Background Stories
by Sherry Johnston
by Sherry Johnston
Often I get inspiration for my designs from the most unusual sources. Such was the case with my design
"Floral Sampler I". I was just minding my own business one morning after waking up from a restful night's
sleep; looked down to slide my feet into my bunny slippers, and noticed the vibrant colors in the area rug
on the floor. Now, I've had this rug for seven years and originally I bought it because it has a red color that
matches my quilt. But I'll admit I never much thought about it after I put it down on my bedroom floor.
Here I was, seven years later, looking at this reg and feeling as though I've just discovered the most
beautiful item in the world. Well, I started pulling out all of my Needlepoint Silks and matching the colors in
that rug. I spent all the rest of that day (in my nightie no less) designing a sampler to go with my precious
colors.
"Night Creatures" is a design that I came up with while driving home from a long day at work. It was just
turning dark as I passed a tree that was turning the most wonderful colors of early autumn. I thought I saw
something in the tree among the leaves! It may have been nothing more than a fast moving shadow from
a bird or a leaf blown off by the wind, but it was just enough to get my imagination going. So, I started
playing the "what if?" game. What if it was a creature never before seen? What if it was one of many
creatures that came out only at night? What if only cats can see them? Well, that was enough to start me
designing "Night Creatures".
"Michael's Tree House" is a design that started its life as an oil painting in honor of my son, Michael, who
always sought out adventure wherever he could. Quite often this adventure seeking lead to climbing trees
and imaginary tree forts. I think most of us have a day dream of having a tree house; I know I have. So, I
have started working on more tree house designs in honor of the child in all of us.
Words of encouragement, faith, hope, love and caring are wrapped up into the "Good Words" series.
These words are affirmations of the nature of women.
"Floral Sampler I". I was just minding my own business one morning after waking up from a restful night's
sleep; looked down to slide my feet into my bunny slippers, and noticed the vibrant colors in the area rug
on the floor. Now, I've had this rug for seven years and originally I bought it because it has a red color that
matches my quilt. But I'll admit I never much thought about it after I put it down on my bedroom floor.
Here I was, seven years later, looking at this reg and feeling as though I've just discovered the most
beautiful item in the world. Well, I started pulling out all of my Needlepoint Silks and matching the colors in
that rug. I spent all the rest of that day (in my nightie no less) designing a sampler to go with my precious
colors.
"Night Creatures" is a design that I came up with while driving home from a long day at work. It was just
turning dark as I passed a tree that was turning the most wonderful colors of early autumn. I thought I saw
something in the tree among the leaves! It may have been nothing more than a fast moving shadow from
a bird or a leaf blown off by the wind, but it was just enough to get my imagination going. So, I started
playing the "what if?" game. What if it was a creature never before seen? What if it was one of many
creatures that came out only at night? What if only cats can see them? Well, that was enough to start me
designing "Night Creatures".
"Michael's Tree House" is a design that started its life as an oil painting in honor of my son, Michael, who
always sought out adventure wherever he could. Quite often this adventure seeking lead to climbing trees
and imaginary tree forts. I think most of us have a day dream of having a tree house; I know I have. So, I
have started working on more tree house designs in honor of the child in all of us.
Words of encouragement, faith, hope, love and caring are wrapped up into the "Good Words" series.
These words are affirmations of the nature of women.
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