This is the month of hearts. It's a time when we begin to celebrate Cupid with Valentine's Day and look forward to the certainty of spring making its way to us. I hope you will find many uses for this month's design.
We recently returned from the ISS show in Long Beach, California. What a show! We debuted our new product Hook Wash. It was a very exciting time. Our booth was crowded nearly the entire show. It was great to see old friends and we made a lot of new ones. We've no other shows lined up at this time but are considering going to Forth Worth in Texas for the September event. Hook Wash has generated a lot of interest in the industry and we've many possible distributors so one may soon be near you. Hirsch has already picked the product up. As more companies do, I will list them as distributors on the Hook Wash site (www.hookwash.com). Prices of the product will remain the same whether the purchase is made through us or through another company.
Now to get on with business here at Black Eagle: In the future I've many things planned for this newsletter and subscribers. I see a lot of questions come up on various lists in regards to aspects of digitizing which include density, small lettering, sizing of lettering and monograms, editing, copyrights (that one is an ongoing subject isn't it!) and the like. I'll be developing classes to cover these areas. If you have questions or suggestions, please let me know by writing me at jerilee@blackeagledesigns.com. I will cover whatever topic you have interest in. If I can't I'll find someone who can.
The way the classes will be covered at this time is through the type-written word and files attached in various formats, similar to how you receive the designs. Some will be basic, some will be more advanced. As time goes on I plan to branch into visuals and 'real time' teaching through the internet.
One class that I've created is how to embroider on toilet paper. This is a virtual online class meaning you can access the lessons and the two designs that come with the class at any time, day or night. It's hosted by the Embroidery Academy which is the brain child of Bonnie Domeny. www.embroidery-academy.com is the link to the class. Bonnie has several instructors with different types of classes. I realize this type of embroidery is often viewed as 'silly' or 'goofy' by some and geared towards the home market. As embroiderers, we must constantly be thinking outside the box to keep ahead of the game and it's good to have fun while doing it too! Toilet paper is inexpensive to do and is a great way to offer your customers something that is not garment related. Everyone can use embroidery. This is one more way to sell it; while a little zany, it leaves an impression (I've never seen anyone frown and do see lots of big smiles when one's presented with this) and is a unique way to get your name out to potential customers. Side bar: we had some new folks move in across the street once. We were introducing ourselves and making small talk. I noticed this guy had a ton of large packages of toilet paper in the garage; he ran a janitorial service. I commented that he should embroider on some of this and hand it out. He laughed and laughed and said, who in the world would want something that goofy? I said, let me show you! I took his business card across the street, created his simple logo with the company name and phone number, wrapped it in tulle (bridal netting) with wire garland, attached his business card and came back over. His eyes grew very wide. He was beside himself with how cute it was. This big strapping man proceeded to order 24 rolls which he passed out to every one of his customers. Months afterwards he was telling me how every time he went into a place he'd given this to, comments were still being made. As you can see, this was a hit with him and the folks he gave it to. I sell rolls for $7.95. Rumor has it there is a woman in Houston TX who sells rolls for $20 and I've heard the same news out of New Jersey. (They're obviously in different income bracket circles than I am.) While you may not choose this route, it just goes to show that something we think of as off-the-wall can generate a new source of income when we are willing to go outside the box of 'normal' embroidery.
On another front, I'm pleased to announce my appointment to the Editorial Advisory Board of Stitches Magazine. Stitches is the premier magazine in our commercial industry here in the United States. Over the years we've all watched it go through changes and get thinner in content. The magazine was purchased by ASI last year. Phenomenal changes have come to pass with more on the way. Working with the editors has given me a birds-eye view of those changes as well as what the future holds. It's become a magazine for us readers. Stitches is now for the everyman of the industry. New names and faces have already appeared and more are being sought. If you have a niche, a different way of doing things, a specialty, please write me. I'd love to hear it and get it to the appropriate person at the magazine for possible inclusion in future issues. If you are not a subscriber to this magazine, go to www.stitches.com. The subscriptions are free. There are articles on everything embroidery related - digitizing, trends, hooping, designs, software reviews, machine reviews, etc. It's a must-have these days.
One article being planned, or series of articles that is, is a 12 month span of maintenance articles. Jim Auclair will be writing them. The articles will be very in-depth, replete with pictures, in an effort to help people do more for their own machines. I believe these will start to show up in May of this year. We are working the details out now.
Without further ado I will get this newsletter sent out to you along with the zip file that has the Heart Vine design in the DST, VIP and PXF formats as well as the stitch image.
