(Sept. 1, 2016) The entries are in and waiting at the Julia Purnell Museum in Snow Hill until FiberFest! on Oct. 8, when the winners of the annual Delmarva Needle Art Show and Competition will be announced.
However, the submissions go on display today, and will remain available to the viewing public until Halloween.
In the past, Dr. Cindy Byrd, museum director, said more entries came from outside local shores but she’s seen an inversion of that for this year’s event.
“Every entry has been from nearby areas except I think we have one from Pennsylvania,” Byrd said. “We do have eight first-time contributors, and there are quite a few returning people.”
Overall, Byrd said the number of entries has remained consistent with previous years.
“We’re always thrilled to have new people but it’s also gratifying to have people who love us and want to come back year after year. I like to see local people participate in things that are part of their culture.”
These aren’t all throw rugs and infant caps either.
“We look at a variety of media, and some obviously have historic value,” she said.
Included are a few modern reproductions of existing needlepoint samplers, which were essentially demonstrations of young girls’ sewing skills.
Byrd said these types of work were routinely produced between the 1700s and 1900s.
“But we have more contemporary pieces too,” she said. “There’s a piece based off one of the horses on the Trimper’s carousel, and some beautiful examples of felting.”
Byrd said both the practical side of stitching — like hats, scarves and pillows — and “art for art’s sake” will both be well represented in this year’s exhibit and competition.
“There’s a long tradition of old materials made new, and one piece I especially like, for nostalgic reasons, is a memory quilt using fabrics and linens from family members,” she said. “Patterns were cut to memorialize the love and labor of these family members.”
Another entry that impresses Byrd is a piece called “Little Red,” which is a theme box based on the fairy tale, and inside the box is a handmade Red Riding Hood doll.
“We’ve been doing this for well over a decade, and the event was conceived in honor of Julia Purnell and her work,” Byrd said.
Within the museum’s collection, Byrd said, are pieces by Purnell completed when she was 9 and 92 years old.
Town Councilwoman Jenny Hall, an accomplished needle worker herself, Byrd said, will be judging this year’s competition, but there will also be a People’s Choice award that can be voted on until FiberFest! later this year.
However, the submissions go on display today, and will remain available to the viewing public until Halloween.
In the past, Dr. Cindy Byrd, museum director, said more entries came from outside local shores but she’s seen an inversion of that for this year’s event.
“Every entry has been from nearby areas except I think we have one from Pennsylvania,” Byrd said. “We do have eight first-time contributors, and there are quite a few returning people.”
Overall, Byrd said the number of entries has remained consistent with previous years.
“We’re always thrilled to have new people but it’s also gratifying to have people who love us and want to come back year after year. I like to see local people participate in things that are part of their culture.”
These aren’t all throw rugs and infant caps either.
“We look at a variety of media, and some obviously have historic value,” she said.
Included are a few modern reproductions of existing needlepoint samplers, which were essentially demonstrations of young girls’ sewing skills.
Byrd said these types of work were routinely produced between the 1700s and 1900s.
“But we have more contemporary pieces too,” she said. “There’s a piece based off one of the horses on the Trimper’s carousel, and some beautiful examples of felting.”
Byrd said both the practical side of stitching — like hats, scarves and pillows — and “art for art’s sake” will both be well represented in this year’s exhibit and competition.
“There’s a long tradition of old materials made new, and one piece I especially like, for nostalgic reasons, is a memory quilt using fabrics and linens from family members,” she said. “Patterns were cut to memorialize the love and labor of these family members.”
Another entry that impresses Byrd is a piece called “Little Red,” which is a theme box based on the fairy tale, and inside the box is a handmade Red Riding Hood doll.
“We’ve been doing this for well over a decade, and the event was conceived in honor of Julia Purnell and her work,” Byrd said.
Within the museum’s collection, Byrd said, are pieces by Purnell completed when she was 9 and 92 years old.
Town Councilwoman Jenny Hall, an accomplished needle worker herself, Byrd said, will be judging this year’s competition, but there will also be a People’s Choice award that can be voted on until FiberFest! later this year.