Personal Story

For those who are interested in the person behind the needlework...

Once upon a time there was a teacher who thought that elementary education for her 
students might include going beyond the curriculum.  So, when her fourth-grade students
were done with their regular assignments, she found other intellectual pursuits for them 
to explore.  Some she taught to play chess, others she encouraged to read by having reading 
contests.  And, for the really lucky ones, she taught needlepoint.

My first piece of needlework was a lion stalking through tall grass.  When I finished it, 
that teacher was extremely pleased with my efforts.  It is very badly stretched out of shape 
(we didn't use frames or anything, of course) and, no doubt, grubby.  But it was something 
I'd created.  I quickly started a second project, an initial for my mother.  And that was how I started 
doing needlework.  (Both the butterfly and frog pieces on this page were also early projects.)

My family will tell you there was some genetics involved.  My paternal grandmother was 
also a creative person, doing ceramics, painting, needle-lace, tatting, crocheting, and quilting.
I only knew her when I was very young, but it pleases me to know that we would have had
something important in common.

I've continued doing needlework, taking time away from it for a while during the very busy 
high school years.  But hardly a year went by that I didn't have something in the 4-H fair that I'd 
stitched.  When I got to college, I had mono my freshman year and was pretty incapacitated
at the end of the school day.  My college roommate taught me counted cross stitch then, which
kept me occupied (inexpensively) and didn't use too much of the little energy I had.   My adult
love of needlework is, in part, her fault!

After marriage, my husband and I moved often and for a couple of years, needlework was a
luxury that I didn't have time for.  But then Steve got the job he'd dreamed of, which required 
him to be gone for sixteen weeks of training.  And, I got the idea of stitching "Point of Rocks" for
him to congratulate him on his accomplishment.  I had plenty of time alone!  

From that time one, needlework has been an on-going source of enjoyment.  In 1996 I joined
the Embroiderer's Guild of America through the Dallas Needlework and Textile Guild in
Dallas, Texas.   With the encouragement of this wonderful group of stitchers, I have expanded
my needlework interests to include withdrawn thread, Hardanger, and over-one stitching.  My
needlepoint skills have grown dramatically and I've tried a few original designs in this area.

Fortunately, for this story, there's no "happy ending" because I don't see an end to my 
interests!  Please enjoy the website and feel free to contact me if you like what you see.
  

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