Designer Anita Boatright
Anita was the fourth and final child of Bonnie and Joseph Zeller. She was born in Hays, Kansas. The youngest of four sisters, she was raised on her parents' farm northwest of McCracken, Ks. until the age of nine when the family moved to Dighton, KS. After graduating from high school she attended college in Dodge City, KS. Shortly after college she was married then moved to Lawrence, KS. for a brief period before moving to Topeka, KS. where she raised her first child, Morgan. Seven years later her second child, Harrison was born. The Capital city of Topeka has remained her home over the years.
As a stay at home mom who enjoyed cross stitching, she turned her hobby into a thriving business. She began designing her own patterns in 2002 and has created over 85 patterns that are being distributed globally by Hoffman Distributing and Norden Crafts Ltd. She also attends the yearly Nashville Needlework Market to display her patterns and to showcase new designs.
Many of Anita's designs are related to her state of Kansas. Growing up in rural western Kansas instilled a strong sense of home and family. Many people think of Kansas as flat farmland and miles upon miles of nothingness. While it is true there are vast amounts of farmland, and not many bustling urban areas such as New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago for instance, Kansas does have its own sparkling beauty. Vast fields of wheat swaying back and forth in the breeze on the Kansas plains can be as beautiful, if not more so, than an ocean view or a view of snow capped mountains. Rolling green grasslands and golden fields of wheat may be unattractive to some but for those who live here and have been raised here it is a view that can't be beat. After all, our "amber waves of grain" are mentioned in the song "America the Beautiful" along with other beautiful features of this great country.
Anita will continue to stitch and create patterns for herself and her customers as long as she is able. She considers herself lucky to be able to make a living from something she truly enjoys.
Anita wants to extend a heartfelt Thank You to all who purchase her designs and she hopes you will continue to enjoy stitching her original creations for yourself or as a wonderful hand crafted gift for a special person in your life.