We are not getting designs for our era, we do not all live in country houses that we want to put flowers on all projects. My daughters live in modern stylish homes . cannot see them with a 70's toilet paper covers or tissue box covers. All sites have more kid designs than you can poke a stick at. Most children want is in the latest kid show, so cheep to buy in shops now. Lets face it we are getting left behind. cheers Heather

Have you been to Urban Threads website? They are more up to date. Browse through their projects inspiration. You will be happy to find what you are looking for! Also, it's very hard to keep coming up with new ideas, so if you have one please share it with your favorite digitizer. Hugs. Nan W

My Grandkids want designs from Their favorite tv shows, most of which I've never heard of before. I try to find fabric from the shows and make them blankets but copyrights play into the design business big time. I know you can buy some licensed designs but they are way too expensive even if you can find the ones you want. Betty's Original Embroideries has Carolyn Shores Wrights birds and they're beautiful to me but not much interest to a 5 year old.
Meri

As a digitizer, I try to do elegant, no matter the theme. I like realism personally and love texture. When I think of modern, I don't necessarily think geometrics and sleek lines...although that's what comes to my mind if speaking of homes or furniture designs.

With embroidery, I think elegant and realistic can be very modern, depending on the colors chosen and where the design is applied. A large monogram on a white decorative pillow would look very modern on a sleek bed, chair covers, or towels.
Crowns are big, so are insects, certain sea life, etc...again, needs to be realistic, not cartoonish. Just a couple of thoughts from this digitizer.
Sonia Showalter

I have to agree with you. In my home , which is fairly old fashioned (as I am), I have very little embroidered things. My towels and tea towels are embroidered but that is enough, certainly for DH. Please do not get me wrong as I love doing embroidery but I mainly make for my grandchildren and for friends. This was a most interesting post for which I thank you. Sarah.

I have found that when it comes to modern I leave off the embroidery and make stylish aprons and towels and pillows that go with the color scheme in the room. They all still use oven mitts and potholders and i do not make all of mine in the hoop just old fashioned sewing and i get a great feel from that. Most of my embroidery goes for the kids, on shirts,blankets and such. I have tons of designs that have skylines and such and steampunk that goes well with more modern theme just do not feel afraid to ask what someone likes because if your making a personal gift make it for them not what you want for them.

Urban Threads is different. Also Kreations by Kara have wonderful designs.

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by hightechgrammy 10 Oct 2013

So do a lot of our Cuties sites. If you start out looking for standard designs, which all sites almost have to have, they will have them, but also look at their different styles, and look in the different categories. There is more there than you may think :-)

I don't want to mention a specific brand but the dealer I buy my machines from has such a wonderful selection of designs and projects many in a modern, contemporary theme. Have you checked with yours?

I don't think there is anything truly new and modern...LOL It's just retro that is considered new again. Look at the 1920's architecture...new, sleek and modern looking even in this era. I've seen huge changes in embroidery designs in the past five years, Embroidery Library has tons of just about anything you can ask for, Urban threads with their Steampunk look. Just a thought.
Muffy :)

As a digitizer, I can fully understand. I feel I have a variety of designs on my site, but the only thing that "sells" are the freebies and free alphabets. I can also do custom designs and there are others digitizers who also do this, so the possibilities for you to find what you need are there.

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by hightechgrammy 10 Oct 2013

Christie, your designs are outstanding! And, I think if people take the time to look at all your designs, beyond the free ones, they may be surprised at all the variety and creativity your designs can spark.

by christief edited 11 Oct 2013

Thanks so much for the encouraging words!

I agree with you. I also think things are changing and we will see more beautiful designs from many artists, some from this site! Love ya gals!

I saw a free design posted on a site a few weeks ago of a very cool looking skull...maybe some flames. I thought how modern and cool it was, something different for Halloween or a teenage boy's laundry bag. When I glanced at the comments section the mature ladies were complaining about how ugly and disgusting it was & how they would not download it even if it was free. I like vintage and modern designs myself. I love realistic designs, lots of colors, but know they come with a high stitch count. I'm not a big fan of the "cartoonish" versions of animals, plants and so on in unnatural looking colors. I have started editing designs a bit, removing elements I don't care for, & I love it.

