Back to the Blog

Customer Corner – Dawn Pollard, Needlework & Bead Artist

If you can make it with a needle, it’s likely creator Dawn Pollard has not only given the art form a try but created something unique and stunning to boot. From her first project, under the loving eye of her grandmother, to her recent foray into beaded miniature nutcrackers, Dawn is never happier than when she’s recharging with a stitching project. And since discovering CraftOptics three years ago, we can virtually guarantee Dawn will be wearing her glasses no matter what project she’s working on. After all, they give her great light and great vision in one take-it-everywhere device. Meet Dawn Pollard.

 

What do you love best about creating?

I’ve always had a great interest in creating things—I really enjoy it. I love going home after work and being able to sit in my chair and work on a needle project. It puts me in a good state of mind and helps me forget any challenges I might be dealing with.

I create to create, for the enjoyment and pleasure of stitching. I’ve just gotten lucky when I’ve won awards. When I do enter a piece to be considered for an award, I only participate if I can take my piece directly to the venue. I don’t like the idea of having to take the risk of shipping it somewhere!

I love going to needlework shows and studying the pieces people have made, just appreciating the beauty of whatever someone’s created.

Tell us a little about your history in creating

When I was nine years old, my grandma took my sister and me to the five-and-dime, and we got embroidered bibs that had a design stamped on them. We were expecting a new baby at our house and my grandma taught my sister and I how to embroider them. She also taught us how to crochet and later my mom taught me to knit.

When I entered middle school, I took sewing lessons—back when they still taught home economics in school. When I ran out of funds to make things, my teacher would bring in patterns and fabric and I’d make things for her grandchildren. In adulthood, one of my cousins introduced me to counted cross stitch.

When my children were young, I was very involved with them and with the PTA. I didn’t have a lot of time for projects. But once my youngest went to middle school I decided it was my turn and I joined the Embroiderers’ Guild of America, the American Needlepoint Guild, Inc. and a beading guild and I never looked back.

   

Please share a favorite project—or something you’re working on now

“The First Sip” is a really good one and a piece I’ve won awards for. I would not have been able to stitch this in such a pleasing way if I hadn’t had the good vision that my CraftOptics provide. I know for a fact that this piece, and many of my other pieces, just wouldn’t have come out as well without my CraftOptics.

I’ve also been using my glasses to bead. Recently I’ve made a number of nutcrackers. These are only about two and a half inches tall and very delicate. My CraftOptics make a big difference.

   

When did you start using CraftOptics glasses?

For years, I didn’t need much in the way of help. I wore glasses and they gave me everything I needed to create. But as I aged, I found I was having more trouble seeing things. I was looking for solutions that would allow me to do the fine work I wanted to do, and while I was at a retreat, I met a woman who had a pair of CraftOptics, including the DreamBeam light.

I asked her a lot of questions and when I went home from the retreat, I immediately made a call and ordered myself some CraftOptics. That was three years ago.

Now, when other people see me wearing my CraftOptics, I get a lot of questions and quite a few of my friends from stitching have ordered their own pairs. We’re always sharing how having CraftOptics has made a difference for us.

Tell us why you love CraftOptics.

I am so thankful to have them, especially when I’m doing fine detail work. I carry them with me any time I’m going someplace where I might be stitching because I never know when I’m going to need them. It’s so wonderful to pull them out of my stitching bag, put them on and get the really good vision they provide.

Occasionally I’ll start a project without them, then realize I’m not happy with how things are going. I’ll put my glasses on and quickly realize I’ve got some unstitching to do!

I wish I’d known about them earlier. Having CraftOptics means better quality and it’s just so much more comfortable. I’d come up with combinations of lights and stitching glasses to try to solve my problems in the past, but it’s so nice to be able to get good light and good vision in one device that’s easy to take everywhere.

 

And what about the DreamBeam light?

It’s fantastic. I love having the light right there, focused on my work. Often, when I’m at an event, you’re not allow to plug into the electricity, so you need to have your own source of power. My power pack just sits in my pocket, and I can take my light with me wherever I go. I actually ordered two power packs right away, so I’d never be without power. But I’ve found that even at the three-year mark, the power pack lasts more than eight hours. It does a really good job holding its power.

 

Any last words of advice?

This has nothing to do with creating, but it has proven to be a handy “extra” way to use my CraftOptics: removing tags on my clothing. I can’t stand having tags on the back of my neck. But taking a tag off used to mean potentially ruining my new clothes. Now, whenever I get something new my CraftOptics come out of their little box and I’m all set.

I’d also encourage people to realize the importance of doing whatever recharges them. I like to do something at the end of the day to recharge my system, to recharge myself as a human being. For me that’s stitching. Thanks to CraftOptics, I have the tool I need to do something that makes me really happy. We all deserve that.

 

Where can people see more of your work?

I don’t use social media, but a number of my pieces are on the National Academy of Needlearts website in the Exemplary section.