social Distancing has become our new normal but we know it will come to an end.  It is sometimes hard to know when we are living in a turning point in history.  I don't think any of us would doubt that right now.  As our lives get back to normal we will remember this time.  I wanted to create a design that you could send to your friends and loved ones so they can look back and talk about.  When I was growing up, we kept photo albums and I loved to sit with my parents and ask questions. It always sparked some great family discussions.  This "Sewcial" Distancing Embroidery design just might do the same thing for you.  

At the same time that we are sheltering in place and trying to stay well, there are "Essential Workers" who are on the front lines.  I have a brother who is a nurse in Houston.  Now he is always a hero to me because the medical facility where he works specifically helps patients on respirators.  With the increase of patients and lack of some important PPE supplies, he is more than ever risking his own health every day.  I wanted to create a second design in his honor and this Hero Social Distancing Embroidery design does just that.

So there are TWO FREE DESIGNS! Both of the postcards stitch out in one hooping and do require a 5x7 hoop.  The back of the card can be customized with any fabric.  My brother was in the Army so I used that for his postcard.

The materials needed besides your fabric are cardstock and a firm interfacing. I used Pellon with an adhesive because I had it in my stash, but plain interfacing would work also.

The design includes a PDF pattern that you use to cut out all of the pieces.  An SVG cut file is included also if you have an automatic cutter. I would advise exact cutting because the design is very precise around the blanket stitch edges.

All of the details sew and then the fabric goes on the back so you hide the stitching.

Sewing card stock on your embroidery machine or sewing machine for that matter is not difficult. I used a Sharp 75/11 embroidery needle.  A little embroidery tip is to pull just a length of extra thread after each trim and when each embroidery object begins to sew.  These designs have been digitized so there is a color change after each trim.  This will give you the opportunity to grab that thread while the first couple of stitches begin.  It really does help resolve any thread shredding or tangling.

You can use a white bobbin or match your color to the blanket stitch around the edges.

My firm interfacing was adhesive on both sides so I did an extra step of pressing it once completed.  This just strengthen all of the layers and should help as it travels through the postal system.

Mailing these postcards should not be a problem.  I brought both of them to my local post office and cleared the designs with them so they should be deliverable.  The USPS has some guidelines that need to be followed with postcards. At the time of this post, the size must be no larger than 4 1/4 inches x 6 inches and the thickness no larger than 1/16th of an inch.  I weighed mine and they are 4 ounces so well within the limit of postcard postage but double check that when you mail yours.  I will however be using Forever stamps so I hope there is enough postage.  Once the Postal service receives and stamps the postage as being cancelled, your receiver will have a part of history they can save.  Kind of like a newspaper clipping but special because it came from someone who cared about them.

Here is a picture of one of my postcards after it was received.  You can see that the USPS did stamp it as Non Machinable and the Forever Stamp postage did have to be increased with an additional ounce stamp.  You will need to verify the required postage with your local Post Office before mailing.

Are you ready to make these postcards?  Visit my Free Designs Page and download them.  Remember that a 5x7 hoop is required.  There is a graphic that you can look at to see the design types and sizes to verify your machine can stitch these out. I also have a You Tube video below that you can watch the entire stitch out. There are full color instructions in the download also. I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work.

I have a new In The Hoop project releasing today and I think you will really like it.  It is just in time for Spring and Easter.  There are three sizes available. This is the 6x10 size and it finishes to a 3.5 x 7 inch bag.  The right size for a pair of glasses or sunglasses. Or use it for pens and pencils!  Check out the design in my store here.

The second size completes in a 5x7 hoop and finishes to 4 x 5.5 inches.  If you love little bags that can hold makeup or thumb drives this bag would be perfect.  Check out the design here.

The third size completes in a 9.5x14 inch hoop so it is quite a bit larger.  It finishes to 8 x 11 inches.  Unfortunately the JEF format is not available in this design due to that hoop size.  This design is perfect for I pads and E readers.

Kamsnaps are installed on the flap and everything is fully lined with no exposed seams.  There is quilting on the front and applique with a cute bunny. It is a really fun bag to sew out and as you can see from the samples, you can really customize each with your fabric choices.  If you would like to see the process, I have a You tube video below that will take you through all of the steps. They are the same for each bag.  Of course the download will include instructions with color pictures.

Check out the video below!  I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

Spring is Here!  My yard is quickly changing and it reminds me everyday how lucky I am;  as long as I pay attention to it!  This is a unique time in the world and a lot is happening that can take away the joy in our lives.  If you are experiencing sad thoughts or you feel scared, let's look at some pretties that will help remind you to look forward. These Spring Embroidery Designs might just get you in the mood to "dust and fluff" around your home. 

