Sunday, 4 August 2013

"Blog Tour" and Embroidery APP Update - With Giveaway

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Welcome to all you wonderful Blog tour people, and all those in Blogger land.
For those regular readers of mine you know my son and I are developing a FREE Embroidery APP.  We have had great progress over the last couple of months with it almost to a testing stage (actually we are just waiting on Apple).  It will initially be for IPhone first off, but we are developing it for Ipad and android devices straight after.  Here are some snap shots from the simulator of our progress, please let us know what you think.

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This is our opening screen, still not so sure about the 'bookcase', and the plain white tabs, still developing this but the tabs work and that's the main thing.

 
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The tabs show the four main sections of the app, the stitches, Free projects, paid projects (not in yet) and the Gallery.  You touch the stitches tab and it takes you to the stitches index.
 
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It has taken my son a few months of 'coding' to get to this stage, with my contibution being all the embroidery, photographs, and of course doing the 'duplicate' coding. I have learnt so much about 'coding' I feel almost confident on adding a page myself, maybe not.....!!



Next step is to touch the arrow and it takes you to the next screen, which gives you instructions on how to do the stitch.
 








 
Each page is swiped from right to left or back to left and right.  When you are finished you just touch the 'back' tab at the top left of the screen. It will take you back to the list of stitches and then you hit the 'Arlene's Crafts' Tab in the same spot and it takes you back to the 'Bookcase'.

 







From the Bookcase we can travel into the 'Gallery'. This is some of my work and up coming 'paid and free' projects.   


We will be adding information regarding each project and if it's Free or paid.  
Touch on one to enlarge it.
Again you hit the 'Arlene's Crafts' Tab to take you back to the bookcase.


 
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The 'Free Projects' tab is for any Free projects that we put on the app, which we will update regularly.  On the initial release we will have the 3D butterfly as a free project.
Again you just touch the arrow and it will take you into the project.












 
 It will give you step by step instructions.  The text at the bottom of each photograph scrolls to allow more instruction to be there.  Each page is numbered and we hope to add links to this section so if you need to review a stitch, it will take you there.
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I am still deciding on what "Paid' projects to put in, but my beetle just might be one of them.



So what do you think?  Do you like it so far, would you like to help us test it.  Initially it will only be for IPhone users, but we hope by the end of the year to have on Ipad's and Android devises.

To celebrate this great achievement so far and the promotion of the 'Blog Tour' I have a gift pack of goodies to give away, and will post to anywhere in the world. The pack contains 2 fat quarters in blue, 100% cotton, 1 skein of DMC Perle 5 #809 blue thread, 1 m roll 9mm Francheville Blue polyester ribbon, 1 skein DMC Variegated Broder cotton #113, 2 blue/white frangipani button, 2 large and 2 small blue buttons, and 4 assorted silver charms.

So to join in, leave a comment with your name, and if you want to help me test this app (not a condition of entry). Entry will be open until end of the 'Blog Tour' which is 31st August.
Arlene

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

love the idea of the app!

Pippas quilts said...

great giveaway. I have a new smart phone which uses windows 8 so when it comes in after the iphone I would love to test it for you. Hopefully by then I may know how to use it a bit better. Good luck with the App. Pippa.

Suztats said...

Looks great, but, unfortunately, I don't have any of those new-fangled contraptions. I'm so hopelessly behind the times........well, they wouldn't work where I used to live, so I've not had the need for them......
Best of luck with the embroidery app- it's a great idea!

Anonymous said...

Great giveaway, but I don.t have an I-phone, maybe I will have to buy one hahaha

(smjohns63 at yahoo dot com)

Shawkl said...

Love the simple navigation in the app, and clear photographs are a big plus! If you need a tester, I'm game...and have the Iphone4.
Kathy

Bren said...

An excellent app to have. I wish you much luck with it. Unfortunately, I'll have to wait for the android app to come out.

Mary Sawyer said...

I am so happy for you. It looks like it was a lot of work. Wish I had a device that could use it.

Mary in Oregon

Marilyn said...

Your app looks great. And maybe one day I'll have a device on which I could use it :).

Lace-lovin' Librarian ~ Diane said...

Fabulous! I use my iPhone and iPad regularly, so this would be a real treat for me!

tisme said...

I would love this! I have an ipad, but no iphone, would love to test it for you on ipad, when you get that far.

Cynthia Gilbreth said...

Hi Arlene,
Love your blog and plan to spend some time in it. I would love to test your app. I have an iPhone 5, also an older iPad and a Kindle fire for when those versions need to be tested.

