About

Janet Perry is passionate about needlepoint. She is well-known as an expert on needlepoint and has eleven books currently in print on needlepoint.

She is also one of the leading providers of stitch guides for hand-painted canvases. Guides written by her are available from such popular designers as Melissa Shirley, Raymond Crawford, Needledeeva, Kelly Clark, and many others. She also writes custom stitch guides for individuals and shops.

Her innovative and unfussy approach to needlepoint has gotten her fans from around the world who praise her clarity and the way she makes difficult concepts easy and clear. Needlepointers at any level can take advantage of this through her on-line classes and PDF books and projects.

Among her other on-line ventures she has a revolutionary and a needlepoint information site, All about Needlepoint. She also writes the leading needlepoint news blog which is updated three times daily with news about upcoming classes, trunk shows, sales, events, new products, and more.

Here’s what she has to say for herself:

“I began stitching in 1970, just before I turned 14. It was as if needlepoint found me. I loved it immediately and have done so ever since. I was an adventurous needlepointer from the beginning, trying new stitches, designing my own patterns, adapting pictures to needlepoint, and stitching with any thread I could get my hands on.

“From 1997-2001 I was the Needlepoint Guide for About.com, building it up into a comprehensive and current site for needlepoint knowledge. Since 2001 I have worked as an independent designer, creating projects and stitch guides. They’re always desigtned to give your more than what you need to stitch only that canvas. They’ll give you ideas knowledge, and stitches you can take to other projects.

“My basic needlepoint philosophy is that needlepoint should be fun and easy. I have developed many techniques which allow even beginning stitches to do “difficult” techniques, and my knowledge of needlepoint allows me to draw on so many different ideas.

“There isn’t a needlepoint technique I haven’t tried at least twice and I’ve stitched with almost everything that can be threaded on a needle. I welcome designers, shops, and individuals as clients.

“In addition to this blog and my design work, I also teach and write. I have written articles and columns for many popular needlepoint and needlework magazines. I am a Life Patron of the American Needlepoint Guild.

“I live on Mare Island in California with my husband, cats, and kids. When not stitching I’m an avid foodie (email me for recommendations if you’re coming to Napa Valley) and I enjoy reading and decorating. From time to time I manage to step away from my needlepoint and my computer to read, shop and have lunch with friends.”