About Krista

Hello and welcome to Avlea! I'm Krista West, founder, designer, and textile nerd extraordinaire. I discovered Greek folk embroidery on a work trip to Greece in 2008 and fell in love with its gorgeous geometry, compelling colors, and practical usefulness. I began stitching avidly for my own home, creating table squares, table runners, and cushion covers, completely enchanted by the vibrant beauty of folk embroidery. When friends and family began commenting on these unique designs, I realized that others might find folk embroidery just as wonderful as I did, and I began Avlea.  Nowadays, I design and create kits and patterns in the basement workshop of my 1923 home and I love that I get to share this old-world craft with a new generation of stitchers!

The word "avlea" in Greek means "courtyard" and the courtyard was the place where folks would stitch, finding refreshment in creating vibrant embroideries for their homes they could use and treasure for years. My hope is that you, too, will be refreshed by these beautiful textiles.

Happy Stitching!

Krista

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PS It's pronounced "Av-lee-ah"