Communication is Key!

I was reading a few of Enmart's blog entries yesterday and ran across one that caught my eye. They were discussing the way the embroidery supply industry communicates with their customer [or doesn't communicate]. They mentioned how most companies that have blogs just post about their newest product and hope that you will buy the product after you read the post. I thought to myself, "Oh no, that's what I do." I'm very guilty of that as far as my blog is concerned. I just have so many things that I'm always trying to juggle that posting random things on my blog are pretty close to the bottom of my to do list [sorry, it's just a fact of life]. I use my blog as a sort of one-way communication tool to let my customers know about new sets, new supplies, sales, free sets, etc. I started to worry, because I don't want to be that company [and don't feel like I am that company], and the more I thought about it, I realized that I have a very good two-way communication tool that I use every day - my Yahoo Group! The group is awesome and the members love it. It's a place where anyone that embroiders can find the help and support they need for whatever project they're working on, no matter what type of machine they have. I have learned so much from the group, that I don't know what I would do without them! Of course, the members of the group help me determine what I need to be working on, what type of improvements I need to make, what products I need to carry, but even more than that, they remind me that we are all just people trying to enjoy our lives and embroidery machines! Whew, I was so glad to realize that I'm not that company; I really do care about my customers :) Just remember that communication is one of the most critical keys to keeping any company viable.

Here's what some of the members have to say about the AKDesigns Boutique Yahoo Group:

Thanks for all your help! This was very helpful and I'm going to put the monogram on the side opposite the zipper pocket. Thanks again for being such a great group!

Mandy

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Thanks so much Angie - I really do appreciate all that you do for us. I was a real newbie to embroidery when I found your website and then the group. I can't tell you how much I have learned from you and all the great ladies who contribute to the group. It is such a tribute to how you run the group and the people you attract. I am honored to be among them. And I can't leave out the quality of your designs. You set the standard for me when I look at designs and embroideries.

God Bless,

Cheryl

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Isn't it great to have a place to come and learn how others do things??

Phyllis

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I agree Phyllis! I absolutely love this group!

Brandy DeVoy

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Thanks for all the tips and resources found here! I'm not sure I would be enjoying my new hobby without the stuff I've learned on this board! Are any of you members of other Online groups with support similar to this one? I would love to know your suggestions. The others I've found seem to be people advertising something, not really learning and problem solving together like this one.

Thanks in advance!

Kim

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Thanks so much Angie for getting back to me so quickly and especially for the fabulous deal! I also wanted to let you know that I love being part of your group. You put so much time into it and are always there to help people out and write back to them. I don't know how you do it all.

Thanks again,

Pamela

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I want to support what Elissa said about Angie’s fonts – they are consistent in their quality and beauty – the best of all I have tried – they are my “go to” fonts every time. I found this group about 6- 8 months ago and I understand exactly where you are in the learning curve. This group is the most supportive and sharing group I have ever experienced. It is amazing what I have been taught by these wonderful ladies. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. And Angie is always willing to help.

Cheryl

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Hi,

I am new here and have just really gotten started in my embroidery business. I have felt very much alone in my endeavor to make my business, my dream a success until I joined this group of lovely ladies. I would like to say that I have learned so very much from everyone and finally feel like I have found a place with wonderful people that I can trust and confide in. It feels great to have you guys and I thank the Lord for all of you and the willingness that everyone has to share their “secrets” of their trade with others. Thank you all for making me feel so at home.

Thank you and May God Bless You All and Keep You Well,

Christina

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I would love to hear your comments :)

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Then or Than???

How many of you struggle with when to use Then vs. Than? I always struggle with it and normally just "pick" one and move on :) So, today, I decided to look it up because I'm tired of not knowing how to use them properly. WikiHow had a great explanation, complete with examples. Here's part of the article:

1) Use than as a word indicating comparison. When you are talking about a noun (thing, person, place or concept) being more, less, better, cooler, dumber, etc. in relation to another noun, the word than is necessary.

* There are more onions than scallions in your fridge.
* Scott was sicker than a dog last week.

2) Use then as a word indicating time. When you want to tell about a sequence of events or are giving instructions in a step-by-step order, the word then is necessary.

* First there were four, and then there were two.
* Wash the clothes, then put them in the dryer.

3) Pronounce the words differently. Both words contain one gliding vowel, and they are similar. Phonetically speaking, native speakers of English use the schwa (ǝ, kind of like a soft "eh" sound) because it's more efficient and allows words to be slurred together quickly in daily conversations. Consequently, lots of "a"s and "e"s are not pronounced distinctly.

* Than is said with the mouth opened widely and the tongue pressed down toward the teeth. The vowel sounds from the back of the mouth and the throat is somewhat constricted.
* Then is more said with the mouth partially opened. The vowel rises from a relaxed throat and the tongue rests.

