A new embroidery shop has opened in Waynedale, offering machine-embroidery services in quantities of one “to whatever I get,” said Cathy Dykstra, who owns A to Z Embroidery.
She also has a heat-transfer machine for printing designs on clothing and accessories.
The shop at 6150 Bluffton Road has an attractive showroom with many samples on display. Of course, Dykstra does embroidery on the usual items — shirts, sweatshirts, polo shirts and bags — but she also has great gift ideas. She can embroider scarves, blankets, bathrobes, stocking caps and more.
As a bridal shower gift, she suggests giving an apron and kitchen towels with the bride’s name embroidered on them. Or how about towels embroidered “HIS” and “HERS,” or monogrammed with the bride and groom’s initials?
Dykstra can supply many products that can be embroidered or decorated with a heat-transfer design, such as shirts, sweatshirts, totes and more. She prefers to supply the products to be embroidered, but will provide embroidery services when the client supplies the item.
For example, a bride came in with ties for the men in her wedding party. She wanted each man’s initials embroidered on the tie. She gave each woman in the wedding party a shawl embroidered with her initials.
Dykstra has a book with more than 20,000 designs from which clients can choose. Every design has a stitch count, which is how she determines cost. She charges a minimum of $10 for embroidery services only; not including the product if she supplies it.
She also can digitize a company’s logo for a small fee. It’s usually as easy as a company sending her a jpg image of the logo, which she can digitize on a computer.
One thing she can’t do is college logos. She would have to buy the licensing, and it is very expensive.
Before opening the shop in November, Dykstra was an over-the-road truck driver with her husband. “I came off the road in June,” she said.
She used to work at an embroidery business, on a much bigger 20-head machine, capable of doing 20 shirts at a time. The used embroidery machine she bought for her business is a two-head machine.
The business is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Phone: 478-1010.
Brighton deal
Customers who make a single $50 purchase in Brighton charms, beads or spacers at Brighton Collectibles or other participating retailers between Friday and Jan. 22 will receive a limited-edition Shimmer Bangle with Swarovski crystal accents for free.
The bangle has a hinged magnetic carrier that makes it easy to add charms, beads and spacers. There’s a Brighton store at Jefferson Pointe.
Water park package
Shopping around for something to do on Monday, Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, when some kids are out of school?
Splash Universe Water Park Resorts, featuring indoor water parks, is offering a special deal. Overnight water park packages start at $199.99 per night (excluding taxes), Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Book two nights and each night will cost $179.99.
They’re located in Shipshewana and Dundee, Mich. The Dundee location is a little north of Toledo, Ohio, and conveniently close to a huge Cabela’s outdoor store.
The deal includes one large two-topping pizza, four medium soft drinks and $20 in Quest Arcade cash.
The offer is available by calling 1-87-SPLASH-U2 (1-877-752-7482) and mentioning promotion code MLKDay. For more information, go to splashuniverse.com.
Know of a store opening, closing or remodeling? Find a good deal? Call Cindy Larson at 461-8284, fax 461-8817, e-mail or write to: In the Bag, C/O The News-Sentinel, PO Box 102, Fort Wayne, IN 46801. To read other columns, go to news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=COL.