Woodlawn and Nelly’s Needlers are preparing for the 62nd Needlework Exhibit which is their 50th Anniversary exhibit. They’re trying to get participants from all 50 states! It’s a must see. I have my piece ready.
Read all about it at https://www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org/nwshow25
Bill and I visited the Woodlawn & Pope Leighey House for the 61st Annual Needlework Show. It was a sunny day yesterday. It was great for driving, but it caused glare issues with the photos. Glass on pieces is allowed at Woodlawn.
If I knew the designers or if they were mentioned in the docent’s notes, I will provide that information.
I already discussed several pieces in my previous post (https://melitastitches4fun.com/2024/03/07/fireside-sampler-at-woodlawns-61st-annual-needlework-exhibit-2024/), and they did not disappoint, especially Deborah Merrick-Wilson’s goldwork (original designs, so I won’t show photos).
It was nice to see my piece framed! I’d forgotten I had selected one with gold and silver to go with the mirror and candles. Mine was slightly below eye level, and you could get a good look at it. It received a ribbon for 3rd place in the original design multi-stitch category.
Many of the canvaswork pieces I enjoyed seeing were either from New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter members or Colonial West Jersey EGA members. I don’t want to leave anyone out, but in August, NJNA will be reviewing all the pieces, and I don’t want to spoil the meeting by showing them all here. I will share 2 photos here.
Diane Burgess knocked it out of the park with her choices for Razzle Dazzle by Ann Strite-Kurz. Ann visited the exhibit, and she enjoyed seeing it in person. I learned that Ann chose the original stained glass colors because the original design was adapted from a scarf pattern in the Smithsonian Christmas catalogue that was inspired by cathedrals.
Bill and I both voted for Ellen Briggs’ (also from NJNA) Swan Song as our People’s Choice. Pam Miller of Edwardian Needle gave stitch suggestions and lace from her own wedding gown. It’s so beautiful and interesting.
Pam also helped Amy Bretan with a Bride and Groom, but the lace came from a dear friend of Amy’s. She akso went very colorful with Pyramids of the Oasis by Wendy Moore.
Too many pieces were up to high. All of Sue Chadwick’s especially Raffie, the adorable giraffe, by Kurdy Biggs were way too high to appreciate the complicated stitches. But, it’s a stunning piece and nicely framed.
Rosy Lunde’s Africana by Lorene Salt and Confetti by Ann-Marie Anderson-Mayes are great and the framing is too. Very colorful designs with deep colored mats and wood would allow displaying these together possible without overwhelming each other.
Barbara Levy (NJNA) has to have stitched the largest kimono I have ever seen! It’s a counted design called Kimono Revisted by John Wadell. Amazing!
Cathryn Curia’s colorway for Northern Lights would look wonderful in our bedroom!
Linda Mosch has a couple of lovely samplers as well as a crewel embroidery piece, Jacobean Fantasy.
Linda Pleyer’s Designer Handbags and Black Party Dress are stunning.
The EGA Colonial West Jersey (CWJ) members had a variety of pieces on display. There were quite a few impressive cross stitch pieces, including Nancyanne Carkeek’s Sunflower Bee.
Here’s a close-up. The shading is amazing.
Louise Wilson is a prolific stitcher also from CWJ. She had 8 pieces, including 3 versions of an EGA Petite Project, Landscape Series by Karen Wojahn. I got photos of her fall and spring version, but not winter. Love them.
Patti Tidemann, current President of CWJ, stitched a wonderful piece by Carole Lake, Anasazi Dream. Carole passed away earlier this year, and it’s wonderful to see one of her lovely pieces here.
There were several other large cross stitch pieces worth mentioning including Barb Meier’s Bathtime (designed by Heaven and Earth), Meghan Benson’s Autumn Trails (designed by Charles White), Kim Smith’s Seashell Wreath designed by Janlynn/Nancy Rossi), Elizabeth ONeal’s Cross Stitch Tiles, and Ronald Walker’s Portrait of a Horse which could have jumped off the canvas. The shading on each piece was incredible.
