About Count Your Blessings

Kathy Moss is the owner and designer of Count Your Blessings, Inc. Needlearts have been her passion since she was 8 years-old. (See her first needlework at age 8: It’s The Berries!) From that young age, Kathy had a thirst for knitting, crocheting, embroidery, needlepoint, quilting, and cross stitch. She loved to share her knowledge of the needlearts, and would teach anyone showing even the slightest interest! Living in the East and Midwest, there were plenty of cold, snowy days to indulge in her stitching!

When she was 12 years-old, Kathy and her family moved to Southern California. Kathy was known in grade school, middle school, and high school as The Girl Always Stitching Something. As an adult, Kathy would gather her friends for a weekly Stitch Night. Even though everyone in this group was a cross stitcher, her husband named them the Knit Nite Girls! Their weekly gatherings became cheap therapy for all of life’s woes, and a great way to celebrate life’s happiness. Hot tea was always served, and every week was Show and Tell. They shared what they were stitching, showing new patterns purchased, brainstormed ideas for new projects, and often went on field trips to local cross stitch shops. Kathy also hosted an annual Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament Exchange, which continues to this day.

When Kathy, her husband, and four children moved to New England, it was her mission to find other stitchers in her small town. If there weren’t any stitchers to be found, she was determined to teach people to stitch! She taught cross stitch at Cranberry Fiber Arts, in Hamilton, Massachusetts, and she shared her talent with young and old alike. Today, there’s a group of 9 friends (7 in Massachusetts, 2 in California) who gather for annual stitching trips. They call themselves the Sew Bee Its! (As in "So Be It" or "It Is What It Is" or "Amen"…..being grateful for what IS). The “Bees” meet weekly, and have proven to be a tremendous support system for each other. There is a spiritual connection and Kathy hosts their weekly stitch night in her “hive.” Kathy organizes group projects and stitching field trips for “the Bees.” Laughter and support weave these Bees together….and a strong bond, it is!

After the attacks of September 11th, Kathy felt compelled to do “something.” So she cross stitched a letter to the President! The finished size measured 24” x 30”. Not only did she receive a letter from the President, she received a letter from his mother, former First Lady Barbara Bush! She also received a personal phone call from the White House Gift Department, complimenting her on her work. You can read the text of the letter by clicking here.

Kathy is a dedicated volunteer in all aspects of her life. She has been a hospice volunteer since February 2003, she has volunteered thousands of hours in her local schools, and she was a Girl Scout Leader for 12 years (she loves these girls as her own). Her honors include State awards for her contribution of talent and time, including the Pathfinder Award, the Above and Beyond Award (which she received, along with the mayor of Boston—who also received this award!), the Heart of Hospice Award, and the Friends of Public Education Award. Kathy has a Bachelor of Art's Degree in Communications from California State University Long Beach, and was an owner, Vice President, and on the Board of Directors of a manufacturing company for 21 years. Kathy also serves as a Judge for the District and State DECA Competitions. (DECA is a National High School Business and Marketing Organization). Her background includes business, communication, technology, and graphic design. Her work is sought after by a variety of venues, in numerous different fields.

To date, Kathy has taught over 750 children how to cross stitch (See some of their work in the photo!). Kathy has an on-going relationship with the students in the local schools. Each year she packs five suitcases with cross stitched items she’s stitched, from around her house: From pillows to footstools, wall hangings to sweatshirts, checkerboards to trays, clocks to bookends! She also brings a large variety of items her own children have stitched. This really intrigues the students, especially when the boys see the cool sports designs her sons have stitched. She then goes into classrooms for her Show and Tell! Her presentation is often tied into the 5th Grade Colonial Unit. The students have oodles of questions, and Kathy gets them excited to learn to stitch themselves! She returns the next week, with 100 learn-to-stitch kits, which includes needle, floss, and fabric. Kathy takes the time to teach the kids the techniques and shortcuts of stitching, and she even teaches them to chart their own patterns using graph paper. Kathy promises to make a pillow or wall hanging from every single stitched item made by a student. To this day, students or their parents, often tell her how much those treasures mean to them. Many cross stitch shop owners, designers, and the DMC Floss company have donated items to use for Kathy’s classroom demonstrations. Mostly, though, this endeavor has been funded by Kathy, herself. She has made supplies readily available to every young stitcher. Teaching future stitchers, and keeping the craft alive, makes it worth every penny. Many students have nicknamed her “Mrs. Moss—the Queen of Floss!"

Of course, the most important things in her life are her faith and her family. She has been happily married since 1986, and has four wonderful children. Her life revolves around her family, and she cherishes the memories they’re creating together. A life-long dream of Kathy’s was to have her own cross stitch design company. When asked why she wanted to do this, she replied, "I just want to touch people's hearts." When it came time to naming her company, Count Your Blessings was a natural fit. Kathy’s daughter designed the angel logo, and thus a dream was realized. “There is always, always, always something to be grateful for.” This is Kathy’s motto and an awareness that she tries to live by. We hope you enjoy these heartfelt designs……and remember to Count Your Blessings!