Ellen's Elaborations

Stuff I Would LOVE to Sell

2011-04-26T20:34:00.004-05:00

WOW! I haven't posted anything here in a REALLY long time! It has been a crazy, my-kid-started-kindergarten kind of year! PLEASE be invested in your kids. They bring such JOY!!! Praying for wisdom every day!! Ask for it, ladies; God will bring it!

I have SEVERAL (well, one of each style or so) mouse pads. This is one I did for myself! Please check the website if you are even REMOTELY interested. They make great gifts, don't ya think?

Come on now, isn't this cute!? I have one bib and burp in this pattern and one bib and burp in a ladybug pattern. If I had a baby I would keep them for myself. They are very soft and good quality. Check the SALE page of the website. Anybody catch that? SALE!!!

I have one of these adorable little backpacks. It is not listed on the website (I have no idea why), but would love to send it to a loving home. It is a preschool backpack. (The one I have doesn't have a name on it yet in case you were wondering.) It is made by Mint. The website has other coordinating items listed also. Please leave a comment or email me if you are interested.

No idea why this pic is turned sideways. Anyone else have that problem? All pics come in fine but one. Hmm...probably user error. BUT you can see it is "cute as punch," as my BFF Julie says. I thought ladybugs would be a good seller. I like them. They eat bugs off of your flowers. Who wouldn't want to wipe their little angels drool with that thought in mind?

I have got to go to bed. I think I am delirious and it's only 9:00! Today was day 1 of no caffiene, so I'm CrAnKy!! Love to all who read this!

I need y'alls opinion

2010-08-10T19:02:00.004-05:00

I currently carry the 16oz stainless steel mugs that you can see on my website. They have a lid that can be used with hot or cold items; looks like a typical coffee mug lid. They now have these water bottle lids that screw on tight and won't spill. So basically I am wondering if I should get the water bottle lids (pictured below, and the mugs only come in the taller size now) to go with the hot beverage lids. Would you like the option of having 2 different lids for whatever you are drinking? Please leave me a comment and let me know!

Water bottle lid; Hot beverage lid

Anyone know any good stress management?

2010-08-09T22:16:00.000-05:00

Has anyone ever had those weeks where you are just crazy busy with work, and you can't seem to catch up only to have more work keep coming in every day, and your friends call and say, "I know it's last minute, but...," and you aren't good at saying no, and you have a 5 year old who wants you to play with him every second of the day, and you have to grocery shop and cook for your family and clean the house, and find time to blog, and find time to exercise (what's that?), and somewhere in there get some sleep, and.......................

My New Favorite Thing!

2010-08-06T16:00:00.003-05:00

My best friends daughter is about to start third grade and she asked if I could make her a rhinestone shirt. I of course said, "Sure!" I think I may be, after a YEAR of trying to learn this new software (which the guy said was a "piece of cake") getting the hang of it. So yesterday she came over and HERE IT IS!! I just think it is SOOOO cute! Can you tell my excitement?!? I can make one for any grade level if you want one too! Or I can say that anything rocks (if you want something else to rock; like ballet, school, softball, WHATEVER).
love it!

a close up

Cute Tooshies

2010-07-27T01:57:00.003-05:00

I have been meaning to post this pic my friend Andrea sent since February! Now that is just sad, isn't it? I made these bloomers for the cute little tooshies you see here. It is rare that I actually get to see what I have made being put to use, so I LOVE this! Thanks so much Andrea for sharing!

My Sweet Grandma

2010-07-02T22:54:00.005-05:00

This was in 2005.

Christmas morning 2006 reading the Christmas story from Luke 2 to my son Noah.

Christmas 2008

Her 96th birthday party! (my mom beside her)

My grandmother was an awesome lady, and probably the reason I know how to sew. She was an amazing seamstress who I am pretty sure could make anything! Growing up she made all kinds of stuff for me including quilts, curtains, pillows, dust ruffles, not to mention all the clothes she made for my dolls when I was young. She did cross stitch, crochet, and even some embroidery by hand (before the big machines they have now). Pretty much any kind of sewing you can think of. She is now my inspiration to keep on going in this embroidery business. In her last few years her memory had failed her and she couldn't remember that I had started sewing, but when I would take her some pieces to show her she was so proud. She was a hard worker who loved to serve others until the day she went to be with Jesus. She passed away June 4, 2010 and I will miss her every day for the rest of my life.
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:4
PRAISE GOD! praise God!

