Almost Summer!

Good afternoon! We are counting down to Summer around here! My kids get out of school next Friday, May 23rd! A couple of weeks ago I made the trip down to Ruthie’s Notions in Baker, Florida to teach a Basics of Applique class (my usual topic). I was there for 2 days, and managed to snap 3 whole pictures. Below are some samples that I have sewn (or appliqued or monogrammed)  and took to show. Everyone just LOVED all of the blanks! These are all Applique Cafe designs of course. I believe all of the monogramming is Monogram Wizard Plus “Master Circle” font.

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More monogrammed and appliqued items! I am obsessed with the colors in this bag!! It’s a coral-y peach color monogram (Monogram Wizard Plus “Master Circle” font) on a “spa” colored jute bag, which came from a local store that I do monogramming for. The towel and bag were both Mother’s Day gifts for my mom! 🙂

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I also took lots of awesome blanks that I did not get a chance to stitch! Again, everyone went crazy over all the blanks! There is a list of blanks suppliers here on my blog – click HERE (in LINKS).

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Here are several new designs we will be listing later today! I love Bird designs! You could also put fabric under the nest stitching and make it raggy (fabric + flannel). blog birds closeup blog birds

This is a great one for the boys! We live near Lake Martin (Alabama) so we spend a lot of time on a Pontoon Boat! These are my favorite colors for summer {after the spa/coral color combo}!blog boat

This Pontoon Boat was sewn by Glenda at That’s 2 Cute. Find her on Facebook! She added some ric rac for the water which is adorable!!

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This is our new Mini Raggy Oval Patch, which can be sewn on anything. I typically use a layer of flannel (white or any color) underneath my fabric for raggy designs. You simply trim, leaving about 1/8″ around (give or take) and then scrape with your scissors to create the raggy effect. For this VISOR, I stitched the patch on a medium weight tearaway stabilizer. I hooped the stabilizer, then sewed the patch on to it just like any applique (fabric + white flannel). I then trimmed around the patch, pulled away the stabilizer and glued it to the visor using Fabric Fusion fabric glue. You could also stitch this on using a cap frame/cap hoop if you have a multi needle machine. blog visor

Here is the same patch on a pair of cute lounge shorts. These were sewn by Glenda at That’s 2 Cute (custom monogramming and appliques). Precious!!!!!blogthats2cute

This is Whale 4 stitched on a Blanks Boutique onesie. Their onesies snap up the back, which makes it super easy to monogram and applique! I was able to get a 5×7 design on this onesie.

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Again, here’s That’s 2 Cute’s version on a cute pink Monag dress. Remember my post about Pic Monkey? That’s what she used to add the “water” overlay on the photo!

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We are working on getting these listed as I type! In case you didn’t know, all designs are on sale through tomorrow, Wednesday, May 14th! www.appliquecafe.com Have a great day!!

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Embroidery Software and Fabric

Happy Thursday Friday! Sometimes it takes me a day or two to get a post up…  I am so excited to post about a “new” product I am now selling on the website!! No, not all of the cute and simple applique designs even though I AM excited about selling those too. I am now selling the wonderful, affordable, not really new, but easy-to-use embroidery software I have been recommending to anyone who asks or will listen for the past several years. SEW WHAT-PRO!

What do I use it for? Mainly I use it for merging a name or initials with an applique design. An example is below. I formatted the name “andrew” in Monogram Wizard Plus (font is Kazoo). I save it to my computer. I open SWP and OPEN the new fish design and then MERGE in the saved name. I then arrange it all and center the whole design and then put it on my machine to sew! There is a lot more you can do with SWP, but that’s my main use for it.

ALSO, I use it even when I’m just sewing an applique design with NO NAME. I like to *SEE* what I am sewing on my computer screen, so I open all of my files in SWP so I can see them. You can click on the thread chart on the right and see which step is next! You can also use SWP to delete parts of a design. A lot of people also use it to merge bought embroidery fonts together. When you buy embroidery fonts on the internet (NOT using a monogram software such as Monogram Wiz Plus), each letter is it’s own file, so you have to merge the letters together to form a name or initials. SWP can do that!

