Inspiring Women Magazine November 2023

candles, Anton Berg chocolate and H.C.
Anderson, to name a few. But one cultural
element had a special influence on me: the
arts, especially drawing and cross-stitch.
As a child, I always looked for an outlet for my
creative energy; I loved art class in school and
dabbled in cross-stitch at home. My mom was
a seamstress and stitcher, and a very good one
at that. She is my cross-stitch inspiration. For
example, growing up, I had an alphabet wall
hanging she made by Haandarbejdets Fremme
(The National Embroiderers Guild of Denmark)
and a drawstring bag she stitched, which I still
use today. So, by the time I moved to Denmark
in 1990, when I was almost 20 years old, I knew
about Erica Wilson (American embroiderer), Eva
Rosenstand and Permin (two prominent Danish
stitching designers).
My cross-stitch passion really took off in 1995.
It's calming, relaxing, stress release, my mental
medicine and good for my all-round well-being.
My soul is fed with needle and thread. Since
then (almost 30 years later) it has turned into
over 100 different projects, large and small, for
myself and for gifts. In particular, I have stitched
heart brooches for several embassies in
Denmark, each heart combining the Danish flag
with that of the other country concerned; heart
brooches with the Danish and American flags
for members of the Board of AWC Denmark –
and recently for AWC to give to our Honorary
President and her husband (the US ambassador
and his wife).
Some of my favorite things to stitch are pieces
that represent other cultures. For example: in
Copenhagen (one of my first pieces), Gammel
Strand (a place in Copenhagen that the bus
drives through every day); Tutankhamun and
Nefertiti; a scene of Lake Como in Italy (which I
personally visited); and a bald eagle. Hard
to choose, but one of my all-time favorites is
the frogs.
And stitching is definitely hyggeligt. Through the
AWC Denmark, the Café Craft enables me to
meet up with a few other women once a month
at a local coffee shop, and you can certainly
feel the cozy cultural connection. Ranging from
jewelry to giraffes, some of our work are gifts
that help to raise the visibility of AWC Denmark
and to raise money for our charitable projects.
On the internet, I have made friends in the USA,
France and England, and we do stitch-a-longs
together. Stitching brings people together both
locally and multiculturally, broadens horizons
and gives me inspiration for the ever-growing
projects waiting in the wings.
Stitchn’ and
chillin’ at my
beloved Erica
Wilson floor
stand, which my
mom also used.
(left)
Page 109
From top left
Tutty and Neffi
Welcome sign,
stitched this at
least 5 times as
gifts.
Lake Como, Italy
At hyggelig
meetups, all
are welcome!
Gammel Strand,
central
Copenhagen
108 INSPIRING WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN 109