Machine Embroidery Digitizing - What Youll Need Besides the Software

You've purchased an embroidery machine, practiced the designs that were included in the package, maybe even bought a disc of designs or downloaded a few designs off the Internet to stitch out. Now you're thinking about investing in digitizing software and taking your embroidery to the next level. But the digitizing program is just a part of what you'll need before entering the creative world of embroidery digitizing.

Choosing the Hardware

An embroidery digitizing program is image editing software capable of converting a digital picture to stitches and saving it in a format that can be read by your embroidery machine. And, like any robust image editor, a digitizing program is resource intensive. The program's packaging will state the manufacturer's recommended minimum computer system specifications to operate the software. Let's take a look at just such a recommendation and see how the 'minimums' stack up. (I won't mention the program or the manufacturer but these are actual recommendations from a popular digitizing software. Yours may vary but probably not by much.)

The Computer

Manufacturer recommends: IBM-PC or compatible computer originally equipped with a USB port.

I recommend: The same.

Operating System

Manufacturer recommends: Windows(R) 98, ME, XP or 2000.<br >I recommend: Windows(R) XP Pro with the latest Service Pack and updates. You might be able to get by with an antiquated operating system but not for long.

Mouse

Manufacturer recommends: N/A

I recommend: Any comfortable, optical, non-rollerball mouse. When doing imaging you cannot attain the precision you need with a rollerball. And an optical mouse means there is no ball on the bottom to catch or jerk at a critical time.

Processor

Manufacturer recommends: Pentium 500 MHz or higher.

I recommend: Pentium class 1 GB or higher. The faster the processor the better. We're imaging, not typing a letter.

Memory

Manufacturer recommends: Minimum 64 MB (256 MB or higher is recommended.)

I recommend: Minimum 512 MB. Memory is cheap and more is always better. You can never have too much.

Hard Disk Free Space

Manufacturer recommends: Minimum 100 MB

I recommend: You'll need 100 MB free to install the software but you're going to need a lot more than that to store your creations. Purchase a hard drive with a minimum of 40 GB, 80 GB or higher is better. A hard disk is like a garage: It collects junk and you rarely clean it out. Give yourself plenty of room for storage.

Monitor

Manufacturer recommends: SVGA (800x600), 16-bit color or higher.

I recommend: 17" SVGA (1024x768), 32-bit color. You're going to appreciate the extra screen real estate from a large monitor, and you'll need to be able to easily differentiate your thread color choices.

USB Port

Manufacturer recommends: USB Ver. 1.1 or higher.

I recommend: USB Ver. 1.1 or higher, 2 or more. Some programs will run only if a card reader/writer is installed. That's one port taken. If your machine accepts input directly from your computer you'll need another port available to send your finished file to your machine.

Printer

Manufacturer recommends: A graphic printer that is supported by your system (only if you want to print your images).

I recommend: A graphic printer. You will want to print your images and the associated thread color data. As a side note: I'm not sure why anyone would have a printer that was not supported by their system.

CD-ROM Drive

Manufacturer recommends: Required for installation

I recommend: The same, but with a minimum twenty-four-speed (24x) drive speed. A higher speed drive is fine, it transfers data faster but it's also a little noisier.

CD-ROM Recorder Drive (RW)

Manufacturer recommends: N/A

I recommend: Once a year or so when you're in the cleaning mood, you'll want to burn your images to CD to reduce clutter on your hard drive and reorganize.

Deciding to purchase machine embroidery digitizing software is just the first step to truly creative embroidery with a personal touch. Get the most out of it by making sure it is happy in its new home.

Digitizer Deb Schneider offers her machine embroidery designs on her website, <a target="_new" href="http://www.windstarembroidery.com">WindstarEmbroidery.com</a>.

You'll also find <a target="_new" href="http://www.windstarembroidery.com/embroidery-information.cfm">Embroidery Thread Conversion Charts</a> and information about <a target="_new" href="http://www.windstarembroidery.com/machine-embroidery-digitizing.cfm">embroidery digitizing</a>.

