Joanne
Gatenby has been drawing her whole life and doing needlework for almost as long.
With the support and encouragement of her DH, Bill, she began designing and publishing
her own work under the company name X's & Oh's.
For
many years she has devoted her talents to designing needlwork designs. This happly
married mother of two adult girls creates patterns for every stitching level,
and covers a wide variety of interests, from beginner's and children's designs
to horses, wedding samplers to Christmas stockings...and everything in between!
Designs
by this artist have been featured in such magazines as Stoney Creek Cross Stitch
Collection magazine, in the Needlework Retailer, The Cross Stitcher and in various
newspaper and association articles. She is also a feature contributor to A Needle
Pulling Thread (a fairly new Canadian stitching magazine, available from Chapters
and independent needlework shops.
Early
on, Joanne began working with several artists - converting their artwork to needlework,
to the delight of both their fans! Most notable among these is Shelley McVittie,
Sarah B. Seiter and Den Beauvais.
But
over the past few years several other designers have joined the X's & Oh's
team, and Joanne is pleased to introduce you to the following wonderful designers:
SANDRA
PARLOW:
This Canadian designer has been creating since 1998. Together
with her Fire Fighter husband, Terry, she has two children and a dog - all of
whom keep them running.
She
is also part owner in a framing shop (The Lasting Image), where she gets to frame
all kinds of wonderful needlework.
From
wacky and outrageous, to serious and detailed, this talented designer enjoys working
in a variety of styles, to keep her designs fresh and different.
Sandra's
designs can be found under DRAGONS (More Precious Than Gold), and SNOWMEN (Squeezing
Thru the Holidays), or you can see more of Sandra's work on her website:
www.mts.net/~stparlow
VIVIAN
BALES:
Known in the on-line community as YUKON VIV, this mother of two
(and her DH) really do live in the wonderful Yukon territory of Northern Canada,
where inspiration is around every corner!
Viv
sez "every one of my designs has a glimpse of my life woven into it. I hope
that my life brings a smile to yours."
Look
for Viv's designs under the SNOWMAN (Snow Love) and CHILDREN (Black Sheep Sampler)
categories. There are also a couple of Little Leaflets by this talented designer,
and she may also be found under COFFEE.
MARIANNE
HEDBERG:
Is our most distant designer - from Sweden! Located near Stockholm
with her two teenage children and three cats, she works full-time as an environmental
co-ordinator in the construction business.
Marianne
sez "In a stressful world, designing and stitching provides me with a safety
vent, and I love it!"
