Grace and Company

Band to Bow and Nobbie Neez Kids

2008-07-18T05:15:00.003-05:00

Oh, my new found passion has led me to a new designer that is absolutely AMAZING, Dee at Band to Bow and Nobbie Neez Kids has some of the cutest designs I have seen. Everything you can think of for kids, moms, moms to be, grandparents, siblings, and twins. Dee is an amazing digitizer to say the least, and a very smart business woman. I have already invested in many, many, many of her designs, and her talent is honestly an inspiration. A true testament to the will of the human spirit that Dee is. Band to Bow is a market place for finished products, while Nobbie Neez Kids is the site you will find thousands of embroidery designs. She even has a yahoo group for all of Band to Bow junkies to chat and help each other. Let me WARN you, Band to Bow is ADDICTING, it should have a warning on the site that goes something like this; WARNING THE FOLLOWING SITE IS ADDICTING AND IS COULD CONSUME ALL OF YOUR TIME AND MONEY ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!! I just LOVE it. Grab a cup of coffee (you may need the whole pot) and head on over. I highly recommend it.

2008-05-01T14:57:00.002-05:00

here she is my new machine, its going to be here on Saturday Im so excited I can hardly contain myself.

New Machine

2008-04-28T00:03:00.001-05:00

Well I finally made a decision on an embroidery machine. Whew its hard work parting ways with my money. I decided to go with the brother pr620, because it is portable enough to take to shows. We will be able to embroider and personalize on spot. Im so excited can't wait for it to get here. I'll post pics when I get it set up.

up and coming,

2008-02-27T11:42:00.003-06:00

well it has once again been crazy around our house, and time has slipped by. Where does the time go, I know it seems to be going faster the older I get. I have had some inspiration in the last flu invested weeks. I will be working on some of the cutest items us mommies. Including, check book covers, card holders, book marks, and our own koozies for those times when we actually get to relax. I am still in the process of adding the bible covers, they are in I just need to run samples to put up on the site. Also, I will be adding some of the most adorable yet practical outfits for the little girls.

I promise to get more embroidery resources up in the next day or so.

Digitizers and Designs

2008-02-06T05:24:00.001-06:00

since we are all aware that I am not a digitizer yet, creative as I may be , I am just not there. So I would like to share some of the wonderful designers/digitizers who are really good. This week I would like to introduce you to Bunnycup Embroidery, Im not really sure How I found Mrs. Ashlea, but Im glad I did. Her designs from the heart, are nothing short of amazing. Everything you can think of for our little angels, princesses, fairies, pirates, and more. I absolutely enjoy stitching her designs, they run very efficiently with minimal jumps and trims, and perfect every time. I just can not say enough about the quality of Bunnycup Embroidery. If you have never seen her site you have to check it out, and she is even having an awesome sale this month.Visit Bunnycup Embroidery by clicking here

There is no such thing as Auto Digitizing

2008-02-05T19:37:00.000-06:00

Well I know I haven't posted in awhile it has been just crazy around our house. The smallest, which my loving husband refers to as "Peel" (Im not sure I like that nickname, I prefer Darlin) has been sick and it has been breathing treatment city around here. I should post some pictures, she is even adorable sick. So I finally got some time and decided I needed to post.

I'm going to make a point to do so at least 3 times a week, I see totally Jeanne is one up on me (and a good one at that) I hear ya sister loud and clear!!!!! I'm totally in!!!! NO MORE ROLL OVER.

So down to business, I want to start sharing some valuable resources, and thought what better place than designs. I'm not sure how many people realize what a painstaking process digitizing for embroidery is. I think we look at those wonderful designs in this world of point and click and copy and paste, or even sketch and draw with the tablet. The point is, I feel that with as much clip art, and paint programs, and digital sketch stuff that there is , we mistakenly think that embroidery would be the same. How far from the truth. The process of turning digital images, scanned images and even vector art into embroidery is just that ........A PROCESS. When you have to consider stitch length, design path, density, size, layers, underlay, color changes, trims, jumps, the list goes on. On top of all of that, the whole design depends on the fabric, not all designs work on every fabric, they have to be digitized for a specific size and fabric. Also, you have to keep in mind that there are many different stitch types, fills, patterns, and that eveything can be laid out perfect, but look horrible if the stitches are going in the wrong direction!!! Whew that's a lot to grasp...... And we haven't even scratched the surface. Thats why a digitizer is worth there weight in Gold. I am learning, I am trying, Im eager, but ......I am NOT calling myself a digitizer...... Yet.

Granted, with new software coming out every day it is improving. But even with so called auto digitizing built in, I have learned the hard way THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AUTODIGITIZING.

Roll-Overs?

