AnnTheGran.com | Beautiful people make beautiful things

--> It’s time for some fun. I was recently asked about doing a Facebook application. You know, Facebook, one of the social sites on the internet. Where people who haven’t seen each other can chit chat and generally make a nuisance of themselves. It’s a good way to keep ... [More]

I can remember my mother mending piles of clothes. She mended the mends, and she even darned t [More]

Getting the right design into your machine is a most important part of enjoying your embroidery experience. I have been using an embroidery machine for so long that lots of things have become second nature and I just do them without thinking. Like viewing designs using the Brother PED-Ba... [More]

It sure has been a busy month....On December 10, I took the plunge and had toe surgery....I had two hammertoes that required a bit of slicing and dicing. That meant I hobbled around with "the big boot" for a few weeks and then I got to don the "little boot." I had to chuckl... [More]

These tips can be used for Windows XP and Vista - Operating systems vary, if in doubt, check with your provider and/or technical support. Perhaps the term Rogue Security Software is new to you, it is a form of computer malware that deceives or misleads users into paying for the fake or si... [More]

I have been dog sitting a five month old puppy for the last 2 weeks. Sage is pretty good, but she is definitely all puppy. And Big! Ok, I admit I am used to small dogs - Papillons, which are usually 7-10 pounds. So, when this pretty Brittany Spaniel jumped in my lap right b... [More]

Hello everyone, I hope you all enjoyed your holidays and had a wonderful bringing in of the New Year. I am looking forward to all the information we have to share with you in 2010. It is going to be an exciting year. We will be looking at Microsoft Outlook more closely and expl... [More]

Just to clarify, the rumors that I fell off the face of the Earth are patently false. While it’s true that I was skipping about all over the face of the Earth, at no time did I actually tumble into the stratosphere. So, where have I been? First I went up to Kentucky for two weeks with my daugh... [More]

My quilt guild, called Memory Makers Guild was just a little over the top today. The guild is a small group, but what it lacks in numbers, it makes up for in talent. I’ve known most of these ladies for at least a year, and some of them, as much as three years. We have grown c... [More]

We are looking forward to another grandchild and I have vowed not to be scrambling when it arrives to be finishing things up. Only time will tell but our grandaughter and I have been working on a soft book for her new brother or sister. We will show it to you when we ... [More]

Welcome to 2010 .. the New Year has me off working on my designs site. It is truly a daunting task to find art that you are allowed to replicate and sell, digitize it, sample it, load it on the site, define the design, and ready it for sale and distribution. No matter how tough, our staf... [More]

BEADED AFRICAN VILLAGE, - Positive beadwork and the Rainbow nation Perceptions and associations of Africa frequently revolve around drought, starvation and AIDS. I wanted to design a piece that reflected the artistic and diverse cultural beauty of South Africa. While I love living in Ameri... [More]

These tips can be used for Windows XP and Vista and MAC- Operating systems vary, if in doubt, check with your provider and/or technical support. Several years ago, the 'powers that be' told us that we were going to become a paperless society. I don't know about y... [More]

As the holiday season heats up I decided to get my toes operated on. What was I thinking? This is time of year when everyone is running around. Not me. In the last few days I had to learn how to do my holiday shopping on line. My DIL helped me figure out how to get free shipping wh... [More]

About 3 years ago I was sitting on my porch looking out across the Puget Sound. John Deer (Adorable Ideas) and his family were visiting with us and we were just enjoying the view of the water and relaxing. It occurred to me to ask him, "If you could ask for any embroidery software feature that ... [More]

Just in time for holiday fun, here are a few tips for getting some really great shots. Let's start out with some basics: Start with a camera. OK, that sounds a little sarcastic, but the fact is that the auxiliary phones, ipods, etc., just don't have a great deal of real depth ... [More]

