The 2026 NAN Exemplary

Melita went to this year's Exemplary, which is what the National Academy of Needlearts calls their yearly seminar exhibit, and won ribbons!  MAJOR ribbons!  Here is her report.  Eventually NAN will put photos of the 2026 winners on their website but it's too early for that yet.

https://melitastitches4fun.com/2026/03/13/2026-national-academy-of-needlearts-nan-assembly/

NAN has updated their website with the winners and their artistic statements.

https://gallery.needleart.org/2026-exemplary-ribbon-winners/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTRljNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF3NGUzWVVpaHJ6NlBZY1F6c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHtvLEmURQ25fz0jRpdGtR3i4QA7rm35gODb_tmlWlcuvYETWxiFlE3Q5PJYx_aem_PEKORQqa9vS-n6fhZJSq8w

UPDATE:  The People's Choice winner for 2026 was an Alison Cole goldwork poppy stitched by Helen G.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1458739096292936&set=a.562869925879862

Good luck to Mary Alice Stinton who took a tumble at NAN.  I think she's fine, just needed to go home to recover.  

UPDATE #2:  Barbara Richardson won the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award!

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1477788584387987&set=a.562869925879862

UPDATE #3:  Here are the winners in the Original Design category!

https://www.facebook.com/nationalacademyofneedlearts/posts/pfbid08s73hKkzFc4uRsp4ZeKhvNhS8P9h7Jc1LybZztYyXKquJ5fYH7hGEvmUs6MphLoPl

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright March 14, 2026 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved

2024 National Academy of Needlearts Winners

The National Academy of Needlearts (NAN) has announced their 2024 award winners.  If you click on each thumbnail photo, you'll see a closeup and be able to read about the piece.  If there are more than one ribbon winner in a category you can click on the right side arrow to see them all.  Click on the X at the top right hand corner to return to the summary page.

https://needleart.org/2024-exemplary-ribbon-winners/

UPDATE:  Celeste Chalasani has completed the Teacher Cum Laude program to much acclaim.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=943909474442570&set=a.562869925879862

https://needleart.org/teacher-cum-laude/celeste-chalasani/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright July 22, 2024 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Exemplary Winners 2023

The National Academy of Needlearts (NAN) has started posting the 2023 award winners on their Facebook page.  First, here are the first place winners in the Professional Original category.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=678161771017343&set=a.562869925879862

Here are more first place winners in two more categories.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=678161771017343&set=a.562869925879862

More winners!

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=704671088366411&set=a.562869925879862

If you want to see all the winners, check the NAN website.

https://needleart.org/exemplary/2023-exemplary-ribbon-winners/?fbclid=IwAR0CzSqa2NVhRyL3-haKp-EEUFQWlWWK6JWIfxNfXA3hCOlNXDovDqsTRrA

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright July 30, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Popular Choice Winner at the Exemplary UPDATED

The National Academy of Needlearts just announced the Popular Choice winner at their 2022 Exemplary -- it's Rachel Watkins' "Circular Fans."

https://www.facebook.com/nationalacademyofneedlearts/photos/a.369271916709/10158147121961710/

This isn't the first time Rachel's won.  You can see more of her work at the NAN website.

https://needleart.org

UPDATE:  The NAN website has posted photos of all the 2022 winners.   Click on a photo and you'll have a better photo plus the artist's statement.

https://needleart.org/2022-exemplary-ribbon-winners/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright March 25, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

NAN Goes Virtual for 2021

The National Academy of Needlearts' Exemplary is going virtual for 2021.

https://needleart.org

This year the exhibit will be virtual.  Because it is images only, there will be no judging.  Follow the links and fill out the form to exhibit your favorite piece of needlework in an image.  The deadline is February 16th, though, so get busy!

https://nationalacademyofneedlearts.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/the-exemplary-entry-form.pdf

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright January 21, 2021 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

