In this episode of The Penny Linn Podcast, things start a little differently — Krista is on vacation, so her mom steps in to kick off the episode with a special guest intro before handing things over.

Then, Krista is joined by Sydney, the founder of The Checkered Canvas. Our newest addition to the Penny Linn Collective, whose path to needlepoint is anything but traditional.

From growing up riding horses to nearly pursuing pre-med, she shares how she unexpectedly found her way into canvas design — and turned a creative hobby into a business.

Together, they chat about:

• Turning niche interests (like equestrian life and Formula 1) into designs
• The “why not make it a canvas?” mindset
• Building confidence as a new designer

They also dive into the stories behind her desi ...