Over time, I have enjoyed doing my embroidery a great deal.  Even when I was frustrated in the [More]

It all started with four little words. "I can make that." I only said it once.  Now every time [More]

     Individual characters (letters, numbers and punctuation marks) from my alph [More]

  If you enjoy good photography as much as I do, you will love this freebie.  National Geographic is one of the most outstanding photographic presenters of the world and I believe it will remain so for eternity.  Others may come and go, but some things are enduring.  Check this ... [More]

Hello Fellow Embroidery Lovers!I am so excited to be writing my first blog entry at an Institution among us long-time embroiderers – annthegran. I have known Ann for many years and I can tell you that she is the real deal – what a treasure she has been to all of us who love embroidery a... [More]

Dear Friends, It surely has been a long time since I have blogged but I did want to share the story of this very prestigious award that Brother has recently received....in the name of a wonderful sewing machine and it's very innovative features.... BROTHER INDUSTRIES, LTD. RECEIVES INTERN... [More]

It is summertime here in southern California.  That actually means that the days are balmy to h [More]

LaRueSews-All Wrapped up Writing this BLOG for Ann the Gran.com has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had.  It has taught me that I can expand myself and my knowledge far beyond the things I have done before.  I have learned that I am indeed a writer, if given a t... [More]

Girly Girls! They love to primp at even the youngest ages.  Our five year old granddaughter loves makeup, jewelry, nail polish and curly hair.  Of course she has the straightest hair imaginable and no matter how much of that holding gel you use the curls never last more than ten minut... [More]

Any one up for a Bird Safari... introducing the SANUFU BIRD,Roosters and chickens... Bring your binoculars.... South Africa has a large and varied bird population. Over 3 000 birds (and small animals) of 400 different species are uniquely presented in more than 100 spacious landscaped walk t... [More]

I recently read somewhere that in order to keep our brain fresh and vibrant, it is important to exercise it the same way that we exercise our body.  That exercise includes doing the embroidery we all love, but it can also include games, puzzles, as well as the everyday issues we face.  Tod... [More]

I suppose we all have had this happen from time to time (or more often!) that we are minding our own [More]

Greetings to all! In my travels I get to visit with customers who love to sew and embroider as much as I do.  I try hard to listen to what people are wanting and asking for, and what they need help with most.  I'm always surprised at how many experienced embroiderers are afraid to sti... [More]

  Home can mean different things to different people. To many of us home implies the house we live in, with solid walls and floors.  To many in Africa, home is a hut with thatched roof, known as a “rondavel’   South Africa, the country in which I was born and grew up, i... [More]

Summer is here to stay I think.  The vegetable garden that I planted in April has started to produce... I have little green tomatoes on each and every plant.  We will soon be able to pick the first zucchini and I think there will be lots more coming on!   I have cucumbers that wi... [More]

  The following tips can be used for both Windows XP and Vista.Operating systems vary, if in doubt, check with your provider and/or technical support. I like to be a little more individual than most; I change my colors of my embroidery at will, and I use many different fonts when I am able t... [More]

It is time for perfect brides to be walking down a perfect isle, in a perfect gown, with a perfect m [More]

Some of you may remember that I have been working on a complicated project.  I called it my "1,000 year project" when I began in 2003. Well, I am 993.5 years ahead of schedule. I finished it after having surgery on my hand in March.  Here it is:  Indigo Sunset. This time ... [More]

May, June and July seem to be big months this year for babies.  Our daughter and most of her fr [More]

I would read more if I could find the time. Since I have found “Books Should Be Free” I felt I could [More]

Hello, hello, are you still there? You didn't blow away did you?  This is currently a common gr [More]

I have always been a fan of scarves.  They are feminine, fluid and so graceful.  They brig [More]

My Brother is quite involved with a fundraising group here for kids with cancer.  Last week they had a  group walk, a big dinner and a silent auction.  There were all kinds of items in the auction for  almost any dollar level including a $10.00 purchase table that did not require... [More]