I've been looking through Spring catalogs from some of our suppliers and I'm seeing lots and lots of damask patterns and designs. It inspired me to think ahead to next year because I'm sure you'll be seeing lots of it too! It may be a little late to get something done for... [More]

Hello fellow embroiderers, design seekers and stash collectors! 'Leaping In' begins with a non-PC topic. No, I'm not being Politically in-Correct right out of the gate here at ATG. I'm talking about Mac computers and the lack of embroidery support for them. That other 'PC' ... [More]

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

AAAHHHH! Christmas Time-It’s a wonderful time of year when we all rush around, from one party to another. Rushing the kids to their parties, and activities, while planning for the cookies we will bake when we get enough time. We spend hours, thinking, planning scheming for th... [More]

These tips can be used for Windows XP and Vista - Operating systems vary, if in doubt, check with your provider and/or technical support. Many people are confused between optical and digital zoom. If you are thinking of buying a new camera for yourself or someone else, you c... [More]

By now everyone knows that at our house we have been slowly going green. It not only helps the [More]

Hey Everyone! It's that time of the year again---time to start coming up with some quick and easy gifts for folks on our list. I try to make the most of every single minute I have in the sewing room because I just don't get as much time in there as I want. But I do wa... [More]

These tips can be used for Windows XP and Vista - Operating systems vary, if in doubt, check with your provider and/or technical support. Years ago, I remember reading one of my favorite PC guru's newsletters and it said something like - This new PC has 10 MB of storage, you w... [More]

I have to tell you a story of love at first sight. I have to tell you the story of Keiko. She is one of the newest members of the family (kind of). We have two dogs at our house - a sixteen year old Pomeranian mix and an almost two year old Papillon. So do we need anothe... [More]

This has been a busy month. We recently went to Nashville again to sign a contract on a Motor Home that we saw last month. It’s like new, though used, and really beautiful. We will get it the first week of December. Also, my sewing machine has been back to the factory, or wherever dis... [More]

Hello everyone. Had some spare time in my new married life and wanted to touch base with this great community!! I have been emailing my customer base about needles and thread and how my experience may help those that are either new, or, just have never given these two important tools much tho... [More]

In today's office environment the more popular method of communication is email but when my phone rings I can almost guarantee that I will be hearing from someone who is completely enthralled by sewing and wants to tell more people about what is happening in the world of sewing in the... [More]

Did you ever wonder what it would be like to actually see the top of your desk through all those bills, notes, orders ...... and the list goes on. I know that feeling of "where did I just put that!" I know it's within arms reach because it was just in my hand and I haven... [More]

I used to be a really nervous flyer, every bump, thump, or noise would startle me. Reading just would not relax me and chatting to the passenger next to me would not succeed in calming me. Things began changing for me once I started bringing my African Folklore Embroidery kit on board the air... [More]

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

I’ll bet you can think of a million different uses for these darling little baskets and, since they [More]

Try this design.I'm really liking patchwork applique, which seems to be trending on several quilting [More]

Last week I got an ad from one of my favorite stores saying they had "Relaxed Hobos" on sale. My fir [More]

Halloween costumes are always fun to make. We have girls so we have made a lot of princess and [More]

I really believe that décor should be simple and unconventional, lovely and not ostentatious, classy [More]

This design is a double applique, and it’s on sale! I’m going to stitch it as a freestanding appliqu [More]

Recently, I have have experienced the pleasure of using a 200 x 260 Snap Hoop Monster and it is fabu [More]

Tension is a word that has a very bad PR agency. The mere word gets blood pressure to rise and grow [More]

Perhaps you faithfully change your needles with every eight of stitching - or at the beginning of ev [More]

QUILT WITH AN EMBROIDERY MACHINE IN 8 EASY LESSONS [More]

After 15 plus years of machine embroidery, I recently started using Superior Thread's Bottom Line in [More]

I have been embroidering for more than 15 years. I was generally self-taught and I started wit [More]

With so many food restrictions and allergies, perhaps the best Valentine treat is one you make on th [More]

