Be sure to watch your in-boxes for the Embroidery It newsletter as the Christmas in July Event begins tomorrow and runs through the 31st. Each day there will be a new, never released design/set that will be offered for 50% off for 24 hours ONLY.
Here is a peek at what is to come:
Mason Jar Lids also include a matching font so you may personalize the blank one.
Coffee mug ornaments are also gift card holders.
Let It Snow comes in 2 sizes for your 5 x 7 hoop and your 8 x 12 hoop.
And lastly, don’t forget about the Candy Cane Bow. There will be a special link in the newsletters and this is my special “thank you” for being a newsletter subscriber.
Just a little tease at what is to come July 29th through 31st. Embroidery It will be celebrating Christmas in July. All are new, not yet released designs and sets. Designs/sets will be 1/2 price for 24 hours.
Also, don’t forget that the Candy Cane bow will be free for newsletter subscribers, so if you haven’t signed up yet, be sure to do so. There will be a link in the July 29th newsletter.
Have a great day at your embroidery machine friends!
I just want to quickly share that did you know there are only 156 days till Christmas! How on earth does time fly so fast.
It is a good time to take a moment and reflect back and that gives us the direction we need to move forward. Are we on the right track? Do we need to pivot? Are we reaching the goals we set for this year? Do we need to change our goals?
Remember at the beginning of the year, we went through a week of “A New Year – A Creative New You”. That week went step-by-step in helping you think about your creative goals for the year. You can review each of the days here:
Beginning July 29th, Embroidery It is celebrating a 3 day Christmas in July event with all new designs to get you in the holiday stitching and gift giving spirit. I always like to offer a special thank you to my newsletter subscribers. It means a lot to me that you allow Embroidery It into your inbox each week. Therefore, there will be a link in the July 29th newsletter for this sweet in-the-hoop candy cane holder FREE for you, my newsletter subscribers.
And here it is made with glitter fabric. I wish I could capture the true sparkle that it really has. 🙂
Please know friends I’m very grateful for you and I really appreciate your sharing the word about Embroidery It.
No one want that precious bundle to start crying after you have just gotten them to sleep. Create a beautiful sign to hang on the nursery door or on your front door by the bell to keep others from making noise. Another place to hang the sign on the front door is in the center of a wreath. Everyone will easily see it.
Design fits in your 5 x 7 hoop. I used a 1/4″ wooden dowel rod and bought wooden end caps that fit it. Design is made entirely in the hoop with no additional sewing.
Step-by-step directions included.
Make it in several colors that match the nursery or home décor or for an elegant look, just keep all the colors the same. Try ivory, pink, baby blue, or other pastel color. Beautiful! One yard of ribbon makes the hanger and bows if desired for embellishing. Design is stitched on white felt but could easily be stitched on another non fraying fabric.
This is perfect for the new mama or grandma who babysits.
If you are looking for a small gift to give to the ladies at your next luncheon, coffee or other get together, here is a “sweet” Candy Flower Bouquet that you can make in your 4 x 4 hoop.
5 designs in the set: 4 flowers and 1 leaf design.
These stitch up quickly and easily and are a great beginner in-the-hoop project. The centers are intentionally left blank for you to fill with a wrapped candy, button or other round object. This is a good project to use your variegated thread!
Step-by-step instructions with photos included. The designs shown here have been stitched on felt.
What a rainy day we are having this morning. I’m thankful for the rain and the bit of coolness that it brings. Makes for a quiet day at home to embroider, and read.
I pulled out Mackinac Island Fudge coffee this morning for a pick-me-up and the girls like it too.
I want to remind you to be sure to pick up the free cross stitch letter “q” this week. I will be changing it out early Wednesday morning so you still have a couple of days.
Finally, and this is the first time I’ve shared this with you all, I’m working on getting Embroidery It up on Shopify.
There are several reasons for this. I think it is a good next step. I’ve still struggled with getting my own website shopping cart system working here. I just don’t know enough yet and if I had problems with the shopping cart, I wouldn’t know how to fix them. Shopify is more like Etsy in that they handle the payments securely and safely for everyone and I’ve heard wonderful things about Shopify. I think I can basically sell directly here on my website and then when you click to buy, it will take you over to Shopify. Still working out the details on that. On Shopify, I can arrange my designs in a way that will be easier for customers to navigate and find. Shopify will cost me less money. It is a monthly fee plus a small percentage that will be less than what Etsy charges.
It is a learning curve for sure though. Some of my pictures show up dark. I think I need a different photo editing software to correct this problem.
I won’t be leaving Etsy so for those of you who love Etsy, you will still be able to find me there. Etsy has a special place in my heart as that is where I started. Finally, I think it is a good thing to be a couple of places in that if Etsy ever decided to shut down for who knows why…I have a back up going. Or, if Shopify went away, I would still have Etsy.
Shopify will have a newsletter sign-up form and if all works as planned, it will merge with the one here so you won’t need to sign up again.
