Sandra Sullivan, designer and owner of Homespun Elegance, since 1979, exhibits in her designs a combination of traditional, folk art and primitive design elements. She also includes reproductions of antique samplers as part of her work. When designing more contemporary and whimsical stitchery, traditional elements, such as sampler motifs and borders, are almost always incorporated into the final project. These historical elements are a must in her patterns. She grew up and continues to live in historic Fredericksburg, VA, the birth place of George Washington. This area played a vital role during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. The atmosphere of this small city, with all the many historic buildings and 18th Century culture, helped mold her love of historic architecture, antiques, and vintage/historic needlework.