Several people I run into at the EGA Mid-Atlantic Regional meetings (hopefully, I’ll see them April 6 in King of Prussia), including Judy Herrick and Donna LaBranch who exhibited too. Here is Desert Strands by Judy. That is pulled work. She also did a lovely Ukrainian whitework tray.
Donna always has great pieces on exhibit. My favorites were her Little Red Rooster that was a heavily beaded surface embroidery and original design (so I won’t show a photo). Her Loudoun Sampler Guild Mystery Sampler has lots of interesting motifs.
Christin Louden stitched a lovely Kurdy Biggs Rescent Angel. It makes a perfect stand-up figure.
It looks like the eastcoast stitchers are quite taken with Ann-Marie Anderson-Mayes of Beautiful Stitches (several designs were shown). Here’s Versailles, which will be one of the pieces Ann-Marie will be offering to NJNA members after the ANG 2024 KC Seminar. Sherri Gordon with the EGA Mollies chapter (who have stitched my Overdyed Spools and A Spring Sampler) exhibited hers.
I was really taken by the head of cauliflower done by Marian Smith! It was stitched in shaded wool on cotton homespun and uses wire to hold the shapes of leaves.
My ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter is going to be doing Fibonacci Swirls by Olivia Hartshorn from the ANG Needle Pointers magazine (March-April 2022 issue). Beth Peternell’s color choice is fantastic and beautifully framed.
I saw Pat Mazu’s purse/jewelry roll that she designed for her journeyman level Master Teacher Program and named it Flowers on a Trailing Vine. Pat taught it 3 times, once in the Potomac/Washington DC area. I bought one a couple of years ago and use it for my paper piecing project (that I need to get back to doing). Lovely design! Pat remembers Sandra Erb from several of her classes and is delighted to see another one finished.
A few people in our area have been doing the needle felting projects by Brenda Stofft. Elizabeth Dietz made a great Splendora the Witch. The detail and finishing is mind-boggling on these 3D characters. Cleo of Busy Lizzy helped with the finishing.
An always amazing category is the miniatures (32 count or less). Besides Norma Campbell’s The Majesty which you can see got a Director’s Award and is posted on Woodlawn’s website, there were other notable miniatures including Arlene Cohen’s Summer Rose, Sharon Fullerton’s Cardinal Crystal Jar, and Alison Kearney’s Rose Window (designed by Mary Hickmott).
Haystacks of Giverny by Katheine Diuguid was an online EGA class. It is interesting that Julianne Otto’s is more yellow (top photo) and Regina Thek incorporated more red tones in the Haystack (bottom photo).
This year, Norma Hiller stitched Safari by Terry Dryden and one of Gail Stafford’s lovely landscapes, Fog in the Mountains. I am looking forward to an online landscape class in May with Gail offered through ANG Cyberpointers.
In the non-judged areas, the EGA Washington DC chapter displayed some lovely pieces of all types.
There were antique tools collected by Nelly’s Needlers displayed as well. They did a wonderful job with the displays. All the birds were in the Hall. I like the theme approach. And, they serve as docents keeping a watchful eye and offering comments about some pieces from the notes they have on all the pieces.
Most of the beadwork and mixed media embroidery pieces are original designs and so I won’t show them. There were some really great pieces.
Another nice exhibit, although I wish they had opened one of the two unused rooms upstairs in order to lower many of the pieces. It’s especially great seeing pieces from people I know. There are still a few days to get there!
Bill and I will not make it to Woodlawn until the end of the month. But, photos of the special award winners are posted and a list of the just over 400 entries with award winners named are also posted at https://www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org/2024specialawardwinners.
I went through the list and only saw 2 entries for Canvaswork Multi-Stitch (4+), Original design, Adult. My Fireside Sampler got a 3rd Place award and the other by Mercedes B for Porch at the Grand Hotel got 2nd place. I never took a photo of my framed piece before sending it for exhibit! So, that will be in the post when I get it back from the exhibit along with any other comments from having seen the exhibit in person.
