Designers Profile One June 2007 Helga Mandl Designs is a brand new Croatian cross stitch design company, who specializes in designing and selling easy, quick to stitch, funny and colorful designs. HMDesigns is located in Karlovac, in the very heart of Croatia, on the delta of four rivers - Korana, Kupa, Mreznica and Dobra. I have been interested in embroidery for many years. But it was only recently that I asked myself why I keep buying kits if I can draw and embroider by myself. Since I have twins who are 7 yrs old and do not have much free time to complete large projects, I prefer and offer simple and quick-to-stitch designs and that's how my first chart was born, Happy Everything, the best seller. All of my charts are hand designed and not computer generated. Patterns come with instructions, easy-to-read black and white chart and a color image showing the finished design. Most designs are suitable for beginning stitchers and they are done in full stitches, backstitches and longstitches. Beehive contains smyrna crosses and satin stitches as it was my first attempt for intermediate stitchers. I'm constantly designing add adding new charts into my collection and I'm looking forward to meeting wonderful world of stitchers. Designers Profile Two June 2007 Lindsay Hoppes is the designer behind Spring Valley Stitchery. She has enjoyed cross stitching for over fifteen years. Lindsay has a graphic arts background. Prior to starting Spring Valley Stitchery, she was a professionally commissioned model stitcher. After many years of stitching other designer's patterns, Lindsay decided to use her art background to begin designing and publishing her own charts. Spring Valley Stitchery was founded in 2006. Lindsay lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two daughters. Designers Profile One October 2007 I’m currently a 30-something stay-at-home mom. (Or should I say work-at-home?) My husband is in the military and we are stationed overseas in Okinawa, Japan. A few years ago, I got my degree in Studio Art—I used to do mostly oil painting and watercolors. But after having a baby, I found that I couldn’t devote the time to painting anymore…it just took too long to set up and clean up. That’s where I rediscovered my love of cross stitch! When my daughter Isabella takes her naps, that’s my time to stitch and design. When she needs my attention, I can put it away at a moments notice—unlike cleaning out the brushes. Once I started on the dessert series, the ideas came at me so fast. I’ve still got a notebook full of ideas that are still in the works. We’ve got a bakery down the street that sells the most wonderful cakes and pastries. I think that’s what got me started on the sweet stuff. Designers Profile Two October 2006 My mother taught me to stitch at a young age and she still has one of the very first pieces I did way back in 1979 the year my brother was born. I am a definite non conformist and very rarely stitch anything just as it is preferring to change a colour here or add a button or charm there and so soon moved from stitching other designs to designing my own. For many years I simply designed for specific occasions but I soon progressed to being commissioned by friends to do something specific for them. If it weren't for my closest friends my "Pink Laydee's" Jodyri would never have been born. I am a huge fan of Lizzie*Kate, Waxing Moon and Bent Creek and started with that type of chart but quickly found myself moving to far more complicated projects. Not bad for a girl told she should rely on her brain as she had no artistic talent by her 3rd form art teacher! I am happily married to my wonderful, supportive husband Phillip who is in the armed forces and we have three young children so the freedom of working from home and having a business that can move every two years as we do is a blessing. I see myself as first and foremost a mum and so when it came to choosing a business name it seemed natural for me to base it around my children so Jodyri was born from my sons names Joel and Dylan and my daughter's name Kari Designers Profile December 2005 Sue Hillis Designs, Inc. evolved in 1978 from a simple request: a cross stitch pattern for a Williamsburg, Virginia landmark. Sue Hillis, a self-taught stitcher, wife, mother of three, and master "doodler/artiste", accomplished the task for a neighbor and friend. Within weeks, her first book, Historic Virginia, was complete. Within a year, five more books had been added, as well as a studio, wholesale warehouse, and an office staff. Twenty-five years and over 250 publications later, the ideas and books continue to flow. Sue remains to be the sole designer and owner, often burning the midnite oil to meet press deadlines. Trends and fads have come and gone, but Sue Hillis' designs succeed as some of the most charming, unique and quality designs and products in the needle work industry. Sue's goal is to provide stitchers with projects they enjoy, and designs they would request had they Sue Hillis as a neighbor and friend. She believes, still, that the customer is always right. Sue says 'We're old-fashioned in our ethics, but strive to help establish future industry direction'. Designers Profile October 2005 Cinnamon Cat Designs is a brand-new company producing beautiful and original cross-stitch charts. The charts are printed in full colour with symbols overlaid and represent high quality designs that are colourful, unique and fun to stitch. As well as a detailed and easy to read chart, the packs include full colour keys and stitching information and suggestions on