This issue of Thread Times is quite abrieviated from our normal publications. The reason for that is simple. We are preparing to move into a new home within the next week or so and I have not had the time to devote to putting a newsletter together. We aren't actually moving that far, but it still requires the same amount of work.

The past several weeks have been, for the most part, devoted to finding that perfect new home. One that suits our needs for both our embroidery business and our personal lives. We need lots of space for all of our machines and equipment as well as adequate room for our personal things including four Yellow Naped Amazon parrots and two cats. We believe we have found it and are now packing like mad so we'll be ready once the moving truck arrives.

It's never any easy task moving your entire life from one place to another. Just finding enough boxes to pack everything can be a chore in itself. We're sorting out what we will be taking with us and what will stay here for an enormous estate sale we'll conduct sometime next month.

Moving is never easy and it can disrupt your entire life for a period of time. Fortunately it's almost always worth the effort and inconvenience in the end. We know ours lives will be better and our business will become more efficient once the move is complete. One of the things we plan to concentrate on is catching up on our digitizing. We have so many new things planned, but no time right now to complete them.

Our hope is to make the transition as smooth as possible, but you know how that goes. Even best laid plans are subject to failure when the unforeseen arises. We're hoping to be back to full strength in time for the next issue, but if not we're sure you'll understand. Please keep those great embroidery tips and Quick & Easy recipes coming. Everyone loves them!

We'll keep you posted on our progress. Wish us luck and please forgive the mess!

Here's a question submitted to Ask Mary! from an embroiderer seeking help with selecting a brand of digitizing software.

Question:  I would like to learn to digitize my own designs. Which would you recommend for digitizing - Master Works Lite, Master Works II, Embrid or Palette 7.0? Which is a better digitizing program. I already own Palette 7.0, but are these other 3 programs much better than what I have? Thanks.

Answer:  That's a difficult question with no easy answer. All of the digitizing programs you mentioned are good. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to capabilities. Without knowing exactly what you wish to accomplish, it would be unfair to claim any one was a better choice than the other.

What it really boils down to is your personal preference and your goals. Do you wish to master manual digitizing for creating designs on a large scale, or would you be satisfied with auto digitizing an occasional design for personal use? If you are an occasional digitizer with no need for all the manual tools, MasterWorks Lite would be a good choice. If you need much more manual control, then one of the others might be better.

Since you already own Palette 7, I would suggest sticking with that for a while. It's a very powerful program with a wide range of capabilities. Learn to use the program to the best of your ability before you spend more money on additional software. If you find you don't like the program, that would be the time to look elsewhere.

Designed to get you in & out of the kitchen fast and back to your embroidery machine.

Recipe Name:  Super Quick Chili/Corn

Prep Time: 10 min or less

Cooking Time: 5 minutes

Serves: 1 or 2

Ingredients:
1 can Chili NO beans
1 can whole kernal corn or 1 cup frozen corn yellow or white
1 med onion chopped
2 scallions sliced
Shredded cheese, as much and kind as you like x 2

Directions: Open can of Chili and dump in a kettle. Add corn. Heat until hot. Serve in a bowl or large cup. Sprinkle the cheese. Add onion and scallions on top.

Eat while sitting at your embroidery machine watching it stitch out something beautiful.

Submitted by: Ethel Quiram

Our thanks to MaryCatherine M. for submitting this helpful embroidery tip:

Press finished embroidery designs from the WRONG side of the fabric. This method ensures the design will sit on top of the fabric, looking rich and elegant. It prevents embroidery stitches from being 'mashed down'.

If possible, use a 'soft' padding like quilt batting on your entire pressing surface. The batting provides a temporary resting spot for the stitches -- take a look at the batting after pressing and you'll see what I mean.

And finally, use a press cloth! Some stabilizers will adhere to the iron.

Want to win FREE designs? Submit your tip or trick to us. If we publish your tip you will win your choice of any downloadable design or design set from our online catalog.

Tips submitted by our readers have not been tested by us. We make no claim to their viability or usability.

• AQS Quilt Show - April 23-26 Paducah, KY
• Creative Sewing & Needlework Festival - April 25-27 Mississauga, ON
• Denver National Quilt Festival III - May 1-4 Denver, CO
• Quilt, Craft & Sewing Festival - May 8-10 Del Mar, CA

Two (2) lucky winners in every isssue!

Today's lucky winners are:

If your email address is shown above, you have won a complete set of our extremely popular Retro Restaurant Advertising design set. Please contact us by email within 5 days to claim your prize. Be sure to let us know what format you need so we can get the designs on their way to you.

Others interested in this very popular set can see it here. Be sure to visit our customer showcase while you're there. See some of the creative ways other embroiderers have found to use this set.

If you haven't had an opportunity to try any of our embossed designs, here are two free designs from our Embossed Singles collection. Two sizes of each design are included. One for the 4x4 hoop and one for the 5x7 hoop. Please enjoy them with our compliments.

Available to subscribers only. Not available through the Archives.

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