Motherhood and Abstract Art
Ginger
Junior Color Consultant at Artful Threads
Ginger is responsible for this content. Please excuse any errors, it was typed with a beak and feathers.
ginger@artful-threads.com
Hello, fellow stitchers and lovers of all things colorful! Today, we’re taking a delightful detour into the art-filled life of Kristen Groner, a painter, designer, and mother from Pinehurst, North Carolina, whose work is as vibrant and layered as the marigolds she so often paints.
Kristen’s story is one many can relate to—her art took a bit of a backseat during the busy days of motherhood. But as her two daughters, Ally and Cameron, grew, Kristen found her way back to her paints, her brushes, and her beloved marigolds (and thank goodness for that!). Much like a marigold blooming in the spring, Kristen’s art blossomed into something bold, abstract, and unapologetically full of life.
Her work is an explosion of color and creativity, and nothing captures this more than her renowned "Marigold Collection." From the soothing blues of "Blue Marigolds" to the striking contrasts of "Orange Marigolds" against a vibrant pink background, Kristen’s love of these cheerful blooms shines through. She has a knack for turning something as familiar as a flower into an abstract masterpiece that invites you to see it in a new light. As Kristen herself says, “I’m thrilled that you have chosen to bring one of my paintings to life through needlepoint stitching. Thank you for appreciating my work, and I hope it will bring you lots of joy and inspiration!”
And then there’s her piece "Wildflowers," which is like a breath of fresh air in needlepoint form. It captures the delicate beauty of nature with soft pink petals and soothing blue tones. As I stitched this one myself (or at least, I imagine I did, if only I had thumbs!), I felt like I was walking through a peaceful meadow at sunset.
Kristen’s artwork doesn’t just sit pretty in the botanical realm, though. Oh no, she also dives into the bold and the abstract with pieces like "Abstract Motif 3"—a gorgeous mix of cool aqua blue and vivid green. It’s the kind of piece that makes you want to play with colors and textures, whether you’re stitching a simple tent stitch or getting creative with decorative ones (just don’t ask me how to thread the needle without hands!).
Whether you’re stitching a delicate flower or an abstract design, Kristen’s work has this wonderful ability to make you feel like you’re part of something bigger—part of a creative community that’s connected through color, texture, and the joy of creating something beautiful.
needlepoint reimagined