There were some Canvaswork Multi-Stitch (4+), Commercial Design pieces that I recognized by name including Pyramids of the Oasis, Swan Song, Razzle Dazzle, Confetti, Medieval City, Raffie, Africana, and Northern Lights which were all from ANG New Jersey Needle Artist Chapter members. There are a couple of pieces called Fibonacci but not sure if they are the Fibonacci Swirls by Olivia Hartshorn (ANG Needle Pointers Mar/Apr 2022), and Anaszi Dream, and Walking on Waters Edge that are name I recognize. There are plenty in the category, close to 100, but I don’t know them by name.
Deborah Merrick-Wilson had 3 original designs in goldwork win awards – always lovely pieces!
And, Norma C won (for the second year in a row) the Director’s Award for her work on The Majesty in the Miniature category which is when the piece is worked on at least 32 count over 1 thread. It does not have anything to do with the size of the piece. She told me her piece is about 15 inches by 7 inches and is worked on 36 count linen over 1 thread. I’m looking forward to seeing her piece in person, too!
Congratulations to all regardless of awards – it is always a great exhibit. It’s running through March except on Tuesdays.
Bill and I made it to Woodlawn early this year. The main exhibit has a little over 400 pieces. One lady said they will be placing photos of the pieces in an online exhibit (probably in mid-April) but another thought it was too cost prohibitive based on the number who paid to see it last year and how much the professional photographer charged. Hopefully, they do; and so, I am going to limit the photos I show in hopes you support them online. My photos did not turn out great this year anyway – no close ups allowed (enlarging blurred them) and the light was bright in the windows casting shadows. A good number of them are above eye level making photos long distance anyway.
I found out more about the couch that you can see on Woodlawn’s website. It’s all Nancy B’s original design, and took her 20 years to complete (during the 70-90s). She’s in her 80s now. It must be on Penelope canvas because there is Petite point (small stitches for the motifs) and Gros point (large stitches for the background). It got our vote for the People’s Choice award. Her scenes are amazing front and back! Even the pattern incorporated into the background is interesting (but was impossible to photograph).
Three people (Patti Lynn T, Mary L, and Louise W) stitched and entered my design Overdyed Spools which I taught at the EGA Mid-Atlantic Regional Fall meeting in 2021. It uses an overdyed thread of their choice. Patti Lynn replaced the center spools for a nametag and placed it on a bag. Mary added a black inner border for pop and Louise added beads. I’ve see quite a number of the finished pieces from a variety of EGA chapters and am so glad people are enjoying the piece and making it their own. In fact, I’ll be joining a joint meeting of the EGA chapters Susquehanna/Molly Pitcher Stitchers this coming weekend. Sherri G is teaching it and I will discuss several pieces of mine that manipulated overdyed threads.
The original pieces by other people (which I won’t show without permission) were quite amazing. The surface embroidery of snowflakes captured in negative and positive space by Tina T was stunning. Ekaterina S’s Snowy Evening was stitched on artist’s canvas (docents said she was new to this country and didn’t know what “canvas” meant). Hers was originally placed in the “canvaswork multi-stitch” category but later must have been switched to “surface embroidery” because artist’s canvas is not a countable ground. Her piece titled Autumn is on the same artist’s canvas and is stunning with mist appearing to float up into the hills of green, yellow, and red trees.
I recognized quite a few designs and can name the designer (google will find their websites): Royal Kimono by Toni Gerdes, American Beauty by DebBee’s Design, 3 versions of Stratigraphy by Jennifer Riefenberg (ANG Stitch of the Month 2021), 2 versions of Long Time Gone Stitching by Ann-Marie Anderson-Mayes of Beautiful Stitches), Fibonacci Swirls by Olivia Hartshorn (Needle Pointers Mar/Apr 2022), Star of Stitches (Stitch of the Month 2020), Winter Logs and Serenity by Kathy Rees, Anasazi Dream/Song/Spirit by Carole Lake, Stacked Rectangles by Susan Hoekstra, Gordian Knot by Rachel Atkinson (past ANG Correspondence Course), Pyramids by Wendy Moore, 2 versions of Circles of Life by Lorraine Salt, Woven Ribbons (May/June 1999 Needlepoint Now magazine), Candles Bright by Mary Knapp, Patchwork Evergreen by Janet Casey. There are even a few more I’ve seen but I’m not sure of the designer.
