Both my parents were well-known artists in Chicago (U.S.A.) and I was born and brought up in a heady atmosphere of painting and general creativity. As a child I spent all my time drawing, painting and playing about with many different creative activities. Then, as an adolescent, I rebelled (as adolescents do) and determined to become a scientist. So I spent my working life unravelling the puzzles of genetics and embryology, and in later days, of stem cells. But I still carried a sketchbook with me and never stopped drawing the various things around me.
For many years now my husband and I have lived in Scotland, and most recently in the Grampian Highlands in Aberdeenshire, where the local history, landscape and wildlife provide a never-ending source of inspiration. By the time I reached retirement age, with no more structured laboratory work to occupy my time sketching and drawing began to take over again. And when I discovered the potential of the embroidery machine this part of my life really began to take off.
Why is the embroidery accidental? Several years ago, the industry that my husband works in was going through one of its periodic depressions, so he investigated several businesses which he might start up on his own. At a trade fair he became intrigued by computerised embroidery machines, and for a while contemplated setting up an embroidery business. But by that time the industry that had originally employed him had started to grow again, so he went back to his old job and I was left with the embroidery machine. So it was just an accident of fate that I became involved with these machines and with designing for them.
Over time I started to exhibit my work, and to my surprise it has proved quite popular. I exhibit at the annual North East Scotland Open Studios event and I’ve started to sell at local galleries as well. This blog is where I document what I’m doing at the moment – some of it successful, some of it less so. But it’s a valuable exercise for me to look at old work and to see how it develops and improves. It’s also good to make contact with other embroiderers, who are interested in using their machines in new and original ways.