Looking for a project for Valentine's Day? Here are 14 projects (and some free designs) to share the [More]

I have a "Love" "Hate" relationship with some of my sweaters. I love my "creamy orange," light-weigh [More]

Embrilliance Essentials is a fabulous embroidery editing software. But just because it is $139 doesn [More]

Doesn’t it make you so proud when you finish an embroidery project and are amazed at the results? Th [More]

Part of machine embroidery is that we love to make special things for friends and family. One of my [More]

This time of year, we all do more metallic thread designs and here are some tips for you to have bet [More]

Embroidering on Toilet PaperBy Bonnie Abbott It is so close to the holidays and some of us are [More]

A few weeks ago, many of you responded to my request for future blog topics. I’ve found your suggest [More]

Embrilliance has several pretty fantastic programs ranging from lettering and basic design editing t [More]

Can you spot the error in these tips?Jump stitches are important to cut. Leaving them in can have th [More]

Inspiration can be found everywhere. However, the truest inspiration comes from within us—it’s [More]

I have begun to teach my new neighbor Savannah how to sew. For her firstproject, [More]

We all know most of the ‘generalized’ stitches for embroidery. Those are the work-horses of the embr [More]

If you love the look of cross-stitch but don’t want to bother with the counting and charts, you will [More]

This snowman is made in the hoop and takes 5 hooping’s. I made mine so that it looked the same on bo [More]

In my last blog, I made mention of the fact that it is a good idea to do the basting around designs [More]

A couple of weeks ago, I showed you how to add text to embroidery designs using Embrilliance in this blog. As I continued working on the bunting project, the importance of test stitching, testing a design by stitching it out, once again showed its value.

I will show you how the bunting is stitched, what I learned by testing the design, and how I fixed problems before stitching all of the pieces.

If you have read any of my blogs you know that I am a big fan of freestanding applique. By stitching an applique design on fabric-type water-soluble stabilizer, you can make it a stand-alone design and the bunting design was perfect.

Stabilizer is hooped and the first color stop is a placement stitch. Stitch it right on the stabilizer. Remove the hoop and place a piece of felt over the placement stitches. Return the hoop to the machine and run the second color stop which tacks down the felt. The next color stop is the placement stitching for the center applique.

Place the applique fabric over the placement lines and run the next color stop to tack it down.

AnnTheGran.com | Beautiful people make beautiful things

Making Digitizing Easier - Unfinished Objects (UFOs)

December 11, 2008 loes Comments (12) Not rated yet

Special Offer - To get free shipping and handling on Pre-Design Studio, the software mentioned in this post, click here. Wow, my first blog at AnnTheGran.com This week I will try to solve a problem that will be familiar to many of you - well, at least I hope that I'm not the... [More]

Heat Away 12/6/09

December 6, 2008 Brown Eyed Lady The Avid Embroiderer Comments (5) Not rated yet

This is going to be a quick post, but I just was working with the Pashminas that I sell on Et [More]

Holiday Inspiration in a World of Germs

December 5, 2008 db1921 Comments (16) Not rated yet

Yes, I know the holiday season is a time for joy and counting your blessings but it is so much more enjoyable when everyone stays well. In our family 2008 has been dubbed “the year of the tissue”. As I walk in the door with my load of tissue boxes my husband just shakes his h... [More]

June from Brother - Stabilizer Tips from the Experts

December 5, 2008 junemellinger Comments (6) Not rated yet

This week I am the host of my semi-annual Education Team meeting at my corporate headquarters in New Jersey and I have to say that to be among so many talented and fun ladies who have managed to make a career out of doing something they like is really amazing. I know that many of you mig... [More]

Leather 11/28/08

November 27, 2008 Brown Eyed Lady The Avid Embroiderer Comments (8) Not rated yet

(Me singing) "Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens; the smell of leather and warm woolen mitt [More]

Gift Giving Journey #4 - Hankies are NOT out of style!

