Rooted in wild places and everyday moments, Needle & Spruce is about slowing down, making things by hand, and finding joy in the process — whether you’re stitching by a window or dreaming of the next trail.

Hi, and welcome to Needle & Spruce! I’m Sonja.

I started Needle & Spruce as a way to share the grounding, creative practice that’s carried me through some of life’s busiest (and weirdest) chapters.

I first picked up a needle and thread in 2020, during the height of the pandemic, while living in New York City. Like a lot of people, I was anxious, restless, and looking for something that didn’t involve refreshing the news every few minutes. Hand embroidery became my way to slow down to the present moment and channel all of that uncertain energy into something creative and mindful.

I later moved to Denver, but stitching came with me. Before that, I’d been selling finished hoops, hats, sweaters, and more, but I’ve come to realize that what I love most isn’t the final result — it’s the act of making it: the rhythmic pop of pulling thread through fabric, the small victories when a design finally comes together, and the smug satisfaction of untangling a particularly aggravating knot.

I grew up in northern Michigan, in a rural town that is more lakes than land. Nature has always been embedded in my daily life — from night swims and dock sunrises, to ski hills and walking in the woods. That sense of being present in the current moment — to take stock of and appreciate life’s details — remains the thread that ties it all together, whether I’m stitching on my sofa, skiing in the Rockies, or cooking tomatoes from my garden.

Needle & Spruce is about that same spirit: slowing down, connecting with something tangible, and finding joy in the process — whether life feels easy or complicated. It’s a reminder to breathe, stay present, and have a lot of fun along the way.