Online Studio

J. Marsha Michler is a nonfiction author of 13 printed books, and 8 self-published eBooks on the topics of crazy quilting, embroidery, silk ribbon embroidery, wire jewelry, and knitting. Her quilts have won awards at quilting shows, and her work has been featured in national magazines and other publications including our Needle Arts magazine. Holding a degree in Business Marketing, and three-quarters of a degree in fine arts, summa cum laude and dean’s list, she has taught classes on crazy quilting, embroidery, and wire jewelry. She actively pursues crazy quilting, embroidery, fiber spinning, knitting, fiction and poetry writing, ballroom dancing, stone wall building, and resides with her husband and dog in the beautiful and inspiring foothills of Southern Maine.

Kim Beamish has been embroidering for over 25 years. Kim is a certified teacher through the Embroiderers’ Association of Canada (EAC/ACB). She is a counsellor for EAC/ ACB. She holds a Mastercraftsman in Counted Thread from the Embroider’s Guild of America (EGA). Kim has taught classes and workshops for EAC/AC and EGA. Her passion and curiosity for embroidery has led to her exploring many media and needlework techniques. Kim designs two and three dimensional pieces that combine techniques. Her pieces have been exhibited internationally and have received many awards. Kim’s designs have been published in books such as Cross Stitch Christmas and Whitework Inspirations. Many projects have been featured in magazines world wide such as A Needle Pulling Thread, Just CrossStitch , Stitch and Inspirations magazines.

After spending her early years as an expatriate, Valentina Grub graduated from Wellesley College (BA hons Medieval & Renaissance Studies, Classical Civilization), then continued to the University of St. Andrews (MPhil, PhD Medieval Art History). She also works as a freelance embroiderer and textile historian and has written two epistolary novels set in 1820s Europe. She currently lives in Saratoga Springs, NY. For more information, go to https://valentinasgrub.com/

Terri Bay, a teacher and designer from South Carolina, began teaching Ukrainian Whitework at Nordic Needle’s retreat. One class lead to another and now she has taught Ukrainian Whitework, Hardanger, Pulled and Drawn Thread and Blackwork at the EGA National Seminars, ANG Seminars, NAN, Regional Seminars, chapter workshops, and various retreats and other fun events. She was honored to be featured as the Designer Across America in the June 2018 issue of Needle Arts Magazine and will have a design in Needle Pointers in the fall of 2021. Terri is a member of EGA, EAC, ANG, and NETA. www.terribayneedleworkdesigns.com

Katherine Diuguid is a studio artist specializing in hand embroidery, dressmaking, and textiles. Her current work investigates color theory and color interactions within stitching, especially goldwork embroidery. She has taught embroidery and textile workshops both nationally and internationally. She held a tenure-track position at North Carolina State University (2012-2017) until deciding to focus fully on her studio embroidery. She has been awarded artist residencies at the North Carolina Museum of Art (Fall 2017) and Penland School of Crafts (Winter 2018 and Winter 2019). Additionally, Katherine has had the opportunity to work on special projects for Durham Cathedral (UK) stitching Panel 10 of the new Open Treasures Cope and for the Art Institute of Chicago stitching a sampler based on their beautiful Burgo de Osma Altarpiece. www.katherinediuguid.com

Kurdy Biggs is a counted canvas designer, teacher and owner of Threedles Needleart Designs. Kurdy holds a Level II teachers’ certification from NAN. Her geometric designs have won numerous awards from EGA, ANG, NAN, TNNA and Woodlawn. She has been published in Needle Pointers, Needlepoint Now, and Cross Stitch and Needlework. Kurdy has taught for EGA, NAN and ANG national and regional seminars and in retail shops. Visit www.threedles.com for more information.

Catherine Jordan holds Master Craftsman certifications in the counted thread, crewel, color, and design programs of EGA. She is currently chair of the Master Craftsman design program and Master Craftsman Coordinator. Catherine is a certified Zentangle® teacher and former juried member of EGA’s artists’ group, Fiber Forum. Catherine teaches at local needlework chapters and regional, national, and international seminars. www.CatherinesDesigns.net 

Emma Broughton is a graduate of both the Royal School of Needlework Apprenticeship (2009) and The University of the Creative Arts (2012). Specialising in hand embroidery as well as screen printing and digital fabric design.

She is the Author of ‘Embroidered Boxes’ book published in April 2019.

Under the name Fairy Wren Embroidery, she teaches embroidery and box making classes, and offers a wide range of embroidery kits and undertakes commissions with her unique designs. Embroidered box making is her true passion because it combines her love of embroidery with 3D construction.

