About Judy

As far back as I can remember, I've had a crayon or pencil in hand—drawing or just doodling—mostly for my own pleasure. In 1969, I entered Oklahoma State University as an art education major but eventually changed to English, my second love, thinking I would one day combine these two interests by writing and illustrating a children's book.

I give God all the credit for any talent I have and for surrounding me with creative, nurturing people. My grandmothers were both talented needle artists, one a quilter and embroiderer and the other a professional seamstress. My mother could take a picture I'd torn from a fashion magazine, put a couple of patterns together and come up with the same look! She taught me to sew (and to love books). Later, a college roommate introduced me to cross-stitch. I learned crewel and candlewicking from my MIL, and my FIL was a commercial artist. I still use his old, handmade art board.

My introduction to needlepoint came when my husband's job took us to Austin, TX, where answering a "painter wanted" ad in the newspaper led to a job as a copy artist for a needlepoint designer. Wow! I had no idea this industry even existed, and I was immediately smitten. Over the next few years, job transfers took us to several states (life's an adventure with my DH!) which gave me the opportunity to do custom work for various LNS's. Shortly after a move to Memphis, TN, a chance meeting in a doctor's office resulted in a visit with the owners of a new shop, Stitchers, Inc. With their encouragement and the support of my family, J. Malahy Designs was launched with my first exhibit in Phoenix, AZ, in 2000.

What I used to view as a craft has now become an artistic endeavor. From the design of the canvas painter to the creative skills of the stitcher and finisher, needlepoint is truly an art form. After all these years, I'm still a much better painter than stitcher, but I'm workin' on that. As for that children's book I was planning to write? Maybe someday….

Happy Stitching,

Judy