Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum, (born c. 1946) American cross-stitch

Cross-stitch

Cross-stitch is a popular form of counted-thread embroidery in which X-shaped stitches in a tiled, raster-like pattern are used to form a picture. Cross-stitch is often executed on easily countable evenweave fabric called aida cloth. The stitcher counts the threads in each direction so that the...

 embroidery designer known especially for her Victorian

Victorian era

The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...

angel designs. Her design business is "Told in a Garden" with her most famous designs sold under the product lines of "Butternut Road" and "Lavender and Lace."

Marilyn's professional design career began as an advertising illustrator and fashion illustrator. Her first published embroidery design, inspired by her experiences living in Amish country, was "The Quilting" showing an Amish quilting bee. When she finished her piece, she showed it to the owner of her local needlework shop who told her that if she graphed the design the shop would sell it. The first 25 copies sold almost immediately, and her business was born. Since then, 'MLI,' as she is known to stitchers, has sold millions of copies of her designs and has developed an international fan base.