Vacations & traveling can be fun!  What isn’t so fun is all the hoops you have to jump thru to get to your destination though.  With all the heightened security since 9/11, going thru airport security can be an adventure.

Making sure everything in your luggage complies with all the latest laws can also be frustrating.  On my last flight I lost my shaving cream can as I discovered it was a little too big for the latest regulations.  If you are traveling out of the country you need to make sure you have your passport with you at all times and everything else that goes with going thru customs.

So the last thing you need to deal with is losing your luggage!  How many times have you been waiting at the luggage carousel only to notice a lot of bags that look almost exactly like yours go by?  You are hoping and praying nobody picks yours up by mistake and takes off with it.  One way to keep this from happening, and for you to immediately spot your luggage on the carousel, is by putting a unique luggage tag on it. 

As luck would have it Starbird Stock Designs has just released a new design pack that allows you to make your own travel tags for your luggage with In the Hoop embroidery so you can travel a little more at ease.  There are simple step by step instructions on how to make these Travel Tags which can be accessed by clicking here.  These new Travel Tag designs will be 50% off for a short time only so please check them out soon. 

Happy Trails!

Sporting events have been around for a long time and as a parent you are more than likely going to be attending some of these events as your children are growing up.  Whether they win or lose the most important thing is how you look at these sporting functions.  To help you look as sharp and stylish as possible, we have some suggestions using Starbird Stock Design’s new Sports Applique Alphabets on how to decorate garments to support the team. 

These 8 new sports appliqué alphabets were just released on Ann the Gran’s website and by clicking on the pictures of any alphabet will take you to it.  All the major sports are covered, and we didn’t forget about the support the cheerleaders give by doing an appliqué alphabet just for them. 

Shown below is an example of how the Hockey Applique Alphabet designs can be used by using the letters to depict a high school name and embroidering the word “Hockey” below it.  A nice added touch would be to include your child’s number somewhere on the garment as well.  The Football & Basketball Alphabet can be done using a special fabric for the football and basketball that really makes the letters pop and a couple of examples are also shown below.  Starbird Stock Designs can cut this special fabric for you, as well as any of the other appliqué alphabet designs you may want.   

I do have one word of caution for you though!  If you wear any of your newly decorated garments with these alphabets to your children’s sporting events, please make sure to bring a note pad with you.  All of your friends who see you are going to want the same thing you are wearing so you will need to be prepared to take their orders. 

All 8 of these new packs will be 50% off for a short time only on Ann the Gran so please make sure to take advantage of these low prices while they last. 

Good Luck and I hope you root your children on to the Championship wearing your newly decorated apparel!

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner so what a better time to talk about Hearts.  A lot of us decorate our homes for Valentine’s Day, and what a better way to do that then with some Free Standing Lace Hearts.  These beautiful hearts can be used as coasters, placed in strategic spots to embellish your home décor, or given to your sweetie on Valentine’s Day. 
 

These Free Standing Lace Hearts from Starbird Stock Designs are easy to make.  If you are not familiar with the Free Standing Lace process please see simple step by step instructions by clicking here. 
 

 To view all the designs in the Free Standing Lace Hearts Design Pack please click here.  As an early Valentine’s Day gift to you we are discounting the designs and pack by 50% for a short time only. 

                          Happy Valentine’s Day!

The first day of winter has officially arrived on the calendar even though it doesn’t look like it outside, at least here in Minnesota.  We all know what is coming though in the upcoming months and unfortunately we will be spending many hours indoors on those cold brisk days. 

To help make those frigid days fly by, Starbird Stock Designs has a couple of Design Packs you can embroider which will make beautiful wall hangings.  The 2 packs are called Winter Cabin Scenes and Winter Church Scenes and are shown above.  Both of these packs will also be 50% off for a short time only. 

Each of these packs has approximately 500,000 stitches total for the 9 pieces that make up the final wall hanging that measures approximately 18 ½” high by 12 ½” wide.   Embroidery tips and suggestions in a PDF file on how to create these wall hangings can be accessed by clicking here.   If there is a big blizzard, and you cannot get out for a few days and would like to do some more of these wall hangings, please check out the Fall Cabin Scene and the Fall Barn Scene packs, or the Tropical Underwater & Beach Scenes.  These packs will also be 50% off. 

