Russell C. Stokes
Linda Whitehead loves meeting people, chatting about mutual interests and sharing experiences. She describes herself as “friendly, outgoing and tenacious.” She is the SaddleBrooke Gift Shop featured artist for the month of March.
Linda was born in Deweyville, Texas; a small town near the border of Louisiana. She grew up in Beaumont, Texas and attended local public schools that had a strong emphasis on art. Linda majored in English Literature and studied Commercial Art at Lamar University. Linda moved to San Francisco in 1966 where she worked as a Production Secretary for a large insurance company; there, she met and married Robert. Linda and Robert were able to travel extensively.
Robert’s employer held many business functions in Tucson. Linda smiled as she said, “We fell in love with the Catalinas on one of those trips.” They bought a SaddleBrooke lot in 1989, built their house in 1993; retired and moved home to SaddleBrooke in 1995. Linda investigated the real estate possibilities very thoroughly over the years before Robert retired. “SaddleBrooke stood out because it had all the amenities on our list and, of course, it’s beautiful!”
Linda’s special craft is needlework; she says she is most proficient at crochet and dressmaking. She also embroiders, does needlepoint, knits, and has hooked rugs, quilted and done silk screening. Needlecraft makes her happy as does a good book, playing golf, cooking, and spending time with friends and family. Linda finds “pure joy in watching an anonymous piece of material or skein of yarn gradually grow into something pretty and useful.” Linda also finds both knitting and crocheting to be relaxing. She taught herself to crochet from books! Tons of people buy her creations and give them as gifts as she puts so much love into each design. Some even find her to be an inspiration and have started crocheting too! There is a pretty good list here if you want to follow in Linda’s footsteps, or get someone else to, and begin making some gorgeous crochet creations.
A good friend taught Linda needlepoint and her sister introduced her to knitting. Linda experimented over the years and invented ways of creating in all fabric mediums. Her in-home craft room provides ample space to house her sewing machine, tools, threads, yarns and her built-in cabinets are full of fabric.
Linda has been a member of the SaddleBrooke Gift Shop team since 2013; she sells her many colorful scarves including her popular scrunchy scarfs, beaded bandannas and handcrafted fabric necklaces. Linda loves working there. She finds it delightful meeting customers and says “it’s a pleasure helping people find something they’re looking for, better yet something they weren’t looking for”. Linda enjoys pointing out items from our many talented artists.
The SaddleBrooke Arts and Crafts Gift Shop opened in 1986 as the SaddleBrooke Artist Gallery. The Gift Shop is staffed alternately by 38 artists who volunteer their time to assist you. When looking for special hand-crafted and unique gifts, jewelry, art work or greeting cards please stop by and visit Linda or your other resident artisans. The SaddleBrooke Gift Shop is located in SaddleBrooke One, near the clubhouse and next door to the fitness center. The SaddleBrooke Gift Shop is currently open seven days a week, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.