"I love the idea of creating something new that’s inspired by the old. I find inspiration for my designs in classic crafts and like to find ways to mimic them when I’m designing.”

Gina Martin sometimes has to pinch herself. It’s just a little reminder that she’s living her dream. Working from her home studio in Kansas City, along with her adorable canine assistants, Boo and Louie, Gina creates crisp, colorful design collections inspired by her love of nature, sewing and knitting, and all things vintage and mid-century.

Gina’s dream began in Arkansas, where she grew up with a passion for “making stuff” that was encouraged and nurtured by her parents, both of whom worked in science-oriented fields. “When all the other girls were drawing horses, I was learning to needlepoint, embroider, crochet, and sew. That’s when I discovered my passion for sewing.” It was a passion inspired by her mother and grandmother. The year Gina turned nine, she got a toy sewing machine for Christmas – a toy that was soon discarded in favor of learning on the real thing – an old “work horse” Singer treadle machine! There would be no turning back. Her dream was growing... And growing... After earning a BFA in lllustration and Painting from the Kansas City Art Institute, Gina went right to work for Hallmark Cards, where she was a designer for 17 years. Happily, it was also where she met her husband, Peter, an artist himself, and an inspiration to her own work. “His incredible talent inspires me to work harder and to push myself creatively.”

Today, Gina’s design collections have found their way to some of the biggest names in the retail, tabletop, and social expressions industries, including Hallmark Cards, Party Express, ZAK Designs, K&Co. and Demdaco. Gina has stopped pinching herself. There’s far too much work to do. And that’s a dream come true.