November 27, 2008 susanmars Comments (3) Not rated yet

Trust me when I tell you that hankies are not a left-over relic from the fifties! The handkerchief category continues to be a strong one for us especially around holidays and wedding season. Personally, I love to take a hankie to weddings and I haven’t met a bride yet who h... [More]

What Makes Us Different – How We Assemble our Furniture

November 27, 2008 teamsylvia Comments (4) Not rated yet

Special Offer - For free shipping within the contiguous United States and Canada, click here to view these cabinets in our online store. Furniture makers agree on this – spend the extra effort to do things right the first time and you won’t have to go back to fix or ... [More]

Staying Safe on Cyber Monday - Protecting Yourself from Scams and Identity Theft

November 25, 2008 beamishboy Comments (4) Not rated yet

Almost everyone has reason to be excited about this coming weekend, not just because it's Thanksgiving in the United States but because, for retailers that sell in the U.S., it's the kick-off of the Christmas selling season. Pretty much anyone who shops is aware of that Friday is known as Bl... [More]

Veterans Day, Embroidery Projects, a Gift Idea and a Travel Story

November 21, 2008 annthegran Comments (5) Not rated yet

Can one paragraph be about current events, information, an embroidery project, a gift idea and a travel story? Last week we in the US celebrated Veterans Day. Most holidays in the US fall on Mondays so as to provide long week-ends, but Veterans Day is always celebrated on November 11. So this ... [More]

June from Brother - My Island Journey

November 21, 2008 junemellinger Comments (4) Not rated yet

It has been a busy several weeks of travel for me. For the past 12 days I have straddled the retail worlds of mass marketing and independent dealerships in Puerto Rico. I have been to this island several times but this is the first time that I have visited a retailer other than International S... [More]

LaRueSews - Have Quilter, Will Travel

November 21, 2008 laruej Comments (7) Not rated yet

Since Christmas is just right around the corner, there’s really not time to go into a quilting lesson. I’m taking the month of December off from blogging. But I shall return in January to give you new insights on the subject of quilts.Let’s take a trip. We quilter... [More]

Zip-Around Eyeglass Case

November 21, 2008 carol Comments (3) Not rated yet

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

The Sylvia Furniture Story

November 15, 2008 teamsylvia Comments (6) Not rated yet

A long time ago in a land far, far away there lived a man named Horst Kunow. Horst was young and strong and enjoyed working with his hands and constructing furniture. Being born and raised in Germany, his heritage was from a long line of quality craftsman. As an apprentice he learn... [More]

Bean Stitch 11/14/08

November 14, 2008 Brown Eyed Lady EMB 101 , The Avid Embroiderer , Machine Tips Comments (24)

The first time I saw a ‘Bean’ stitch, it was from a distance of about 12 feet. I could see tha [More]

Magic Bookshelf - New Site Features and a Question for Readers

November 14, 2008 beamishboy Comments (26) Not rated yet

Greetings, all, from the Great White North! It's been a busy last couple weeks here, so I thought I'd better get my act together and get back to the Magic Bookshelf. My greeting notwithstanding, we have no snow up here yet, but they say it might come next week. Any of you down in the warm p... [More]

LaRueSews-Do It Round or Do It Square?

November 7, 2008 laruej Comments (11) Not rated yet

So, my friends, you have covered a lot of territory with LaRueSews quilting. Now what? I guess it’s really time to decide whether you want to hand piece or machine piece. Most of what I have talked about so far can apply to either technique. With a few exceptions,... [More]

This Holiday Season With My Brother, Literally

November 7, 2008 jalcumbrack Comments (18) Not rated yet

Hello Everyone, Now that the trip is over with, my bags have been unpacked, the laundry done, and things are settling back into the humdrum everyday life, I had to make some decisions about this next year and what I will be doing. First... [More]