You can email Deb at: dschneider(at)windstarembroidery.com

Are Your Collectibles Valuable? Heres How to Find Out

The first thing you will need to do is check out the condition of your item, be it a train, collectible Barbie doll, Disney collectible, or some other collectible item. Is it scratched, torn, clean, dirty, new, in a box, without a box? You get the idea...

Use a good light source and check the item out very carefully, noting the name, identification marks, and any copyright marks. Also, check for any imperfections, tears, scratches, color imperfections, mars, stains, etc.

Many dolls are collected with the box intact. An intact box can raise the value of an item a great deal. Some are worthless if the box is damaged badly or missing.

NOTE: Some dolls are meant to be played with and taken out of the box to dress. Examples are the Tonner Doll Company dolls: Tyler Wentworth, Sydney Chase, Gene, etc.

Remove the doll from the box for inspection. Look for forums, discussion boards, or news groups where similar collectors gather online. You can also check on eBay (or other online auctions) to see what similar items are selling for and what their condition was at the time of sale. Compare the prices with, and without a box to see the difference.

To find your item on eBay:

1. Find the category on eBay where your item would most likely be listed. (Dolls, bears, trains, Disney collectible would be likely categories.

2. If using Dolls, use the [check only in Dolls box] in the search.

3. Use your keyword to search, such as "Barbie doll". This will bring up the current auctions window.

4. Now, check the completed auctions box, to check out the prices and descriptions on the sold items.

5. When you click on the individual auctions, you can see the price the item sold for, the condition of the item and whether it had a box. Look for terms such as NRFB (Never Removed From Box) or MIB (Mint In Box).

Note that the price on eBay is not the best price for your item. Usually, the price could be more if sold locally because the online auction buyer cannot actually handle the item and examine it in person.

Other places to find information about your item (doll) would be websites selling your item (doll), antique or boutique shops, toy or hobby shops, and resell shops. Also, check out the resource books at the public library.

Popular collectibles might have a price book that is printed for collectors. You can also use a collection of hobby magazines to price items or to locate the year the item was made.

If you have done all of the above and still cannot find the information that you need about your item, check out some local hobby clubs in your area. Most hobby enthusiasts will be willing to help you find the information you need and are eager to talk about their hobby. You might even find an expert on your items, or a buyer!!

? 2005, Courtesy of <a href="http://www.hobbyhour.com">HobbyHour.com</a> - You're welcome to use this article on your website, as long as you link properly to our site - the main page or direct article - and leave this notice intact.

Simple, and Stylish Wedding Reception Centerpiece: Craft Project

This simple, yet elegant table centerpiece is a great way to make a fancy "to do" at each table, without breaking the bank.

This is so easy, even a child can do it! I had my 8 year old son help me. For my own wedding, we picked up stemware at our local thrift stores. The idea wasn't to have every table look exactly the same, but rather for each table to be a variation on a theme. If you're looking for a more unified appearance, please make sure your count is accurate and buy everything you need at once, to ensure colors and shapes match.

For each centerpiece, you will need:

1 wine goblet, or other stemware
2 pieces of tulle 9-12" in width (either square or circle)
2 contrasting curling ribbons approximately 10-14" long
1-3 tea light candles (the 7-hour floating type)or other floating candles, depending on the width of the glass
water

1. Stack the tulle pieces. If you are using square pieces, turn one of the pieces so that you have an 8-point star shape. It will add more visual appeal to the finished project. You might consider using 2 diferent colored pieces of tulle to add a more dramatic appearance.

2. Center the glass on the tulle. We're about to tie the tulle around the base of the glass, but before we do, we need to get our ribbons ready.

3. Take the 2 lengths of ribbon and pull them together. Make sure they are not twisted. You want one color on the "inside" and the other on the "outside" so that when we tie them around the stem of the glass, we have a beautiful contrasting mix of color.

4. Pull up the tulle and secure it in place with the ribbon. Tie a knot to secure the ribbon to the stem. Now make a bow and pull the ribbons apart so that your bow has more volume. Curl the ends of your curling ribbon and arrange the curls around the base of the glass.

5. Fill your goblet with water. You might consider coloring your water with a bit of food coloring to match your wedding colors.