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by eyeztodiefor10 17 Oct 2013

I think that skull was on embroidery Library and I bought it because I liked the way it looked and my sons' a rocker so he'll love it
Meri

You have to get inspired and then look in the right embroidery sites. Go with your daughters to the stores and see what they like. Snap a picture and recreate it for them. Us cuties will help you to find a similar design. My daughter found a $55 dollar pillow at I think it was West Elm and I was able to find an expensive remnant marked down and made two matching ones in her favorite colors. There are ways to make them things that they will like and you will have to watch what catches their eyes. Make an excuse to ask them to help you shop and then see what they pick up and comment on.

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by hightechgrammy 10 Oct 2013

I think this is right on target. Go out and see what it is that sparks your interest in the stores first. If you really look at them, they are probably variations of familiar elements, just different colors, fabrics, and how they are assembled.
I'm already really tired of pink and brown baby clothes, and I don't think there is anything "new" or "modern" about skulls or flames. I like to make things that are totally personalized and unique.

by capoodle 10 Oct 2013

Thanks for your remark. Your right - use your own colors and fabrics and not the suggested ones. I try to remember to take a few photos of someones rooms so I can see their style and colors.

I think one of the best things to go along with machine embroidery for me has been learning to digitize. What a difference that makes! When I want to add a shape, change a design into a FSL, or into an applique, take just an element of one design and use it in an unique way, I CAN! It is what gives embroidery the creativity - all the dynamic choices. It's like learning to fly! I've been doing ME for five years now, and collecting free designs and buying lots of designs too. After a few years you have all the cute butterflies and bears you will ever need. I have more roses and more Santas than I could ever care to stitch. But, in these five years I have witnessed an incredible metamorphosis in style! Sure, people are still digitizing butterflies, and cute kittens, but there are tons of new, modern, incredible designs out there for those who take the time to search. It's up to the embroiderer to use her creativity to place these designs, to choose colors and fabrics that are dynamic.

Heather, I know what you mean. I have to be really careful what I make for my daughter in law, because she really hasn't liked anything I have made for her. I even digitized the birds they have in Southern Florida and put them on dish towels - dish towels - I mean who really cares. When I visited there were no signs of them. There was nothing visible that I had ever made for them. I think if I went to Target and got ideas from there, and mixed black in with any color of flowers, I might be able to please her. She has no true colors in her house. It must be a generational thing.

Hi Heather, I have really enjoyed reading the 'posts' on this subject. I guess embroidery, like all craft, is very individual. Probably why it takes all day sometimes to decide which design will be the right one. I really have no desire to learn to digitize, but on the odd occasion it would be very useful. And yes, it is really difficult to know what someone-else is going to appreciate, and I hate to give a friend some item that I've laboured over for them to dislike it!!xx

A lot of different thoughts here, I am sure in a modern home, tone on tone doyleys and table cloths would look very smart, I guess it would come down to the colour scheme of ones room, and making things to complement that particular room. Abstract may work. I have seen some lovely toilet roll holders that are tone on tone and you could do them in gold on white for a more elegant look. Of course Heather this is just my personal thoughts. I think this topic is very interesting indeed, and don't take any of the comments too personally, I also have to be very considerate of what my 37yr old daughter would like because what I like does not necessarily mean she will like it. I have to really put my thinking cap on when making embroidery items for her also. She owns a one hundred year old home, well kept construction at that, but it does have a modern kitchen and bathroom areas. Anyway you have a lovely day today and stay well and have fun. Love Kerry

My home is only 13yrs old. I don't like the sterile look for me. I love Blue, to me it is cool & peacefull. Flowers are fresh & welcoming. Straight boxes too me are cold. Yes my Dinning room Table & chairs, sideboard, kitchenete, & bookcase (with it's beautifull glass doors) are over a hundred years old & come with a lot of loveing memories. It is a room I love to be in so does my grandson who loves to play with his loggo & has set it up to take over the who room. He says it is the best room. I know his great & great great, & great great great grandparents look over him & love it. his great grandmothers clock has not stoped since Jason & his leggo have taken over. We dine in the kitchen or outside. Love it

Hmmm, interesting topic...perhaps you could post some images of what you consider modern or stylish...we could be thinking of totally different styles and designs and still think we are "modern and stylish"...food for thought...

