Pine Tree Designs

When my sister and I were children, our mother taught us crafts. We started with pulling thick yarn through sewing cards, and then progressed to potholders made on a small metal frame, and eventually to crocheting, needlepoint, and sewing. We ironed fall leaves between sheets of wax paper and created pencil holders out of orange juice cans. We were always working on something.

One of my favorite memories seems so simple now. Mom taught us needlepoint by letting us pick out a canvas with a pre-stitched bird in the center (a cardinal for me, a bluebird for my sister), and then we filled in the background. It sounds like it would be boring but I loved it. It made my heart sing.

Over the years I've tried lots of different crafts: needlepoint, pottery, quilting, cross-stitch, and stamping. My family and friends are always pleased when they receive handmade gifts from me and that has really encouraged me.

I started Pine Tree Designs in April 2003 as an outlet to share my wares with people outside my family and friends. I am thrilled to have discovered my creative niche - embroidering designs on paper with specialty threads. My motto is the smaller, the better, or as I tell my customers at my shows, "I love teeny-tiny!" I get to combine my two great loves: paper and stitching. Throw in some dark chocolate and I'm one happy woman!

Craftiness is in my DNA. Mom got me started but I’m also inspired by Dad who is a woodworker and my sister, Gretchen, who mostly crafts with words but also quilts, knits, and stencils. It’s always been this way in my family: we make things. I’m proud to be part of that heritage.