I’m Amanda Miller! I’m originally from New Jersey, and now live in Northern Connecticut with my husband and two golden retrievers.
GENERAL NEEDLEPOINT
How did you learn to needlepoint? What was your first needlepoint project?
- I’d followed Krista’s blog and Instagram for a while, and was originally inspired to stitch by her gorgeous ring bearer pillow! I’m self taught, thanks to videos and resources created by many wonderful stitchers. My first project was a Laura Megroz ornament of a yellow dog and sailboat, stitched before I had a yellow dog of my own!
What is your favorite stitch? What stitch are you hoping to learn/do next?
- Basketweave on 13 mesh is the classic favorite. I also love a laid filling stitch for realistic looking woven baskets. My goal is to master ribbonwork next!
What are your favorite threads to use?
- Straw Silk and Silk & Ivory are my favorites—both are a delight to stitch with!
ABOUT YOUR DESIGNS
What made you want to paint your own pieces?
- I feel like I’ve been “designing” ever since I could hold a pencil… I went to art school for college at Cooper Union, and my career is in product/UX design. My brain is filled with ideas (sometimes good, sometimes not so much 😉). I love that needlepoint allows me to be creative off the screen, and translate my ideas into tangible objects.
Describe your canvases in three words:
- Whimsical, timeless, New England-inspired
What inspires you most when creating new designs?
- The world around me! Particularly the places or things that light me up the most: architecture, gardens, golden retrievers…
What has been your favorite canvas to paint?
- I loved painting my Chatham travel round. There’s a lot of fun details packed in, and the colors are so vibrant.
What has been your favorite canvas to stitch?
- I loved stitching the crest I designed for my wedding a few years ago. This is one of the first canvases I created, and I love how the french knot hydrangeas turned out.
What is one piece of advice for painting your own canvas?
- A good audiobook makes the hours you’ll spend painting breeze by!
ABOUT YOU
Where is your favorite place to stitch?
- Anywhere outdoors with a nice view, a good companion, and a tasty cocktail.
If you're not needlepointing you're…
- Restoring my c.1765 colonial! It’s a ton of work and very rarely glamorous, but it’s also incredibly rewarding to learn new skills and appreciate other forms of craftsmanship.
What three items do you always have in your project bag?
- I pack my project bags light, which is super out of character for me otherwise: scissors, extra needles, and occasionally a Snag Nab-it!
What shows are you currently watching?
- Does YouTube count? Homeworthy house tours are the best binge watch!
What is your favorite podcast?
- Bad on Paper for bookish conversations, and Pivot for my weekly dose of tech and business news.
Who is your favorite needlepoint or non-needlepoint follow on Instagram right now?
- Olivia Muenter: author and co-host of Bad on Paper. I love following the progress on her historic home—she has great style and I adore her vintage finds.
If time and money were no issue, what type of needlepoint project would you want to do?
- One day I’d love to stitch a rug! Not promising I’ll let anyone walk on it, though…
FOLLOW UP:
Where can people find your designs? (website, LNS)
- pennylinndesigns.com and hopefully, your local needlepoint store, too!
Where can people follow you on social?
- You can follow along with my stitching at @bluehydrangeastitcher, but be warned you’ll also get some dog and DIY photos!
