http://www.cross-stitching.com 67
MeetTheDesigner
kit and my 12-year-old son
Hudson’s pool table. So, I have
commandeered the front room,
complete with a traditional
fireplace – it’s a much warmer
place to work. And for my
50th birthday, my husband,
Spencer, bought me a lovely
old bureau that’s perfect for
hiding my laptop away.How would you describe
your designing style?
Eclectic!Could you walk us
through an average day
in your life, Maria?
I get up and walk the dog.
Then, I see the kids off to
school and make myself
a nice big cuppa and get out
my sketch pad. I’ll often use
the internet to feed my ideas
and inspiration. If I’m drawing
wildlife, for instance, I’ll look
at pictures of animals to check
the way they sit or stand, then
sketch out my initial idea from
there. I scan the sketches into
my laptop and play around
with them until I’m happy with
how they look. Then, I import
the image into the specialistcharting software that I use
and I’m away! I have all my
threads hanging above my
desk so I can check my colour
choices as I go. If it’s a small
design, then this process can
take a couple of hours or so.
If it’s a larger one, then it can
take a couple of weeks!What top three stitching
tips would you give to
a new stitcher?
Use shorter lengths of thread
to stitch with – about the
length of your elbow to your
wrist is enough. Stitch in
natural light when possible- I’m rubbish at stitching at
night! And only stitch for
a couple of hours at a time and
take regular breaks throughout
each session. You’re much
more likely to notice if you’ve
made any mistakes that way.
You don’t want to be stitching
for four or five hours before you
notice you’re five stitches off!
Where did you find the
inspiration for your Art
Deco cards this issue?
I love the Art Deco period – it’s
one of my favourites, along
with Art Nouveau! I particularly
like the geometric furniture
from that time, and for these
designs I was simply thinking
of Agatha Christie’s Poirot!What’s on the stitching
horizon for you, Maria?
Who knows! In my 50th
year, I’m just saying yes to
everything that comes my
way. I’ve been working on
some shopfront charts, which
continue to be popular. There’s
also a popular Edwardian doll’s
house design on my website,
so I’m working on some similar
shop interiors that I hope to
release in the new year.Visit http://www.mariadiazdesigns.
com to find out more, or turn
to page 62 to start stitching
Maria’s latest Crazy designs!were so vintage! I wanted to reflect the era of day trips
to the seaside, but with a bit of sass, while celebrating
the new-found freedoms women had at the time. So,
they’re not so much nostalgic as more confident!
How many books have you published now,
and what’s next?
About 13 in which I was the sole designer, but I’ve also
contributed to a good deal more and will continue to!
What does your workspace look like?
Well, my wonderful big studio has been
turned into a games room. Being at
the end of the garden,
it was the best place
for my 15-year-old
son Lincoln’s drum
T Maria has claimed a corner of
the living room, near the fireplace,
for her creative workspaceT These pretty craft-themed
projects were some of Maria’s
first for Crazy, back in issue six!W When she’s not working on
a new design, Maria spends
time with her loving familyW Even after all these years, Maria’s
bathing belles from issue 10 are
still her favourite Crazy designs