I hope my Main Line Stitchers select Fibonacci Swirls next year. Sue C did a lovely job selecting her own threads.
Linda M of ANG Main Line Stitchers stitched Rainbow Butterflies (a Laurel Burch canvas) for a chapter program discussion of selecting threads for a painted canvas last year and I was thrilled to see it in the exhibit! Congratulations to Linda on a blue ribbon for the Stratigraphy she stitched with threads selected from her stash.
Cecilia, one of the members of ANG Main Line Stitchers, recently contacted me about potential stitches for The Plague Doctor (a full length robed piece). So, I was surprised to see a different version by Stephanie St.C appear at Woodlawn. Cecilia shared the story behind these pieces (wiki it for the details) but that pointed thing is a mask. A Google search reveals its popularity is widespread.
The number of blackwork pieces were more than I remember from last year and they were all amazing. Abigail’s Sampler by Claudia K is impressive because it is reversible and framed on a stand so you can see both sides. The Flower Basket by Michael Ann B is so crisp and bright with the gold outlines. Save the Stitches by Cheryl W is a sampler of all different (130+) patterns intertwined with hints of a rosy-purple adding more interest throughout the piece. It is designed by Liz Almond. And, German Sampler 1661 by Sally P hangs like a large bellpull consisting of band after band of various blackwork patterns. I really am hard pressed to select my favorite in this category but the complexity of the large number of interlocking patterns seen in Save the Stitches edged out the others.
The Japanese Embroidery is beautiful but my favorite is Weeping Cherry by Mary Louise S because of the gentleness of the colors and falling leaves.
Not as much goldwork on exhibit as in past years but a simple and elegant blue ribbon winner of goldwork by Alison K called Queen Anne’s Lace gets my vote for favorite goldwork piece.
Samplers range in variety as usual from traditional to more modern and my featured sampler is by Linda M from NJ Needle Artists who puts a lot of effort into supporting Woodlawn. Congrats to Linda for a Blue Ribbon with Thanksgiving Sampler.
Cross-stitch was not forgotten this year. The geometrics (both designed by Ink Circles), Circular Lights by Jill B and Tangled Fire by C Tobias are beautiful. You can practically smell the Blue Hydrangeas by Lauren B. Bravery by Sumira O is a huge lion head mounted on a shield with a sword piercing his head on a diamond background. But the shading obtained by Tiffany in A Mother’s Love Sepia Elephants (designed by Carolyn Thornton) is lovely and despite being much smaller than the lion, I am partial to elephants.
I wish I could go through all the categories but there is so much diversity, I’d never get back to stitching!
The EGA Constellation chapter and Oatlands chapter celebrated their 50th and 40th anniversaries while the ANG Shenandoah Valley celebrated their 20th anniversary with quite a prolific and diverse collection of needlework. Congratulations to all 3 chapters! I couldn’t tell which pieces were with each chapter but my 3 selections are Asymmetrical Copper by Jeff Kulick (love this colorway; instructions are in the Nov/December 2020 issue of Needle Pointers magazine), Ruby Razzle Dazzle by Ann Strite-Kurz (so intense looking and instructions are in my stash), and a saying that about sums it all up (designer unkown; perhaps a Victorian motto).
Filed under: Canvas Master Craftsman Program, Embroidery Guild of America, General comments, Step 5, Woodlawn Needlework Exhibition
With my last post, WordPress informed me that I have posted 1,000 times! Wow, that’s a lot but I’ve been doing this since 2010. So, I was trying to decide what my 1,001 post would be. I’ve been stitching on projects that I don’t want share until they are done (Step 6 of the EGA Master Craftsman Canvas program and pieces for future Needle Pointers magazine articles).
