This blog has moved to www.EmbroideryIt.com.
Dear Friends,
I have been working hard at moving all my content here from this BlogSpot blog to my official website:
I feel like I'm moving just next door or around the corner, not far from here. The blog content is all over there and I'm working on the rest of the site. Hubby says, if I do it myself I will learn more. So I've done it myself and learn I have! There have been times I've struggled, many times, and I've wanted to pull out my hair. I've persevered. It's just like moving the heavy furniture yourself. Struggle a bit, grunt, push and shove and finally you get it where you want it. It's far from perfect, but it's a start and pieces are slowly moving into place.
So this will be my last post here on my BlogSpot blog. Please stop over at www.EmbroideryIt.com to find the latest happenings. Just click on "Blog" at the top of the page. While you are there, be sure to sign up for my newsletter that will keep you up-to-date with the current events at Embroidery It headquarters. There will be tips and tricks, new designs, event happenings, as well as a bit about my family life.
Thank you so much friends and I will see you in my new home where you are most welcome to stop by and have a cup of coffee and chat with me.
With much love, hugs and blessings to you all,
Nancy
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Sunday, May 4, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Embroidery It Forward Strong Goals Update
Dear Friends,
You may remember my post from January 1st this year (you can find it HERE). I have been reviewing my goals monthly in my journal but wanted to give you an update in this post now that we are a third of the way through the year. By posting on my blog it just helps me be more accountable.
FORWARD has been my word for the year with the word STRONG as it's modifier. After having a difficult 2013, God has been using the word Forward to get me moving and on track. Just like Moses leading the Israelites out of the desert to the promised land. Unlike them, I have been trying hard to listen to God's word and obey His commands. I don't want to take 40 years like they did. Smiles
So I will quickly review my goals with their update written in red. I have changed some goals along the way as I've felt the need. As I mentioned in my other post, these goals are fluid and can be changed. I'm ok with that.
Family Goals
- Spend quality time with family when they are home. Say 'yes' to family games and movies. YES - Doing this.
- Visit Katie and Emily twice a year Visited Katie before she left for Kuwait. Will see Emily this summer
- Remove paper from the home and keep remaining paper organized (#1 goal and more on this below) Making progress
- Tidy home daily Yes, for the most part
- Clean home weekly Yes, for the most part
- Grocery shop one time a week- instead of several times a week I have been getting better and better at this and have been doing it well over the past 6 weeks.
- Menu plan weekly Ugh, No - I need to do this
- Go to bed with a clean kitchen About 50% of the time
- Continue habits of Daily Audio Bible and weekly adoration in addition to Sunday church YES
- Become actively involved in the women's group at church Not yet but plan to. I have been attending another activity that conflicts with the date and time the women's group meets.
- Read St. Faustina's Diary No
- Attend a women's retreat like Captivating No
- Notice God's blessings daily Yes and I've started journaling about God's blessings
- Pay bills every Thursday No, they get paid, just not on the schedule I'd like for them to.
- Pause before making purchases Yes
- Balance checkbook and reconcile credit card statements monthly No
- Become actively involved in the women's group at church Not yet, see above
- Join Crafters with a Cause Not yet but plan to this summer
- Maintain monthly contact with friends from New Mexico and other locations we've lived YES
- Grow online friendships on this blog Yes!!!
- Take one art class or attend a quilt guild meeting - monthly I did for only a couple of months. Going to Michigan Embroiderers Spring Fest in May. I take online digitizing classes weekly.
- Learn a new craft I took a quilting class
- Learn to digitize embroidery designs Yes!!!
- Learn a new craft Took a quilting class
- Learn to digitize embroidery designs Yes!!!
- Learn to set up a true website Currently in the process of doing this
- Follow written business plan and get my business up and running (stop talking and start doing here) YES! One other thing I have been doing is attending GROW, Grand Rapids Opportunities for Women, and through it I have been learning all the in's and out's of running a business in Michigan. My business has started as you know I've been getting my designs up at Embroidery Ranch and sales have started trickling in. BIG Smiles! Also starting in May I am taking an online business class geared specifically for crafters selling their work.
- Create a true website Currently in the process of doing. I need to focus more though on really getting it up and running.
- Learn to digitize embroidery designs YES!!!
- Blog 2 times a week No but I strive to do this. I've been focusing more on digitizing.
