Cool Tools and Life Stuff

Good morning!

Today's post is a mish-mosh of personal stuff and sewing stuff.  On a more personal note, I'm sporting a new haircolor thanks to Revlon Colorsilk -- a dark burgundy. It turned out much darker than I anticipated, but it'll do. I might have to do with the fact I left it on for an hour versus the thirty minutes. LOL! No, I never follow directions.

Yesterday I made a huge life-change. A good one. I attended my first Weight Watchers Meeting in over seven years. This was prompted by a health scare from hubby and my desire to stave off a knee replacement. I need to drop the weight to keep my knees. That's my over-riding goal here. Hubby? He wants to get in better shape for hunting.

Last week I was given an invite to attend a webinar for Floriani's newest product, My Decorative Quilter. It's a software program to design quilting motifs for your embroidery machine. While I haven't used the embroidery function on Izzy, my new baby, I've been looking at ways to make her more productive. And if I can use her quilt? Just imagine how much I can get done when I let her do the work! (I know, I'm lazy).

 

Yesterday's Floriani webinar was eye-opening. Not familiar with their interface, I got to see firsthand how easy their software is to use. Frankly, I found it quite intuitive! The button menus are easy to find and access, plus the way you manipulate their kabillion built-in designs is easy. Just a few clicks of the mouse and you have it!

They demonstrated how to upload your own block into My Decorative Quilter, position it to work with, and then how you can preview and program different designs from small embellishments, to echo quilting, trapunto, and stippling. Then you just import the files to your embroidery machine and watch her go! Files can be saved in all major machine formats. (Oh, and if you're a long-armer with a computerized machine? Your files can be saved in that format as well!)

For those who love to crazy quilt or applique. They have some awesome stitches that you can add that will look like you sewed them by hand. And the cool part is that you can scale them stitch by stitch if you want to. That's major flexibility.

It has an applique function, and you can even piece within the hoop! How's that for fancy schmancy!

While I wasn't a winner of the free software being given away at the webinar, I was excited to learn how to unleash the power of my embroidery machine. I am purchasing this software. It will surely take my art that much further.

The best thing about Floriani software? I hear their support rocks and updates are free! Most other companies charge body parts (i.e., arms and legs) for updates. Nosiree! Floriani updates are free! That's why professionals trust Floriani.

Embroidery machines and using them for quilting is one of the hottest growing segments in the sewing market. And why not? It's easy is with My Decorative Quilter to use your machine to fullest potential. And, of course, I'm getting my copy from IHAN, my favorite Floriani dealer.

It looks like there are two seminars with open spaces on Friday. For those of you who are interested. Sign up here.

(UPDATE: P.S. I'm not being compensated for this post. I'm just excited about this new product).