It seems so important to me to explain where I come from, and how and why I do what I do. So, I've written this short personal history for my friends and colleagues. Now you'll hopefully get a snapshot of the person behind the designs.

I have been stitching and crafting as long as I can remember. It's just what I do. I was never one to just sit still and watch tv, I always had to be doing something else. My mom would crochet and is now an avid needlepointer. She gets to stitch more than I do! Her mom also crocheted. Remember all those teeny tiny handkerchief edges and wonderful lacey tablecloths and doilies? Well, that's what she did. And then there was my Aunt Elsie, she stitched all the time and I do mean, all the time. She did crewel work, kit after kit after kit. Many she stitched several times (I wish I had one of those now, but I was just a kid). She stitched so many pieces that the walls in her house were covered top to bottom with her stitching.

I took my first formal Needlepoint class when I was in 6th grade. Okay, other kids play outside, I stitch.

I went on to college, attained a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts. I even painted and exhibited my own abstract watercolors for a while. Maybe one day those paintings will be recreated in needlepoint.

In 1990, Kreinik Manufacturing moved their corporate offices to Owings Mills, Maryland and I became their Design Coordinator. This was a great opportunity for me to learn about thread and the industry and to meet many talented designers.

In 1994, I left Kreinik to pursue a new vision. I wasn't sure what would happen, but it certainly has been an adventure. I began freelancing as a Graphic Artist and that soon turned into my own design and marketing firm, Plum Creative Associates, LLC. It's a wonderful business and I work with many great people. I wouldn't trade them for anything.

But being a true Gemini and having more than a little A.D.D., I wanted more. I was still stitching and had been designing counted canvaswork. I sold designs to many needlework magazines. I also published my own chartpaks, plus those of several other friends, to sell to shops nationwide. The industry goes through many cycles and Counted Canvaswork (while beautiful and so much fun to design and stitch!) just wasn't a cost effective business. I needed to regroup if I was going to stay in the industry.

So, in 2003 my dream came true of being able to start a hand painted needlepoint design business! Needlepoint is my first love. I love the painted canvases and bringing them to life with stitches and threads. I work a little differently than many artists in the industry. I do not actually paint the canvases myself. I am the Creative Director. I come up with concepts and then work with very talented illustrators to bring them to life. So what you ultimately see is my vision translated through their hands. All of our illustrations are then charted for needlepoint and stitchpainted - giving you the highest quality and easiest canvases to stitch. There's no guess work for color or stitch placement with these designs!

I still get to stitch many of my designs and develop stitch guides for them so that stitchers can follow me or create their own art. My goal is to create art that appeals to all ages... but especially to the thirty and fortysomethings. We need to keep the art alive and exciting - It's not your Grandmother's Needlepoint!

In 2007 I realized another dream, opening a needlepoint store, Bedecked and Beadazzled in Cockeysville, MD. Late in 2009 we moved the store to a location in Lutherville almost twice the size of the original store. It's bright and happy and fun and looks a lot like the website. We love meeting our customers and getting them as excited about the art as we are. We periodically invite national teachers and have a great time being inspired by them and their talents.

I am a bit of a techno-geek. I know enough to be dangerous. In August of 2009 I launched Stitcherie.com a social networking site geared for the needlework industry. It's a great place to meet other stitchers. See what we are working on and share progress on class pieces. I am happy to report that the site has been well received and stitchers everywhere are having fun checking it out and chatting with others online.

I currently live in Towson, Maryland with Karl, my partner of 25 years and one of the amazing illustrators of the needlepoint canvases. We have 4 cats - Hunter, Harold, Max and Richie. There are several who have come before that are missed everyday. But these boys know they are in charge of the house and are gracious enough to let us live with them. They are the lights of my life. One day soon they may have to share their home with a puppy (shhhh! don't tell). Mom is well and not far away, putting up with my requests for more stitched models for the tradeshows. The joys of being an only child - a mom who doesn't have to divide her time.

I'm not sure what's next. There are so many ideas in my head; stay tuned, watch my blog and we'll try to keep it fun.

Thank you all for helping me realize my dreams... and for sharing yours with me! The Needlepoint business is thriving as is the Graphic Design business and we are having a wonderful time!