About your Hosts
Jenny Henry
As I sat down to draft up my mission statement for why I wanted to organize a UK stitching retreat I had to ask myself 2 questions. Why England and why stitching? I will answer the second question, “Why stitching?” in a roundabout way. I am an accidental stitcher. It was completely a fated path that led me into the world of needlepoint 27 years ago. At 23 years old I had just arrived in San Francisco with my friend. The ink was still drying on my fine arts degree and all I knew was that I wanted a job that was creative. My ambition was (is) to be a fine art painter. I had planned to work a day job to support my art and bohemian lifestyle. I accepted a job at Needlepoint Inc. in San Francisco as a needlepoint painter. I knew nothing about needlepoint or painting or designing needlepoint but learned on the job. I did paint my own work some evenings and belonged to a cooperative pottery studio where I would throw pots in the evenings and on weekends. The bohemian lifestyle was strong back then. But after I got married, bought a house and had kids I found myself focusing on how to pay the bills and dedicated long hours painting, designing and selling my needlepoint designs. It was always my job and never my hobby and that is how I approached it. About 10 years ago my anxiety got really bad and I realized I needed to change my lifestyle. One of the lifestyle changes I made was that I switched my business model from focusing on handpainted needlepoint canvases sold to the trade to needlepoint kits and beginner projects focusing on the mindfulness and the meditative qualities of the stitch sold directly to the customer. It was also then that I truly became a stitcher.
Why England? About 10 years ago, at the same time kits were at the top of my business agenda, I decided to make a trip to England and get to know their needlepoint (tapestry) kit based stitching culture better. My Dad who was born and raised in London and my 8 year old son were my travel companions. It was on this trip that I met one of our hosts, Emily Peacock and ironically I did also meet Emma Homent on that same trip (other host) but more in a sliding doors kind of way. My formal introduction to Emma would come a few years later. It was then that I was introduced to the printed canvas but it would take years for it to catch on in the states and transform my business. Stitching aside, England felt like home in a way I could not explain except that perhaps part of my DNA was recognizing this as a part of me. I would go back 3 more times before Covid hit. My Dad came on each of those trips with me. He is not well enough to travel anymore and I am very sad at the idea of traveling there without him. For me, England is part of my relationship with my Dad. That is why it is so dear to me.
I started talking with Michele a couple years ago about Mindfulness and my desire to create retreats using needlepoint as a vehicle to inspire community and healing. I struggle with anxiety and started to say so out loud in my Instagram posts. I started the Mindfulness Collection, a needlepoint series of canvases printed in the UK designed simplistically to evoke mindfulness and with imagery that would be broad enough to connect with a variety of people and circumstances. In the past couple of years Michele and I have struck up a friendship and business relationship. We agreed last year to launch Stitch Break to bring to life some of these visions. One of these visions is to create retreats that embody values that are important to us, like building community and using stitching to improve our mental health. These values will be woven into every aspect of our retreats.
This UK retreat is going to be very special in a bucket list kind of way. In planning the retreat we focused on building community, wellness, education and celebrating British culture and history.
Michele Kay-Greene
For me, life has been a series of curve balls and the colors of my dreams have changed so dramatically over time. I tend fall into things before I realize that this is a good thing for me. My studies in school were leading me elsewhere and with no jobs available, I switched gears repeatedly.
To own a shop was never a dream, it was never a vision, in fact, it was the opposite. But I fell into it, and it has been the best time of my life.
While I was always artsy and crafty, I abandoned art school and found a more practical route (my father would disagree). I applied to grad school and even took my LSATs to perhaps go to Law school. My master’s degree is all about Public Administration and college programming on a global level. I was going to change the world - at least so I thought. But life had other plans and even though my dreams have shifted, and I am not changing the world through academics, I am hopefully helping others follow their passion and creating their own master pieces through the needle arts.
I did not stitch before I bought the store in fact, I did not even know what Needlepoint was. My grandmother had taught me how to hook as a child with the strips of wool and a hook, but I never really got into it. I may have a little later in life but not at 6, 10 or 20 years old. However, 10 years later since I purchased the store, I stitch – It brings me peace. It is a place where I can drift into my own little creative sector and just be.
What is incredibly important to me is inclusivity and community. These two ideas are what I hold near and dear to my heart. It allows me to be authentic and inviting. It allows others to be open and have no fears when it comes to branching out into something that may be unknown.
I always say even though a canvas is painted, the masterpiece comes about with your interpretation. You are the master of your own destiny. We are all unique and the way we see color and design is different – embrace it. It’s a good thing. Enjoy the journey.
Xoxo
Michele
Emma Homent
Emily Peacock
My intention with my design work and my teaching is to bring you every gift that needlepoint has brought to me.