Not enough of me to go around

2010-02-16T10:44:00.002-06:00

I feel like I need to give a little information about how the process of getting an order works. Lately I have had a lot of people that place an order and seem to want it the next day! This just simply cannot happen, at least not if you order from me. I am a one woman show. I have no help when it comes to the sewing, packing, and shipping. Also, as you can tell from the photo above, I have a 4 year old son. He and my husband are my top priority. I am a wife and mother first, embroiderer second. I only sew when he is at school which is Tuesday and Thursday. Sometimes on the weekend I can squeeze in some time, but I don't like to if it takes away from my family time. Right now he is actually sick with strep throat AND flu! So, he won't be at school at all this week which means no sewing for me. He will start kindergarten in August and I will have more time to dedicate to embroidery, so until then I ask for your patience.
When ordering please take into consideration that there is only one of me, and 2 weeks is a good estimate of when your order will be ready. I complete orders in the order in which I receive them, so although you may order on one day I may not actually be sewing on it until the next week or so. Sometimes in slow months I can get to your orders sooner (back to school and Christmas are NOT slow times!).
On another note, we had some crazy winter weather last week which we are not used to. We, in the Dallas, TX area, had 12 inches of snow in one day!!! Needless to say, everything shut down for a few days until we thawed out. Some people are still without power almost a week later! A few orders have had to wait a few extra days to go out until I can actually see the road to drive to the post office! Crazy!!!

Are you ready for some bling!?!

2010-01-19T15:34:00.009-06:00

Certain times of the year lots of vendors who sell apparel products have a 3 day workshop for people in the industry. Well, I went to this show thinking I was going to find a shirt, hat, bag supplier and I came home with more than I bargained for!!! I saw an exhibit where they were doing the rhinestone shirts, and they made it look so easy! Well, I have checked into this area before and the cost was just unbelievable. A company has come out with an affordable system that can create any kind of custom bling-bling product. So, of course, I bought it! I am a bit of an impulsive shopper, and this gave me quite the adrenaline rush!

Now I am home with all of this new equipment, and have done a few (and I really mean a few) things already. I am learning how to do more with the software everytime I play with it which is exciting! I can do bling, vinyl iron-on, car decals, you name it! I am attaching a few pics for your viewing pleasure. Maybe this will spark an idea for you of something you would like to see on a hat, shirt, bag, etc...

This shirt I did for a friend who wanted embroidery and rhinestones. Cute!!

These two designs I bought already made and then heat pressed them onto the black shirts. Aren't these cure holiday shirts??? (Sorry my picture taking skills aren't very good. I don't know how to get the lighting just right!)

These are some shirts I did for my friends kids. Everyone loves to have their name on something, and how neat if it is in shiny bling, huh?

More to come...

The Beast

2009-10-10T15:10:00.004-05:00

Well, I am in bed with the flu and decided not to be completely worthless! My mom suggested I update my blog, so I began thinking about what I could write. I decided to give you a little info about the machine that does all the work. It is a bit of a beast. I am not sure these pics do it justice but here it is!

It has 12 needles so I don't have to change thread colors too often, which is nice. It weighs 88 pounds and makes LOTS of noise! Sometimes it has a mind of it's own, and like it did the other day, started sewing in the wrong spot. I had to stop it take the hoop (which holds the item to be embroidered) out rip the threads out, put the hoop back in, get it reset, and start again. That is such a pain! Another time it sewed half a design with no bobbin thread and never stopped! I, of course, was not watching it because I was working on next design to be embroidered. Once I had put a new bobbin in and the hoop back on the stitching was off. I had to rip out the entire design (which was big and had a LOT of stitches and start completely over. Why do I write these negative stories about my lovely machine? Because embroidery is not always fun and games, nor is it always quick and easy. It does take time to get whatever you want set up in the software, get it hooped and on the machine. THEN the beast goes to work! I do enjoy the finished product and love seeing the faces of the people when they get their items, but the getting there is not always stress free! Well, I think I need to go back to sleep! I feel a low point coming on. This flu thing stinks!!!

Cute Baby Stuff

2009-09-30T21:44:00.004-05:00

My friend just had a baby and these are some things I did for her little Riley. I think they came out really cute just like her! The blanket is the Boyz R Gross font, the bloomers are Bailey font, and the bib and burp cloth are Words of Love.

Back-to-School Rush

2009-09-16T19:14:00.021-05:00

Here are a few of the MANY items I did for all those kiddos going back to school. I have so many more, but just got tired of uploading! You have to forgive my picture taking skills. I am certainly not gifted in that area (my friend Haley is. Check out her website www.haleybphotography.com). I do try when it is a sunny day and I have the time to take pictures in the grass. I think that makes all the colors look so good, and I love sunlight! Man, I can really go off on tangents, can't I?

from the Gap

Stephen Joseph Quilted Backpack

Isn't this a cute lunchbox someone brought me?

I love the pink with the blue and green. Perfect for those little lady puppy lovers! This is a Stephen Joseph lunch box.

One of the Mint Sweet Little Things napmats

Stephen Joseph matching lunch box and go go bag

These last two pics are of a Mint Sweet Little Things small backpack and lunchbox. I don't think either of these things is shown on the website, but they are available! They come in all the patterns the snack squares come in. If you see one you like let me know and I can get it for you! I have them for my son, which is no suprise. He has one of everything I carry! He is the most monogrammed kid around. Oh well, I can't help it!