June from Brother - Brother at the Houston Quilt Market and Festival

November 6, 2008 junemellinger Comments (9) Not rated yet

Everyone is busy on so many counts at this time of year. Some of you are changing over the house to have that warmer cozy look, others are visiting family members and still others are involved in a wide variety of political activities. Whatever it is, it is keeping everyone busy ... [More]

An Anniversary and a New Journey

October 31, 2008 annthegran Comments (11) Not rated yet

Today wraps up AnnTheGran.com’s 12th year “on the air.” With all the excitement about our new digital scrapbooking area, and all the time I was spending getting my own products ready for the store, I completely forgot until I looked at the date. It’s been a long journey and m... [More]

Green Holidays 10/31/08

October 31, 2008 Brown Eyed Lady The Avid Embroiderer Comments (8) Not rated yet

Everyone is interested in ‘being green’ these days. Preparing for the Holidays, I plan to go g [More]

Piggyback Hooping

October 31, 2008 carol Comments (16) Not rated yet

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

The last Minute-Addendum

October 24, 2008 annthegran Comments (10) Not rated yet

As you can see, I found the gaggle of travel drives and software security devices that I THOUGHT I had inadvertently left at home when I flew to Kentucky last week. Of course, as soon as I get home, the first place I went was to the computer bag from which I had transferred my laptop for travel. I f... [More]

Gift Giving Journey - #3 Vintage-Inspired Lingerie Bag

October 24, 2008 susanmars Comments (7) Not rated yet

So are you hanging in there with me? Together we can get these gifts done early! Last ti [More]

Off The Beaten Path

October 24, 2008 jalcumbrack Comments (14) Not rated yet

Hi Everyone, I hope you all enjoyed the writings about thread, I do realize that it was a little intense. So I decided to keep it light this time and give you some fun things to ponder. I know some or most of you know that I was a bit "out of touch" these past days. I suddenly realized th... [More]

LaRueSews-Quilting-Quarter Inches to Heirlooms.

October 24, 2008 laruej Comments (11) Not rated yet

To begin this time, I want to relate a very “telling” experience. This experience told me that you very well can become a really good quilter if only you practice, practice, practice. My husband and I went to my daughter’s house last weekend to attend our grand daughter... [More]

Shadow Applique 10/17/08

October 17, 2008 Brown Eyed Lady EMB 101 , The Avid Embroiderer Comments (8) Not rated yet

With the Holiday Season right around the corner, everyone will be creating new and following old tra [More]

June from Brother - Tone-on-Tone Designs & Hole-Punching on the Quattro

October 17, 2008 junemellinger Comments (9) Not rated yet

Not sure where the last two weeks have gone but it seems like it is time to check in with you all, again. I have recently been to Des Moines, Iowa for two reasons. The first was so I could film a video for a new feature on www.allpeoplequilt.com (part of Better Homes and Gardens) a... [More]

If it weren’t for the last minute I’d never get anything done.

October 17, 2008 annthegran Comments (11) Not rated yet

Well, this is a first for me. I’ve frequently thought that if I didn’t get something finished before leaving on a trip I could do it in the airport or on the plane, but I’ve never actually done it. Until today. As we were leaving for the airport I turned to Bill and said, &ld... [More]

The Spool Mini-Series Part 2, The Condensed Edition!

October 10, 2008 jalcumbrack Comments (16) Not rated yet

Hello Happy Stitcher's! I am going to cut right to the chase here today, as I have been wading through 35 pages of information on thread! Yes 35 pages! I understand, Wow! So I am going to give you some things you will likely want to print out and ... [More]

LaRueSews-Quilts, More on fabrics and color

October 10, 2008 laruej Comments (11) Not rated yet

As I start this out today, there are so many things Zinging around in my head, it’s hard to tell which way this edition of LaRueSews will go. I’ve heard writers say that sometimes they start out with just an idea and then just let it roll. I think I’ll tell you a bit about the qui... [More]