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Follow The Leader Designs |
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| Colleen's Support Crew: Deane, Emma, & Grace | |
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Location: Elkins Park, PA
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Thank you for taking part in our Friday Feature Colleen! Would you begin by telling us about your cross-stitch background?
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What was the first cross-stitch piece you stitched and when did you complete it?
My first piece I stitched was on the back of a stamped cross stitch fabric. My Grandmother’s sister had given it to her. My grandmother didn’t like the pattern. Not wanting to waste anything, Mom Mom turned it over and showed me how to make little X’s. I secretly stitched for a few nights and when completed gave it to my grandmother. She loved it. Last year when I told her I was going to start a design company she went right up to her room and brought to down for me. She had it hanging in her bedroom for the past 20+ years. The colors are bright blue and orange (I was only 5) and the X’s are not perfect but it just shows my progression as a stitcher and how I enjoyed stitching even as a little girl.
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When did you decide to go into professional designing and how did it happen? Honestly, this was Deane, again. I was a fervent stitcher. I would come home eat dinner and that is how we would spend our nights. Deane would watch TV and I would stitch. It is fabulous b/c we could talk and enjoy each others company and I was still able to complete projects. I found that soon I was substituting stitches, changing colors, adding motifs. When I became pregnant with my son I decided to quit my job and become a stay at home mom. Although I enjoyed the corporate life, I wanted to be home when my children were small. Once our son was born I just sat down one day and with him on my lap asleep (he was probably 2 weeks old) I started a sampler of specialty stitches off the top of my head. I kept stitching till I thought it was finished. I realized that I had designed my own band sampler. After a few designs were finished and on our walls, Deane wanted to know when I was going to launch my design company. It never even occurred to me. Follow The Leader was born.
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A Popular Design From Follow The Leader Designs... Winter Wonderland It's the perfect time of year to stitch the last piece of a four part series, "Winter Wonderland"! This wintry design measures 58 stitches wide and 60 stitches high. Practice your stitching skills with the smyrna stitch, rhodes stitch, and more. The suggested retail price is $8.00. |
What are a few adjectives one might use to describe your collection of designs? I feel my line is unexpected, personalized and tailored to each stitchers taste and skill level. We supply our designs with additional charted variations for you to explore new stitching techniques. Since each stitcher has a unique skill level, they may choose different stitches to use and in different places within each design thus, making each FTL design a unique creation. I feel that really sets us apart in the industry.
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Would you share a little about your family? I will be married 7 years this March (St. Patrick’s Day can you tell I am Irish) to my husband Deane. We have 3 children who are the craziest and funniest people we know. Deane is 4, Grace is 2 and Emma is exactly 8 weeks today. We also have a dog, Drexel who is 5 and a Hermit Crab, Crabfeller (I did not name him) who is 4.
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How do you come up with design ideas (what inspires you) and what are a few key steps in taking them from your brain to a finished design on paper? I can be anywhere and see something and be inspired. I have 3 small brown notebooks that keep me organized. I keep one in my car, one in my office and one in my purse. This way I am always prepared. I just pulled them out and it never hit me before but I jot down words. I write my ideas long hand. No pictures just thoughts and ideas. My latest inspiration came when I was out shopping with my mom. It is our favorite pastime and BAM it hit me. I am finishing work on that piece and I am just thrilled with how it is turning out! My grandmother said b/c I am left handed I do things backwards and I think that rings true with my designs. I actually start on the linen, I just start to stitch and see how things form from there. I have an idea in my head and I need to feel it and see it on the fabric. I will then go to the computer and make some tweaks and go back for final fabric and thread choices. It’s funny I make so many changes from the initial idea that there are times I look at the final design and the concept and I think how did I get here from there? It amazes me how the mind works.
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Do you feel enough is being done to promote and teach cross-stitch to a younger generation? I think we can always improve. I know there are many industry associations that are creating programs targeted to today’s youth. There are also many needlework guilds that have community outreach programs that take their members into local schools and teach the younger generation how to stitch. I feel it is important for everyone in the industry (from stitchers to professionals) to play their part in introducing needlework to the next generation. As for myself, I am in the process of finalizing a website. After talking with many stitchers over the past few years I realized that stitchers encountered quite a few roadblocks in obtaining information. It occurred to me that if we removed the roadblocks then we can begin to build the needlework community and ignite a fire in the next generation of stitchers. Loose Thread Stitchers (www.LooseThreadStitchers.net) will allow current stitchers to access more information regarding stitching (classes, retreats, stitch in’s, etc.) as well as provide an online community for the newer generation. Finding my first LNS to visit was an experience I will never forget. I know LTS will bring that excitement to each stitcher and for our next generation of stitchers.
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What’s your favorite vacation spot? Wildwood, New Jersey. My family…Well the WHOLE family which consists of my grandparents, their 6 children and their spouses, 33 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren), as well as in-laws, other cousins and friends travel to Wildwood every year for 2 week. We are a sight to behold. Can you imagine that amount of people sitting on beach chairs in a circle? How about going on the boardwalk to ride the rides or better yet showing up to a restaurant for dinner? And each year our group continues to grow, with more marriages and births each year. It is quite a spectacle and one of my favorite things to do each year!
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Would you close out this questionnaire with a favorite recipe from the Leader kitchen? OK, if you asked my husband, he would send an amazing Italian something or other. Your mouths would water. You would be amazed at how luck I am to be married to such a wonderful cook. However, you asked me. Simply put, I should never be in the kitchen, unless I am eating. I will send this recipe that is for all the non cooks out there. Hey – if I have to choose between cooking and stitching…well we all know how that one ends. Oreo Cookie Balls* 1 package Oreo cookies 1 (8 ounces) package cream cheese 1 package melting white chocolate (you can use other flavors but I prefer white) Place Oreo cookies in food processor, process until very fine. Place crumbs into a bowl and mix with cream cheese. Refrigerate for approximately 1 hour. Roll out mixture into marble size balls and place on cookie sheet. Place Oreo Cookie Balls in refrigerator to get cold. Take cookie balls out of refrigerator when cold and dip in melted white chocolate. Place cookie balls on wax paper to dry. * Please do not hold me responsible for your expanding waistline or your addiction to this cookie. It cannot be helped I have not found a support group for this but if I do, you will be the first to know!
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