Kathy Andrews is a textile artist and embroidery teacher who works with students of all abilities, teaching them the techniques and the joy of hand embroidery. She received her Certificate of Technical Hand Embroidery with Merit from the Royal School of Needlework and her City and Guilds Certificate in Design and Stitched Textiles. Her work has been exhibited at several shows and galleries across Ireland and the United Kingdom. Kathy is a member of the Cedar Valley Chapter of the EGA and the EGA Fiber Forum. With her enthusiasm for stitch and encouraging classroom atmosphere, she is a sought-after teacher of embroidery. Kathy has taught for EGA chapters in the United States, a mini-class at EGA National and globally in her many online courses.

Susan Hoekstra is a Senior Master Teacher, receiving her certification from the ANG. She has been teaching in Europe and the United States for 23 years and taught classes and studio time in Brussels, BE, London, UK and Utrecht, NL from 1996 to 2001. She is the designer of the 2016 ANG SOTM, “Pineapple Leaves.” ANG national seminars include “Teaching Needlework 101” and “Stacked Rectangles” at the ANG 2020 Virtual Seminar, “Waiting For The Chickens” in Washington, D.C., “Maple Leaves” and “American Folk Sampler” in New Orleans, “Hark, The Herald Angel” and “A Thread for All Seasons in Myrtle Beach, “A Berlin Work Cardinal” in Chicago, “Ben’s Kites” in Philadelphia, and “Dove in The Window” in San Antonio; as well as presenting color theory talks and needlework classes at the regional level in Irvington, VA, Chatham, NJ, Hyde park, NY, Devon, PA, Pottstown, PA, Camden, ME, and College Station, PA; in addition to other locations. Her strong belief in color theory greatly influences her way of teaching and she encourages her students to be creative in the stitching process. Her designs focus on “quilt geometrics,” animals and primitives.

Kim Beamish has been embroidering for over 25 years. Kim is a certified teacher through the Embroiderers’ Association of Canada (EAC/ACB). She is a counsellor for EAC/ ACB. She holds a Mastercraftsman in Counted Thread from the Embroider’s Guild of America (EGA). Kim has taught classes and workshops for EAC/AC and EGA. Her passion and curiosity for embroidery has led to her exploring many media and needlework techniques. Kim designs two and three dimensional pieces that combine techniques. Her pieces have been exhibited internationally and have received many awards. Kim’s designs have been published in books such as Cross Stitch Christmas and Whitework Inspirations. Many projects have been featured in magazines world wide such as A Needle Pulling Thread, Just CrossStitch , Stitch and Inspirations magazines.

Jonalene is EGA certified in Counted Thread. She is a member of our Indian River Chapter in Florida and has been teaching various forms of needlework since 1982 at EGA chapters, and events at the regional and national level. She has over sixty needlework publications under the name of Friends in Needlework and three retired EGA Group Correspondence Courses.

Hailing from South Africa, Hazel Blomkamp is the author of 10 – going on 11 – books. She has designed, written about and taught embroidery and beadwork for more than thirty years and is best known for her less conventional approach to embroidery and Crewel embroidery, in particular.

Lizzy Pye is an embroidery tutor first and foremost, classically trained on the Royal School of Needlework Apprenticeship. In 2009 she was lucky enough to be one of the final six graduate Apprentices, finishing with a Distinction and very sore fingertips! She is proud to be a Royal School of Needlework tutor, and also teaches a lot of her own classes and private students. She is passionate about passing on her skills through teaching, and preserving both skills and heirlooms for future generations to enjoy. She has worked on some fascinating projects over the years, including the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding gown and embroidery designs for the Royal Opera House. She was commissioned to write the Royal School of Needlework’s Essential Stitch Guide: Whitework, published in 2012, and in 2020 Crowood Press published her second book: Goldwork Embroidery, Techniques and Projects. Lizzy also runs an online shop through which she sells the embroidery products with which she loves to work, alongside her own range of embroidery kits.

Merrilyn is an internationally renowned hand embroiderer, designer, author and teacher. Magazine articles of Merrilyn’s work are regularly featured in publications in USA, Australia, and New Zealand. Merrilyn opened her first needlework shop in 1978. With an artistic heritage and a passion for hand work this was the starting point for a long creative and rewarding journey with needle, threads and fabrics.

Dawn has been stitching since 1980, starting, as many of us did, with the little 25¢ owl kit. She took her first sampler class in the mid 80s and was hooked. Becoming intrigued by the history surrounding samplers, she started purchasing antique samplers, then started researching and designing samplers. When the first computer program was offered for designing cross stitch, Dawn ordered it and the rest is history! Shortly thereafter she started her business, Morning Glory Needleworks, designing and selling her reproduction and original samplers at EGA seminars, local shops, and by mail order.