Happy Sewing and Keep Warm!

You either have a kid who hates bath time or loves it.  Why not try to make your kid’s time in the bath a little more fun?  How about sewing them a personalized animal towel/bathrobe that is all their own?  Have a look at the Critter Kids Bathrobe Design Pack to make a special towel/bathrobe for that little critter of yours.  
 

Whether your little one loves dogs or monkeys, we have a design just for you.  There are 12 different animal designs to choose from.  We also have easy step by step project instructions all ready for you, whether you are a newbie or a novice embroiderer.  To view these project instructions and more please click here.  There is also a suggested towel/wash cloth list available, so you will know just how much to buy before making that super cute bunny bathrobe. 
 

Wouldn’t these make just the cutest Christmas gift for all your children or grandchildren?  Can’t you just imagine the look on their faces when they open up the special gifts that you made them?  Take a look today at all the critter possibilities & happy sewing as this pack will be 50% off for a short time only!!   
 

I am sure that a lot of you have been touched in some way by *** cancer.  Whether it being Yourself, or your Sister, or your Mother, or your Friend. 

While we wait and hope for a cure, there can be many ways to keep our hands busy & our hearts tender.  The Cancer Scrapbooking Design Pack is a wonderful way of creating keepsakes for your loved ones who have gone through the trials & tribulations of cancer. 

This pack was designed in mind for the type of crafter who has their hands into just a little bit of everything.  These designs were patterned around the concept of greeting card cut-outs for the purpose of scrapbooking.  These are digitized to be sewn on card stock.  Can’t you just imagine what all the possibilities are for these inspiring & hopeful designs?

You could embroider these just for the use of inspirational cards for all the special women in your life or you can use them as we have, to create memorable pages of a scrapbook.  The Cancer Scrapbooking Design Pack, as well as our Cancer Awareness and Pink Design Packs will be marked down 50% thru the end of October.

Fight Like A Girl.  Think Pink. Create your own hope & rejoice today with these inspirational Cancer Scrapbooking designs.

Would you believe that a certain king actually loved embroidery?  Well, King James I of England surely did.  He loved it so much that a whole new style of embroidery came out during his reign:  Jacobean. 
 

 King James I of England or King James VI of Scotland, as he was also known, was a devotee of new knowledge & had the first embracement of Renaissance patterns connected to England through his German & Flemish artists.  This new style of design was so innovative that it influenced the entire realm of furniture design, architecture & other decorative arts throughout Europe & came to be known to us as the Jacobean form.

 Jacobean embroidery, sometimes referred to as crewel embroidery, frequently specializes in spiral floral patterns which may be sculptured into fabrics such as silk or linen.  These designs were often used in the fashion of the Elizabethan era, where both men & women wore jackets embroidered with Jacobean designs.  This same approach of embroidery was then carried on to Colonial America by the British colonists, where this embroidery style blossomed.

 Here at Starbird Stock Designs, we just love the Jacobean style of embroidery.  We love it so much that we have created 8 different design packs of this ornate embroidery variety.  We have singles and squares for summer, fall, spring, winter & flower schemes that should relish everyone’s taste.  All 8 of these packs are on special at 50% off for a short time only. 

We hope that you come to love the Jacobean embroidery designs just as much as King James did; maybe you can create your own movement in arts & crafts, just as the King who so loved his embroidery. 

Hard to believe summer is almost over and Autumn is right around the corner.  Autumn can be a beautiful time of year though with all the colors changing, and is a good time to start on your embroidery projects for all of the upcoming holiday and seasonal events.  

Starbird Stock Design's new Decorative Fall Toile designs are a perfect way to get started on these projects.  Toile designs are easy to sew as they usually utilize one color thread only and sometimes a few other thread colors like were used for these new designs.  Sew these designs on towels to create gorgeous and unique gifts and also make sure to sew up several for yourself.
 

If you like these new designs please check out some of our other assortment of Toile designs shown above.  All of our new Toile designs and packs featured here are 50% off for a short time only. 