I disagree, yes a lot of the older sites have the same old same old, but they have come out with new trends and ideas for us embroider's.
LynniePinn came out with the look alike character designs that we can stitch legally, for the modern home there are a lot of designs being digitized for them too. subway art is going strong

After reading all the comments, I wonder how well embroidery fits into modern furnishings and designs. I think of modern as sleek straight geometric lines, chrome and grey colors, with touches of plum and tan or similar colors. Granite counters, hardwood or marble flooring, solid colored drapes or no drapes or curtains. Definitely luxurious. Even the bedrooms follow through on this. It's a beautiful simplicity in its sleekness, but maybe not inclined towards the softness of embroidery but rather painted or printed fabric. Automobiles follow in this spirit. If I'm wrong, please enlighten me.

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by topcat5 09 Oct 2013

Oops. Just got an e-mail from Red Moon Gardens. She has designs that would fit in with the moden era and right now she has 75% off her designs. She's at www.redmoongardens.com and also at www.oregonpatchworks.com.
Sorry, I don't see the links sig

by wendymay60 09 Oct 2013

Sound very cold to me. Marble flooring OOOH my poor hips,knees & ankle joints

by queenofhearts 09 Oct 2013

The subway squares and the times square designs here certainly qualify as my idea of modern, But I think that you are correct when you say that embroidery and sleek modern lines don't exactly go together,

by hightechgrammy 10 Oct 2013

I just checked out Red Moon Designs and she does have lots of great designs that would be considered modern. I didn't see there was a sale going on, or I might have purchased some. Neat designs there

by topcat5 12 Oct 2013

You get the discount on the order page. Type: rmg100 in the Discount Code box and it will give you the discount of 75%. At oregonpatchworks.com the discount is automatically given. I don't know how long the discount will continue. She has many designs that could be used for a modern decor, many of which are from the 1920"s and 1930's. Some of the insects, fish and frogs would also look good on a pillow or as a framed wall hanging. I just love her work.

I am not big into Halloween and I simply can not understand the current obsession with owls but I can usually find designs that I like well enough to buy, but I have so many free ones that I usually look at those first. What a boring world it would be if we all wanted the same things. :)

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by chenille 09 Oct 2013

I totally agree on all fronts!

by jobaby 09 Oct 2013

What fun to belong to such a versatle group. I have been collecting owls for 50 years so the current rage suits me fine and Halloween was a favorite holiday when our children were small because a pack of paper and scissors were all they needed for fun decorations; sadly it is now commercial, too. Despite our differences, we all love embroidery and stitching.

I agree, I have no grandchildren, but I'm guessing kids now wouldn't want the same designs as I would have as a child. Urban Threads has some funky designs. My grown daughter loves those designs and she also loves the vintage designs but that's about all I have to offer her..I do not digitize either.

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by bowlds 09 Oct 2013

I plan to retire soon, I hope to learn to digitize and my grown daughter is a graphic artist......hmmmm, see where I'm going with this....?

by spendlove 09 Oct 2013

Sounds like a great plan!

by cfidl 10 Oct 2013

Fantastic, you will have plenty of original art to work with!

by hightechgrammy 10 Oct 2013

You are going to have soooooo sew much fun!

Agreed. If you don't like the designs, make your own. I do not digitize but with a little searching can find anything I want or need. It is not the same as building a car. We have diet constraints in our family so I got busy and learned to make tasty things we could eat; there were no recipes to fit the multiple needs, I just tried. The same for sewing or embroidering.

