Cheryl Granda - Glendon Place
GP-195-Baked-Alaska
GP-240-Ill-Be-Home-For-Christmas
GP-174-Eggs-Ala-Round
GP-217-Woodland-Wonder
GP-205-Red-Velvet-Cake
GP-207-Baroque-Beauties-Elizabeth
GP-211-Eerie-Express
GP-241-Love-You-Still
GP-201-Whooligans-Hangout
GP-161-Sleepy-Hollow
GP-247-Peter-Pumpkinhead-
GP-197-Snowmen-Ala-Round
GP-213-Autumn-Ala-Round
GP-189-Plum-Pudding
GP-237-Flowers-of-the-Holy-Night
1. When did you start stitching?
There is absolutely no doubt where and when my love for needlearts started. I was about 8 years old when it all began. I still fondly remember the two weeks each summer I spent with my grandmother in Broadview Heights, Ohio. It was my grandmother who taught me the art of needlework. Two full weeks with her was like heaven and I just couldn’t wait to go each summer. From her I learned to sew, knit, crochet and embroider. I remember her spending the entire day with me either at the sewing machine or with an embroidery hoop in her lap and one in mine. Each evening while I stayed with her I remember her sitting in her favorite chair effortlessly crocheting fancy lace on the edges of handkerchiefs. She would then embroider beautiful initials and other designs on the face of the linen. And to this day, I never recall her ever using a pattern, the creativity just flowed naturally from her. I’d like to think that it was either good genes or osmosis that God blessed me with “some” of her talent.
2. Was there anyone who encouraged you? See above
3. Do you have an artistic background?
I’ve always been artistic and crafty, although I have no formal art schooling or training. This naturally flowed over into my previous career of marketing and advertising, which I left in 2005 to pursue my dream of being a needlework designer. For many of my designs, I tend to draw the images on graph paper first. I then pixel outline the image, as well as the inside lines. Once I have that outline, I then enter the outline in Pattern Maker Pro software. It is not until I have the complete outline in the computer that I begin adding color and many other details.
4. When did you start designing?
I began designing in June 2005 and published my first 3 designs in August of 2005. Here it is over 12 years later. Wow, how the time has flown. Since that time, I have published over 150 designs, as well as countless limited editions and special releases in magazines and other publications.
5. Is there a story behind your company name?
Funny you should ask. When deciding what to name my cross-stitch design business, I made a long list of exotic and fancy names, but nothing really jumped out at me and said "this is it!" I stared out the window of my home office for a long time as I pondered this very important question. After quite some time, I caught myself staring at my street sign on the corner, right below the old-fashioned light posts. I thought to myself, I want my business to sound like a magical place; somewhere off in a mysterious and distant land; a place where the grounds are the greenest of greens; a place that is quaintly surrounded by wrought-iron fences covered in ivy and the grounds are blanketed in multi-colored flowers everywhere you look. Can you imagine it and see it in your mind? A place where you can lay in the soft grass, stare up at the blue sky and breathe in the sweetness of the flowers in bloom. Well, the street sign said “Glendon Place”, and I thought that was it!
6. Was there something in particular that inspired you to start designing?
I have stitched so many beautiful patterns created by incredible artists and designers over the past 25 years. They are my idols! I looked to my stitching not only as a hobby, but a way to relax after a hectic day at work. However, I had the incredible urge to design and stitch my own work, but it was always very difficult to find the time while working a very demanding marketing and communications career with a large national bank. Then, in early 2005 many management and personnel changes occurred where I worked and I decided it was time for me to retire and move on with my life.
7. What motivates you to continue designing?
It is without a doubt, my passion. I have never been happier and I get so excited when introducing a new release to the stitching world. I have so many ideas in my head and wonder if I will ever have enough time to get them all out!
Here it is 12 years later and I still have not gotten all those ideas out of my head! In fact, I feel as I have more design ideas in my head than ever before! It's a curse! And I have no plans to stop anytime soon. But, what really motivates me to continue designing are all the shop owners and customers who keep saying "don't ever stop", "or keep those great designs coming". They truly are my motivation and inspiration. If I've said it once, I have said it a thousand times ... I absolutely love what I do. I really do believe that my sole purpose in life is to bring happiness to others through my needlework. Just think, if the time a customer spends stitching one of my designs allows them to escape all the stress of the day or the bads things going on in their life, then it has all been worth it to me.
8. Do you have a particular genre?
I’m strictly a cross-stitch gal, however will throw in a specialty stitch here and there. I particularly love to design for Halloween. I would say that Christmas, Thanks giving and the fall would follow closely behind. I have a love for vibrant color. Some say that my designs seem to be 3-dimensional in nature and jump off the fabric with attitude and sophisticated detail. Some designs simply require ordinary floss and a solid color of fabric, while others are more challenging and suggest using an over-dyed fabric, and may incorporate variegated floss, metallic braid and embellishments such as seed beads, buttons or glass/crystal treasures.