When you hear of flowers and lace put together you probably think of a wedding or a nice country gift shop, right?  How about creating your own little gifts at home for yourself or the ones you love?

You can do this in the comfort of your own home by making pretty doilies or embroidering cute garden phrases.  Here are two new design packs that can help you out with those projects:  Lace Flower Doilies & Garden Sayings.  Both of these packs are currently on special for 50% off. 

Remember the pretty doilies that your Grandmother used to tat?  Here is a new spin to all those hard working hours she used to spend making those doilies you remember seeing all around her house.  Now you can simply embroider doilies on your machine with a variety of beautiful flowers in the center by using Ultra Solvy, or any other thick water soluble stabilizer, and using normal free standing lace procedures (see example project instructions here)  You can embroider a bunch of orchids or bushes of roses, just to name a few, with these Free Standing Lace Flower Doilies. 

Now, I am sure that same Grandma had cute wall hangings or shirts embroidered with fresh garden phrases.  Why not do the same for yourself?  These new garden sayings would really be cute on all those simple t-shirts hanging in your closet. Do you need a fresh new hostess gift for that party next week?  Why not make a framed picture to give as your gift using one of the designs in the Garden Sayings design pack?

So get started and soon you will have a whole bunch of flower and garden embroidery projects that your Grandmother would be so proud of!

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?  With silver bells and cockle shells & pretty 3D Flowers all in a row?

Isn’t that how the nursery rhyme goes?  It does here at Starbird Stock Designs.  We can’t always rely on the weather here in Minnesota to grow pretty flowers, so we just embroider them ourselves! 

Here are 2 design packs that you can use to grow your own pretty little flowers.  Our 3D Flowers Large & 3D Flowers Small Design Packs are just what you need to plant right into your garden of embroidery designs.  

As Emma Goldman said, “I’d rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.”  Now you can make a whole bunch of flowers for that vase on your table following our project instructions for a floral bouquet. 

You can also pin a flower in your hair, or on your jacket, with our pin or hair barrette project as well. 

Just follow our easy instructions shown below for multiple uses of these designs, and in no time you can have a whole embroidery garden right at your fingertips. 

                   3D FlOWER EMBROIDERING INSTRUCTIONS

                                                 Materials:
              1 3D Flower design from the 3D Flowers Large or Small Design Packs
              Organza or linen fabric
              Embroidery thread
              Spray Adhesive or Fabric glue
              Sharp Scissors (Optional: Large and Small)

Step 1: First hoop 1 piece of organza or linen fabric in your hoop.  Load the embroidery file into your machine.

Step 2: Embroider the first color stop and remove the hoop from your machine.
 (This is the top layer of flower petals for the design.)

Step 3: Remove the fabric from the hoop.

Step 4: Gently cut the organza away from the design by cutting along the edges of the outline stitches.
(Be careful not to cut any of the stitches.)

Step 5: Hoop another piece of organza.
*If your design had 3 layers, repeat steps 2 through 5.

Step 6:  Return the hoop to your machine and embroider the next color stop.
(This will be the bottom layer.)

Step 7: Use Spray Adhesive or Fabric Glue and apply to the center of the flower only.

Step 8: 2 Layer design: Place the top layer on the bottom layer. Use the lines in the center to line up the top and bottom layers.
Continue to Step 10.
3 Layer design: Place the Middle layer on the bottom layer. Use the lines in the center to line up the top and middle layers. Embroider the next color stop and stop the machine. Repeat Step 8 with the top layer and place the top layer on the middle layer in your hoop. Continue to Step 10.

Shown in the picture above is a 2 layer design with the top layer placed on the bottom layer. 

Step 9: Start the machine again and embroidery the design until you have completed all of the color stops.
(Stay at the machine for this step! You may need to stop the machine and press down the top layer of petals as they may tend to curl up.)

Step 10: Remove the hoop from your machine. Remove the fabric from the hoop and gently cut the fabric away from the bottom layer of the design.   Be careful not to cut the stitches.

Step 11: Now you have the completed design.

                                                       Create a floral bouquet.

                                                                    Materials:
                 3D Flower designs from the 3D Flowers Large or Small Design Packs
                 Straight Pins
                 Floral Tape
                 Stem Wire (20ga Green)

Step 1: Bend one piece of the stem wire in half.