2018 Exemplary Ribbon Winners Online

The National Academy of Needlearts has updated their website with all the winners from their 2018 Exemplary.  If you click on a photograph, you'll see a larger image with the stitcher's artistic statement underneath.
https://needleart.org/exemplary/2018-exemplary-ribbon-winners/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright August 27, 2018 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Visit the Exemplary in Michigan UPDATED

NAN's annual exhibit of needle art opens April 8 in Troy, Michigan.   It's only there for a week so don't miss it if you are in the area.
https://www.facebook.com/118153386709/photos/a.369271916709.162590.118153386709/10153272544031710/?type=3&theater

http://needleart.org

UPDATE: NAN has started posting photographs of award winners on their Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/National-Academy-of-Needlearts-118153386709/?fref=photo

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright April 6, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

NAN Exemplary Winners Online

The National Academy of Needlearts (NAN) has updated their website to showcase the ribbon winners for their 2014 and 1015 annual Examplary exhibit.
http://needleart.org/2015-exemplary-ribbon-winners/

Not everything is needlepoint, but much is and there is a lot to see and admire.  Choose "Galleries" to explore their Lifetime Achievement award winners and their stitching or look at their Permanent Collection of outstanding needlework.

Thanks, NAN!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright November 9, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The 2014 Exemplary (NAN)

The 2014 Exemplary award winners are up on the National Academy of Needlearts' website. NAN gives multiple first place ribbons in each category but if you click on the little photos you will see why they have trouble picking only one winner.  Everything is amazing!
http://www.needleart.org/Exemplary14/

I suggest you pick a quiet time to browse, savoring each wonderful piece, all of which are technically excellent and often outstanding designs.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 12, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

NAN Award Winners (Non-Professional Non-Original with Instruction)

NAN has posted their 2015 Exemplary winners for the Non-Professional Non-Original With Instruction category on Facebook.  Use the side arrows to see them all and enjoy!
https://www.facebook.com/118153386709/photos/pcb.10152740098766710/10152740086776710/?type=1&theater

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright June 1, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

More 2015 NAN Award Winners

The National Academy of Needlearts has posted more award winners on Facebook in the "Professional Non-Original Without Instruction" category.  The names of the winners are in the comments section for each photograph.  DO NOT MISS Shay Pendray's "Oriental Rug."
https://www.facebook.com/118153386709/photos/pcb.10152681700131710/10152681697261710/?type=1&theater

By the way, the NAN website has the 2016 class descriptions up on their website. Have fun here--Ann Strite-Kurz's "Elfie Selfie" is my favorite but you'll want to see them all.
http://www.needleart.org/Assembly/Assembly-2016-Class-Descriptions-and-Teacher-Biographies.pdf  

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright May 12, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Three Winners at the National Academy of Needlearts on Facebook

Several photographs of winners at the NAN 2015 Exemplary exhibit have been posted on Facebook. I hope non-Facebook users can see them as well.   Diane won a ribbon for technical excellence.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/NeedlepointNation/permalink/832433433500483/

The is the Best in Show winner, an original piece from Rachel Atkins that she calls "Gothic Arches."
https://www.facebook.com/groups/NeedlepointNation/permalink/832434310167062/

This is the Best in Show - Japanese Embroidery winner, a classic design called "Moon Princess" from Shay Pendray, stitched by Arlene Altman.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/NeedlepointNation/permalink/832435176833642/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 24, 2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

National Academy of Needle Arts Classes and Exhibit

The National Academy of Needle Arts (NAN) has updated their website with the class lineup for their 2015 Assembly. They also have added the 2014 Examplary award winners to the site. Hurrah! Eye candy galore!  If you aren't familiar with NAN, you are going to have great fun exploring their website.
http://www.needleart.org/#&panel1-3

It's a little tricky to find the 2014 winners so here's the link.  Prepare to be astounded.
http://www.needleart.org/Exemplary14/

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright July 21, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.