Agree

Kreations by Kara do have some modern designs as well as BFC Kreations although they are not always affordable....seen in the light of our weak SA rand

Interesting discussion point and I tend to agee with you. Mops is quite correct though and that is why I resolved to learn to digitise for myself!

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by toet 09 Oct 2013

Thankyou

Apparently those designs still sell.
But there is a simple solution to your problem: start digitising so you can make exactly what you want. I am Looking forward to seeing your fresh and modern designs.

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by sewist1 09 Oct 2013

That sounds a little sarcastic. I am sure Heather was just trying to get a discussion going.

by toet 09 Oct 2013

So sorry I had not intended to offend anyone, but keep in mind if I was to be buying a new car would I build it from the ground up or buy the one most suitable for my needs and if we all digitised our own there would be no embroidery web sites.

by mops 09 Oct 2013

It was not meant to be sarcastic, I think it's about the only way to get exactly what you want for that special project you have in mind.
However, it takes a lot of time, and for most things it's nice there are websites to choose from.

by hightechgrammy 10 Oct 2013

and... digitizing software is sooo expensive - but worth it! And it took quite a bit of time to learn - but worth it in so many ways! I didn't think it was sarcastic :-)
Mops, were you the one who gave of those little pocket kitties?

Halloween is not for me and overrated.....but then I am from South Africa and we do not celebrate halloween...to many Christmas designs as well

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by sewist1 09 Oct 2013

It is not an Australian thing either but of recent times I think the shops have seen commercial value in it. I personally won't open the door on Halloween but it is not nice to have to pretend you are not home. I have heard reports of eggs being thrown at people property because they don't wish to take part either.

by toet 09 Oct 2013

Thankyou

by greysewist 09 Oct 2013

I'm a bit like the 'Bah humbug' person with Halloween, too. I do put a sign out when I remember and haven't had any difficulties arise from it. It seems easier to me and more polite to make it obvious before they get themselves ready to knock on the door and become disappointed. Not much different to the 'No Door to Door sellers' signs that many of us also have up now.

by sewist1 09 Oct 2013

I don't see why it is impolite not to take part in something which isn't an Australian custom and never has been until someone saw the opportunity to make money out of it.
The "impoliteness" comes from those expecting to be given sweets at the door. Most people I know are health conscious and don't keep lollies or "candy" in their homes so why should they be expected to buy it for someone else's children.

Okay, maybe this is telling us several things. 1. Many digitizers are older, old-fashioned and conservative! (and grandparents?)They want things the way they've been. I'd vote for some of that. 2. we will labor extensively to have our children and grands look more precious than someone else's. 3. State of the art art is usually presented by art school graduates. 4. We can't do the latest kid show because of copyrights.
P.S. I never want a toilet paper cover.

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by graceandham 08 Oct 2013

Oh, and digitizers, I am full up on owls, ghosts, hearts, poinsettias, teddy bears, frogs, shamrocks and a few other things. And I'm not going to use any animal with angel wings. Not crazy about the combination things - Christmas cats that are Celtic or what have you.

by toet 09 Oct 2013

Thankyou

by cfidl 10 Oct 2013

with you on that!

by airyfairy 17 Oct 2013

Have I at long last found someone who does not like toilet paper covers. I cannot understand toilet paper covers and for me the worst are designs on toilet paper itself. Graceandham I am with you on this.

I have never had a problem finding designs that suit me. If you want designer style then you will pay designer style prices. There is always something new to choose from but may be that I lean toward country more than big city style. To each his own but don't lump us all in the same box. I have never felt left behind.
Bev

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by toet 09 Oct 2013

Thankyou

Have to agree with you Heather. There is a "sameness" about designs now and it is less tempting to buy. Not to mention I cannot understand the obsession with Halloween. What is attractive about bats, witches etc. I am not interested in putting such unattractive designs on my projects for sale or gifts.

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by toet 09 Oct 2013

Thankyou