Step 2: Now wrap floral tape tightly around the stem wire from bottom to top.

Step 3: Hold the flower face up and poke a straight pin thru the center of the flower.

Step 4: Push the pin into the top of the stem wire. The end of the needle might stick out a little bit.

Step 5: Wrap floral tape tightly around the stem starting just under the flower and going to the bottom of the stem.

Step 6: This flower is now complete. Repeat the above process with as name flowers as you would like to fill your vase.

                                                      Create a Barrette.

                                                                 Materials:
               3D Flower designs from the 3D Flowers Large or Small Design Packs
               Barrettes
               Glue Gun

Step 1: Place the flower upside down, the apply glue to the center of the flower.

Step 2: Quickly place the large end of the barrette top side facing down on the center of the flower. Hold it there for a little while until the glue cools.

Step 3: Now you have a cute inexpensive floral barrette.

                                                               Create a Pin.

                                                                 Materials:
               3D Flower designs from the 3D Flowers Large or Small Design Packs
               Pins
               Glue Gun

Step 1: Embroider the design.
Remove the hoop from your machine. Remove the fabric from the hoop and gently cut the fabric away from the bottom layer of the design.
(Be careful not to cut the stitches.)

Step 2: Turn the flower over and add a line of glue on the center back, about the same size as the pin.

Step 3: Place the pin on the back and hold it for about 15 seconds. Then add a thin layer of glue over the pin base.

Step 4: Now you have a completed pin ready to wear.

Good Night! SleepTight!  Now that is something we all hope to do each night.  Whenever we don’t get enough sleep, there is usually something we can do about getting more and sounder sleep so we can stay in dream land longer each night. 

Some people prefer to have it totally dark to get a good night’s sleep.  To help achieve total darkness, sleep masks are one way that can be used to accomplish this.  If you would like to embroider your own sleep mask, then you need to check out the new Sleep Mask Designs from Starbird Stock Designs.  These stylized sleep masks have added flair to them along with a little humor mixed in.  Instructions on how to create your own sleep masks are shown on the bottom of this blog. 

So now that you are going to embroider out a cute sleep mask, you might as well jazz up the pillows you are going to be sleeping on as well.  Starbird Stock Designs has just released new fashionable pillow corner and line designs which are perfect for sewing on your pillows that will spruce up your whole bedroom decor.  All of these new design packs are currently on sale for 50% off so please make sure and purchase them at these reduced prices and start sleeping like royalty. 

                                     SLEEP MASK PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS:

                                                                      Materials:

1 Sleep Mask Design

2 pieces of applique fabric
Spray Adhesive
Braided Elastic ¼” wide
Tear away backing
Sewing Machine
Scissors
Bobbin thread to match the last color stop thread color 

Cutting the applique pieces.

Step 1: Create a template by hooping a piece of paper, backing or scrap fabric.
Step 2: Embroider the first color stop of the Sleep Mask design.
Step 3: Write the word “top" inside the mask template that has been embroidered.
Step 4: Remove from the hoop and cut out the mask along the stitches. Cut out the holes on both sides of the mask also.
Step 5: Place the mask on top of your top applique piece and trace the mask and holes.
Step 6: Then place the mask upside down on the top of the back applique piece, trace the mask and the holes.
Step 7: Cut along the outline stitches and holes of each applique piece and set aside.

Using the steps above conserves your applique fabric. To save time you can skip the step of creating a template by placing your 2 pieces of applique fabric back to back. Hoop the 2 pieces with the top applique fabric facing up and the bottom applique piece facing down. Embroider the first color stop; remove the fabric from the hoop and using a scissors cut along the stitching. Separate the 2 applique pieces and set aside.

Step 1: Hoop 2 pieces of tear away backing.

Step 2: Embroider the first color stop.

Step 3: Take the top applique piece and turn it over. Spray the entire backside with your spray adhesive.

Step 4:  Color stop 2: Place the applique piece inside the dielines and press down.

Step 5: Embroider the design until you come to the next color stop that states Stop Lay down applique.