In my part of the world, we have had a lot of rain. I can tell you we were singing this little Rain Rain Go Away song a few weeks ago.  

Here is some Rain Gear to go along with all of that wet weather!

Now that you have spring weather, I bet your Garden Hat and Gloves are getting some use like mine!

If you are getting your garden ready, maybe you are thinking about planting Peas in A Pod?

Don't forget to pull out that Watercan so you can fertilize everything really well!

Is your yard starting to come alive like this Spring Tree?

Have you loaded up your furry friends for a ride like this Old Spring Truck?

Are the little critters starting to come out of their winter homes like this Bunny and Bird?

Maybe you live where there are Spring Lambs frolicking in the green fields.

Or have you seen a Sweet Bunny hopping around your yard nibbling on the fresh grass?

I'm sure you are already seeing the insects like this Fringe Bee buzzing around and doing their work!

Or have you grabbed a blanket and looked at the Rainbows that pop up after those storms?

I am hoping my garden will produce huge vegetables like this Bunny with Carrot!

Wow! Just seeing all of those pretty designs together really makes me feel happy! I have been working in my studio on new designs, catching up on sewing as well as getting my yard in order.  Focusing and working with my hands have really helped me stay grounded with the hard events in the world around me.  If you are not sure how to move forward, just pick up a tool.  Any kind of tool whether it be a paintbrush, garden rake or pair of sewing scissors.   My favorite stress reliever is pulling weeds. It's FREE!   If I get in a sad mood, I just go outside for about 15 minutes and yank those weeds out.  It helps clear my mind and if you do it a couple of times a day, you will look up and your yard will look fresh and clean!  Just give it a try and I bet within a few minutes, you will have all sorts of ideas for new projects.  The hardest part is always getting started. I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you have learned and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

How cute is this In The Hoop Seatbelt Pillow? It completes in a 5x7 embroidery hoop and uses a couple of 5 inch charm squares and 4 inches of Velcro. Perfect for Charity Sewing/Embroidery!  This design was inspired by a sewing pattern I found on the internet a few years ago.  I did a blog article about sewing with compassion and showed how you can deliver things to people going through a hard time in their lives. I really enjoyed seeing how they were so happy and decided I would digitize an embroidery design that could achieve the same result.  

This shows basically everything you would need to complete several of these pillows. The Velcro installs so they can be reversible.  If you want to have two different fabrics or something with a theme, you can do that too. 

Here is the front and back view of my pillow.  The design has roughly 1300 stitches and you will be able to finish one in just minutes.  I used hem tape and my iron to close the opening where you need to turn the project but you can use a needle and thread.   The filling is Polyfil and because it is a small project you don't use very much. In fact, this little project is perfect for cleaning out your stash of fabric, short pieces of Velcro and leftover Polyfil!

Here is another pillow with different fabric. I made several different types so there were choices when I delivered them.  Now, where can these be used?  Just think about your local Cancer Treatment Center, Children's Hospital and Retirement Communities to start.  I bet police officers, firemen and delivery drivers would love one too. One more idea is to use them for kid's gifts. Do you have a classroom or birthday party coming up?   Just use your imagination to share some comfort for people around you.  The best part?  This design is FREE!  Just click on this link to go to my store, add the design to your cart and check out.  You will need to enter your email address so it can email the link to you. From there, download and sew. While you are there, check out my other Free Designs and add them to your cart too! You will get Full color instructions in the download but I have a You Tube video you can watch that will take you through each step.  I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create Someone will appreciate your hard work! 

 QR Codes have been around for several years. I believe they were originally created to help keep up with inventory controls but businesses have adapted them to do a lot more now.  A QR code is usually a square with pixels inside. You can add other fancy graphics.  Although you and I can't read it, there are bits of information encoded in the way the pixels are placed. This allows electronic devices equipped with scanners to interpret the codes and do something with the information.  QR Codes can be made using Apps and software.  I made this one with Corel Draw and used my website address for the encoded information.  . 

So all I do is open my phone camera just like I'm taking a picture and point it at the code.  This is what you see. The camera recognizes the QR code by surrounding it with the yellow brackets. At the top of the screen my phone browser gives me the option to visit the website.  Pretty neat right? So what am I doing with this code?  I installed it on a purse that I will take with me to a sewing convention.  Driving people to websites is always going to be a challenge until you develop a name or grab part of your market. Then once you have that traffic, you will still want to advertise to keep your regular base of visitors and gain new fans.  A convention where the people are already engaged in the type of business you have will increase your chances of introducing people to your brand. 

