Designer, Beth Gantz, grew up in the needlework industry. In fact, when she was a child, she even had a dollhouse with a needlepoint store on the first floor. Beth isn't the only one in her family who loves needlework: her mother is a needlepoint designer for the painted canvas company Associated Talents.
Beth has been stitching since she could hold a needle. Her first needlepoint project was a pastel she designed herself while playing at her mom’s drawing board. "Maybe I will finish it someday!" Beth says.
In 2005, she left the education field to follow her dream of running her own retail store. After about a year, she realized there was a great need in the industry for products targeted at entry level stitchers of all ages, including ones that called for self finishing.
She started her own wholesale needlepoint line named Beth Gantz Designs. "I test marketed the design concepts in my own shop and realized this could work for any store. Since then I have attended three trade shows and continue to build my customer base," she said.
Beth likes to use Kreinik threads to bring her design ideas to life. She finds that Kreinik 1/8” ribbon works well on the 10-mesh designs in her Beth Gantz Designs line. "I also love using the braids, and the Gourmet series is fun to work with because of it’s subtlety," she said.
As far as what inspires her, she credits color trends in home décor and children’s illustration. She likes to keep things simple, but with a sophisticated edge.
She is member of TNNA (a needlework trade group) and her products can be found in TNNA member stores throughout the country (visit www.tnna.org for information).
Here are photos of a few of Beth’s favorite projects. Whether you’re a beginning needlepointer or a seasoned stitcher looking for something fresh, check out all of the designs in Beth Gantz Designs.