adapting the chart for other uses such as greetings cards or gift tags. Cinnamon Cat Designs is owned and run by designer Jane Lydia Henderson and her husband David. Jane now lives in Cheshire with her husband, two young sons and two female cats. Having stitched her first cross-stitch piece at 8 years of age, it was some 20 years later in 1992 when she designed and stitched a sampler for a friend's wedding with the help of a Jo Verso book. Many pieces further on (and most of them designed by Jane herself) Jane describes her style as one of 'graphic' rather than 'fine art' using bright, vivid colours and plenty of light and shade. "I'm very inspired by the American folk art style of stitching and I love the patterns, colours and textures found in printed fabrics. I think my trademark is very definitely stylised designs with plenty of shades of each colour to give depth. I think one of my strengths is that I'm a stitcher who loves designing so I know what it's like to actually stitch my designs and I don't have to rely on anyone else to convert my artwork. In fact for the most part, I design directly onto my software package after just one or two preliminary sketches. I see my design in my head and just translate that straight into a chart." Jane has had various jobs during her working life including working as a nanny, an industrial psychologist, an IT Systems Analyst and a Personnel Manager! She gave up her job in Management Training to have her first baby, and when son number two came along she decided to find something that would fit around being with her family. Whilst selling cards and books from home and writing and editing a local magazine, she sent off some of her cross-stitch designs to the 'World of Cross-Stitching' magazine and was delighted when the editor liked her work. Jane's work has been published in 'World of Cross-Stitching' magazine and more of her designs will be appearing over the coming months. Building on this success, Jane has decided to launch her own company - Cinnamon Cat Designs - selling her designs in chart form to the cross-stitching community Jane has ten designs in her launch collection with more currently going through the charting or stitching process and sketchbooks full of future designs so there is plenty for us to look forward to. Designers Profile February 2004 Our featured Designer this month is Susan Ebright of Trail Creek Farm. You will be right in thinking the name is familiar, Susan is Linda Ebright’s (Lizzie Kate) sister-in-law. “In the very Heart of Kansas... where the Santa Fe Trail and Little Cow Creek cross... that’s where we live and work. We grow wheat, sorghum, soybeans, corn and Needle Art Designs!!!” The "we" is Susan’s family. Susan does the designing, her husband does the farming, and her three children do the spending!!! And always lots of cats, all sizes and makes!!! Truthfully, this wouldn’t be possible for her if the rest of the family didn’t leave her alone for hours on end to design! “Needleart is therapeutic, and a great opportunity to do something worthwhile while vegging out!” Now Susan was born and raised in the city. How in the world did she end up on the farm? Funny but she has been asking herself that same question for a long time! Susan, deciding to make the most of her love of fabrics from her interior design profession and knowledge of textiles (spinner and weaver), converted the old farm garage into her studio! Still active as an interior designer, she combines her visualization of interiors in her needle art designs. As this design business grows, so does her desire to create looks that will complement today’s home interiors! Her family calls her designs "Susan-isms" which actually isn’t a real word but it does have true meaning... Mom’s ideas! They have all just come to accept her ideas -- even sometimes liking them... you will too! Designers Profile November 2003 Who are Bent Creek? Well they are sisters Marsha Worley and Elizabeth Newlin. When the sisters began creating designs for counted cross stitch, they adopted a philosophy first introduced to them by their elementary school teacher, Miss Anderson, 'Perfect is yucky,' she said, and they have believed so ever since. By valuing personal excellence above others' ideas of perfection, the two women have become Bent Creek, one of the most popular design companies in the world. 'I enjoy our business so much,' Marsha says, 'We have different gifts and talents that have come together in such a neat way.' Elizabeth shares Marsha's opinion about their unique design chemistry. 'We each have our place. I am an out-of-the-box person, and she's more down-in-her-gut creative,' she says. The two of started working together as Bent Creek Antiques, traveling to craft and antique fairs with needlework and collectibles. In 1994, Bent Creek Antiques became Bent Creek when Marsha and Elizabeth scrapped the antique part of their business and started designing for counted cross stitch exclusively. Elizabeth's husband Mike is also a big help to the women. The sisters also work with Cecelia Turner of Heart in Hand Needleart and Ruth Sparrow of Twisted Threads to create designs as The Trilogy. The Trilogy is about friendship. Elizabeth's hopes for Bent Creek are that the stitchers always come first. Designers Profile October 2003 Ohio artist, Diane Arthurs, began drawing and designing as a child. In high school, she entered a commercial art program that gave her four hours of art class per day. She attended the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale specializing in fashion illustration. She