Please check it out on my website (Sew What-Pro) if you are looking for software such as this! It’s only $65 and it’s the best $65 I’ve ever spent. There is more info on the listing and also a manual you can download to look over.

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I had several people ask me where this Footprint design came from from a previous post. I did this design on some burp cloths for a local ministry so the design was sent to me. Thank you to my blog reader who reported where the design can be found! It looks like it’s part of a set, but maybe you could email the website and just get this design? You can find it HERE. (ps designs are a little pricey compared to American sites?)

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Now on to FABRIC! Last weekend the fam traveled to Destin, FL for a soccer tournament for my middle child. We normally take a route which leads us through Troy (AL), around Elba and someway here and there we end up at the beach. Well, there was road construction somewhere near Elba and we ended up NOT going the way we had planned. When I realized we were heading towards Opp, AL, I got excited b/c TJ’s Fabrics is in Opp! I had not been through there in a long time and was overwhelmed by all of the beautiful fabric that has now taken over the store! Last time I was there 1/2 the store was fabric and 1/2 was gifts and drug store type items. This time, fabric was everywhere!! Everything is arranged by colors and chevrons and I could have spent all day there had the kids and hubs not been waiting in the car. Lucky for you, they have an awesome website so if you aren’t in Alabama or traveling through the area, you can order online. If you ARE traveling to the beach (Destin, Panama City Beach, Seagrove/Seaside, etc) then DETOUR!! Plug it in the GPS and stop by, and tell TJ I said “HI”!! 🙂

My selfie for 2014! I will let the pictures speak for themselves…..

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See what I mean? This is just HALF of the store! They also have a studio room (right side of photo) where they do classes and quilting and all that. Oh, you can still get a prescription filled there too! 😉

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I’ll take one of each….

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Chevron for days…..

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Here’s what I left with! I can NEVER have enough polka dots! These are Michael Miller “Kiss Dots”. I may have kissed them…

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Sissy with some other pretties!

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Fat quarter bundles ready for you to grab and go!

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More chevrons….

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These are Susybee Bunny Dashes & Carrots. Easter is a little over a month away!

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Our Jellyfish 2 design! I believe they are also sewing and doing appliques & monogramming for customers!

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Michael Miller Diddly Dot Primary! So cute!!

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They also have gobs of blanks!

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More pretty colors…

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I’ve had my eye on these since I saw them on Facebook! These are Riley Blake, Summer Breeze.

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Again, if you are traveling to Florida this summer and coming anywhere near South Alabama, stop by!

I hope to get a more detailed post up soon on Sew What-Pro and how I use it! It’s been a busy week so stay tuned…

One last thing, because there is nothing more disheartening to post something and get no love!!

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Sassy Kid Blanks

Happy New Year! Is it 2014 already?? Where did 2013 go? We had a great end-of-the-year and a great Christmas. We hope you did too! Over the break I received some new blanks from a new supplier, and I’ve finally been able to get outside and take some photos and share with you what they have to offer. When I first started doing embroidery, I swear you had a choice of Rabbit Skins or Monag Kids. There have been lots of new blanks suppliers “born” over the past couple of years. We definitely have a great variety of sources out there and one of the newest is Sassy Kid Blanks. They are based out of South Carolina and you can read more about them on their website.

My disclaimer for 2014… I am no photographer! I do have a prop or two and the sun finally came out today, so I got my rain boots on (because my yard is a swamp) and had a little photo shoot. First off, below is their Girls Short Sleeve Shirt featuring our new Bunny 6 Applique Design. You can read a full description of their items on their website! I love the pom pom trim, the ruffle on the bottom and the puff sleeves! I love an applique design on this shirt!

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Here’s a closeup of the pom pom and ruffle on the bottom of the shirt. This is a sz 6 shirt and the Bunny design is a 5×7 hoop design (on this shirt).

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All of their items I’m showing have a button or snap closure on the back of the neck. This helps with getting the garments on and off, and it also helps with hooping and getting it on your embroidery machine (especially the single needle machines – it gives you a little extra room to get the shirt out of the way).

