When I learned to embroider at 8 years old, my first pieces and those that followed during the next 25 years were all done with hand stitches. Then I discovered hand-guided machine stitching and my imagination went wild with the possibilities of combining these two techniques. The machine I use is a straight stitch machine----there are no computer programs. Everything is designed and hand-drawn by me on backgrounds that I may paint, print, or dye. Trees and gardens are a favorite theme in my work. My collection of sketches and photographs keep me designing and stitching during the long central NY winters.