The Book of Charland (cont.) . . .

Needlework - My involvement in needlework probably had its beginnings in my desire to avoid housework. To avoid the dusting bit, I worked my way through the various needle works - crewel, knitting, needlepoint, quilting and finally cross stitch. And through them all, there certainly was never any one thing or event that triggered the thought of becoming a ‘designer". It was more a coming together of many events or stages - of one thing leading to another. From working in needlework shops to owning my own cross stitch shop. And from being an owner, needing a design for a specific purpose, to marketing designs based on the widely-loved Anne of Green Gables book.

My next step was seeing sterling silver charms at a trade show. I thought they would be a great embellishment on a design. My belief has always been if you are taking the time to stitch, why not use a really classy charm of sterling silver? Thus began the series of Tokens of the Heart.

The next stage involved my sister, the sculptor Barbara Greenberg (the true artist of the family). On a visit to her in the Netherlands, it struck me that perhaps she might be able to make a wax of a proper strawberry. She went into her garden, picked a wild strawberry and, returning to the kitchen, carefully sculpted a wonderful strawberry with her pocket knife! And that was the beginning of her doing special charms for me.

I've also been fortunate in having a son - Chris - able to make charms for me. He has done many: for example, the rabbit, the antique bobbin, all of the cookie cutter charms and many of the stitches. It's wonderful having two talented people to draw upon!