I used a purse from Walmart that has a sleeve on the back of it meant to go over a handle on a piece of luggage.  Dark fabric transfer paper allowed me to print off the advertisement so it was really bright. I ironed it onto 100% cotton fabric, sewed a hem around the edges and then used Cam Snaps on the purse sleeve to make it removable.  In the future I can create different advertisements for other events or customize for specials and coupons.    When I want to use this as a purse, I can just remove the advertisement!  The QR codes are very user friendly and have a fault percentage programmed into them. This means that scanners can pick them up even if they are backwards or farther away.  My hope with this purse is that people will be able to snap a scan as I am going to classes and shopping the convention. They can do this without speaking to me if they are shy and just want to check out my site or if they want to interact, I will have business cards to hand out also.  This should definitely be a conversation starter.  So, if you are visiting my site because you snapped the QR code, thanks for taking the time.  There is a You tube video below that takes you through the entire process of making the label. I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work! 

St. Patricks' Day is quickly approaching and I have some designs that will help you celebrate.  Check out the Rainbow Clouds Design above.  This will cheer you up even if you are still in the midst of winter.  This would also be precious on any of your spring time projects!

My Eat Drink and Be Irish design will tell everyone to be awesome like you!  Those Irish people do love to eat and drink and you  will never go home hungry if you have enjoyed one of their parties!

Ah the Luck of the Irish.  May it follow you throughout your journeys.  Stitch this Lucky Embroidery design and bring some of that Irish Luck your way!  Use green thread and avoid those pesky pinchers!

Invite a little love your way with the Kiss Me I'm Irish Embroidery design.  I bet you will have more fun than anyone else if you wear this to your Irish gathering!

My Rainbow Fringe design includes an applique cloud and fluffy loops of rainbow colors.  Available in a 4x4 and 5x7 size. Check out the slideshow below to see how it comes to life!

Grab these designs and stitch up some St. Patrick's Day projects! I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

If you have done any machine embroidery, I bet you wish your bobbin could be as big as the spool of embroidery thread. Right?  Until that day comes, you will eventually have the issue of an empty bobbin in the middle of a design.  Instead of always starting with a full bobbin, I do use partial ones.  This way I don't waste thread.  Once you get used to changing out your bobbin in the middle of a design, you will see that with a few simple steps, you can continue sewing.  Watch the short video below to see how I change mine and finish stitching a design.  I hope these tips help with your embroidery projects, you share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work.

We love a good crawfish boil in my household. It really is one of the best ways to feed a crowd of hungry people.  If you have never been to a crawfish boil, you might want to give it a try.  We don't always boil just crawfish. We will throw shrimp and crabs in the pot also.  Corn, Potatoes and mushrooms are added and they become infused with the seasonings added to the water.  The pots are usually very tall and they get plenty hot.  So in honor of the many crawfish boils I hope to be attending in my future, I am releasing my latest design.  It is an In The Hoop Hot Stuff Crawfish Pad.  The interior has Insul Bright which will help insulate from the cooking heat.  

The design requires at least a 6x10 hoop and will finish to a 6x6 size.  There are so many techniques in this design. You will do quilting, applique and chenille!  If you are not sure what chenille is, take a look at the top right corner.  The fluffy parts are actually layers of cotton fabric sewn in the hoop, trimmed and then roughed up so it gets softer and softer every time you launder it. I used all of the colors that are familiar to Louisiana fans also.  This hot pad would be a welcome hostess gift if you are attending any party or gathering.

Check out the Hot Stuff Crawfish Pad in my store here.  I also have a You Tube video that will show you all of the sew out steps below.  Get yourself a cool drink and enjoy the show.  I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

I am taking you on a brief tour of my studio today.  For some reason, I love systems and seeing how work flows are designed.  In my studio and my home, I frequently like to move furniture and tools around and see if I can create better solutions for living and working.  I am that weird person that likes to move everything out, clean really good, cull, separate and then put everything back in.  It is kind of like a puzzle to me. How many ways can I change something and get better results each time?  I think that is why I love digitizing embroidery designs, because they are just like puzzle solving. You can add pieces differently each round and still get to the same end result.  My work space is a challenge. It is actually supposed to be a dining room. There are windows that minimize wall space and a large cased opening that I had to creatively work around. 

