Interview with AuntyM

How did you get started with digitizing?
Digitizing was not a part of this business that I intended to include in my in-home embroidery company. I knew that digitizing could be as full-time an occupation as embroidery was and I did not have time for both! But as I learned how to recognize the differences in quality designs and those that made my embroidery business less profitable, I began digitizing some simple designs for my customers. As I learned more about how to digitize designs for production value, I also gained an appreciation for the creativity involved with the entire process. It did not take long before digitizing became my focus.

Has your business changed since you started digitizing?
Keeping up with embroidery for customers has been a challenge. Recently, we moved the "shop" out of the house and into an office space not far from our home. My son and his wife will be managing the embroidery business while I concentrate on digitizing and teaching classes. It will be a while before they are completely comfortable with maintaining the entire shop, so I will be available at the office for part of every day. Soon, I hope to be able to spend more time with my favorite part of embroidery--digitizing and traveling to teach classes.

What digitizing projects are "on the drawing board" for Aunty M?
A friend asked me to collaborate with her on a special project for her grandchildren. She wanted to create a "quiet book" with Bible stories. I still have a similar book that my children used many years ago and we took that one out of the "Grandma" box to use as a sample. That book does not use a Bible theme and there are no embroidery designs in it, but it does serve to help us remember the kind of activities that work well for little fingers. Beginning with the "Creation Game", the quiet book will end with activities based on stories from the New Testament. While we have planned all of the pages for the quiet book, my time has been limited by the move from home to shop. Hopefully, I will be able to get back to digitizing more pages for the quiet book very soon.
I also plan to digitize more artwork from Carol Sabo. I used two of her paintings to create some special Christmas cards last fall. "Frosty Friends" and "Christmas Mailbox" are embroidery designs inspired by her beautiful paintings. She has given me permission to use more of her artwork and I am anxious to get started on more card designs from her collection.

What can an embroiderer learn by taking a class from Aunty M?
Digitizing is an on-going process. There is always something to learn--no matter how long you have been doing it! I teach a class called "Recognizing Quality Designs" where we discuss what I like to call "three-foot designs". There are many designs that look great from three feet away. But when you get any closer than that--or when you are the person who has to take the time to clip all the jump threads or fix the design--it does not take long to realize that your time is valuable. In the class, we learn how to recognize a quality design before it is sent to the machine. If you can look at a design in a computer program and be aware of what makes it a project that is worth your time, you will be happier with the results and you will enjoy your embroidery time even more.
I also teach a basic digitizing class. While I use Embroidery Magic 2 to teach the class, anyone can attend as the basic principles of "manual punch" digitizing are the same--no matter what program you are using. Digitizing correctly is not easy. It takes an understanding of the physical nature of thread, fabric, and stabilizers as well as knowledge of the mechanical aspects of an embroidery machine. Adding in the technical knowledge involved with computers and digitizing programs makes the entire process a real challenge. But when the light bulb clicks and it all comes together, it is a fascinating process to watch your design come to life on fabric. I certainly cannot teach everything about the physical, mechanical, and technical aspects of digitizing, but I can make a dent. And it is a good feeling to watch someone start on the journey of learning something new and creative.