Sherri Chambless said...

wow!!! you and your son have done a lot of work and it looks great. I am just now learning how to do embroidery and would love to test your app. Even if I don't get to test it, I can't wait for it to get released. Thank you so much for the opportunity to win your giveaway too. Sherri Chambless

Unknown said...

Wow, the app looks wonderful. I can't wait for it to come out. I am new to embroidery so every time I want to try something new, I have to go to my computer to look it up. having an app on my iphone would be so much easier. I'm game for being a tester if you need one. Sherri Chambless

JaneT said...

I would love to win your giveaway and would be willing to use the app on my iPad. My iPhone seems to have such a small screen that I don't know how well I could see the stitches.

Marie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Marie said...

It looks like a fabulous app. I am sure it will be my go to reference. I would love to test it out on my iPhone or iPad . Thanks for the chance to win the cool blues giveaway. I can't wait to get to use the app!!!

Heather M. said...

This looks like a great app! Can't wait for it to come out on Android.

Let me know if you want me to test on my Samsung G3.

Heather M. of In Love With Threads

KatieQ said...

What a fabulous idea. Everything you need for stitching except for the needle and thread. I'll have to wait for the Kindle or Android version.
Good luck to you and your son. It sounds like you have a great partnership.

ozjane@gmail.com said...

Looks fun....I am about to get a basic smartphone.....not
apple so not sure what I will be able to access but it looks interesting. All the best.
I miss Google reader......does anyone else?

Anonymous said...

OH, way cool on the Ap!! :) I bought the embroidery ap featuring ... arrgh! the famous crazy quilting author lady who lives in La Vita, CO (hate this specific-noun-recall stuff). Anyway ... a free ap would do lots to encourage the nascent young embroidery-potential geeks out there! :)

Linda

Jane said...

That looks like a lot of work, I wish you all the best for it's success. I've really enjoyed this blog tour, and would love to be entered into your drawer.

Joy @ BeadedBazaar said...

Wow Arlene - how technology minded are you being able to create apps! It looks really impressive :)

Thank you for sharing it with us all.

Wishing you all the best with it, hope its a huge success for you

Joy xx

Joy @ BeadedBazaar said...

Hi Arlene

Thank you for sharing your app with us all - how technology minded are you to be able to create one! Its very impressive.

Best of luck with it, hope its a huge success for you.

Joy xx

Anonymous said...

Hello Arlene
Great app! I haven't done embroidery for many years so would find this really useful...unfortunately I have android otherwise would test, though if you need android testers inthe future will happily volunteer...
I think it's fab that you work with your son like this!
Good luck with it all,
Kristin x

Miriam said...

Oh that looks lovely! I like your giveaway and also your app, but I don't have (or want) a smartphone. Nice to find a new blog as well. I am going to investigate it further.

(mwk at hccnet.nl)

Unknown said...

The app looks fantastic Arlene, you're so clever :)
Gill x

SilentCompanions said...

This looks great! Almost worth getting myself an iPhone just for this app!

Thank you for sharing - I'm off to explore your blog now...

Cynthia said...

Congratulations, I'm so glad you have gotten so far. I'll be anxiously awaiting the Android version.

Thanks for the giveaway. It looks lovely - and I'm a sucker for blue.

Sew so crazy! said...

Congrats! Great idea !!

Mrs. B. said...

What a great idea for an app. It looks really good. Maybe you could have an embroidery thread collection instead of the bookcase? Unfortunately i'm an android user but will keep an eye out for the android version. Good luck with it all :)

theoldbutton said...

I am so impressed with you (and your son) - I barely manage to add widgets to my blog. We have an iPad so would love to see it on there.

Momto3inIL said...

Great idea on the app. I am just starting to try to do some embroidery, but would be willing to give the app a try. I have an Ipod.

Gill said...

What a great idea - unfortunately I don't have an iphone!
Thanks for a lovely giveaway!

Stitching Cat said...

This looks fabulous! I have an iPhone 5 and would be willing to test if you need additional testers. I would also like to be included in the chance for your giveaway.

Bridgit's Bell said...

Great idea! Each blog stop has been so different. Best of luck with the app.
Karen at Bridgit's Bell

Eileene said...

Oh my yall are sooooooo smart. Wish I was. hehehe Hope I win. Cause if I do , an iphone is gonna come live with me. heheheh Eileene aka Noiseynana eileeneg2002@yahoo.com also of Stitch Map.

Pinnylea Creations said...

Looks fantastic but my phone came from the ark (still on a $5 plan isn't that sad) but when I upgrade..... But I could definitely use the prize.

Josie said...

My iPhone would love to have your app!!! I love your work and appreciate your generosity! Thanks! Josie