- Listen to Entrepreneur on Fire Sporadic
- Develop a newsletter Not yet
- Create a contact list Not yet
Personal Goals
- Clean eating Working hard at this. Still like candy too much.
- 10,000 steps a day About 50% of the time
- Classical stretch daily About 5% of the time
- weekly creative time Most weeks
- New Personal Goal - Lose 20 pounds - Those pounds are stuck to me like glue.
- Choose a cause to support Plan to join Crafters with a Cause this summer
- Blog Yes, but would like to more often
- YouTube videos I have not made any new videos this year
- Women's group at church Not yet but plan to
Finally, I wrote in my journal earlier this year that it is all about LOVE. God is Love. Jesus commands us to Love one another. "Faith, Hope and Love, but the greatest of these is Love." Nothing else truly matters than Love when you look at the great big picture of things. I try to keep that focus in everything I do, for my family, home business, self, etc. Sometimes I'm not sure how to show love in my business. Quite honestly that has been a conflict for me. What I will say is that if you ever need a prayer, send me an e-mail and I will pray for/with you.
So, I keep reviewing these goals and reminding myself of them. I'm pretty happy with myself that I've accomplished what I have so far. My business goals are what I've moved forward with the most. I have learned so much in that area and it is where I can see the greatest strides being made. When I see the goals that I need to work on, I remember my words of Forward Strong and I try to keep those goals at the front of my thoughts.
Hugs and Blessings to each and every one of you,
Nancy
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Friday, April 18, 2014
Machine Embroidery Painted Flower
How is spring coming along in your neck of the woods? We had another 2 inches of the white stuff a couple days ago. It is melted now and there are flower buds poking their heads up through the ground. Being that this is the first spring in our new home, I'm anxious to see what has been planted here. I'm thinking tulips, daffodils and maybe crocus? Flowers coming soon and I cannot wait!!!!
Blessings everyone,
Nancy
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Generations Challenge using the Satin Tool
For this month's challenge over at You Can Digitize the only tool we were allowed to digitize with was the satin tool and to use the features built into the satin tool. I used the border feature to create the outlines and the feather stitch feature to create the eyelashes. Everyone in the challenge used the same unicorn artwork. I'm not a cartoon gal when it comes to my embroidery. I prefer more realistic designs, but this made for good practice.
Blessings,
Nancy
Monday, April 14, 2014
Getting Ready for Easter
The design fits a 4 x 4 hoop and would be perfect on a liner used in an Easter basket. Each recipient would know whose basket is whose. :-)
As for what else has been happening, Timothy and I took the Amtrak to Hutchinson to visit my parents this past week over his spring break. It was a lovely visit with perfect weather. We've returned back to Grand Rapids and the snow is all gone except for where it was in piles from the snow plow. Best of all....I see some flower leaves poking their heads up through the ground. That makes me very happy.
Hugs and Blessings everyone,
Nancy
Monday, March 24, 2014
Working on New Website
Dear Friends,
I know just enough about computers to be dangerous. :-)
I'm working on building a Word Press website that will eventually become the home of Embroidery It and I hope to have a shop on there to sell my designs. I'm doing this myself rather than hiring a website designer to do it for me. I did call around and got quotes from $1,000 to $2,000 plus more for monthly support. YIKES! Maybe at some point when I'm making a bit from my designs I can go in and have a professional polish up my website but for now it is what it is. Most importantly, I'm learning something new and learning provides me with a lot of satisfaction.
Right now I have the domain www.embroideryit.com pointed to my new website through my new host. Using Blue Host if anyone wants to know. This blog will continue using Google's blogspot so you may notice in the URL it says www.embroideryit.blogspot.com If, by chance you do happen to go to www.embroideryit.com, there is nothing there at the moment. You can pop over from time to time if you like to see my progress, maybe cheer me on.....
Quite honestly, this post is more of a test than anything as I want to see if the feed from this post will be delivered to your inbox. I'm not sure if my feed is connected with blogspot or not. Boy this is a lot of technical mumbo-jumbo.
As I continue to work on my website, I will be posting the occasional photo here of what I'm working on. Hopefully it will be a little eye candy for you. :-) The above photo is my latest applique creation and is my own design. I hope you enjoy!
Embroidery Blessings,
Nancy
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