Step 6: Remove the hoop from your machine. Do not un-hoop the design. Turn the hoop over so you are looking at the back of the design.

Step 7: Take the bottom applique piece and turn it over. Spray the entire backside with your spray adhesive.

Step 8: Place the applique piece within the outline of the mask. The applique piece will cover the back of the mask. Press down firmly.

Step 9: Carefully return the hoop to your machine and embroidering the rest of the design.

Step 10: Remove the hoop from your machine.  The picture below shows how the back of the mask should look.

Step 11: Now gently remove the backing from outside of the sleep mask and inside the holes.

Step 12: Cut a piece of the Braided Elastic cord. We cut ours 16 1/2” for an adult size. The size may vary slightly from person to person. Place one end of the cord through the hole in the front of the mask and fold it over so 1 ½” is showing.

Step 13: With a zig zag stitch sew the elastic together.

Step 14: Thread the other side of the elastic through the front of the mask and sew it together also.

You have now completed your sleep mask. It is time for an afternoon nap, go to your couch, lie down, slip your mask over yours eyes and relax into an enchanting dream.

SWEET DREAMS!

Remember as a young child and one of your parents, or grandparents, would cuddle up next to you and read you a story before bedtime.  You would listen to your favorite story until your eyes slowly closed and you drifted into fairy-tale dreams.  Now that you have grown up and have children of your own, you probably have continued with that tradition.  Those moments are very important for children as it helps educate them and creates a special bond with the storyteller that will last a lifetime. 

Wouldn’t it be great if you were able to create your very own story books to read to your children?  Starbird Stock Designs has just what you need to make this happen below.  Two new story books have just been released, which are Humpty Dumpty and Jack & Jill.  These classic stories add to our collection of 6 previously released story books. 

The fact you actually embroider these story books for your child, or grandchild, makes them all that more special.   When the children out grow them they can be kept to be handed down when they grow up and have children of their own.  There are free project instructions which are the same for all 8 story books and are shown below. 

                                                     STORY BOOK PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS:

             Materials Required:

o 1 pkg. of ¾” double folded bias tape
o 3 pieces of 12x12 inch quilt batting
o 2 pieces of 12x12 inch of broadcloth (front and back cover)
o 4 pieces of 12x12 inch of broadcloth (inside pages)
o Thread to match fabric colors
o Fabric chalk or marker
o Straight pins
o Scissors
o Ruler

Step 1:   Embroider each page on separate 12 x 12 fabric broadcloth pieces of the story book you have chosen to make.  Add 1 1/4 inches to each of the four sides of each book cover and page design.

Step 2:   Cut out the front and back cover and pages with the 1 1/4 inch addition to each
side of the design. Also cut three pieces of quilt batting same size as covers and pages.

Step 3:  Trim away backing fabric to the edge of each design on all four sides of the design.

Pin the front cover and page one with right sides together. Also attach a layer of quilt
batting to the underside.

(Note: Sew with batting against the machine plate to avoid machine foot getting caught in the batting.)

Step 4:  Sew a 1/4 inch seam around three sides, leaving the side to be bound open.

Trim sewn corners to eliminate bulk.

Zig-zag seam edges together to finish seams; avoid raveling.

Step 5:  Turn front cover and page one right side out.

Repeat steps 4,5,6,7, and 8 sewing pages 2 and 3 together and page 4 to the back cover.

Step 6:  Assemble book with covers and pages in order.

Pin book together along unfinished edge.

Step 7:  Using a deep zig-zag stitch, sew pages together.

Step 8:  Cut a piece of 3/4 inch double folded bias tape 2 inches longer than the side of the book
being bound.

Pin bias tape to the side of the book to be bound, extending 1 inch of bias tape beyond the top and bottom of the book.

Tuck the 1 inch extensions of bias tape to the inside of the binding.

Fold the binding over the book edge to be
bound and sew close to the edge of the
binding.

Note:  The edge of the book that is being bound may be quite bulky. If so, machine
stitch the binding to the front side of the book. Fold the other half of the binding to
the back of the book and attach it to the back cover with hand stitching; a blind stitch.

You now have a Finished Sew Story Book!