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Below is their Baby Boy Short Sleeve Bodysuit. This would be precious under a little john john too with no embellishment.

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Snaps on the back.

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Here is their Baby Girl Long Sleeve Bodysuit. Again, this would be precious underneath a little Aline or other dress, or with a monogram or small applique or mini embroidery design.

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This is a shot of the back snaps and the little ruffles on the sleeves. I miss the baby clothes….

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Baby Girl Short Sleeve Bodysuit… So wittle and pwecious!! 🙂 Again, sweet underneath a sleeveless outfit or one with straps, or alone with a little monogram or applique/embroidery design. It would be cute with a little pair of bloomers too.

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Back – snaps and ruffle sleeves

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Here is their Girls Sleeveless A-line dress. This one is screaming for a cute monogram or applique design! Hopefully I can take care of that soon and I will repost!

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Pom pom trim and ruffle! This is a sz 6 also.

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Here is their Boys Short Sleeve Shirt. This is a dressier option for a boys blank shirt ~ add a simple block or natural circle monogram and pair it with dressier pants or shorts.

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It also buttons up the back.

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Check out their Girls Long Sleeve Empire Waist Dress. LOVE LOVE LOVE this! You will see below that a monogram is perfect on these, as to not take away from all the adorable ruffles. All of these items are 100% interlock cotton knit, which means nice and thick to hold a monogram or applique/embroidery design!

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A closeup of the bottom ruffles ~ 2 layers!

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Love the collar, button closure in the back and puff style sleeve!

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Girls Long Sleeve A-Line Dress ~ Simple and dainty with the pom pom trim! Also has the puff style sleeves.

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This might be my favorite! Girls Sleeveless Empire Waist Dress. This was before I added a monogram.

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It’s screaming MONOGRAM ME!!!!!

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Girls Long Sleeve Shirt

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Button closure on the back to make it easier to get it over your child’s head! It really helps with hooping too and especially with the single needle machines.

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So my daughter was outside riding her bike in her Nike shorts and a long sleeve t-shirt from a bait & tackle store in Orange Beach, AL. Her hair was a mess, so I bribed her to model for me for 5 minutes in this dress. I now owe her $2. Of course the bright sun was blinding her and she usually has a better suntan for a dress like this. I managed to get a few decent shots and as you can see, Maggie photo bombed the picture too. Sissy is 5 (almost 6) and this is a size 6 dress. When I monogrammed it, I measured from the bottom of the ruffle around the neckline to the seam of the empire waist. That way the monogram was centered underneath the ruffle. This is Monogram Wizard Plus “Master Circle” font and it measured about 3.25″ tall and wide for this dress. She picked out the turquoise thread for the monogram.

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It was like 12 degrees earlier this week, but today it’s a balmy 68 so this worked out perfect! This is her new bike she got for Christmas!

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A monogram is just perfect on this dress!

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The space between the bottom ruffle and the empire waist is about an even 5″ on this size 6 dress. Again, this monogram was about 3.25″ tall and wide. You could do it a little bigger if you wanted to.

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The painted fingernails and toes are compliments of a birthday party she went to last night.

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This was her telling me she was done w/ my $2 “photo shoot”. As you can see, the length falls well below the knee. So cute for spring & summer! I can see a lot of these on the beach this summer { beach pics with the fam}! It would work great as a swim cover-up too.

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Sassy Kid Blanks has some color options as well. They have a bubblegum type lighter pink (officially called Candy Pink) and a red option for girls (High Risk Red). A light blue (Skyway Blue) for boys. Please read their FAQ about shrinking, discount codes, etc. You can also check out their sizing options {measurements after washing are located in the size chart for each item}. Looks like girl sizes range from 12M to 8. Boys are 12M to 8 as well. Baby stuff ~ 3M, 6M, 9M & 12M I believe.

**Please note, their site is PRE-ORDER right now for March delivery. If you have ANY questions, please email them at info@sassykidblanks.com or use their Contact Us tab on their website. Check out their FAQ too! I’m just showing you some of the items they are offering. They can answer any and all questions you might have!

I’ve added them to my blanks list which is located under LINKS up top. SKB is also on Facebook! Have a great week!