Update July 20, 2016 – At this time I’m no longer moving forward with Shopify. It still is not giving me what I want in a website. Pooh! I just need to get my own website here up and running properly.
That’s all for now…Have a wonderful day friends, no matter what the weather is like in your area.
Did you miss the Embroidery It Birthday Party? No worries. First off, There is always something going on or being planned here at Embroidery It so keep your eyes open.
First and foremost, if you haven’t yet, take just a second to sign up for the newsletter. I will protect your e-mail and it will never be sold or shared.
Next, if you like the designs that were during the party week, now you can get the Big Birthday Bundle, the entire 21 design set collection at over 1/3 off if purchased separately.
***Set includes***
3 Different Lollipop Holders – made in your 4 x 4 hoop.
2 Happy Birthday Dear Friend – 2 sizes, one for your 4 x 4 hoop and the other for your 5 x 7 hoop
4 Mason Jar Tags – made in your 4 x 4 hoop
2 Just a Note – 2 sizes, one for your 4 x 4 hoop and the other for your 5 x 7 hoop
5 Kitchen Emblems – made in your 4 x 4 hoop
2 Happy Birthday – 2 sizes, one for your 4 x 4 hoop and the other for your 5 x 7 hoop
2 Make Something – 2 sizes, one for your 5 x 7 hoop and the other for your 8 x 12 hoop
1 Cupcake Candy Holder – made in your 4 x 4 hoop
Here is a sneak peek behind the scenes of creating an Embroidery design.
Here I am in the Embroidery It studio. First I sketch my designs on my sketch pad. I always use a pencil and sometimes colored pencils.
Then I transfer the design to the computer using embroidery software. (I use Generations, but there are a number of different ones out on the market. Most have a 30 day trial so if you are looking for one, try several to see which feels the most intuitive to you) What you see in front of the computer is an electronic sketch pad or tablet and pen. I use a Wacom, but again there are several different ones out there.
All my designs are digitized by hand. I never use auto digitizing. Also, all designs at Embroidery It are my own artwork. You will not find these designs elsewhere.
After the design is digitized, I test it out on my embroidery machine. Sometimes what I think looks good in my head and on paper doesn’t always translate well to thread and fabric.
I make any computer changes to the design as is necessary and stitch the design again.
When I’m satisfied with the design I gather it in all the formats.
I also photograph the finished design.
Then I put the design in my Etsy shop and I write about it here!
And that is what goes into the making of a design.
We usually have a big cookout for the 4th of July and get together with friends to watch the fireworks. I don’t do a lot of decorating for this holiday, yet I still want little pops of red, white and blue.
These Pennant Flags are super quick and easy to make and add just the right touch.
Pop one in a potted plant. Stick several in a mason jar and set it on the table.
They are made in your 4 x 4 hoop and a wooden bamboo skewer, the kind you put meat on to grill becomes the pole for the flag. You can whip up a bunch of these in minutes.
Then just use your pinking shears or straight scissors to cut them. A bow adds a sweet touch. 🙂 Step-by-step directions with photos included.
The party is coming to a close and want to send you off with one more free design. I hope you have enjoyed this week and all the designs.
Sending you off with a big bear hug.
Nancy
Please note….this is for my newsletter subscribers only. It is my way of saying thank you for letting me in your in-box each week. In today’s newsletter there is a special link to this design. If you are not a newsletter subscriber, it’s easy-peasy and its free! Just fill in your name and e-mail in the box at the right and hit submit. You will receive an e-mail and then have to confirm that “yes” it was you who signed up. That’s it. You will typically get only 1 or 2 newsletters a week from me, unless it is my birthday week. 🙂
We are at the last day of the party. I want to thank all of you for coming. Many of you have written me with birthday wishes and they have all made my day, my week. Thank you.
Now for today’s design. The Cupcake Candy Holder. As guests leave the party it is nice to send them off with something in their hand and something sweet.
Today’s design is a cupcake candy holder. It is quick and easy to make and takes just scraps of felt. It is made in your 4 x 4 hoop and I’ve included lots of step-by-step photos with it. There is a small slit on the back of it where the candy is inserted. Any small candy is fine. I’m partial to M&M’s 🙂
Make a bunch to set around the party table or have a basket full ready at the door.
You can find the Cupcake Candy Holder HERE in the Embroidery It Etsy shop for only $1.00 for the next 24 hours.
It’s Saturday. It’s a beautiful day to make something. I hope that means you will find it to be a relaxing day and be able to spend some time at your embroidery machine or doing something you truly love.
Today’s design is for those of you with those larger hoop sizes. It’s a Beautiful Day to Make Something comes in two sizes. One for your 5 x 7 hoop and the other for your 8 x 12 hoop. Exact sizes are in the Etsy description which you can find HERE.
I used a 12 x 16 pillow form for the pillow and added a bit of rick-rack for some fun country charm.
