Canvas Conversation: Kelly Clements

Kelly Clements, owner of Alice & Blue, began stitching in 2018 after drooling over canvases for far too long. Kelly's crafty aunt gifted her fiber stash to Kelly, and shortly after she bought her first canvas at In Stitches in Dorset, Vermont. The shop owner taught Kelly how to stitch. She immediately wanted to paint a canvas and did so a few months later leading to her needlepoint shop, Alice & Blue.

Kelly works part-time in Public Health at the community level in Vermont; it's the perfect balance to needlepoint entrepreneurship! Kelly's fun canvas designs reflect her love for skiing, adventures hiking the great outdoors, and her New England home in Vermont.

You can shop Kelly's Alice & Blue canvas designs in my shop here while they are all marked 20% OFF and follow along on her needlepoint adventures here on Instagram.

We sat down with Kelly and asked her 20 questions:

Favorite needlepoint project.  Probably my first! I was in grad school and remember having so much fun figuring it all out. Since then, I find so much joy in stitching pieces for loved ones.

On your needlepoint Wishlist. I tend to just buy canvases I really can’t live without, but I’ve had my eye on the Doolittle Stitchery Hugs and Kisses canvas on your website for a while! I also love Ash & Gin’s National Park series.

Dream stitching spot. By the fire on a snowy day after nordic skiing with my pup curled up next to me.

13 or 18 Mesh Canvas. Both! 13 mesh for big projects and 18 for small.

Last book you read and liked. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - I passed it onto my mom and sister who both read it just as quickly!

Beach or Mountains. Mountains! I hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2012 and Vermont’s Long Trail in 2013. 

Guilty pleasure. Going for a long walk mid-workday with a good podcast

On your nightstand. A stack of books and a lavender oil roller.

Currently listening to. The Morning Toast podcast

Currently watching. I’m in between shows but recently watched season 3 of Pen15!

If there were more hours in the day I would. Sleep in later, then design more canvases

Favorite places to shop. Second hand - it’s so much easier on the environment and your wallet! My favorites are local stores, Poshmark, and theRealReal.

Favorite Instagram follows. @itsmetinx, @notskinnybutnotfat, @baublestockings, @ericjoonho and every single needlepoint instagram account!

Can’t leave the house without. Polarized Ray Bans and asking myself if the stove is off.

Coffee or tea. My boyfriend is an early riser and leaves me coffee in a thermos every morning so, coffee.

Favorite holiday to celebrate. Christmas! My family stopped doing gifts about 5 years ago and now we just put little things in each other’s stockings. We really appreciate our time together now that my sister is in California and this new tradition is somehow even more special than big gifts!

Wardrobe staples. Blundstones in the winter and Chacos in the summer. I live in Vermont so good footwear is a must!

Creative inspiration. Nature and architecture

Best piece of advice. None of this is a coincidence and comparison is the thief of joy

Life mantra. This is ever changing, but lately I’ve been telling myself to have fun and be the main character of my story!