I like to have a very large cutting and working table and this is certainly all that.  I have a 4x8 sheet of plywood on top of two shelving units. It sits in the middle of my room and everything has to revolve around it.  My husband has offered to "cut it down" several times, but I love it so much.  The storage containers underneath are so great for holding all of my extra fabric also. I think of all of the things I have in my studio, this is my absolute favorite.  My family likes it also.  It has proven to be a great work surface for everyone.

Having small rolling carts makes it easy to move my notions around as I want to.  I also label the drawers so I know exactly where all of those small pieces are.  A sewing studio is always going to be hard to keep clean but small drawers really help.

I have talked about this stacking case in a previous blog and I still use it for extra pins, needles, marking tools etc.  The best part is I can grab it for travel and retreats.

My heat press is situated on it's own stand.  All of the transfers, t squares and items I use with the heat press stay in this area so I don't have to look for them.

My Silhouette is on my desk close to my computer. I mounted a set of drawer pulls on the shelf so it can slide in and out. This ensures my vinyl can feed all the way through the silhouette without getting tangled.

Fabric storage is always a challenge to keep neat. I use the small collapsible fabric boxes to keep mine in order.  I separate each fabric type and try to group them by color also.  

Here is another one showing how I roll the fabric tightly.  This way I can see everything I have in stock.

Large glass jars help me keep my thread protected from the air and dust.  It is also a pretty way to showcase all of the colors I have.

There is a designated pressing area always set up and ready.  Storage underneath holds different tools and materials.

A cabinet above the pressing station holds all of my starch and pressing tools.  

A small rotating tray helps keep the smaller tools in place so I can find them easily. I also have several Ott Light lamps for task lighting.

My husband built risers to put underneath my desk.  This made it a custom area that is the perfect working height just for me.

The cabinet that holds my Happy embroidery machine also houses all items I need to use along with it.  I also keep my stabilizer to the right of the cabinet.

So here I am with my furry buddies.  They are usually in my studio also or very close by keeping me company.  My work area has taken many years to create.  I started my blog in 2015 and over these last 5 years, it has morphed several times as I have learned new skills and added tools.  I have a more detailed You tube video you can watch below that shows all of my storage ideas.  Many of them are cost effective and they don't always match. I like the purpose of something much more than the look of it. My desk for example cost about $20.00. It is beat up but very substantial and works great for my work flow. So check out the video. It is quite extensive and might give you the urge to create a space where you can "BE YOU"  Everyone deserves that.    I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

The Mardi Gras Season is upon us. I am sure most people have heard of this fun time of year.  If you have never visited any of the hosting cities that participate, I encourage you to try it at least one time in your life.  When I talk to people who have never been to a parade, they usually state they would be too afraid. I think there is an idea of what happens but let me put it in perspective for you.

This is what a parade route looks like in the smaller towns and cities.  The parades usually go on for a couple of weeks over many different days and nights.  The streets are closed off and families gather together.  We park our pickup trucks, haul in grills and cooking pots. Everyone brings lawn chairs and we spend the whole day together.  You will smell great cooking, eat some wonderful food and visit.  If you walk over to strangers, I bet they will offer you something to eat and drink.  You will also see your kids playing in the street. How long has it been since you saw that?  Footballs are thrown across the roads between people and everyone gets involved. After all of that happens, the floats come and you catch more goodies than you can haul out.  I guarantee everyone will sleep great after all of that activity!

So let me tell you what happens in the background while all of the parades are going on. A lot of planning has to be in place to make those parades "Roll".  There are many people who pay to join Krewes.  These people actually buy all of the items or "throws" that you catch from the floats.  There are special rules that they have to follow, costumes that must be worn including masks and they get to attend many different parties.  You can see in the pictures that the ladies  wear beautiful dresses and the members have to wear their costumes. There is also a Grand Court and young ladies that are announced to society. Another custom is the day of the Tableau or grand ball, the Krewe members ride around town in open top school buses, stop at various gatherings in parking lots, listen to music and have a great time.  If you are wondering "Shaggy" is my son's nickname.  That is another custom in the Krewes. Everyone has a nickname. He is the one line dancing in the parking lot.  Not a shy bone in his body! 

This is the logo for our Krewe.  We have been participating many seasons and if you come to the parades my husband and many of my relatives will "Throw You Something Mister!" So in honor of the Mardi Gras Season, I have several designs that you can stitch out.

Mardi Gras is also known as Carnival Time.  This design would be great to decorate pillows or try it on garments!  

