Temari and PDAs / handheld computing in Temari

Using a PDA/Palm to Enhance your Temari Stitching

       If you use a PDA (Palm, Clie or other handheld computing device) along with your temari stitching please let us know how. A few of us on TalkTemari are exploring this and we'd like to create an interactive page here to share ideas. Drop me a note and let me know what you do, what programs etc you use and list for it - you get the idea.

       Terry B. and I had a chat on and off the TalkTemari list - we found that we were using many of the same ideas or programs. A favorite is SmartList To Go - formerly Think DB - from Dataviz. It's a very affordable program and extremely user friendly. Even if you have no database program experience (as I didn't), Smart List is so intuitive that you are running with it in less than half an hour. There are loads of free databases to download as well; this includes a checklist for all the DMC colors (see DMC Floss Checklist 1.0 from PalmGear.com). I downloaded this and then tailored it off for my own inventory format. Terry and I found that we were thinking alike - he says "What's nice there's all sorts of data bases already available that people have done for free downloading. My thread data base is based on a DMC data base I downloaded and started from--had all the numbers and color descriptions already in it. It's also where I have my master Temari DB."

       Terry continued on with "My other most frequently used app is HandyShopper (it's free). What's nice about it is you can set up your list of items and have that item show up in different stores. SO when I bring up my Temari "store" and I select a variety of items (batting, baby yarn, red 321 DMC)they show up in my local thread store, WalMart, and Hobby Lobby list. So when I'm in the particular store I just check the list, check it off if I get it. If not purchased there when I'm in the next store, it'll show up." Handy Shopper can be downloaded from several Palm software sites including Palm Gear.

       Actually, the driving reason that I finally gave in and bought a PDA was to be able to keep my Temari Catalog handy without hauling a ohoto album around with me. Granted I had a great purchase opportunity (I treated myself to a Sony Clie since I have other Sony with Memory Stick products) - but I also really thought that I had finally hit on a great way to keep my temari photos and catalog easily at hand - which I did. Admittedly the convenience of a PDA has become wonderfully clear to me now (I'd not really believed that they were easier or better than a nice notepad or address book.....) - and little by little I'm migrating more and more of organizing and maintaining my personal life and affairs over to it (guess that is why they call them Personal Digital Assistants, huh?). But - back to Temari. A resonable jpg image viewer came with my first Clie (yes, I already upgraded) - but in browsing around the Palm OS software/program sites I found that there are several other, more powerful programs available (and one of the wonderful things about PDA programs is that they are very affordable, usually in the 20 dollar or less range, with some suites around 50 or 60 but they are truly very inclusive). I chose to use the Splash Data products - Splash Photo for storing and displaying my temari images (as well as other photos needless to say!). The concept has been wonderful since the Clie just tucks into my pocket or tote and is alwasy with me.

       I've kept a Temari notebook for patterns since I've been stitching as well as a separate log of all completed work. I will be converting my log to my PDA shortly. I've also set up a SmartList database as my order tracking and record keeping for orders and sales. Hands down it's the easiest and most convenient method I've found and that "pda indulgence" was oh so worth it.