However, I am preparing to head to south to see the 60th Annual Woodlawn Needlework Show. I found the list of all the entrants where they include the award winners (https://www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org/2023specialawardwinners) and where you can see photos of the special award winners including a couch (!) by Nancy Buckley, Birch Forest-French Alps by Norma Campbell’s (I love her pieces), Oklahoma Gothic by Darci Lenker (my husband looked at these online and thought this one was a photo!), and Cray Cray Bird by Barbara Levy (a member of ANG NJ Needle Artists/NJNA) to name a couple. The Woodlawn Needlepoint Show runs the whole month of March in Alexandria, VA (closed Tuesdays). There are a little over 400 judged entries this year (up 100 pieces compared to last year), special exhibits (https://www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org/2023-needlework-show-exhibitions) including 3 EGA/ANG chapters celebrating milestone anniversaries, and a variety of programs (https://www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org/2023-annual-needlework-show-programs) including a couple virtual.
Well, my Night Owls flew south hitching a ride with other members of NJNA and was awarded Second Place in the Original Design category. I did share this piece back in August. It is my original design from Step 5 of the EGA Master Craftsman Canvas program (https://melitastitches4fun.com/2022/08/31/canvas-master-craftsman-program-step-5/). The wings are appliqued in place.
I will report more after I see the show but wanted to remind everyone that the 60th Woodlawn Needlework Show has started and is well worth the trip. Even exploring the website offers some opportunities and eye catching pieces.
The Woodlawn Virtual Needlework Show opened April 15. The link is shown below.
Tickets are $12.00 and the purchase allows you to access as often as you like through May 31, 2022. You are also able to access the recordings of three of the programs that were held during March – African American Needlework in the Colonial and Antebellum South (Kathy Staples); Shared Sampler Threads (Barbara Hutson of Queenstown Sampler Designs); and Passing on the Tradition of Needlearts: Community Conversation.
http://www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org/2022-virtual-needlework-tickets
Thanks to Linda M from ANG New Jersey Needle Artists for sending a reminder to chapter members.
March means the Woodlawn Needlework Show. The weather did not cooperate with our schedule and Bill and I didn’t get to visit until March 30. It was chilly and sunny (so photos may not be great due to glare or appear washed out – sorry) but no rain. It is unfortunate to see the number of judged entries has dropped to 296. But, the quality is more important than sheer numbers and it is always a joy to share and celebrate needlework.
Plus, there was a wonderful display of over 60 pieces by the Winchester Chapter of EGA who were celebrating their 10-year anniversary. Among pieces displayed by the Winchester Chapter were 3 of Toni Gerdes designs Klimt Kimono (a WIP for me), Autumn 3-Ways (a class I’m taking in October 2022 with the Central Jersey Chapter), and Bronze Purse (I finished stitching it but never did anything with it – I love what this person did with it). The fourth, is Donna’s 32-count miniature tiger stitched on gauze that won 1st Place and the Pope-Leighey Award in 2020 and one of our favorites! Good to see it again.
And, there were a number of pieces by Eleanor Parke Custis Lewis aka Nelly for whom the Nelly’s Needlers were named after. The design for the fireplace screen is available in the gift store and the others are pieces from the 1800’s on perforated paper!
Speaking of Nelly’s Needlers, the folks who run the exhibit, always sell ginger cookies and we got some. I also picked up this bargello purse they called Nelly’s Purse. I love how the design looks open as much as when it’s closed. The finishing is impeccable. I found out the purse was designed by Pat Mazu for her journeyman level Master Teacher Program and named it Flowers on a Trailing Vine. Pat taught it 3 times, once in the Potomac/Washington DC area. No wonder I fell in love with it. Pat’s designs are amazing!
Now, on to the main exhibit. I did ask and was told that they will definitely be placing photos of the pieces in an online exhibit again this year. I don’t have an exact date. So, I am going to limit the photos I show in hopes you support them online. Looking at them online is like seeing the exhibit again but from a different viewpoint. It can be a lot to take in at one time. So, seeing it again online is great. And, their photos will not be taken with glare or sun streaming into the room.
