Find A Shop | HDC Merchant Mall | Cross-Stitch Shops Online
By The Bay Needleart |
|
 | |
| Designer's Name: Donna Bayliss | |
|
Location: Hampton, NH
|
|
|
Thank you for taking the time to participate in our Friday Feature Donna! Would you begin by telling us your background in the needlearts?
|
|
|
How would you describe your designs as far as a style or category?
I guess my category style would be Colonial or Primitive.
|
|
What influences in your life do you feel have steered your creativity towards this style of designing? I’ve been influenced by “The Old”. I just love the work of Charles Wysocki and the murals of Rufus Porter. You might be able to tell by my “Hill” series with trees that I work with a passion of the outdoors. Additionally you will find I work heavily with the older “Seaside Living” themes. Hence my recent move to the Maine seacoast.
|
|
|
New From By The Bay Needleart... Rolling Hills Of Autumn Catch the spirit of a northeastern fall with this beautiful new design from By The Bay. Donna utilizes a few different stitches, such as Rhodes, Algerian Eye, Satin and Tent Stitch to offer a little challenge! Stitch count is 82w x 71h and the design area is 5.25 x 4.56. |
Would you share a little about your family? I am married to an Extremely Handsome Man (Guess who’s looking over my shoulders right now! Ha) who has taken an interest in the marketing end of the business. I have 2 wonderful children and am a very proud new grandmother.
|
|
What are a few of your favorite non-stitching interests of hobbies? Although it’s recently taken a backseat to the stitching business, I enjoy working with stained glass. In addition I love antiquing and am fortunate to be situated in somewhat of an antique beltway. I also enjoy faux painting on old furniture and some of my frames.
|
|
Would you describe the major steps in taking a design from an idea in your mind to the actual finished product? My design steps begin with pencil and paper sketches which I then take to the computer to begin charting the design. This phase is always filled with several points of going back and making changes until I’m happy. Depending on my creative flow if you will the timetable is sometimes as short as one week with many taking up to a month.
|
|
Are there a lot of stitchers in your area? Although there is no Needleart shop close to our new homestead, I travel to my old local needlework shop in North Hampton NH to shop and often times teach. This shop seems to attract a good number of stitchers both from the area and several other not so local towns.
|
|
What do you enjoy most about being a part of this industry? I get excited by seeing how many new designs and styles are out there, and seeing the various levels of creativity. I enjoy the challenges of stumpwork. And recently the growth of my “teaching” opportunities gives me the great chance to visit more of the “Fun-loving” shops out there. Also meeting other stitchers is something I look forward to.
|
|
Would you mind sharing a favorite recipe? I do enjoy cooking although my husband’s passion to cook is equal to my passion to design. But the most family and friend requested food of mine is a recipe for “Whoopie Pies” I’ve used for years. It’s taken from an old Amish cookbook of mine. I’m quite sure you will find them to be pure heaven. “Chocolate Whoopie Pies” Makes 4 doz 2 cups sugar 1 cup shortening 2 eggs 4 cups of flour 1 cup baking cocoa 2 tsp vanilla 1 tsp salt 1 cup sour milk 2 tsp baking soda 1 cup warm water 1. Cream sugar and shortening, Add eggs 2. Sift together flour, cocoa, and salt. Add alternately with sour milk. Add vanilla. Dissolve soda in hot water and add last. Mix well. 3. Drop by rounded tsp onto cookie sheet. Bake at 400 for 8-10 minutes. 4. Make sandwiches from 2 cookies filled with Whoopie Pie Filling. Filling 2 egg whites beaten 4 tbsp milk 2 tsp vanilla 2 cups 10X sugar 1 Mix: then add two more cups of 10X sugar and 1-½ cups of shortening. ENJOY!! MMMM!!!
|
|
Hoffman Distributing Company, Inc. Home Page
