photo kenneth b. gall

Jenny Hart is the founder and sole proprietor of revolutionary, Texas-based embroidery design company, Sublime Stitching. In 2001, Jenny introduced a new approach to embroidery with patterns of tattoos, robots, pinups and other non-traditional themes to a weary and declining needlework market that was stuck in a time-warp of teddy bears and bunnies. 

After trying hand-embroidery for the first time in the summer of 2000, Hart discovered a new-found obsession for needlework and began creating elaborate portraits of family members, rock gods and personal heroes. In trying to learn embroidery from books, she discovered it nearly impossible to decifer diagrams and instructions for a non-needleworker. So, Hart began assembling starter kits and writing new instructions and diagrams for embroidery with a unique voice for a new audience: one that had not been raised with needle in hand, who needed more creative encouragement and less intimidation (and cheesy patterns). With only a hand-coded website, a small loan from mom and dad, and sheer will and determination- Sublime Stitching was independently launched (from her kitchen table) and sparked a needlework revolution that embroidery hadn't seen in over 30 years. Hart's innovations with embroidery technique and design have earned Sublime Stitching international press and acclaim. Jenny has since become an internationally published artist and illustrator, and an award-winning and top-selling author of multiple titles on embroidery for Chronicle Books.

Before launching Sublime Stitching, Hart first received international attention for her fine art and portraits in embroidery which have been exhibited and published throughout Europe, South America, Mexico, and Japan. Her work has been featured in publications that include SPIN, Real Simple, Rolling Stone, Vogue (Italy) BUST, ReadyMade, The New York Times, Entrepreneur, The Wall Street Journal and many others.

Hart's hand-embroidered portraits are included in many private and public collections that include Carrie Fisher, Laura Dern, comedian Tracey Ullman and Elizabeth Taylor. Jenny's embroidery work has also appeared on the cover for The Brak Show DVD (Adult Swim) and inspired collaborations including artists Kevin Scalzo, Dame Darcy, Tara McPherson, Jim Woodring, Daniel Johnston and rock bands including The Flaming Lips, The Octopus Project and The Decemberists.

Jenny has appeared on television programs airing on DIY, HGTV, E! and The Style Network in the US, Canada and Europe. She has been a featured speaker at SXSW Interactive, Pecha Kucha, Maker Faire, Summit of Awesome DC and Bumbershoot. Her career as an artist and entrepreneur has been the subject of published academic papers and books including , Boss of You; New York Times' columnist Rob Walker's, Buying In; and Grindhopping. Jenny is also a featured designer in Faythe Levine's craft documentary HandMade Nation and the accompanying book. Since 2008 Jenny has penned a business column, Crafting a Business for those curious about her experiences as a one-woman startup.

Jenny lives and works in Austin, Texas, where she is a founding member of the infamous Austin Craft Mafia, the original group that inspired an international network of Craft Mafias. Despite a hectic schedule, Jenny runs Sublime Stitching full blast with the help of a small staff, but couldn't possibly do it without the direct support of stitchers everywhere.

Jenny Hart ♥

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Interview or press request? Please submit via the contact page.

Book editors? Jenny is represented by Dystel and Goderich Literary Managment (NYC)