4) Test your usage. Ask yourself these questions when you're writing a sentence:

* If I write the word next instead of then, will the sentence still make sense?
~ I will go to the store next makes sense, so here we would say I will go to the store then.
~ I like apples better next papayas makes no sense. So we must be looking for I like apples better than papayas.

* If I write the phrase in comparison to instead of than, will the sentence still make sense?
~ It costs more in comparison to a new car makes sense, so you'd want to say It costs more than a new car.
~ You'll never guess what happened to me in comparison to does not make sense at all. Now you'll know you want to say You'll never guess what happened to me then!



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Have a Facebook Fan Page?

Do you have a Facebook Fan Page, but have been wondering how others have items that you can't figure out how to add? I just used these resources to improve mine!

HighEdWebTech - How to add HTML
Mashable.com - Great apps to help promote your Facebook page

You can check mine out HERE!
Have fun! Post a comment if you have a chance ~ I'd love to hear from you!

Testers Needed!

Okay ~ if you're a member of my Yahoo Group then you're already aware of the project that I'm working on. There have been several discussions in the group on how to keep your item secure and in place without moving while stitching ~ this goes for hooped and un-hooped items. Really, even more so for un-hooped items because there's more of a challenge attaching your item to the stabilizer that's hooped. I know that someone that's reading this is thinking "why would you only hoop your stabilizer?" ~ well, it's actually easier to stitch most things un-hooped! There are lots of us that don't hoop anything anymore, because it's just so much easier not to.

The solution that several are using is basting stitches around the outside edge of the hoop before starting to stitch their design. This is a great idea because whether your item is hooped or not, it ensures that your item and stabilizer are secure and in place before stitching your design. I made my ribbon templates with the same idea in mind, but didn't realize that there was such a need for everyday stitching on all items.

The problem is this ~ where do you get basting stitches that fit your hoop?

1. Your machine ~ does your machine have a "fix" button? If so, this is probably what it does. So, you should be all set and you can start basting away. If you have any questions, you can probably find the answers in your machine's manual
2. AKDesigns Boutique ~ that's what I'm working on ~ making hoop basting templates for all the different hoops out there.

The hoop templates that I've made so far are listed below [the smallest measurement is first to help with searching] and are in the process of being tested. As soon as the testing is complete, I will add them to the website so that you can start using them.

• 40mm x 60mm = 1.5" x 2.3" template size
• 80mm x 120mm = 3.1” x 4.7” template size
• 100mm x 100mm = 3.9” x 3.9” template size
• 100mm x 170mm = 3.9” x 6.6” template size
• 114mm x 171mm = 4.4” x 6.7” template size
• 120mm x 120mm = 4.7” x 4.7” template size
• 110mm x 126mm = 4.3” x 4.9” template size
• 130mm x 180mm = 5.1" x 7" template size
• 140mm x 200mm = 5.5” x 7.8” template size
• 160mm x 260mm = 6.2" x 10.2" template size
• 200mm x 260mm = 7.8” x 10.2” template size
• 200mm x 300mm = 7.8" x 11.8" template size

If your hoop or hoops aren't listed above and you have a need for a basting template, just e-mail me the hoop size, machine make and model and I'll make the templates for your hoops. The first template that I make for each hoop size will be free to the person that requests it because I will require that they test the template for me ~ so you will be the TESTER :) Please let me know if you have any questions.

Please e-mail the hoop & machine information to angie@akdesignsboutique.com.

Happy Stitching!

I just listed Embird Font Engine @ AKDesigns Boutique. Here's some basic information for those that didn't know Embird had a Font Engine or didn't know about Embird Embroidery Software. ENJOY!

Font Engine 5.0

Plug-in for Embird 2003 and above [Must have Embird Basic 2003 or newer to use this plug-in]

Embird Font Engine is a tool for conversion of text made with TrueType or OpenType font into an embroidery design. There are many adjustable lettering parameters such as size, density, fill and outline modes as well as characters layout and deformations in Font Engine. When finished, lettering is compiled into stitches and put into Embird Editor for final adjustment and save in desired embroidery format. Font Engine is accessible also from Studio's interactive lettering. When used from Studio, Font Engine produces text in a vector (outline) form that can be further edited in Studio.




Please note: Font Engine does not include any font. It is a conversion program. Our other product, Embird Alphabets, is a lettering system totally different to Font Engine. Alphabets are predigitized embroidery fonts.