Apparently, the Beach colorway of my Crescent Journey impressed these judges more than the original colorway did in 2019 because this version got a 2nd Place Award. They did not offer critiques but I do believe this colorway is more balanced and allows the crescents to be seen better.
I was one of the four ANG New Jersey Needle Artists (NJNA) to submit the Star of Stitches by Kathy Rees which was an ANG Stitch of the Month for 2020. Linda and I framed ours, Sue made hers into a tray, and Diane made hers into a pillow. Rosie, Sue (Honorable Mention), and Linda all members of the NJNA also sent Celestial Twist. The ANG Main Line Stitchers followed suite this year stitching Celestial Twist too and Heather got hers done quickly enough to enter it as well. Seeing multiple colorways of the same design is fantastic. You’ll be able to see the NJNA pieces on their blog at some point.
Speaking of Heather, Patti Lynn stitched her design called Once in a Blue Moon which was published in the EGA magazine, Needle Arts, in September 2020. And, Patti Lynn also stitched my design Overdyed Spools which I taught at the EGA Mid-Atlantic Regional meeting this past October using an overdyed thread of her choice. I love how Patti Lynn’s turned out. What is the chances the same woman would stitch both our designs and exhibit them in the same year! Very cool.
There were a good number of counted cross-stitch pieces that were stunning. In fact, Bill’s second People’s choice award went to Dimensions Lakeside Village by Elizabeth (readily found on a Google search). And, I love the Starry Night by Erin- several versions are available through a Google search but I think it might be by Artecy Cross Stitch. Both are cross stitch and such detail is achieved.
Speaking of Bill’s People Choice vote, his went to Heather’s Philadelphia Sunrise (Honorable Mention) which she did as Step 4 of the EGA Master Craftsman Canvas program. It incorporated 8 bargello patterns (all had to touch but did not have to cover the entire canvas). It is an original design that has not been published and so I will not show it here. It really does capture our city skyline. My People’s Choice vote went to an original work by Beth called Triptych on Blue which is all beads in 3 different yet coordinated designs. Her other original designs were equally as impressive: Fall Leaves (better than the next 2 that won awards in my opinion), Silver Roots (1st Place), and Blue Waterfall (2nd Place and Judge’s Choice Award) which were all beading draped on/around different bottles. Again, I won’t post pictures of original designs – you’ll have to see the exhibit online!
I was interested to see 3 versions of Maharajah’s Elephant by Kathy (left), Patti Lynn (center), and Kathleen (right) because the ear is appliqued onto the main canvas. The applique technique appears to be slightly different than what must be done for Step 5 of the EGA Master Craftsman program that I am working on now. The elephant is a design by Mary Long and was available through EGA (https://egausa.org/courses/maharajahs-elephant/). Again, seeing multiple colorways of a piece is such fun and these were all in the same room making it easy to view in person.
Under the category of Counted Thread: Blackwork, Cheryl submitted 2 pieces from Peppermint Purple’s (Google search finds them easily) 2020 and 2021 Stitch-a-longs (First Place). There are many lovely designs on their website. The only other Blackwork on display was in the Winchester Chapter exhibit of one of a butterfly and another of some flowers. I have only done a very small square of Blackwork. It’s lovely but didn’t seem easy which may be why there aren’t a lot of them on display any given year. It probably would get easier once you get used to it. I’m not sure if the addition of the text is Chery’s idea or was part of the design but it’s cute.
The following award winners are all submitted under a Commercial design heading which means they are available to the public. If anyone knows who the designer is for any of these, please leave a comment. There are lots more in these and other categories.
Under the category of Canvaswork: Multi-stitch (4+) was Sonoma Rose by Joanne (Second Place; left photo). She had to lay long threads and they are perfect.
Under Canvaswork: Traditional (which must mean less than 4 different canvas stitches were employed) was Cheri’s Favorite by Cheri (First Place; center photo). I love the use of all overdyed threads.
