1998 Exemplary Ribbon Winners

The 1998 Exemplary was a display of needlework excellence. Here are the winners of the special awards. To see a large picture, click on either the small image or the name of the piece.

My Hummer, stitched by Jennifer Ashley Taylor who lives in Florida, designed & taught by Audrey Francini, also of Florida.

This piece depicts a ruby-throated hummingbird taking his nourishment from some pink hollyhocks. It is stitched mostly in Japanese flat silk on a silk fabric. The flowers are worked primarily in soft shading, a technically demanding embroidery style which requires exquisite attention to direction and length of stitch to achieve the effect of depth and dimension. The hummingbird is shaded in a similar fashion. The leaves are executed in laid twisted Japanese silk, with veins couched in the same thread.

My Hummer was awarded a first place ribbon in the professional, instructional category by the Exemplary judges and also received The Exemplary ribbon which is awarded by the Academy Directors to the piece of embroidery which most embodies technical excellence.

My Secret Garden, designed and stitched by Peg Laflam of New Hampshire.

This design depicts an urn of appealing flowers, some shedding their pastel petals into the borders of the composition. Numerous borders embrace the design and many of these are lavishly machine quilted.

My Secret Garden is original but was inspired by the fabric behind the flowers. The artist is interested in the effect of borders and these grew as the piece advanced. She likes to use her own hand-painted fabrics and several are incorporated into the design, along with commercially available fabrics. The flowers and the vase are dimensional with a trapunto-type stuffing behind them while the machine quilting and machine freehand embroidery enhance the flowers.

My Secret Garden was awarded The Muse's Kiss by the Academy Directors for the most creativity.

Traditional French Handsewn Christening Gown, stitched by Gail Carolyn Sirna who lives in Michigan, with some guidance from Dorothy Lesher who also lives in Michigan.

This traditional French Handsewn Christening Gown is made of the finest Swiss batiste cotton and embellished with French & Swiss cotton laces, and entredeux. Each strip of lace is attached by hand to its neighbor. All edges of the batiste, including the embroidered batiste strips integrated among the lace, are hand whipped and rolled. Entredeux is attached by hand to each whipped and rolled hem, and is then sewn onto the pieces of lace. All seams are French seams. The entire dress is constructed by hand, with the exception of the long side seams of the skirt, which are French seams done by machine. It is hoped that many generations of grandchildren and their descendants will wear this gown.

This Christening Gown was awarded the Academy Heart which is given by the Academy Directors to the entry which evokes intense emotion. It was also awarded a third place ribbon in the professional/instructional category by the Exemplary judges.

. . . and no crumbs for the mouse, stitched by Fay Andrews who lives in Tennessee, designed & taught by Dale Rhoades of Alabama

This three-dimensional traditional gingerbread house is built entirely of fabric and embellished with embroidered and soft sculptured elements that resemble candy. The house itself appears to be constructed of graham crackers, but is in reality quilted. Clever use of fabric gives the appearance of doors, window, etc. The roof is a tour de force of the world of sweets with oreo cookies, candy kisses, pretzels, peanut butter cups, and mints all fashioned from fabric, but looking good enough to eat.

. . . and no crumbs for the mouse was selected by visitors to our exhibit as their favorite piece in the show and was thus awarded with NAN’s Popular Choice ribbon called The Favorite. It also received a second place ribbon in the professional instructional category from the Exemplary judges.

Other Worlds, designed & stitched by Marilyn Siers who lives in Delaware

After marbling the fabric herself the designer thought that the result resembled something of the Cosmos so she embellished the fabric with heavenly bodies. Ms. Siers employed such traditional techniques as couching and appliqué to achieve the effects she desired, and completed the design with very contemporary applied beads and sequins.

Other Worlds was awarded a blue ribbon in the Amateur original category and was selected by the Exemplary judges as the Best of Show.

Diamond Iris, designed & stitched by Nancy McElroy of Alberta, Canada

Soft pink and peach threads were employed to work this elegant iris which is three-dimensional. The iris is appliquéd on a sampler ground of lacy, feminine pulled thread stitches. Accompanying the full-blown iris is a bud, with its promise of things to come. This embroidery is also notable for its dramatic framing and matting. It was awarded a Judge's Choice ribbon.

Diamond Iris and its stitcher Nancy McElroy were selected to receive the new Hope Hanley Cup which is an award presented to the amateur stitcher who shows most promise in the field of canvaswork. Diamond Iris was also awarded a Judge's Choice ribbon.