I've been cross stitching since 1989, but I didn't start designing cross stitch until 1998.   I've always had an interest in the arts, filling up extra credits in high school with additional art classes.  Although I have no formal training, I feel that drawing and painting are in my blood, even though I don't get the chance to do enough of it!   My "day job" has also allowed me to appreciate an even greater range of art styles - which is something that I try to reflect in my designs as I  build my collection.

Many of the designs you'll see on my website right now are quirky cartoon types - which speak volumes about the way my mind works,  (I've been accused of having a strange sense of humor.....hee heee)  but I am slowly adding more serious designs to my portfolio.   I really would like to have a wide variety of design styles - and while it's sometimes a good thing to have your work "recognizable" to your stitchers, I don't necessarily want people to always know what to expect to come from me next.  I'd like to keep people guessing!

I first started out designing when my second son was born.  I was trying to find something that would "stand the test of time" in a boy's room as he grows older.

I just couldn't find what I envisioned in my head, so I thought I'd try my hand at designing something of my own.  I created two designs (one of which is in the book "Unique Birth Announcements") and I enjoyed it so much that I decided to send it to a cross stitch publisher.  Jeanette Crews liked the designs, and after that, it's all history!

I have chosen not to self publish or distribute as I have a full time business to run outside of my designing.  With two partners, I have a custom frame shop/ local needlework shop called Lasting Image.  With working full time and having two children, my days are pretty busy, so I don't always have as much time to spend on my designing as I'd like.  Many of my evenings are spent sitting at my computer, listening to music and sorting through fibers, fabrics, and grand ideas!  I do, however, try to get up and do a little exercise every day in my personal quest to avoid looking COMPLETELY like a potato- whether it be a walk or run, a walk on the treadmill, swimming, a bike ride, some aerobics, or even some Yoga!!   

Some other things I like to do in my small scrap of spare time are reading (almost anything) drawing, painting,and most recently, photography.  You tend to see the world in a different way when you are looking at it through a camera lens, and I hope to bring some of this into my cross stitch designs!

 And last, but not least, I have to thank my  Husband -Terry, who's been my biggest fan and supporter.  I could not have accomplished this without him cheering me on and encouraging me to go for it, even when I just wanted to give up because it seemed too hard.  Terry is a Fire Fighter and was my model for my first design published by Jeanette Crews "Never Forget".