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Heaven And Earth Designs |
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| Designer's Name: Michele & Bob Sayetta | |
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Location: Willmar, MN
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Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions Michelle & Bob! Would you begin by telling us your background in the needlearts?
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Heaven and Earth Designs charts are very crisp and clean. Would you explain the difference in your charting process as opposed to computer generated charts?
Michelle: We do not use a computer generated process as most other conversion types of designers. I am glad that you see how crisp and clean our charts are and it is this process that sets us apart from the others. Bob: We use a engineering program that was designed for us. I chart from the images by taking the images sent to us by each artist and run it through a graphics program, sometimes 2 or 3 and clean the image from hair specks or anything that might fragment in the conversion. Once the image is concise then we run it through our engineering program which converts the image directly in to crosses, no specialty stitches are required. Once it comes through we then enlarge the chart so that we can examine it for lost crosses or extra crosses where they don’t belong and blend them so that they look perfect. Many times we are requested to remove backgrounds as well so that they can be done on hand dyed fabrics and we have to take artists license in making sure that when the background IS removed that it looks perfect and not odd as artists paint pictures blended and so we have to make sure it blends properly.
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Do you have a specific selection of designs that might be better suited for a beginning stitcher? Our Tiny Treasures line is geared to the beginner as well as someone that is would like a quick finish for a gift etc. Our line also includes something called a Quick Stitch which is about ½ the size of an original and is just a portion of a much larger chart. Our storykeeps as well as much smaller and are so much fun to do.
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New From Heaven And Earth Designs... Christmas Fairy Our top selling design from Heaven And Earth Designs so far is "Christmas Fairy", adapted from the stunning artwork of Ruth Sanderson. This captivating holiday fairy has a stitch count of 450w x 316h and retails for $18.00. Look for more HAED to be added to our inventory soon! |
Producing new charts each month and working with dozens of different artists must keep you pretty busy. How do you manage to stay in touch with the stitchers themselves? We have several avenues and we rely heavily on our Bulletin Board which can be located here: http://p081.ezboard.com/bheavenandearthdesigns. Our lives have become very busy and I have several wonderful Administrators that pretty much run the board. I try and get out there as often as I can and we also have a Chat Night every 3 months or so in the Chat Room.
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Would you tell us a little about your family and do they assist in your business? Michelle: I am a Grandmother of a wonderful Little Boy and soon to be a Grandma to a little girl too and then Mom to my Son who is 25 and then two Daughters that are 5 and 7. Bob has one Son that is 21 and currently serving in the Marines and Stationed in Iraq. My Son and Daughter in Law have helped with bagging charts in the past but we now have two full time employees. Bob: I have a son 21 who is in the Military in Ramadi Iraq since April. I was born in Louisville Kentucky and moved to The U.S. Virgin Islands when I was 4 where I stayed till graduation when I opened my own business. Michele and I met 10 years later when we moved to Oregon and began a hand dyed fabric company. After 9/11 we sold the business and moved to Minnesota.
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What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy outside of cross-stitch? Michelle: I am a Lampworker (making glass beads) and Jewelry designer as well and lampworking has become a passion and playing with fire thrills me! Here is a link to some of my work: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5168666. Bob: I grew up loving sailing and all water sports. Now in Minnesota the options are very limited for those interest.
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What are a few things you really like about being a part of the cross-stitch industry? Michelle: I have loved the sense of family in the community of stitchers. I have forged some lifetime friendships with this craft and for that we are very blessed. Bob: I am a newbie and I have to say I never would have dreamed of doing cross stitch but like I say now I cannot sing, dance or play music but I can cross stitch and make something beautiful from a plain piece of fabric. Something I can hang on the wall and be proud of and my kids can enjoy when they get older.
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Of your entire selection of designs, are there a few that stand out as some of your personal favorites? Michelle: My personal favorite is Kinuko Craft and specifically Lady in the Meadow. My Mother had purchased the print for as a teenager and it has always been a favorite. My Mother passed away 11 years ago and this piece holds a very special place in my heart. One of our Board administrators is stitching it as a model and I am very excited to get it back. Bob: I love them all but I really think Josephine Wall is wonderful.
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What’s your favorite time of the year/season and why? Michelle: My favorite season is Summer! I was born and raised at the beach in Southern California and now living in subzero Minnesota Summer is my reprieve. I am notoriously cold all the time and it is the few months of the year that I actually stay warm! Bob: I Like Spring and Fall, cool temperatures.
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Would you share a favorite recipe as we conclude this week’s Friday Feature? Michele’s Strawberry Surprise 1 angel food cake 1 box of Strawberry Jello 1 container of Cool Whip (flavor of your choice) 2 pints of fresh strawberries Break up angel food cake into a 9x13 pan mix up the jello according to the “quick set” directions and mix in sliced strawberries. Pour over broken up cake and then top with Cool Whip. Let set in fridge for a couple of hours. Yum!
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