switched her major to advertising and design and graduated with an associate’s degree. She began working in an art studio, which led her to a job as an art director of an advertising agency. Diane decided to venture out on her own as a graphic designer. She created line drawings, logos, brochures, and print advertisements for various clients, most of which were industrial. In 1991, she began creating and designing for a cross-stitch company. Happily, this has led to prints, and stationery products. Diane is best known for her whimsical characters and bright colors. The world depicted in her artwork radiates love, happiness, and thankfulness! Designers Profile September 2003 4 My Boys is owned and managed by Nancy Wigman of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Soon after falling in love with cross stitching, Nancy moved to a new terrain: designing her own patterns. She set out stitching for herself, but in time, decided to share her work with everyone. Nancy is very grateful to all of her friends and those who have followed and supported 4 My Boys along the way. Nancy currently lives with her wonderful husband Mel and has three boys 21,21 and 23...hence the '4' my boys. Designers Profile August 2003 Who is this elusive Lizzie*Kate? Lizzie*Kate is a cross stitch design business that began 6 years ago in 1996. The creator, Linda, was bored with her job and looking for a new creative outlet. She decided to combine her favorite hobby of stitchery with her past job experience (pre-children) in graphic design. Linda was 40 years old (yikes!) and ripe for a new challenge! In about 6 months, she drew 20 designs, stitched and finished them. As she was readying to exhibit at the annual Charlotte Market in August, she had to pull together all the details to start a new business. One important job was naming her new company! On a whim, she decided to combine the nicknames for her daughter’s middle names - Sarah Elizabeth "Lizzie" and Alison Kathleen "Kate" - and Lizzie*Kate was born! She did a rough sketch of how the logo might look, and never had time to revise it. Thanks to kind stitchers around the world, the Lizzie*Kate logo is now well known! Since then, life at Linda’s household has not been the same! She was truly blessed (and surprised) to have her designs enthusiastically received at the first market. Linda and her family (husband Alan and now-teenagers Lizzie and Kate) have learned SO MUCH in the past five years. They have developed close relationships with interesting people - the UPS lady, the FedEx guy, the mailman (actually he is not too crazy about the constantly over-flowing industrial-sized mailbox), the printer, photo developer, and on and on! Best of all are the warm relationships with people in the needlework industry - shopowners, suppliers, distributors, and, of course, STITCHERS!!! Click here to see our Lizzie Kate range Designers Profile July 2003 Homespun Elegance Ltd. has been, since its beginning in 1979, a needlework design company devoted to the encouragement of the needlearts. Sandra Sullivan, the owner and designer, lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia, a historic city located between Washington, DC and Richmond, Virginia. Growing up in a setting steeped in tradition and history, with its beginnings long before the Revolutionary War, it would have been difficult for Sandra not to be influenced by her "American Heritage". In the past 19 years, she has published more than 300 designs, from leaflets to kits, devoted almost exclusively to a style inspired by her love for antiques, old needlework, delightful American Folk Art, and her passion for gardening. Click Here to see more Homespun Elegance Designs Designers Profile June 2003 Our featured designer for June is Jacqueline Fox of Waxing Moon Designs. Waxing Moon offers fun-to-stitch cross stitch designs in a whimsical style. Waxing Moon designs are created with today's stitcher in mind. Most of us are very busy and don't always have time to complete large, complicated pieces, so you will find that the majority of their designs are fairly easy to stitch and not too large. Click Here to see more Waxing Moon Designs Designers Profile May 2003 Linda didn't start out to design needlework; She began as a painter. From a very early age she wanted to create something. When she was newly married she knitted, crocheted, needlepointed, & made her own clothing. At the age of 26 she began painting, first with oils and acrylics, until she found her true calling, watercolors. In 1979, with her husband she opened Linda Myers Gallery in Vienna, WV, (which they later sold) showcasing her watercolors. A year or so later, they added a counted cross stitch shop, which is where her interest in designing cross stitch began. She found out where she could introduce her first few designs to the trade and began the "Art of Cross Stitch" company in 1980 and in 1992 changed the name to its present "Designs By Linda Myers". Like her watercolors, her cross stitch designs feature quiet country landscapes and still-life scenes, many with quilts in them. She tries to tell a story with her work, which she calls "poetic realism". If her designs evoke a feeling in the viewer of a memory of times past, or a quiet present of a simpler life, in the midst of our present daily rush, then she has succeeded." What I give from my heart and hand, for you the stitcher to work with your heart and hand will somehow bind us together in our search for the beauty of God's creation". Happy stitching and remembering . . . . . . View Linda's designs by clicking here