I really just was on the look out for an ideal picture to hang in my kitchen. It so happened that I found it in a craft shop and it came in a package as a cross stitch kit. I fall in love with the picture and was determined to have it. I had never cross stitched and knew no one that could do it for me. The project was definitely for an advanced cross stitcher. I had no problem reading a pattern so I was confident that I could quickly pick up any instructions that were laid out in front of me. It was meant to be; I not only picked up the craft with ease; I found that I truly enjoyed watching my picture come to life. It wasn't long before I was hooked on cross stitching and looking forward with enthusiasm toward my next project.
My picture is called "Willowware Classic" by Bucilla. After it was completed I had it professionally stretched and framed with a double mat. That was almost twenty years ago; since then I worked on many more projects, some of which are proudly displayed in my home and others that I had given away as gifts to family members. Wanting to see that all my projects were properly displayed developed my interest in picture framing which led me to become a professional picture framer.
Several months after I completed "Willowware Classic" I entered it in a local craft fair competition where it was awarded a "Best of the Show" ribbon.
