Balboa Threadworks & Learn to Digitize

Lee Caroselli Barnes entered the national and international Embroidery Market in August of 1987 with her brother Keith as Balboa Threadworks Embroidery Design. It wasn’t long before the award-winning duo began to set the pace for the Industry. Their introduction of the BalboaStitch Designs caused the American Embroiderers look at stitch count and demand designs that were not just beautiful, but were cost effective to run. Their first Seminar for Impressions Magazine on “Stock Designs” caused the Westfall bros., from Dakota, to leave the show and go door to door collecting Designs. Their innovation and excellence in Digitizing was the reason for their induction into the Embroidery Hall of Fame, and a testimonial to the world that you did not have to have ancestry supporting you to be a Digitizer.
In a few short months, from August of 1987 to January of 1988, the American Embroidery Industry was reborn! Digitizers were giving the Embroidery community cost-effective designs to run. Dakota Collectibles was giving its customers a library of inexpensive designs to run, and Balboa had shown that digitizing equipment, previously made for the elite, was needed for the masses. Lee Caroselli Barnes went on to show the world that America was number one, with the creation of the Elvis Presley stamp in embroidery, using only six colors and 92,000 stitches, causing the Japanese, who had previously dominated the Embroidery Industry, to bow to the Carosellis, saying “Ichiban”, “you are number One”.  A validation even greater than their Hall of Fame Induction. Keith’s death in 2009 was a blow to the Industry. However, his thinking “Outside the Box” continues with Lee opening up the Balboa Secrets to her students as they continue to unfold. Today, Balboa’s Library of Designs cannot be topped, and the Balboa Video Library of more than 250 Tutorials continues to promote the growth of the Embroidery Industry, by offering easy to understand Digitizing and Editing techniques to every level.
Adopting Walter Floriani’s belief that “Good Embroidery means more embroidery for us all”, Lee makes sure that you understand how to use your equipment to produce the best embroidery. Embroidery that is a joy to look at and a dream to run. There is no one better or more generous in sharing their knowledge. Being her student is world changing! Running her Designs is a glimpse into the possibilities of what can be done! What was considered Impossible, becomes Possible, with her guidance.