GROUP use of Amazing Box to convert FREE design downloads???

It is really frustrating to have a Janome 9000 -- able to use MOST
of the bells and whistles that the other 'big' embroidery machines
have --
but the .sew format and wierd-sized disk they use (not a small floppy
and
not a CD), makes life really difficult! There are all these designs
on the
Net that you can download -- free -- especially those associated with
all the quilting and sewing programs and manufacturer's web sites --
but it has to be something you can put on a floppy or CD.

Now, I know there is a $400 toy that you can use to convert one format
to
another..... and I know that there IS a copyright question -- BUT --
if
these designs are offered FREE on the Net for the download, why can't
we
somehow figure out how to convert the formats to ones we can use? It
seems
like we ought to be able to have a friend do it for us -- or that
someone
should offer the service. After all, how many of us can afford the
$400
Amazing Box to do it....especially if we only do 'big' embroidery
projects
occasionally !?!

Can we form a "Project Download Conversion Help' group -- or go
together
with embroidery machine groups that would help? I'd be glad to pay
for the
service -- or for the copy of the FREE download in my format (.sew) --
if
the service was available.

Can someone comment or point me in a direction to start inquiring???
I know
there are a zillion machine embroiders, quilters, etc., out there
would
would love to have something like this available!

Maybe a sewing/embroidery group in one area could 'go together' and
get an
Amazing Box for club members to use.... or???? Ideas? Anywhere to
point me
here in Omaha???

From: (Linda)

It is really frustrating to have a Janome 9000 -- able to use MOST
of the bells and whistles that the other 'big' embroidery machines
have --
but the .sew format and wierd-sized disk they use (not a small floppy
and not a CD), makes life really difficult! There are all these designs
on the
Net that you can download -- free -- especially those associated with
all the quilting and sewing programs and manufacturer's web sites --
but it has to be something you can put on a floppy or CD. .......... Can
someone comment or point me in a direction to start inquiring???
I know
there are a zillion machine embroiders, quilters, etc., out there
would
would love to have something like this available!

I have a Janome 9000 and haven't gotten bitten by the free online pattern
bug yet :-). Your idea of a "club" sounds good but I am currently happy with
the embroidery cards I have. Why don't you post your query over at
alt.sewing.mach-embroider ?? That is the NG specifically for machine
embroidery and I am sure you will get a lot of discussion about it over there.
Oh -- and I have seen the Magic Box & the Amazing Box at e-Bay with a "Buy
it Now" price of around $200. That is a MUCH better than the full $400 you are
talking about!! CiaoMeow ^;;^
..
PAX, Tia Mary ^;;^ Queen of Kitties
Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their
WHISKERS!!
Nothing is complete without a few cat hairs!

On 1/24/04 8:06 PM,"Tia Mary-remove nekoluvr to reply"
posted:

From: (Linda)

It is really frustrating to have a Janome 9000 -- able to use MOST
of the bells and whistles that the other 'big' embroidery machines
have --
but the .sew format and wierd-sized disk they use (not a small floppy
and not a CD), makes life really difficult! There are all these designs
on the
Net that you can download -- free -- especially those associated with
all the quilting and sewing programs and manufacturer's web sites --
but it has to be something you can put on a floppy or CD. .......... Can
*snip*
there.
Oh -- and I have seen the Magic Box & the Amazing Box at e-Bay with a "Buy
it Now" price of around $200. That is a MUCH better than the full $400 you
are
talking about!! CiaoMeow ^;;^

My DA - that I just got the sampler for - also just got a Bernina 200 E -
the big sewing machine with all the embroidery whistles. It's pretty neat.
She has indeed gotten the bug, and has been downloading - not so much free
designs, but a lot are relatively inexpensive - you can buy one or two
rather than an entire CD. Anyhow, I ordered for her the Magic Box - during
the 30% off sale at G-Street fabrics. I think I'm picking it up tomorrow-
that's a great thing which converts all kinds of formats. When you buy it,
you get 1 free "output" format with it, so that it's set to read anything,
then it will write the embroidery in the format you've enabled. So, if you
guys hook up with someone with the machine, then you'd likely have to pay to
get any extra format capability for the output - such as for your Janomes as
opposed to Bernina's or Vikings.

But, it's a good idea. Quilters do this with buying long-arm machines - that
are very expensive - sometimes a group gets together and buys it, then
shares the use.

ellice