6. Float the candle(s) on top of the water. Light the candles as the reception begins. Look for long-burning floating candles. You don't want your candles burning out just as dinner ends. A single candle floating on water will gravitate to the edge of the glass. Try to find glasses big enough to float 2-4 candles safely. Too much heat may damage fragile stemware, so use caution.

For a more elegant look, arrange goblets of different heights on the same table or change the level of the water in each glass to create the illusion of height. You can also decorate your tulle with beads, or find tulle that is already adorned with sequins or beads. Use your imagination and create something perfect for your special occasion. Place the goblet on a mirrored coaster to create a beautiful reflection of light.

Good luck, and best wishes on your special day.

Lisa Robbin is the Director of Product Development for <a target="_new" href="http://www.thegivingcandle.com" title="Scented candles, candle holders and decorative accessories from the giving candle">the giving candle</a>, the maker of Heavenly Gems resin-based clear candles. Lisa writes articles on all things candle related in an effort to educate consumers about making the most out of their candle purchases.

You can email her directly at <a href="mailto:lisa@thegivingcandle.com">lisa@thegivingcandle.com</a>

Tracing Your Family History

Let me say straight away that tracing your family ancestry is a great hobby but very addictive, so unless you want to get well and truly hooked, don't start.

When I travel around the country to Family History Fairs, I am amazed at the number of people who say quite cheerfully, "family history is so easy, I did mine in half an hour on the internet." If they are happy with that, then good luck to them, but for me, if I cannot prove it, it doesn't count.

Family history is not about just collecting a pile of names and then trying to fit them all together like a genealogical jigsaw puzzle. You must start with what you know to be true and that is your birth certificate. On that will be the names of your parents, so, if you do not already have access to it, it shouldn't be hard to obtain their marriage certificate. From there until 1837, you can travel back fairly safely with hatched, matched and dispatched certificates from the Family Records Centre in London. Pre 1837, you have to be able to access parish registers, and this is where the going can get tough. If you are unsure of the area your forbears are from, census returns can be very helpful.

In case you are planning to have a go at compiling your family tree, be aware that you could be in for a few surprises (shocks). Just because granny always seemed prim and proper to you, doesn't make it so.

Pam Drake, Parish Chest. The Premier Online Family History Shop

Invitation Envelopes ? Make or Break Your Party

What will separate your party from all the other events of the season? Of all the planning that goes into your special occasion, there is no excuse to forget about specialty envelopes. Your invitation is the first impression that you and your party will have. There are many ways to make your invitations and envelopes the hit of the party.

How important are the invitation envelopes? The invitation envelope is the first contact that you will have with your guest list. You are working hard to create a theme for your get together, and your envelopes need to reflect the theme. If you are having a wine tasting party, let your guests know immediately when they grab the mail. For a baby shower, your envelopes should reflect baby images.

Choose Your Envelope ? Tough to Decide

Envelope styles are cooler than ever. Many craft and scrap booking stores have some of the best options no matter what your theme is. Some of the best envelopes are those that have never been seen before. Here are some of the latest design ideas:

<ul>

<li><a target="_new" href="http://www.checks-4u.com/vellum_envelopes.htm">Vellum</a>. This semi-transparent paper is smooth. It is available in glossy and matte, in just about any color you can imagine.</li> <li>Square envelopes. A shift from the norm is the square version of the commodity. The square shape definitely sticks out in the mail.</li> <li>Clear Translucent. A unique alternative that offers a glimpse inside.</li> <li>Foil-lined. Linings are a great way to add color and texture to your invitation. Set the color theme of the evening.</li> <li>Linen. Classy, yet relaxed. Linen envelopes should be reserved for special occasions.</li> <li>Metallic Foil. More than just lining, the metal sheet-style envelope leaves nothing to be desired.</li> <li>Plastic button and string envelopes. Trendy and vibrant. A summer pool party complete with waterproof invitation envelopes.</li>

</ul>

These are just a small selection of the envelopes that are available. You'll be surprised how inexpensive these party favors are. Buying in bulk is still the best option. Envelopes are sold in units from one to one thousand.

