About It's By Design

a little about me, Lois Peterson, creator of it's by design I make things, lots of things. I've always made things. Even as a young girl I designed my own cross-stitch patterns with a bunch of X's on fabric! My focus was always on art. In 1979 I earned my Associates Degree in Art from Grand View College in Des Moines, Iowa. My mother taught me to sew when I was young. So, to quench my thirst for art while raising 3 children, I learned the art of quilting. I quilted and quilted until another creative opportunity came my way. I began painting murals on ceramic tiles to help a friend out with her tile painting work. Then assisted 3 years of 5th graders with their class murals at our elementary school. The custom tile jobs led to mosaic murals. Then bam! my sister introduced me to jewelry making. I fell hard and it didn't take long before I was working at my favorite jewelry supply store. I designed and sold jewelry for 15 years. Somewhere along the way I realized how much I enjoyed creating my displays, signs, and logos. The yearning for getting back to drawing and painting was carrying more weight than making jewelry. When I came to grips with the fact that I could make the change and pursue what I REALLY wanted to do, it was liberating! I only wish I had gone back to drawing and painting earlier! I was born to create. In fact, it's by design! Say you love it!Read their story