9. Do you stitch your own models?
Absolutely! I’m involved in the design process from start to finish. If I didn’t enjoy stitching the design, as well as the finished product, I would never release it to the public. Stitching the model also allows me to fine tune and tweak the design as I go along. I’ll change design components, thread colors, embellishments, etc., as I go along. After 12 years, I still have not altered this process and probably never will. I still want to be the first person to see one of my designs come to life. It truly does excite me.
10. Do you have a ‘day job’ that doesn’t involve designing?
Nope! I consider Glendon Place a full-time business, since leaving the banking industry. I hope to continue to be successful so that I will still be designing for years to come. Once again, here it is 12 years later and I am still going at it. And in all that time, I have not been forced to get "a real job". My business is doing well and I hope to continue to do so.
11. Do you have a favorite design out of those you have released?
Oh wow, tough question! I would answer that question differently every few months, depending upon the new releases that have been added to my collection. I would also say that my favorite design is rarely the one that sells the best. I just can’t answer this question … I loved them all or I would not have designed them! However, now that 12 years has gone by, I would have to say that my Amazing Dessert Collection has done the best for me as a whole. Also, there are individual designs that continue to sell well for me: Sleepy Hollow, Pretty Pumpkins, Murky Manor, Autumn Ala Round and Outrageous Owls to name a few.
12. Have you found there is a most popular design or series of designs in your collection?
Halloween always does well for me.
13. Is there something you’d like stitchers to experience when they stitch your designs?
Interesting question. There are no right or wrong answers to this question, however, this is how I would answer: I hope that when you choose to stitch a Glendon Place design you will be so pleased with the heirloom quality of the design and the results that it becomes a needleart piece that will be enjoyed by you, your family and your friends for years to come.
14. What is the best piece of stitching advice you have received?
If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right. Make every stitch count and the piece will always be cherished by you. I would like to add "my best piece of advice": If you make a mistake, rip it out and fix it. Otherwise, it will haunt you forever!
15. Are there items in your stitching basket that you couldn’t live without?
Oh my gosh, there are many items that I couldn’t live without and have made stitching an even more pleasurable experience:
1. Stitching stand and frame – Your biggest investment and more valuable than any other stitching tool you have. A stitching stand allows you to have both hands free, giving you a unique opportunity to stitch faster and more consistently. I always maintain one hand above the work and one hand below, creating an up and down rhythm, allowing you to stitch effortlessly. 2. Lighting – Another absolute necessity is a good light. I’ve always used a floor type light, such as an Arial by Ott- Lite. However, I recently purchase a Mighty Light Magnifier, which is also a floor model, and I don’t know how I lived without it! 3. As far as other stitching gadgets, must haves on my list are: Spring-Cut spring action scissors, a Stitch Fixer by Campbell Crafts, a wooden needle magnet from X’s and Oh’s, and Stitch Clips (to keep the fabric taut on the scroll frame).
16. Where do you want to be in 5 years from now?
Doing exactly what I am doing now, designing and self-publishing. However, I hope to expand my reach to the point that every stitcher knows who Glendon Place is and has at least tried one of my designs. Ultimately, I would one day like to publish a book – The Best of Glendon Place Cross-Stitch. OK, here is an update. I hope that I am more well-known than I was when I originally wrote this. I am still going at it, so I have to believe that I have reached a lot more stitchers. I have since gotten involved in the kitting and catalog world and am presently out of that area of the business. Partly because I now sell retail from my website. Although some do not want to believe, computers really have made our lives easier and have given us access to products that once could only be found in a brick and mortar store or a catalog. I believe the catalog business is dying off. I now also have a website and sell wholesale, as well as retail directly from the website. It has made a huge difference in why my business is till open today.
17. What can stitchers expect to see from you in the next few months? Any new designs on the way?
There is always something in the works! Well, seeing that right at this moment it is the beginning of December, I am working on a new design that will be introduced at market in March 2018. I would say that the biggest piece that I am working on rights now is called "Spook Town Square". It is a Halloween Stitch-A-Long that will roll out in 4 parts (March, May, July and September). However, it will not be a mystery sampler. I will roll out a full photo of the design in March so customers can decide up front if they want to participate. I am having an absolute blast with it so I hope customer will like it. It is like a spooky village square. You will find a gazebo in the center of the square with 2 ghosts dancing. Surrounding the square will be individual shops that make up any community, however with a Halloween flair! For example, the butcher shop is called Mystery Meats, and the candy shop is call Creepy Confections. There is just a whole lot of spooky fun all around the square. I will also be adding a new piece to my Vintage Nursery Rhyme Collection, another Halloween piece, and more than likely something for the spring.
18. Besides needlework, do you have any other hobbies?
I enjoy working out at the gym, reading, and putzing in my little garden
19. Do you have a favourite author?
I don’t have an absolute favorite, but I particularly like reading, John Grisham, Stephen King, and Michael Crichton.
20. If you could have dinner with anyone, alive or dead, who would you choose and why?
My father. He passed away when I was in my early 20s. I feel as if I never really got to know him and would give anything to have that time back, even for a brief moment.