ABOUT ME"Needle in hand makes me happy..." My life is in stitches, literally. I stitch when I can find time or make time – it is part of who I am. If I am not stitching, I am most likely thinking about it. I didn’t choose to embroider – embroidery chose me. I originally embarked on a career in fashion design at the Needlecraft Guild College (Håndarbejdets Fremmes Seminarium) in Copenhagen. Included in the course was one module of hand embroidery. After just one lesson, I went straight to the head office and asked to change my major to hand embroidery. I have never regretted that – not even for a second. Once I discovered embroidery was ‘my thing’ it opened doors I never imagined possible. From working on an ecclesiastical piece designed by the Danish Queen Margrethe II and editing a leading embroidery magazine to teaching both locally and abroad, designing and developing embroidery kits and creating stitched art. I enjoy many types of embroidery but am especially drawn to styles that involve colour, pattern and texture with crewel embroidery, raised embroidery and goldwork among my favourites. When I embroider, I enjoy watching the design take shape and come to life, and find the methodical notion of placing stitches, one at a time, incredibly calming – it cannot be rushed. My designs and kits are largely inspired by traditional hand embroidery and decorative arts, which I then love to give a subtle contemporary twist and the results can best described as ‘traditional but not typical’. |