  The following tips can be used for both Windows XP and Vista.Operating systems vary, if in doubt, check with your provider and/or technical support. I had a lot of difficulty with my Adobe Reader recently.  All things considered, it was a very bad situation and I wanted to drop kick t... [More]

Mother's Day will be upon us soon.  Since my mother has already completed her earthly jour [More]

I just finished a dress for a friend this week.  I seem to have a hard time getting to my quilting projects.  Saying “yes” to too many things besides quilting keeps me from doing what I love most.  Right now I have at least five quilts in progress.  That is not to men... [More]

I am not sure why but many of our favorite shops for infant clothes have gone out of business over the past year or so.  These shops featured handmade items that were unique but really reasonable in price.  In the past, when life was too busy to sew we frequently bought clothes for the gir... [More]

  The following tips can be used for both Windows XP and Vista.Operating systems vary, if in doubt, check with your provider and/or technical support. If you ask me what I most enjoy about the AnnTheGran site, it would have to be the people on both sides of the computer who make up the commu... [More]

Nothing suggests spring more than flowers. Walk around your neighborhood and the beauty and colors o [More]

I am sorry to say that I haven't had time to embroider this week, but I do have a Going Green projec [More]

It’ s National Embroidery Month! Have you seen the new Farmhouse Sentiments  collection by Desi [More]

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 For all the sewing machine enthusiasts out there, getting your hands on the best machine oil i [More]

Looking for an easy Valentine project that will be anything but ordinary? Angelina hot fix fibers ma [More]

I have been thinking about some of the ways that embroidery can have a "Renaissance" that YOU can be [More]

Following the Christmas season of making, January is typically when we try to get our sewing rooms b [More]

Here Are 10 Creative Ways To Re-Use Your Old Amazon BoxesIf you follow me on social media, you may [More]

We are excited to have Eileen Roche, Editor of Designs in Machine Embroidery share this content with [More]

Typically, the first of the year means getting everything organized and one of the most important jo [More]

With the hustle and bustle of the holidays comes a time for family, friends and even strangers. To s [More]

Who doesn't like free software? Embroidery Fonts Plus (EFP) is a font manipulation program that take [More]

Did you love the Designs in Machine Embroidery magazine Cookies for Santa Mat project that I sh [More]

I have been noticing that multiple digitizers are noting that some of their designs do not have "jum [More]

I have been extremely blessed to be a routine contributor to Designs in Machine Embroidery magazine. [More]

This time of year, many of us are just a tab short of hours in a day and sometimes, a dollar short. [More]

I think that snow is just about a few days away, except here in Surprise Arizona (just NW of Phoenix [More]

AS makers, we naturally like to create gifts for loved ones. Want to make them something they will r [More]

If you are new to my blog, here are some of my previous Halloween Freebies. Check out the hints in t [More]

I always thought it would be nice to have a stitch eraser but never felt that I needed one. Now, aft [More]

I really love the Bean Stitch, it is mostly ignored in favor of using a Satin Stitch. Well, it is ti [More]

Can you tell which of these designs is the front of the piece and which is the back? By using the sa [More]

1: Select the design you want to use from your files on the computer and copy it onto a USB stick.&n [More]

I can recall when the first computers came on the market. The one piece of software I noticed was “C [More]

The Dallas Arboretum has transitioned from their summer floral display to an eye-catching display of [More]

When you are starting out in machine embroidery, it’s hard to know what to buy. Here is a list of 10 [More]

Kintsugi [More]

     Four of my previous blog projects include a back fabric that wraps around t [More]

As days get shorter, fall draws near. But not before one of the most fun times of year - sunflower s [More]

I have been thinking about doing this blog for about 3 years - but, what is the hurry??These are tru [More]

Today's large hoops are wonderful, and sometimes challenging when it comes to having stabilizer that [More]