Under the category of Embroidery: Goldwork was Kingfisher by Stephanie (First Place; shown in the right photo as a close up without the frame for details). I don’t recall seeing any colored goldwork and the way she applied the gold to appear like feathers is fantastic.
Hopefully, you will enjoy the online exhibit once it is made available because you’ll see lots more great needlework. A few of the special award winners can be found on the Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House Facebook page (keep scrolling down).
Filed under: ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, ANG New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter, ANG Stitch of the Month, 2020, General comments, Star of Stitches, Woodlawn Needlework Exhibition
The Star of Stitches by Kathy Rees was an ANG Stitch of the Month for 2020 and the ANG Main Line Stitchers chapter followed ANG’s New Jersey Needle Artists (NJNA) chapter stitching it a year later. We gained some good insights by seeing how they made out. Main Line enjoys selecting their own colorways as much as NJNA.
I have been hitching a ride to Woodlawn with NJNA for a couple of years now. And, since Zoom offered the opportunity to join them, I am now a member of that chapter too. I finished and framed Star of Stitches in time to accompany theirs into the 2022 Woodlawn exhibit. They have been scattered throughout the exhibit as a scavenger hunt opportunity for kids attending the exhibit.
The frame came from Jim at Reppening Fine Arts in Audubon, NJ. He had just brought it out of the back room for the first time in a year. It was sitting on the work table and was the fastest selection of a frame ever!
I’m also sending Crescent Journey in the beach colorway. In 2019, I had sent the original colorway which didn’t get a ribbon although it did get a favorable critique with constructive comments that I hope this colorway addresses. Jim framed this too.
Thanks again to Linda M (from NJNA) and her husband for taking all the pieces from NJNA for the Woodlawn Needlework Exhibit. They drove down in rain but the sun greeted them today for check-in. It’s wonderful that Woodlawn has made submission and check-in electronic. You upload a photo and print 2 forms per piece. Nothing needs to be attached to the piece now. It’s faster for all as well. I got an email as soon as Linda checked mine in.
From Woodlawn’s email:
Woodlawn’s 58th Annual Needlework Show was earlier this year. Perhaps you weren’t able to make it to Woodlawn to see all the pieces, or maybe you came and want to see all the incredible work again!
If so, we proudly announce the second annual virtual showing of Woodlawn’s on-site Needlework Show. Our 2021 Needlework Show, “Hindsight 2020: Needlework Expressions of a Historic Year” is now available to view online! Purchasing a ticket allows you to peruse the hundreds of beautiful pieces that appeared as part of May’s in-person needlework show via our online platform. We are so excited to virtually share this wonderful show with you!
To purchase tickets, please visit the following link: https://tinyurl.com/VirtualNeedleworkShow
After you purchase your ticket, you will receive a confirmation email with a link and a password to view the Virtual Show, which you can view at your leisure from December 6, 2021 through January 6, 2022. Your ticket price helps us preserve this tradition and supports our efforts as we prepare for the 2022 Needlework Show.
Here’s a small sample of the photos & when you click on one, close up photos of that piece can be seen as well! They have really done a lot of work for the online exhibit & it’s wonderful.
Melitastitches4fun's Blog 
Filed under: Crescent Journey, General comments, Melita's Designs, Woodlawn Needlework Exhibition
The Nellie’s Needlers are celebrating their 50th Anniversary with an excellent show, the 62nd Annual Needlework Show at Woodlawn. We made it on March 1 this year!
There are 579 judged entries listed but over 600 with the non-judged pieces on display by Nellie’s Needlers and ANG Checkerboard Chapter, who are celebrating their 50th Anniversary.
Congratulations to both.
That is Nellie in the photo above. And, look at stitched frame around that mirror by Eman K. Wonderful.
I got to see Chris L and her Janet Casey Zickler Santas. We had a nice chat when she returned from lunch. And, I found out we’ll both be at NAN in a couple of weeks. How fun is that!