Personalize Your Invitation or Envelope

Now that you have some ideas for the style and design of the special envelope for your gathering, there is more work to do. Customize your envelopes and make a theme that best represents your party plans. The ideas are numerous, but all are quite easy to put together. Create them yourself, or enlist the help of your friends. Some ideas that never go unnoticed:

<ul>

<li>Stickers. A classic, yet favorite method of adding charm. Everyone likes stickers, and they can be found in every variety.</li> <li>Paper doilies. Add vintage form to your favorite envelope.</li> <li><a target="_new" href="http://www.checks-4u.com/Rubber_Stamps.htm">Rubber stamp kits</a>. They're available in all shapes, styles, and themes. You can pick your own color.</li> <li>Glitter. A fan favorite for young and old. All colors and sizes.</li> <li>Yarn and ribbon. Available anywhere. You make the design how you want it.</li>

</ul>

Getting the most out of your gathering begins with the planning. For your guests, it begins with the invitation. Make them excited for your event as soon as they look through the mail.

Robb Ksiazek is an author and publisher for <a target="_new" href="http://www.checks-4u.com">Checks-4U.com</a>. He has researched and written about the little things that make a difference in the paper supply industry, from personal and business checks to envelopes and address labels. Turn the ordinary into extraordinary.

Comic Book Supplies, Necessities of the Serious Collector

If you want to keep your comic book collection in tiptop shape, comic book supplies will become part of your collecting life. As soon as a magazine is printed there are natural environmental forces going to work to try and destroy the ink and the paper. You have put in a lot of time, effort and enjoyment in acquiring all your comics. You don't want them to turn back to the dust and elements from which they came do you?

Elements such as humidity, temperature, pollutants, human skin oils and even the chemicals of the printed materials themselves, will start to deteriorate and discolor your comic books from day one. Tools that have been developed over the years to help us combat these natural forces are de-acidification paper, polymer type storage bags, stiff backing material, storage boxes and desiccants (dehumidification materials). Not only will these comic book supplies protect your comics for your own enjoyment, they will add to reinforce the future value of each comic book.

Most all of these supplies can typically be located down at your local comic book shop. But as I have discovered lately, there can be a world of difference in preservation abilities depending on what materials are used in the manufacture of comic book supplies. Quite typically what you may find downtown will be of sufficient protective quality to protect your comics for quite a while. Although, polybags, to put your comics into, are quite common and fairly cheap, Mylar bags are definitely the way to go. They will protect for 100 years (that may be a little overboard) as opposed to 2 or 3 years for poly.

There has been a lot of elaborate science, particularly chemistry, which has gone into preservation material manufacturing the last several years. MicroChamber material has been developed that will increase preservation from de-acidification and environmental breakdown for a vastly superior time period as opposed to typical materials available today. Beware though, comic book supplies manufactured with this new material can become quite costly. But if you have some serious collector's items, which you feel are worth a significant amount of cash, isn't the investment worth it? It is also no secret that CGC uses these materials in every comic book they grade.

I have created a page at my comic book site, which incorporates links to some rather technical scientific articles on preservation and using MicroChamber materials. You can read an in-depth discussion at www.comic-book-collection-made-easy.com/comic-book-supplies.html . Be forewarned though, You may need a moderate understanding of chemistry and physics to completely follow some of the discussions. But the articles will open your eyes to what is available in the comic book industry for preservation supplies these days.

Now if you have a rather rare back issue that may well have a high dollar value, here is a process worth considering. De-acidification products are usually used to neutralize acids in the paper prior to storage of most paper products of a pulp nature. This is not to be taken lightly, as it is considered by most to be an extensive form of restoration. The current understanding of the process is that the staples are removed and the sheets are submerged, film developer style, in a bath of de-acidification material. Then the entire book is rebuilt with new staples. This process can cost around $50 per comic book, when done by a professional, but will restore and increase the life expectancy of your comic book by many years. This process, in my opinion, should only be considered for already deteriorated comics that may have a considerable future worth if restored.

