The Head Stitch in Charge: Paris!
The creative (and loveliest) force behind With Love by Bug Designs
We’ve talked about it before here but is there anything better than when a virtual friend becomes an actual friend? And not just any friend. The kind that sees you and celebrates you right where you are. No judgement, comparison or questions asked. The kind that fills your cup instead of draining it. This is precisely the kind of friend and person that Paris, the creative genius behind With Love by Bug Designs, is.
Paris is someone whose whose kindness flows as naturally as her creativity. When you see Paris's work, you're glimpsing not just technical skill, but the beautiful soul behind each thoughtful detail. Her watercolors speak directly to the heart, capturing beauty with remarkable skill and sensitivity. When she created the cover for my book (more on that coming soon), I was struck not only by her artistic talent but by her genuine warmth and generosity throughout our collaboration. Her kindness matches her creative gifts—a rare quality that makes her work truly special.
After talking about this for ALMOST A YEAR, I am beyond thrilled to finally introduce you to my very dear friend, Paris, in hopes that her story and work inspire you just as much as they inspire me.
Paris and I have teamed up to give one lucky stitcher some of our favorite things from With Love By Bug and The Finishing School Blog. See details in the post below:
“Bug” (short for Bugsby) is my adorable pup who I rescued in 2019 and has my entire heart ! Best business partner ever and always here to support all of my creative habits!
Life as an entrepreneur! Back in 2020, my business actually started with me making custom dresses. Enjoyable at first, but it was not sustainable for me for the long haul. I started sharing some of my watercolor work on social media and Etsy and it struck a chord with my audience and started to slowly grow. I fell in love with it and the rest is history.
Veggie canvas available here // boots and blue bow tags available here
I've always been crafty since childhood - from sewing to knitting to Klutz books! But needlepoint specifically came into my life during winter 2022/2023. I wanted a hobby that would keep my hands busy while still allowing me to interact with family during the holidays.
After seeing all the adorable projects online, I was hooked! I'm self-taught - I downloaded Greystone Needlepoint's "Beginners’ Guide" and taught myself through online resources. I also went to my LNS (Stitch Boutique Boston) and they were so patient when I asked them some specific questions that I had.
Azalea Collection // ACK Sticker // Too Pretty For A Job Canvas
The Rachel Barri headband (sold out; similar options here)! Looking back, starting with 18 mesh wasn't the easiest choice for a beginner, but completing it gave me such a sense of accomplishment! I even self-finished it…..I didn’t realize you could pay to have something finished for you!
Currently, I'm stitching my own Sailor Frenchie canvas that I kitted with Very Velvet - it's adorable! Next in my queue is the smaller Lycette/What a Gem Champagne cork, which I can't wait to start.
A vintage Erica Wilson Peter Rabbit canvas (similar here) I found on eBay (how sweet is this book by Erica Wilson!?). I've started it but haven't made much progress. I think my indecision about whether to turn it into a pillow or a stand-up has stalled my momentum!
Everyone starts somewhere! Be patient and don't be too hard on yourself if your project isn't perfect. Your first pieces probably won't be masterpieces, but they'll be wonderful reminders of how far you've come!
You can watch our full conversation and Instagram LIVE by clicking the button below ⬇️! We really did have the *best* time.
Thank you again, Paris for sharing your story with us and for always showing up as YOU - it is precisely what our needlepoint community needs❣️
Questions or comments? We would love to hear from you! You can reach out here on Substack and can of course find us on Instagram: TheFinishingSchoolBlog and With Love By Bug
