J Designs - About J Designs

Welcome to J. Designs, LLC. Alternative Hardanger Techniques.

It all started with a hardanger class I attended 18 years ago through my local needlework shop. That is where I fell in love with this intricate form of needlework, hardanger embroidery. Following the first beginning hardanger class, a small group of us continued gathering on a weekly basis. My mentor, Kathy, shared her knowledge and endless patience. She challenged me to strive for the perfection I craved. She encouraged me to be creative in pursuing this 'perfection', and in doing so, I had found a few "alternative techniques' creating nearly flawless hardanger. The back side of the piece is nearly as flawless as the front side.

Kathy took ill and I was asked to teach out the remainder 2 weeks of her hardanger class. No pressure there!!. How would I put into words what my hands are 'just doing'? Well this experience put a whole different spin on hardanger embroidery. I found this journey shed a light on my true passion, teaching.

After years of teaching various hardanger designs, bringing to class each night hand drawn stitch techniques and journey direction instructional handouts for each student, to help with the execution of each particular design, I decided one day to try and design my own teaching piece. Simple in structure, yet utilizing traditional hardanger methods, my alternative techniques and incorporating my teaching style. Thus, The Ultimate Teaching Doily was born. From there, my stitching friends encouraged me to design other hardanger pieces and that is how I started my design business.

I have had the opportunity to share my passion for hardanger embroidery with stitchers in classrooms across the country. I have even had my "15 minutes of fame" …or shall I say "4 minutes of fame" for I had the pleasure of being part of a segment featured on The Home and Garden Television Network. What an experience that was! The producer, camera man and film technician actually came to my home….Oh the stories I could tell, but that will have to wait for another time.

"My All Time Favorites" A True Keepsake, Sophie, Hope, Katherine and Holiday Hardanger I are my first original designs that were published in spiral book form. Each of these exquisite designs comes complete with photo and a hand charted design. You will find my reference technique book Take the Hard out of Hardanger an excellent stitch resource for both traditional hardanger stitch formation and for my alternative techniques as well.

Each of my NEW hardanger designs are in chart pack form. The Ultimate Teaching Doily * Plain and Simple, Take the Next Step and The Friendship Collection Elizabeth and Kim chart packs include a photo, detailed charted design, along with individual instructional sheets for each stitch needed to complete the design.

Let us not forget, my first needle love - cross stitch. How I long for endless hours of cross stitching. Now, all of my time is devoted to 'business' stitching and I find I no longer can justify 'social' stitching. So to satisfy my craving for 'cross stitch', I have created a line of primitive cross stitch designs.

** Coming soon!! A line of hardanger, specialty stitch and cross stitch samplers.

OH! If only there were enough hours in each day to create everything I have in my heart.

Best Stitches,

Julie