Merritt Walker Designs is a hand-painted needlepoint canvas company inspired by the natural world, especially the ocean. Each design is created by Merritt Walker, a marine scientist and lifelong stitcher who has spent her career along the Gulf Coast and beyond.

Merritt grew up watching her mom stitch and learned to needlepoint from her at a young age. Years later, when she wanted to make a custom belt for her husband Christian and couldn't find a canvas she loved, she decided to design her own and Merritt Walker Designs was born.

Originally from Texas, Merritt earned her marine biology degree from Auburn University before heading to Dauphin Island, Alabama, where she spent three years earning her Master's in Marine Sciences from the University of South Alabama. It was on Dauphin Island that she met Christian, who is currently pursuing his PhD in Marine Science. They now live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with their dog Aubrey.

Each collection draws from the natural world — the species, landscapes, and wild places that have shaped Merritt's life as a scientist and stitcher. Every canvas is hand-painted on 18 mesh and designed to be stitched, collected, and loved.