Font Engine produces lettering in a large size scale, from about 5 milimeters (1/5") up to 30 cm (12"). There is no separate installation file for Font Engine. Evaluation version is included in every installation of Embird. However, you will have to purchase and register Font Engine separatelly from the main Embird program, otherwise only several characters are available in every font. After purchase and insertion of registration password, evaluation version turns into full version. No additional download or installation needed. Use "Editor -> Insert -> Font Engine Text" command to access Font Engine.

Basic Functions listed below:


Select TrueType or OpenType font and type the text you want to convert into embroidery. Adjust size and other parameters of text in Properties tab.

Font Engine can produce plain fill, auto column (satin stitch) and motif fills and sample, satin and applique outlines for text.

Use Fill Exterior function to invert filled areas of text.

Pattern, Wave, Gradient and other effects like contour or circular fill can be applied to plain fill of text.

Font Engine allows user to place text on line, ellipse and other baselines and also to deform it with use of an envelope.

Characters may have single stitch, sample, satin stitch or applique outline.

Each character in a text can be moved, rotated, skewed and scaled separately to create unique lettering effects. Use Symmetry options for easier adjustment of envelope. Many predefined envelopes are included.

Auto Column (satin stitches) fill of text produces lettering looking almost as if it was digitized by a human digitizer. Font Engine uses large base of digitizers knowledge and an artificial intelligence to convert fonts into satin stitches.


Satin stitches lettering of large size should be used with Pattern option on, to avoid too long stitches and to add texture to a large stitched areas.

Have fun shopping!

need to convert documents to PDF files?

I've been meaning to post this link for a while...If you don't have Adobe Acrobat [and don't want to spend the money on it] just to convert documents to PDF files, you can download PrimoPDF for free! It's a great little program that's so easy to use. I use it to make all of my PDF files.

You just create your document, then "print" [choose PrimoPDF as your printer], they have a very friendly little menu that walks you through the file settings and where you want the file to be saved. So easy...so free!

Have a great day!

Embird...finally listed on website...

I've finally added Embird Basic Embroidery Software to www.AKDesignsBoutique.com.

















Basic Embird program resizes, splits, edits, displays, prints and converts embroidery designs. It works in two modes: Embird Manager and Embird Editor.

There are several optional plug-in programs and alphabets available for Embird, expanding its capabilities with digitizing, lettering, cross stitch designs, conversion of TrueType fonts into embroidery, etc.
FREE DEMO ~ Use of demo version [use this link to install the demo] is limited to 30 days or 100 runs. After this period, you must register your copy to use it further. Click here to read about restrictions of the unregistered (demo) version.


Purchase Here ~ Once your demo expires, come back to AKDesigns Boutique and purchase. Your registration code will be e-mailed to you within 24 hours.

Embird Manager

• Converts designs among many file formats.
• Supports many hoop types and sizes.
• Processes designs in ZIP and RAR archives.
• Displays designs in 1:1 scale and other scales.
• Displays also images - digital photos (.JPG, .TIF, etc.) and allows to sort them.
• Creates (displays, prints and saves into .BMP or .JPG file) various types of design documentation, including animated .GIFs and screen saver.
• Provides photo realistic 3D preview of designs in order to enable assigning of proper colors to needles and to check the design without actual embroidering.
• Contains many threads catalogs and finds thread closest to chosen color.
• Reads and writes designs stored on memory cards, floppy or hard disks in various embroidery formats.
• Allows to organize designs by copying them to new folders.
• Provides connection to Internet on-line stock design shop to sell or buy designs.

Embird Editor

• Allows to insert and delete colors or trims in design.
• Joins and splits designs. Interactive free-hand splitting and automatical splitting are supported.
• Moves, resizes with density adjustment, centers, mirrors, rotates and skews designs or their parts.
• Allows to edit individual stitches or parts of design.
• Allows to change the stitch order of design parts.
• Simulates sewing of design, even in 3D mode.
• Allows to reduce the number of colors.
• Sorts colors smartly.
• Prints template in 1:1 scale on multiple sheets.
• Inserts text in various predigitized fonts and layouts. More about lettering here
• Inserts Font Engine text automatically converted from TrueType or OpenType fonts.
• Imports designs from Embird Studio, Embird Cross Stitch and Sfumato Stitch programs to save them in appropriate file format.

Have fun shopping!

New Product ~ Now offering Embird

How exciting...I'm now an authorized dealer for Embird Embroidery Software! I haven't added their products to my website yet, but am working on it. For now, you can check out their products at Embird.com [don't order there or you won't be able to get the discount ~ just let me know if you have any questions or want to place an order].

I'm offering 10% off all of their products for the next week as a "Kick-off" sale! By the way, I couldn't find it any cheaper anywhere online ~ let me know if you do!

Don't forget to stop by my new embroidery group on TwitterMoms ~ MonogramMoms