Make it a great day everyone and happy embroidering,
Here is today’s free design as part of the Embroidery It Birthday Party. If by chance you are just finding my site, be sure to sign up for the newsletter. There will be one more free design this week and then there is always the free alphabet letter and other fun events that happen around here.
Lets get the house ready for the party. Embroider up a t-shirt for the birthday person and how about some placemats or pillows to go around the house. And for a bit of whimsy how about a roll of toilet paper for something fun in the bathroom. Just set it on the back of the stool for decoration and watch the smiles as people exit from your bathroom. 🙂
Quick instructions for embroidering on toilet paper: Hoop a light weight tear-away or cut-away stabilizer in your 4 x 4 hoop. Use a good quality toilet paper. I’ve used Charmin here. Unroll the paper a ways so you have plenty of slack and that it won’t pull. Take the first two squares and fold them back upon themselves so you now have a double thickness of TP. Float the toilet paper on the stabilizer. Key is just to make sure you have slack as your machine stitches and that there is no pulling. I shouldn’t need to say this but will because who knows who will read this in the future, but this roll of toilet paper is for decorative purposes only. 🙂 Embroidered toilet paper also makes a fun gag gift.
Happy Birthday comes in two sizes, one for your 4 x 4 hoop and the other for your 5 x 7 hoop. The small size was used on the TP and the large size was used on the placemat.
Happy Birthday can be found in the Embroidery It Etsy store HERE.
Todays Birthday design set will give you the hometown country general store feel. Kitchen Emblems using mouth watering words will keep you thinking of the freshest ingredients, Grandma’s comfort food, and your best recipes. Use these designs on towels, aprons, placemats and all your kitchen linens to bring back that country nostalgic feel.
I embroidered the designs onto towels that I made out of Hardanger cotton fabric. The Hardanger fabric has the salvage edges finished off so all I had to do was cut to length and I cut them 30″ long. I hemmed the top with a simple roll-over hem and on the bottom I did a scrappy patchwork border using fabric and thread colors that matched.
You could cut your patchwork squares any size, but I cut mine at 1 1/2″ square and then stitched them together randomly using a 1/4″ seam allowance.
I just made enough for two rows to go the length of the towel. I finished off the back of the patchwork squares with white cotton fabric as my squares hang below the towel. In hindsight, I could have just stitched them directly to the bottom of the towel and that probably would have been a bit easier.
I must confess, these designs have been some of my very favorite. I think it is because they just special, what I call, trendy vintage feel to them. You can find Kitchen Emblems HERE in the Embroidery It Etsy store.
Remember those handwritten notes we would write on paper and pass in school? Sometimes just a simple note to say “Happy Birthday” is needed and nothing is better than a machine embroidered note. Even the notebook paper, which is white felt here, is part of the design! But you could use any white fabric. Pure simple country charm.
Just a Note design comes in two sizes. One for your 4 x 4 hoop and the other for your 5 x 7 hoop.
Just wander on over to the Embroidery It Etsy shop and you can find the design HERE.
To go with all those creative homemade gifts and yummy goodies, here is a set of mason jar tags. Quickly and easily the set of 4 are made in your 4 x 4 hoop. Step-by-step instructions included. Design is stitched on felt and could easily be stitched on other fabric of your choice. Your gift giving gets a sweet added touch.
Mason Jar Tags can be found HERE in the Embroidery It Etsy Store.
I mentioned before, I am sprinkling in a few freebies throughout the week and here is the first! 🙂
I so appreciate you letting Embroidery It into you inbox each week. As a thank you to newsletter subscribers, I have this design free just for you. You will receive a newsletter this morning (about 9:00 AM Eastern Time Zone) and in the newsletter is a link with a password to let you instantly download the design. You must be a newsletter subscriber to get this free design.
If you’re not a newsletter subscriber yet, it’s easy! Just enter your name and e-mail address into the box at the right. You are then sent a confirmation e-mail that says yes, it is me and I’ve given you the right e-mail address. Then you’re in.
This design is just for the Embroidery It birthday party so if you’re reading this and you’ve missed it, no worries….There is always something fun going on at Embroidery It.
Embroidery It turns 2 today! It is the start of a week long celebration. Today’s design makes a perfect birthday gift for a good friend. It stitches up quick and easy and then just use a traditional embroidery hoop for the frame. A simple bow and it is ready for gift giving.
The design is intro priced for 24 hours for $1.00 only.
You can get Happy Birthday Dear Friend in the Embroidery It Etsy shop by clicking HERE.
The embroidery machine is just humming along while I get to do a little sewing, a fun change of pace for a bit. I love the look and feel of country scrappy patchwork. Doesn’t it go with everything? Here is just a little sneak peak of what’s to come in two days.
Mason Jar Lids also include a matching font so you may personalize the blank one.
Coffee mug ornaments are also gift card holders.
Let It Snow comes in 2 sizes for your 5 x 7 hoop and your 8 x 12 hoop.
