Exploration Trips 2025 | Part 1

Stitching Across State Lines: Where I Find Needlepoint Inspiration

One of the greatest joys of being a needlepoint designer is finding inspiration in unexpected places, and few things spark creativity like a change of scenery. Over the past few years, I’ve taken several trips that have left a lasting mark on my designs, each place offering its own mood, color palette, and quiet moments of magic. Here are a few of my favorites:

Lake George, NY
Mountains, water, and that golden Adirondack light... Lake George offers a richer, more rugged palette. I find myself drawn to deep greens, rustic plaids, and vintage camp motifs after a few days here. There’s a grounding calm that’s impossible to ignore.

Corning, NY
Known for its glass, Corning surprised me with its warmth and creative energy. The Museum of Glass was a masterclass in texture, light, and layering; ideas that have since found their way into more abstract and geometric canvases.

Chatham, MA
There’s something timeless about Chatham... weathered shingles, crisp white trim, and a breeze that smells like salt and hydrangeas. The coastal charm here is subtle and elegant, and I always come home sketching sailboats, lighthouses, and dune fences.

Nantucket, MA
A designer’s dream. Cobblestone streets, foggy mornings, and that signature shade of Nantucket red. It’s a place where tradition and sophistication live side by side. My needlepoint monograms and decorative borders often take cues from the island’s understated luxury.

Lexington, KY
Horses, bourbon, and history... Lexington offers a warmth that’s all its own. The rolling fields and stately barns evoke equestrian elegance, while the local craftsmanship has influenced my love for stitched leather textures and heritage-inspired patterns.

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Travel fuels so much of what I create, not just in the visual details, but in the stories, memories, and quiet moments that stay with me. Each destination adds a new thread to the broader tapestry of my work, and I’m already dreaming of the next one.

Where do you go to feel inspired?

— Jonathan
The Canvas Craftsman