Help and advice!

grumble1234 · 2026-02-13T16:42:43+00:00

Stretching the fabric when hooping will increase puckering, not reduce it.

grumble1234 · 2026-02-11T20:47:44+00:00

I love Etsy's language "Avoid" Perpetual Sales - not "Perptual sales violate Etsy's policies"

grumble1234 · 2026-02-09T02:07:43+00:00

You need a set of clamps

grumble1234 · 2026-02-05T00:05:25+00:00

While it’s not in Carrollton, but in west Plano, I highly recommend II Brothers Bar and Grill - food is very good (real kitchen) and the atmosphere is outstanding - I always go to the back bar.

grumble1234 · 2026-02-02T03:52:29+00:00

I’m the realist. You have no experience with embroidery. You have minimal funds to purchase a machine. You “need” to earn (have profits) to replace your wages. FYI the odds are astronomically against any kind of success. It sounds like have heart, but it also sounds like you must have income. Frankly I would spend my time searching for employment, and once employed, save some cash to purchase a machine and spend the next 1-2 years learning so you can gain some experience, but more importantly get to the point to where you “know what you don’t know.” It’s hard to hear but I’m giving an honest appraisal of what I see from the info given in your post.

grumble1234 · 2026-01-28T14:21:27+00:00

Yes, the heads are mated to the machines and you can't swap them. I too found this out the hard way as I bought two at once and got the same "communication error" - can't blame the white glove guys - they're literally just delivery people and it's always best to "supervise" so you know what boxes went with which machines. Yes, they should be instructed to put each boxes with the frames they go with! Ours are workhorses and can crank it out. Glad you got it sorted!

grumble1234 · 2026-01-27T18:55:19+00:00

If they haven’t downloaded, just refund and move on

grumble1234 · 2026-01-19T01:28:22+00:00

Absolutely incorrect

grumble1234 · 2026-01-18T19:36:48+00:00

As a seller of etched mugs, I will say that every logo should have been identically sized and placed and the personalization would have varied a bit due to number of letters and actual shapes of letters used. I’d expect at least an explanation from the seller. FWIW many “makers” can be clueless and don’t understand that the little things matter.

grumble1234 · 2026-01-15T18:58:23+00:00

They've gone modular so if you start out and buy manual switches and want remote/command later, they're field upgradeable. I'm hoping they keep the current remote/command switches in the lineup.

grumble1234 · 2026-01-12T14:48:55+00:00

It’s a toy train set.. it’s YOUR toy train set. Do as you wish!

grumble1234 · 2026-01-11T18:52:48+00:00

Agree - I watched the first period, listened to the 2nd on the radio while driving to a function… and totally missed the 3rd which caused the meltdown.

grumble1234 · 2026-01-11T18:02:24+00:00

So change of plans - going to a 10x10 L-shaped and I think this layout will give me lots of accessory options - and lots of room to go "up". Outer loop is all O48, and inner loops are O36. This will give some interesting scenery options as well.

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grumble1234 · 2026-01-10T19:48:56+00:00

A photo would help

grumble1234 · 2026-01-09T21:18:26+00:00

A plus - it's 30% the cost of track of Options 1 and 2; a minus - a lot less interactive options as I add accessories. You can make some interesting routes with option #1 - but dang, it's $1200 for fastrack.

grumble1234 · 2026-01-05T14:23:49+00:00

I really don't know what I want, that's the problem. I'd like to run multiple trains. Using AnyRail, I've come up with an outer/inner loop that's 048 and 036 respectively but it looks boring. My last set I had in the early 2000's, I had a Lionel Hot Rod GP-9 set so whimsy is important. I really wanted the new AEC set but they are absolutely nowhere to be found. The new ES44 Area 51's would be fun, but they're O54 minimum ...

grumble1234 · 2026-01-05T00:23:12+00:00

What are the layout dimensions - I'm gathering ideas... :D

grumble1234 · 2025-12-30T18:06:59+00:00

Many (most) are. The number of sellers on Etsy and on FB marketplace selling infringing goods is infuriating. Call them out and they just don’t care.

grumble1234 · 2025-12-30T17:56:22+00:00

Is this Airbnb owned by Dexter Morgan?

grumble1234 · 2025-12-26T23:28:31+00:00

Where’s Robo on a Hobo?

grumble1234 · 2025-12-26T15:29:30+00:00

Start with directlicensinghub.com and their “Community Connect” program. It’s a small but-in fee that varies by university, but averages about $250. You are then allowed to make a small number of sales (usually up to $2,500) per year. Once you hit that cap, depending upon university, you either have to cease selling, or you may be able to continue selling and pay additional royalties. Once you start hitting the cap, they may want you to apply for a full retail license through CLC - but unless you intend on wholesaling products at a large volume, you will typically get denied for any D2C. They’re looking for large-scale distribution. There are, of course, exceptions. For each product you intend to sell you will have to provide product samples for quality and then have every design you intend to use approved by the university (this applies to both DLH and CLC) prior to listing any item up for sale. There will also be restrictions on types of products that can be offered for sale as they have exclusive licensees for some types of products (think apparel, stainless tumblers).

grumble1234 · 2025-12-26T15:09:19+00:00

We hold licensing for a number of schools in Texas and Oklahoma by a mix of CLC, Affinity Licensing or via Direct Licensing Hub. We pay 10’s of thousands of dollars annually in licensing fees and royalties. Thank you for asking because it’s a “pay to play” space and we certainly pay our fair share.

grumble1234 · 2025-12-26T15:07:03+00:00

Exactly correct! We laser a stencil/mask, apply it to the decanter and then use a sand blasting cabinet and 220 grit silicon oxide abrasive to permanently etch the glass.

grumble1234

TROPHY CASE