Canvas Conversations: Ann Kaye Studio

Maryland born and raised Ann Kaye has had a number of different careers including teaching around the globe, working in institutional equity trading in Boston, and being a stay-at-home mother. She begun painting about 15 years ago, mainly working on landscapes in oils, and then began painting needlepoint canvases for Susan Battle (owner of the Point of it All) about 10 years ago. This led to Ann's creation of Ann Kaye Studio about five years ago. Ann and her husband have two sons and two labs (one yellow and one black). Her family enjoys Maine, golf, tennis, ice hockey and skiing... all of which which periodically appear in her canvas designs.

You can follow Ann on Instagram here, and be sure to shop her Shell Collection, the newest summer canvas additions to my shop!

I sat down with Ann and asked her 20 questions:

Favorite needlepoint project. I designed a belt for my dad years ago and it had buildings that were important to him on it (the house he grew up in, a summer cottage, buildings from schools he attended, the B&O Roundhouse because he loved trains, etc…). He wore that belt almost every day, even after he had gotten dementia and could not longer buckle the belt himself, he insisted upon wearing it.  It was in tatters by the time he passed away last fall.

On your needlepoint Wishlist. I would love to stitch Coco Frank’s nutcracker trio canvas, and I am looking forward to stitching some of the new Stocking cuff canvases that I have coming out this summer.

Dream stitching spot. A dock on Squam Lake, mid-July

13 or 18 Mesh Canvas. 18!

Last book you read and liked – Empire of Pain (the story of the Sackler family and the opioid epidemic)

Favorite flower. Hard to say, there are so many!  But, if I have to pick one, I think it would have to be the peony.

Guilty pleasure. Again, hard to say, there are so many.  Crossword Puzzles, rich, dark chocolate (in particular pots de crème – best dessert ever!), champagne, beer, sleeping late.

On your nightstand. Phone charger, watch charger and cough drops

Currently listening to. Surrender by Bono

Currently watching. “Succession” (season 4), “White Lotus” (season 2)

If there were more hours in the day I would ... sleep longer, paint more, and needlepoint for one hour each day.

Favorite places to shop, So far, the best I have seen is Rome.

Favorite Instagram follows. Nan Philip for great shopping tips, Jessica Tongel for humor, and  Janet of @JCB_stitches for beautifully simple images.

Can’t leave the house without. Sunglasses

Coffee or tea. Diet coke!

Favorite holiday to celebrate. Christmas (Sporty Santa gets to shine)

Wardrobe staples – Lululemon for exercise, IBKUL for golf, and J. Mac Lexi jeans, Catalina tops, and Becca leggings for everyday, and Belgian shoes for my feet.

Creative inspiration. Everything everywhere!  It is very hard to focus when inspired by song lyrics, spinning classes, IG photos, interior design, etc….  But, the single thing that inspires me the most would probably be sunlight catching the edges of things at the beginning and end of the day.

Best piece of advice. Treat people the way you would like to be treated, and be kind.

Life mantra. I am way too disorganized to have a life mantra, but today’s mantra is “I am, I can, I will, I do.”