Melinda Medeiros of Medeiros Needlecraft Design

Melinda Medeiros is an artist and designer of Counted Cross Stitch for Medeiros Needlecraft Design. She has worked as a freelance artist for many years, and as a designer and an illustrator. Her original designs are featured in independent needlework stores and Cross Stitch magazines.

Melinda first began designing for Cross Stitch in 2002. She describes how she got started. "The Falmouth Historical Society was holding a dedication ceremony for their newly refurbished and renovated Hallet Barn Gallery and invited area artists and artisans to submit entries. Since the Historical Society is located on the Town’s Historic Village Green, I chose a sampling of the historic homes, the Church, the Historical Society barn and buildings, and other items of significance such as gardens and farmland."

"The medium of choice to illustrate my design was Cross Stitch in honor of the Town’s heritage to best exemplify the idea of the Village Green and its surroundings. Among the many exhibits on permanent display at the Historical Society are antique needlework samplers by local schoolgirls and the use of cross stitch was a natural choice to honor the needlework heritage." Melinda’s work, “Falmouth Sampler,” was chosen for the opening dedication exhibition at the new Gallery. Soon after, Melinda was encouraged to publish her work by a local needlework store owner and she began Medeiros Needlecraft Design in 2003.

Melinda's design themes include nautical, garden, Christmas and nostalgic-themed patterns. Some designs such as the Keepsake Ornament Series are three-dimensional.

Melinda’s cross stitch designs are very illustrative in nature with the use of many color gradations for shading as well as the use of fractional stitches and backstitching to produce fine details. Many of Melinda's patterns are inspired by her garden and things of special interest to her.

"One of my very favorite designs is 'Nantucket Sampler' (shown here) in honor of the whaling heritage and bravery of the families who waited for loved ones to come home from long voyages in days gone by."

Cross Stitch designs are offered in chartpacks, limited edition kits, and through magazine publications.

Most designs are suitable for intermediate to advanced stitchers. The Christmas Cottage Ornaments and other Keepsake Ornaments are three-dimensional and require sewing and finishing skills using plastic canvas for the interior structures.

Melinda uses her blog The Stitching Thread to offer insight into the creation and thoughts on Cross Stitch designing and her explorations of other needlework techniques. She is especially interested in learning about embroidery, ribbon embroidery and crazy quilting at the moment.

Melinda also offers a newsletter service to provide personalized design news from her studio. Any questions about her designs may be directed to her at Melinda@needlecraftdesign.com.