My name is Liezbeth Gottschall, and I’m married to Ferdinand. Together we have a son and a daughter.

As long as I can remember, needlework has been part of my life. When I was in primary school, I spent every Wednesday afternoon at a neighborhood craft club, where my love for handwork truly began.

After a 20-year career, including working as Head of Social Work in healthcare, I decided to devote myself entirely to needlework by teaching classes and leading stitching groups. Throughout all those years, embroidery has been the common thread in my life. Since the 1990s, I have especially enjoyed the primitive style that is so characteristic of many American designs.

In 2005, I opened my home-based embroidery studio, where I began creating embroidery patterns. Since 2013, I have focused increasingly on designing my own original collections. Every March since then, I have had the pleasure of presenting my newest designs at the Nashville Needlework Market in the USA.

I stitch every one of my own designs myself. Each design begins with a hand-drawn sketch, which I transfer into my embroidery software using an initial estimate of the colors. I love working with hand-dyed threads, and designing with them feels much like painting with yarn. As I stitch, I choose each successive color, and I often unpick sections if a shade isn't quite right. That's an essential part of my creative process and something I simply couldn't outsource.

Ideas seem to appear out of nowhere. Sheep and little houses often find their way into my designs. I always carry a notebook with me—even one beside my bed—to jot down ideas whenever inspiration strikes. Sometimes it's a small sign on a door, an interesting floor tile, or another tiny detail that catches my eye.

I also become restless if I'm working on only one embroidery project at a time. When that feeling appears, I reach for my sketchbook and start drawing one of the ideas I've collected.

Besides embroidery, I enjoy several other creative hobbies, including patchwork and wool appliqué. I also love reading, doing puzzles, and going for walks. I regularly spend stitching days with a group of close friends, enjoy attending football matches, and together with Ferdinand, I love travelling and discovering new places.