2008-02-01T10:21:00.000-06:00

No, I am not talking about your retirement. I am talking about that portion of your body that roll-overs your waist band. I am sure not everyone has to deal with this,but I certaintly do! Most of us have them, we just don't talk about. We dress in the dark so we don't have to see them. We buy long shirts so we can hide them. I for one am officially tired of them. Basically it is my fault and I have not right to complain. I have made a monthly donation for a gym for awhile, so I guess it is time to get busy and fight against these evil roll overs! Anyway else gain? Till next time. Totally Jeanne

Auntie By Grace???

2008-01-23T13:37:00.000-06:00

ok, Im sure some are wondering what the by grace is for. Well when I was thinking of a name for my little business, I wanted something that would give the glory to God, so By Grace, for it is by His Grace that I am alive, that I am forgiven, that I am a mommy, that I am a sister, that I am a wife, He is the reason for everything. So it is by Grace that I am able to design and make all these wonderful clothes. So my wonderful lovely sister Jeanne, is Auntie by Grace. I guess I am too. She has two beautiful boys, whom I love dearly, we also have 7 others 6 more nephews and 1 neice. So we are auntie to lots of wonderful kids. Jeanne is very talented and is a nurse by day and creator of all kinds of lovely, trendy, and just plain Cool stuff. So we call it all totally Jeanne, because only Jeanne could come up with those ideas. I hope she will share some of it with us soon.

Auntie By Grace

2008-01-22T08:38:00.000-06:00

Let me introduce myself, I am Jeanne. I would be Rachel's Big Sis and Auntie to Grace. I am excited to be on mommy by Grace blog site. First let me tell you, By Grace has an awesome Spring line coming out and I can not wait to you see them. I know first hand because I got up at 5:30 in the morning to assist the designer(Rachel) in picking out the material. That is sisterly love right? I look forward to contributing intresting facts and mommy thoughts to ponder. Till next time, totally Jeanne

gourmet momma

2008-01-14T04:14:00.000-06:00

well, let me start with girl indie. Thank you so much to Lisa and Bobbie for creating such a wonderful place to chat, research, and network. if you have not checked it out DO IT!!!!!
http://www.girl-indie.com/

while I was chick chatting on Girl Indie I found Gourmet Momma, it is a wonderful blog chock full of recipes. from salads to 3 ingreidient meals and desserts. She even has the weight watcher points listed. How easy is that??? She also has does ask the chef and chef tips. Great information on knives here. so check it out.

http://gourmetmomma.blogspot.com/

starting the year off on a roll

2007-12-30T20:51:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to let you guys have a glimpse of what I am working on for the new year. I love crosses and I love applique so I couldn't go wrong combining the two. I am also falling in love with my heat set and the bling!!! lots of new ideas coming out of my work room. more to come.

wow, what a ride

2007-12-10T21:24:00.000-06:00

I sometimes have to remind myself I am only one person. I get so caught up in life and my dreams I forget to take it all in and remember my kids are only little once. So I have decided to focus on them through the rest of the year and holiday season. We just got back from Puerto Vallarta Mexico, what a needed break, John David and I forgot how much we love just hanging out with each other. It was an awesome trip but we were ready to get home to our kiddos and they were too. I'll just say this is the last time we will be able to go without them they drove their poor great grandmother nuts!!! Poor grandmother she is such a saint.

I have tons of new ideas and designs I am working on, I cant wait to show you. So keep checking back at the site and here. I promise at the beginning of the year lots of new will be coming your way.

hello

2007-11-14T19:25:00.000-06:00

Hello and welcome!!!!
I must say that I am new to this blog thing (well posting I should say) I am a big fan of the blog. I am a regular at many (reading that is). I decided to try my hand at it. Well I am trying my hand at many things these days. Being the fabric junkie I am, I have decided I need to sell some of what I make, so I have started By Grace Designs, and we are officially on the web now, THANK YOU LISA.

I guess I should formally introduce myself, my name is Rachel Ward (not the actress). I am born and raised in Texas and Love it. Could never imagine living anywhere else. I am a stay at home mom with two wonderful kids, John Owen who is 4 and Adele Grace, 17 months. Yes I know its strange that they both go by two names, but I just love them so much I could not imagine not calling them both. I guess it has something to with my husband John David, who also goes by two names, I guess you can just call us country.

My passions include my family, God, and sewing, embroidery, anything I get my hands on. I come by it honest being inspired by my mom and mother in law. My mom made me clothes as a child I did not realize how cool that was then, but appreciate it now. My mother in law, Diane is as creative as they come and has an electric personality to go along with it. Im sure I will share our stories from time to time, along with any hints or logic that comes my way.