We are a California-based company of multi-talented illustrators, craft designers, editors, product managers, graphic artists, design assistants and photographers. Our group has worked together in one capacity or another for almost thirty years. The studio is a visual banquet with framed stitched pieces everywhere you look, as well as quilts, yarns, floss, Teddy bears, and baskets overflowing with handmade creations, as you can see in the painting above by artist Susan Routledge.

These pleasant surroundings enable our staff to work in an atmosphere that encourages creativity. Excellence has always been our standard, whether we are designing on fine linen with silk threads or plastic canvas with synthetic yarns, paint on wood or appliqués on fabric. We believe the quality of our designs, as well as the thoroughness we take in their development, is why we are successful. Designing continues to excite us because each assignment is a new and different challenge. Every day is still an adventure.

The Studio Team

Basha KoolerBasha Kooler        
Donna KoolerDonna Kooler Linda GillumLinda Gillum      

Basha Kooler, President, Art Director - Besides art directing, she is our photo stylist and finds time to design craft and lifestyle books. She works closely with our freelance designers and seeks out new business opportunities. She works closely with our freelance designers and seeks out new business opportunities.

Donna Kooler, Founder of Kooler Design Studio - Directs the creative projects and activities at the studio.

Linda Gillum, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, is a founding member of the design team, and supervises the financial management of the business. She is a key source of creative ideas for the studio.

Priscilla Timm, Vice President, a founding member of the company, Needlework Editor, is the primary project manager for all design projects.

Judy Swager
Judy Swager
Marsha Hinkson
Marsha Hinkson
     

Judy Swager, Editor-in-Chief, heads our wonderful editorial and graphics team, which includes Marsha Hinkson, Knit and Crochet Editor/designer. We are pleased to also work with creative freelance graphic artists, Nancy Wong and Maria Parrish.

Linda Gillum
Linda Gillum
Barbara Baatz Hillman
Barbara Baatz Hillman
Nancy Rossi
Nancy Rossi
Sandy Orton
Sandy Orton
 

Designers: Linda Gillum, Barbara Baatz Hillman, Nancy Rossi, Sandy Orton, and Basha Kooler are the primary source for the artistic designs we produce.

Dianne WoodsDianne Woods        

Photographer: Dianne Woods captures on film, the extraordinary images of our award winning products.

Virginia Hanley-Rivett
Virginia Hanley-Rivett
       

Online Store Manager: Virginia Hanley-Rivett manages the sales of our products and customer service for our online store. Virginia also stitches, charts, and translates each and every project that is produced by the studio. Her commitment to excellence is demonstrated by the beautiful needlework she produces. By working side by side with our award winning designers, together they transform artwork into needlework.