My Sweet Noah

2009-09-15T23:31:00.001-05:00

Here is a little pencil bag I carry that I decided to use for my son's epipen and Benedryl that goes with him to school. He has a pretty bad dairy allergy, which he has thankfully outgrown a little bit but still severe. I am always a little nervous that he might get ahold of something he shouldn't, and then I will get that dreaded phone call. Well, at least if his teachers have to go hunting for a shot it will be in a stylish bag that matches his snack square and backpack! This bag comes in most of the patterns that the Mint Sweet Little Things snack squares come in. If you like it, please see the website for all the options it comes in (and it is really reasonably priced--only $8.00 monogrammed!)

Everyone Meet My Mother...

2009-08-21T23:36:00.002-05:00

My mother retired a few years ago from being a high school counselor after 30 plus years in public education. I will always wonder how she lasted so long! I only made it in the classroom 5 years before the burn-out set in. I must admit, I do miss the kids (I taught 1st grade). Needless to say, after so many years of working, sitting at home was not going well for her. She needed a project. Therefore, I gave her one--a BIG one!

She runs my website (I guess I should say, "Our website"). I told her of my plan to start an embroidery website where people could buy products that I could personalize, but I wouldn't have to leave my house to "work." I also wanted to do something besides change diapers and be spit up on, not that that isn't a worthwhile thing. Being a mom is the most difficult thing, and you only get one shot at it! Please Lord, help me get it right.
She is a very smart woman, and I knew she could learn to create a website and make it look great! I figured she could help me out and I could help her out in return. One thing I didn't realize is that she would be so good at it that I haven't learned a thing about what she has done, and can't tell you one iota how that website works! Isn't that pathetic? I really meant to learn how to create pages, add pictures, and make all the pages connect so it all flowed nicely. But I didn't. I know nothing! Well, not true. I can change the status of an order from "on order" to "shipped." And I did do the photo gallery, but that is about it (and that needs MAJOR updating!). Basically, all I do is sew!

She will call me and tell me about something she created and how things are going to work, and I just say, "Huh?" She is the real reason my website is any kind of success. This little project has turned into a full time thing for her, and has become a lot more maintanence than I think we both bargained for! One day she may get tired of my incessant nagging about how I want certain pages to look or what I want them to say, but for now she is graciously granting all my requests without too much fuss (we are both very opinionated people, you see, and don't always have the same ideas about what looks good).

Her name is Margaret, by the way. If you send a comment through the website she may answer you back instead of me so don't be alarmed! Not that you would be. Well, goodnight all, and another great big THANK YOU to my mom. Your work does not go unnoticed! I love you!

Welcome to my thoughts about embroidery!

2009-08-20T23:00:00.001-05:00

After much prodding from my precious mother I am going to attempt to blog about my embroidery business. I know those of you reading this are just on the edge of your seats, eagerly awaiting to know all you can about thread, stabilizer, and all things embroidery! As I lay here in my bed the time is 11:00 pm and my son is FINALLY asleep after a long day of fun at Chuck E Cheese. The house is finally quiet and I am relaxing, watching the weather channel (I know, it's sad), and thinking about all of the sewing that is stacked up in my workroom.

Being "Back to School" season, I am swamped! This is not a bad thing, but I am starting to get stressed about getting it all done and getting everyone their orders in time for those first days of school. I know how important those moments can be, especially to the little ones awaiting their new, shiny backpacks and lunchboxes. (Well, maybe not shiny, but you know what I mean.) And I am a scrapbooker so I know the desire to have that perfect picture with all the new stuff. Which by the way, if you are not a scrapbooker--don't start! It is lots of fun, but it is addicting!!!! Once you start when do you stop? I am always behind wondering when I will have the time to catch up! I have decided to leave my stuff out on the dining room table at all times thinking it will inspire me to work on it (and who eats at their dining room table on a regular basis, right? We eat at the breakfast table as a family for those who are wondering, so might as well get some use out of the dining table that sits empty until the holidays.) But I digress...

I hope this blog will be informative to you and also an outlet for me to vent about my goings on in the embroidery world. We shall see! I guess I should tell you a little about myself. I have a little "About Me" on my website (http://www.elaborationsemb.com/), but here is the condensed version. I am a stay at home mom with one cute son and a handsome husband. We live in a suburb north of Dallas, Texas where it is really hot right now! (We may get some rain tonight. Yea!) I do all the embroidery on my commercial machine in one of our guest bedrooms, which now also contains my workspace. My mom runs the website. More on her later. It is a struggle to find the right balance between family, maintaining a home, and sewing. For those of you with small children you know how hard it is to get anything done when they want a playmate! And since my child is the most important job I have right now, he usually wins out. He sometimes will ask me, "Mommy, are you going to sew today?" How can I say yes to that? Now is when I should be working--when he is sleeping. Thankfully he is a good sleeper so the machine noise doesn't wake him up, but I am tired after playing all day, making dinner, doing dishes, laundry (my least favorite thing which never goes away), etc. So the overload begins!! He goes back to preschool in a couple of weeks so things will get easier. For now, I am trying to soak up each moment.

I am rambling, so off to sleep with me. Goodnight whoever is graciously reading these words!