My love of needlework began in Germany, where girls learned stitching and sewing from the first grade. Encouraged by my mother, a master seamstress, and inspired by my grandmother, I quickly fell in love with embroidery, knitting, crochet, and creating with my hands.

One of my greatest treasures are the samplers stitched by my great-grandmother and lovingly passed down to me through my mother. Those family heirlooms sparked a lifelong fascination with historic needlework and the stories stitched into every piece, a passion that continues to inspire my work today. (You can explore my family's sampler here.)

Although I later studied art in college and even spent time designing and carving memorial headstones, it was always needlework that called me home. Discovering the beautiful sampler reproductions of designers such as Eileen Bennett and Darlene O'Steen rekindled my passion and set me on the path to designing my own heirloom pieces.

Today I combine historical research with original artistry to create reproduction samplers and original cross stitch designs inspired by the past. I love uncovering the lives of the girls and women who stitched these remarkable pieces, preserving their stories, and sharing them with fellow stitchers. Every sampler has a story worth remembering.

My approach to reproductions reflects both my love of history and my background as an artist. While many samplers are reproduced exactly as stitched, others receive thoughtful adaptations to improve stitchability or restore visual harmony. I believe each antique sampler is a unique expression of its maker, and my goal is to honor her work while helping her story continue into another generation.

Alongside my historic reproductions, I also enjoy creating original samplers inspired by traditional motifs, old-world stitchery, and timeless color palettes.

As The Wishing Thorn has grown, I have been fortunate to work with a talented group of model stitchers whose beautiful craftsmanship brings my designs to life. Their work allows me to devote more time to discovering remarkable samplers, researching their histories, and creating new designs to share with you. Thank you ladies from the bottom of my heart!

Whether you are stitching one of my original designs or bringing an antique sampler back to life, I hope you find as much joy in the journey as I do.

Thank you for allowing me to share my passion with you.

With love,

"The thread that bridges historic needlework with contemporary needle-art."