To see more information on each piece exhibited, use the QR code listed in the brochure. That’s all the information in the docent paperwork located in each room. Fantastic feature! Now, if Woodlawn asked for and people included the name of the designer for commercial pieces, it would be incredible! I recognized about 3 dozen of the canvaswork counted pieces. Too many to write about but lovely to see.
My photos are not great this year. The light was super bright shining in the windows or there was glare from artificial lights. Woodlawn allows glass and reflections are impossible to avoid. And, I was reprimanded by a docent for taking photos too close.
Link to the photos of the major award winners and a list of all winners are available at: https://www.woodlawnpopeleighey.org/2025-nws-award-winners
Theresa B swept Original Senior Sampler Multi-Stitch awards as she does here and in Rehoboth Beach’s exhibit. I won’t share photos of any original designs without permission. See the link above for photos of the major winners.
The American Needlepoint Guild (ANG) New Jersey Needle Artists Chapter was well represented with 24 entries by Sylvia B, Diane B, Sue C, Cathryn C, Noelle D, Barbara L, Rosie L, Linda M, Janet P, and myself.
There are 3 Crescent Journeys, my design, and the ANG Stitch of the Month from 2023, on display. Diane’s B did hers in black and red, earning Honorable Mention. Rosie’s green and pink colorway remains my favorite one despite not getting a ribbon. Linda M got 3rd place for the neutral colorway.
Linda M got 4 awards in total – one for sampler, miniature, and 2 for canvaswork. Linda M also stitched Interchange by Linda Rienmiller (which I stitched too). Fun piece.
Noelle D and another person stitched Bermuda Reef by Kathy Rees. Love those blues. And, it’s a great light colored (sandy) frame and blue mat that Noelle selected.
Kristin S went in the opposite direction with a blue frame and white mat. Do you have a preference?
The NJNA members got 14 total awards, including the Director ‘s award for Janet P for Frank Lloyd Wright in Needlepoint #2. Big congratulations! But, I preferred FLW #3.
Heather G, from my ANG Main Line Stitchers Chapter, must not have anything left on her walls because she entered 6 pieces! Heather led discussions for our chapter on Flowers of Italy designed by Ro Pace, Stitch of the Month in 2011. It looks great in a tray.
Brenda C. from the ANG Delaware Seashore chapter stitched it as well, but framed it. They both pulled the green for the mat surrounded by wood.
Nissa W flipped Walking the Water’s Edge by Dianne Herrmann making for a very interesting interpretation.
Kathy W oriented as in the original but changed the seashell and named hers Granddaddy’s Beach.
Thomas S-G from my EGA Brandywine Guild submitted a crewel piece. It’s a commercial design by Sunset Stitchery from 1978 but looks timeless to me (there is one on eBay).
Norma H did it again! She does pieces I absolutely love. This year, she had Brrrdbath, a Charlie Harper design and got a Blue Ribbon (723). And, even better, she was there in person, and we had a wonderful chat.
It’s not just cross stitch when you have pieces like Vixen by Nancyanne C where the shading makes you feel the soft fur and deserved First Place and the Eleanor Custis Lewis award. Bill voted for the fox.
Butterfly Effect by Richard S gives a fresh new look to cross stitch designs.
Fractal by Gay S (24″ square?) has amazing shading. Between the size and burst of colors using cross stitches, I made it my People’s Choice vote.
Being in the midst of stitching Dawn Donnelly’s Treasures of the Great Lakes, I probably should have voted for the 10 times more complex, A Bleached Coral Reef by Kim B-R. It’s an original design 8″ diameter full of beachy stumpwork and surface embroidery. A must see!
Bob-Bon Basket by Bonita S is an adorable piece of needle lace.
Before I left, I saw Dana C, who informed her chapter would be doing Festive Fireworks from Needle Pointers Magazine July/August 2017 issue. I love to hear that published pieces get utilized by chapters.
They have commemorative tins! And, I got 2 bags of their cookies (yes, one has been eaten as I had to make sure they were up to their usual standards before I recommend them-they are delicious). They made 5,200 of them and expect to sell out. So, don’t delay!!