If you attend any parade, you will see that everyone gets into the spirit so join them by sewing this Happy Mardi Gras design on your sweatshirts!  Here I used variegated thread but you can use Purple Green and gold which are the official Mardi Gras Colors!

Stitch this My First Mardi Gras design to let people know you are brand new to the Mardi Gras celebration!  Perfect for children and babies also!

New Orleans and Bourbon street are what everyone thinks about when you mention Mardi Gras.  This Bourbon Street Lamppost design would be great on pillows and kitchen towels.

This Fat Tuesday Logos Design is everything you need to say about Mardi Gras all wrapped up in one design! Maybe this has inspired you to attend  a parade? If you can't visit, the local news stations will always record them.  Look for videos online and have a celebration at home.  I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you have learned and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!  PS. I'll enjoy some gumbo and a piece of King Cake for you!

It is National Embroidery Month!  I love all things embroidery and because it's the month of Love I thought a cute Heart Applique design would be just right. You can stitch this directly onto your project or create a cute patch just by changing your stabilizer! A 4x4 hoop and a little fabric is all you need!

This little design is really fun and I know you will love stitching it out. The Needle only has "eyes" for the sewing machine.  Check out the slideshow below to see how easy it is.

Look for it in my store here and celebrate National Embroidery Month along with me! I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

Mylar is a fun addition to Machine Embroidery. It is a foil like tissue paper that can be found at your local craft and hobby stores in the gift wrap section.  You do need to use a design that has been digitized for Mylar use. I am releasing this new design today in my store. Check it out here.

Designs for Mylar are very similar to Applique.  They need to have a placement stitch that tells you where to place the Mylar. If you like sparkle and shine when you do Machine Embroidery, you will love working with Mylar!  Here you see my design is ready to be tacked down.

An easy way to keep it from sliding around in the hoop is to use Painter's tape. Just a little bit will do the trick. Then sew the next step which should tack it in place and an open fill will cover the entire Mylar area.

There will be an outline stitch that goes around and ensures all of the product will stay put.   

Once it completes, you just gently pull the excess away. You can use tweezers and small scissors to get any small pieces.  Then sew out remaining parts of your design.  Mylar is a synthetic product so you will need to use a little extra care when laundering.  Just wash it on gentle and dry on low or hang to dry.  Keep your irons away from it also.

One of the neatest things when using Mylar is the versatility.  You can keep one color in your stash. I used silver on all three stitch outs above. The thread is reflected in the product and each look is custom.  Try variegated thread for extra special projects!  

I decided to use my variegated thread and stitched out the design on my sweatshirt.  It takes a plain garment that is inexpensive and turns it into a custom work of art.  

 Check out all of the different things you can do with this single design! I also have a You Tube video you can watch below that shows how easy it is to use Mylar. I hope you have enjoyed this post, share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!

I have released several new Springtime designs in my store including a new FREE Embroidery Design!  This is my Buzzing Bee Design and it is really sweet.  There are only 3,065 stitches in it so you can get a quick project out in no time! Just some information about my Free Embroidery designs.  Some websites have their free designs available as a clickable download right on their blog page.  I list all of my free designs in my store because it ensures you get a safe file.  You just add them to your cart, put in a little information and then a link is emailed to you. I don't sell your email information and I won't bother you with advertisements. I may drop you a line and ask if you liked the design you picked out. That helps me ensure everything got downloaded and it is working. If you are like me, you love getting something for free, but you wonder what's the catch?  On my website, I am hoping you will try my free designs and then maybe you'll come back and buy other designs in the future. If not, that's OK. Just grab the free ones.  Maybe you will tell a friend about me and they will visit my site. I love machine embroidery and sewing, how it has helped me grow and get through hard times of my life and I want you to get inspired. 

So with my latest free design here are some ideas.  Maybe you have a blank pillow that needs something added to it?  Here is an example of what it might look like.

How about stitching it on a tea towel?  Add a simple phrase like  "Welcome Spring" or "Busy Bee" and hang it on your oven door.  

You may already be working on your Easter dresses?  Wouldn't it be so cute on a little sweet sundress like this one?   This is an exciting time of year to me because each day is a little longer and I know that soon I will be working in my yard and watching all of the little bees doing their hard work to help my flowers bloom. Come back and visit my site because I am adding new embroidery designs and creative content all the time. I love to hear from you also. Add a comment here or send me a comment on my contact page and let me know what you are working on. ​I hope this has been inspiring, that you share what you learn and are generous with what you create. Someone will appreciate your hard work!