It seems that we all need more time these days, I sure know I do.  Don’t you just wish that sometimes there were more than 24 hours in a day?  You have work, your husband, the kids or grandkids, laundry and dishes, so when does a girl find time for her hobbies?  Wouldn’t it be nice to make that clock on the wall a little more time friendly?  Embroidered Clocks are just what you need!  You can’t find clocks like these at your local home interiors store, which, wait a minute, is a good thing.

Give me a moment to show you 4 new embroidered clock designs from Starbird Stock Designs that can make any or every room in your home a little easier on your time.  You can cheer up your kitchen or living room with the Butterfly or Flower Clocks or snap up your sewing or hobby room with the Sewing Clocks.  There are even Lighthouse Clocks for your boathouse or weekend getaway home by the sea, where I am sure time just flies by!

Each clock scene comes in either a 6 1/2” or 8” size to fit the clock of your specific needs, and has 3 different options for the outside ring.  Each design pack also comes with all the individual designs so that you can make many accessories for your room to go along with that new clock on the wall.  See below for step by step instructions on how to decorate your clocks.

 Let’s make time on our side, embroider yourself & your home a new clock today!

Embroidered Clocks Project Instructions

Materials:
1. Clock Designs from any of Starbird Stock Design's 8 Clock Design Packs on 50% off Special
2. Fabric
3. 10/70 sharp needle or 11 sharp or smaller
4. Spray Adhesive
5. Cutaway backing
6. Screw driver
7. Scissors
8. Double sided tape

Step 1:
Choose the correct design size by measuring the face of your clock and then embroider the design onto your fabric. 

Step 2:
For this step you need spray adhesive, the fabric and 2 pieces of cut away fabric.  Using your spray adhesive, spray the top piece of backing and place the other piece of backing on top of it.  Spray the top of this backing and place the fabric down so the top of the fabric is facing up.
 
Step 3:
Using a screw driver remove the back of the clock.

Step 4:
Gently remove the arms on the front of the clock.

Step 5:
Using a small very sharp scissors click out the fabric in the center hole of the clock.

Step 6:
Place the fabric face up on the clock, then turn it over and draw a line around the clock with a fabric marker.  Then cut along the line you have just drawn.

Step 7:
Now place the double sided tape on the face of the clock. Then center the embroidered fabric on your clock face and press it down.

Step 8:
Reassemble the clock and add a battery.

Step 9:
Enjoy your completed clock!

Click Here To View All Clock Designs - on 50% off Special

Starbird Inc. has been dedicated to the embroidery industry for the past 25 years.  Our talented and educated staff has many combined years of embroidery digitizing experience.  Along with custom digitizing we also do stock designs which are all professionally digitized at our headquarters in Minnesota and all our designs can be found on AnnTheGran.  This is our first blog so we hope you enjoy it and will be able to use the designs we are featuring.

Who doesn’t love animals?  Whether they are exotic or farm animals, I think most people are fascinated by the wild world of animals.   

I remember going to the zoo as a kid and being in awe of all the different exhibits.  You can see animals in their natural habitats with their new babies wandering around as if they were in their homelands, yet here they are only an hour away from your own home! It seems that most children become obsessed with a specific animal in their childhood whether it is a dog or a tiger.  I am sure you can recall yourself or your child having to bring that raggedy old stuffed teddy just about everywhere you went?

If you currently have a child whom is madly in love with animals, why not create a shirt or pillow pal with their favorite animal?  The Animal Faces & Tails design packs are just what you need for your own little ones.  (Now on sale - at 50% off regular price) Add some spray paint to the shirt around the embroidery designs to create a great looking garment.  You may have your own little monkey or little stinker (yes there even is a skunk) that you could create a special gift for?

Another fun gift would be a pillow pal for nap time; see Pillow Kids (Now on sale - at 50% off regular price) for instructions on embroidering your very own pal, which can be downloaded in a PDF file by clicking here which will take you to the page with the link where you need to click on Download Information. I bet you can’t wait to make & give your little ones these adorable t-shirts or pillow pals!  Wouldn’t these make the purrrfect gift?

Click Here To View New Starbird March 25th Designs Just added at 50% off

Thanks for reading!