One final item to consider, especially if you live in a high humidity area is the use of descants within your storage boxes. A desiccant is a chemical sieve for water, and is available for industry use in small packets or in buckets. For our purposes an 8 oz can (that looks like you'd keep a grasshopper in) can be simply put inside the box to absorb moisture and indicates when it is full by changing from crystal colored to pink. These same cans can then be reused by baking them for 3-4 hours in an oven at about 350 F. Each canister can cost around $9-$10 from one supplier called GAYLORDMART. 1 canister per short box and 2 per long box should be sufficient. Another consideration is the little packets typically found in a box of shoes. These are even more inexpensive, but would require further research to insure no harm would come to each comic book.

So as you build your valuable comic book collection, you will want to put some serious consideration into the comic book supplies that you will need. Materials and supplier source will become important variables in your overall decisions. I will have more interesting topics and sources from time to time at my site, so come on over and visit. You may even want to bookmark it.

Dave Gieber, a former rocket engineer, has decided to take up residency on the Internet. He is the owner and editor of several websites, one of which was built around one of his childhood passions; <a target="_new" href="http://www.comic-book-collection-made-easy.com">http://www.comic-book-collection-made-easy.com</a>. You can visit here to keep up to date on the world of comic books and comic book collecting. Feel free to sign up for his comic book ezine at <a target="_new" href="http://www.comic-book-collection-made-easy.com/comic-book-ezine.html">http://www.comic-book-collection-made-easy.com/comic-book-ezine.html</a>

A Look at the Humidor Plan

There are many styles of humidors that range from the smaller traveling humidor to the large cabinet and even walk-in room humidors. By far, the most popular humidor is the glass top humidor also referred to as the desktop humidor.

While many people will choose to purchase an already made humidor, for those who are more inclined, the art of making one's own humidor can be a very appealing idea and lend bragging rights at the same time. By making one's own humidor, the cigar aficionado can choose the materials, the size, the design and the specific humidifier for his or her own personal creation. The only limit is the imagination of the individual. Whether one chooses to make a simple, rectangular box design or one decides to be more elaborate, choosing to tool the wood with intricate designs, there is no wrong approach.

Performing a simple search for a humidor plan, one can find a wide variety of designs and plans, some for free and some for very inexpensive prices. If one so chooses, there are even plans on the internet for making a humidor out of Tupperware?. One can make any humidor from the traveling humidor to the glass top humidor to the cabinet humidor. The biggest question one must ask is how much time and effort does one want to invest in the finished product.

The major materials for starting ones own project include: -Cherry or rosewood (for external sides of the humidor)
-Spanish cedar (for the interior finish)
-Hinges (for the top)
-Hygrometer (mounted externally for monitoring)
-Humidifier (for maintaining humidity levels)
-Propylene glycol and distilled water (to maintain humidity levels)
-Weather stripping material (to maintain a tight seal)

The basic process for making a humidor from wood with the hygrometer and the mechanical humidifier is as follow:

-Cut the cherry wood to make a bottom, the four sides and the lid
-Cut the Spanish cedar to fit inside the cherry and to be used as the internal lining
-Drill a hole in the front wall of the humidor to receive the hygrometer
-Place weather-stripping around the hole where the hygrometer will be inserted and mount the hygrometer
-Attach the walls and the bottom of the humidor according to the design. Usually, with smaller cases, simple wood glue can be used with small brad nail for support
-Insert the humidifier according to the instructions for the specific humidifier purchased
-Mount the lid hinges to the lid and then mount this to the back wall of the humidor
-Attach weather-stripping along the lip of the humidor where the lid will sit
-Turn the humidor on and allow it to run for at least 24 hours to test the operation and to ensure that the humidifier maintains an approximate 70% humidity level
-After checking, place your cigars in the humidor and enjoy

There are many variations of humidors, affected by taste, requirements and funds available. However, the above plan describes simple steps for building an effective humidor.

<a target="_new" href="http://www.e-humidors.com">Humidors Info</a> provides detailed information on cigar humidors, travel humidors, and humidor plans. Humidors Info is the sister site of <a target="_new" href="http://www.cigars-web.com">Cigars Web</a>.