For many years, monogramming indicated wealth and prestige, a sewn symbol of the wearer's status. Although monogramming remains popular with jewelry, some surprising ways of using it to personalize other items can elevate a nice gift into something quite special.
"I can get as detailed as anyone wants to get," said Pamela Carpenter, owner of Embroidery by Pamela, 121 Daleview Drive, Plymouth (www.embroiderybypamela.com).
The Plymouth businesswoman regularly personalizes blankets, duffel bags and clothing, to name but a few.
She held up a denim shirt with embroidered candy canes tumbling down the placket. Underneath, another candy cane popped up on a snowy turtleneck.
"These are very popular," she said, noting that the pairing can feature almost any embroidered image.
Versatility
Flipping through the pages of Carpenter's work album revealed how versatile embroidering can be — page after page of hats, sweatshirts, jackets and towels flowed by, each with a distinctive design for the wearer.
"I've embroidered placemats, napkins, towel sets, you name it," she said, holding up a white dishtowel. Within the next few days, she'll embroider a holiday theme on it, along with the recipient's name, and attach it to a lipstick red cloth handle — perfect for hanging in the kitchen.
In her workshop, a rainbow of spooled thread hung on a board next to a row of large sewing machines.
Carpenter called her work "labor intensive," saying that while large companies can sew hundreds of designs at once, her machines require her to set everything up individually — she loads an image on her computer, editing when necessary, programs that onto the machine, sets the cloth on a hoop and starts the machine to sewing each image.
"These sewing machines are intricate," she said. "It's a very technical process."
The results speak for themselves, though — fluffy towels with elegant letters, shirts bearing everything from football team logos to Abraham Lincoln, and blankets with the wedding couple's names and big date have gone out her door.
In Manitowoc, Barb Gelhausen, owner of The Seamstress, also puts a personal stamp on many gift items.
A favorite of her customers are grandparents' sweatshirts or cozy fleece blankets featuring the names of each grandchild embroidered in colorful thread. Gelhausen can even add names as the family expands.
"It's a challenge matching the embroidery, but I get as close as possible," she said.
With cold weather here, Gelhausen suggested a sweatshirt, embroidered with the wearer's name, as a special gift. If you'd like to take the idea a step further, Gelhausen can add images of ducks and teddy bears, perfect for children, or outdoor themes, seasonal favorites and Christmas icons, all reflecting individual interests.
Other personalized gifts include distinctive handkerchiefs or a fluffy towel adding a monogram featuring the initial of the person's last name centered between the first and second name initials and framed by a border, adds a classic touch.
If you're searching for that out-of-the-ordinary monogrammed gift, Mary Dekker of Mary Angeli's Wedding Shoppe, 2516 Calumet Drive, Sheboygan (www.maryangelis. com), has many possibilities.
Sure to bring a smile to the man in your life is a personalized "man cave" wall plaque, complete with monogrammed tumblers. If the recipient is more technology-minded, Dekker can order an engraved flash drive, personalized iPod cover or a travel CD/DVD case.
"What makes a monogrammed gift special is that the receiver knows that the giver when through a little extra thought in taking the time to personalize the gift," Dekker said. "Having one's name or initials on a gift is also a classy touch."
Dekker suggested a monogrammed tote bag for the ladies, pointing to the soft pink totes, popular with customers, which line the stairs of her shop. The bag is available in several colors, and can be monogrammed with an initial or full name, either in a wide variety of thread colors; designs are also available. Dekker said the sturdy totes are perfect for gym clothes, books or a shopping excursion.
Personalized slippers, robes or blankets make a thoughtful gift for any lady, and Dekker herself has a personalized makeup and hair travel bag. She brings it along on trips, saying it keeps her counter space clean because it hangs neatly on a door handle or hook. When she suggests this gift to customers, many end up buying one for themselves.
"You know it's a good gift when you want one also," Dekker said.
Finally, she advised that people be creative with what they want gift items to say.
"If you need help with ideas, ask at the store where you are purchasing the items from. We've done so many customized gifts that we're glad to help in any way we can." |
