Ready to Take Your Needlepoint to the Next Level?

The National Academy of Needlearts (NAN) now offers needlework evaluations by their certified judges.  You have to take photos of your work, fill out a form, and email it all to NAN.  It costs $40 on a credit card paid through PayPal.  You will get a response that they've received your request within 7 days and the evaluation should arrive in 2-3 weeks.  

https://needleart.org/evaluation/

If you don't have a shop or stitching friends to critique your work, this is a fabulous way to get feedback so you improve your stitching.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 29, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

NAN Announces Death of Carlene Harwick

The National Academy of Needleartists has announced the passing of Carlene Harwick, designer, needlework judge, and teacher of so many of us through NAN and the American Needlepoint Guild.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1130885679078281&set=a.562869925879862

Everyone who knew her thought she was a wonderful lady.  We mourn our loss today.

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 12, 2025 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

NAN Judging of Your Work for a Small Fee

The National Academy of Needlearts is now offering professional evaluation of your work for only $40.  This page on their website tells you how to ask for an evaluation and as a bonus, has lots of tips for taking photographs of your piece.  Those will come in handy even if you never submit a piece for NAN to critique.

https://needleart.org/evaluation/?fbclid=IwAR00ggI5_aLFQl7IJTTZgr3d-oE13pv3r9H4XsHQP_pCBV0SS0N0yknZ3kA

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright September 18, 2023 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

A Needleart Judge's Reference (Revised 2021 Edition) UPDATED

The National Academy of Needlearts (NAN) just annouced they have revised A Needleart Judge's Reference.  The original was published in 2013 and the revised edition is dated 2021.

https://needleart.org/publications/a-needleart-judges-reference/?fbclid=IwAR0PLlRmgC4S9oFvM5L942-fzmv5PiTmpPUPTO9AMTTI1TFuFE0ohw82IIY

This is a must-have for needle arts judges and a useful reference for those who want to improve their needle art for exhibit.  If you want a copy, I suggest you email the Director of Judges' Certification to see how to purchase a copy.

https://needleart.org/contact/

UPDATE:  Brenda's Needlepoint Studio has done a review of this book.  She thinks it is a fabulous resource for anyone who is involved in needlepoint exhibits.

https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2022/06/a-needleart-judges-reference-by-nan.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow

Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com

and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com

© Copyright April 6, 2022 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Tips for Winning Ribbons

Brenda worked as a judge's assistant a few years back, helping them as they judged a needlework exhibit.  She has tips she gleaned from listening to the judging and comments of the various judges as they went through all the pieces on exhibit.  Whether you plan to ever submit a piece for judging or not, it's interesting to hear what we could all do better.
https://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2019/09/exhibitions-and-judging.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright September 12, 2019 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

BLGMOM Hits the Road

Nothing is more fun to us stay-at-home types that a road trip report!  
https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2017/03/12/winter-travels/

BLGMOM went to Needlepoint Studio of Sarasota, A Good Yarn (knitting), Stitches By the Sea, In Stitches,  and of course the Woodlawn exhibit where she learned a bit about how Woodlawn is judged.
http://www.needlepointstudio.com

http://www.agoodyarnsarasota.com

http://www.stitchesbytheseainc.com

http://institchesneedlework.com

And she made a stop at Hillside Needlepoint in Maryland.
https://blog.njneedleartists.org/2017/03/12/winter-travels-addendum/

http://www.hillsideneedlepoint.com

I cannot wait for BLGMOM to get out her suitcase again!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 12, 2017 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Woodlawn 2015

While I was wandering around the Internet, looking for something else, I found these photographs of pieces exhibited at Woodlawn in 2015. The crewel and the long and short dog portrait are amazing.
http://marshacannon.org/2015/03/14/woodlawn-plantation-needlework-exhibition/

The exhibit starts March 1.  Get ready!

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright December 26, 2016 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

The Judges Speak

Melita's original design called "Gentle Waves" went to Myrtle Beach and the ANG Seminar Exhibit this year. She got lots of great feedback from the judges which I think you'll find interesting.
https://melitastitches4fun.wordpress.com/2015/10/17/gentle-waves-2/

Kudos to Melita for coming up with an original design and sharing it, then talking frankly about her successes and failures. That's how you become a better stitcher, folks!

By the way, Cathryn won two ribbons for her wool flowers purse.  Ridgewood posted photos on their blog and I knew you'd like to see it.
http://ridgewoodneedlepoint.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-winning-needlepoint.html

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright October 18,  2015 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Through a Judge's Eye

With Woodlawn winding down, I thought folks thinking about exhibiting there next year, or who are planning to send something to the ANG Seminar this fall, would enjoy reading what Brenda learned by being a docent and watching the judging at the Rehobeth Beach exhibit.
http://brendasneedlepointstudio.blogspot.com/2014/03/exhibitions-and-judging.html

If you happen to live near enough to Rehobeth Beach, Delaware to see the exhibit before it closes on May 11, here are the details.
http://www.rehobothbeachmuseum.org/jos/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=128&Itemid=198

Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
and at http://chstitchguides.blogspot.com
© Copyright March 13, 2014 Jane M. Wood. All rights reserved.

Callaway Eye Candy

Here's one of the Callaway School of Needle Arts award winners.  Hope you can see this lovely piece of stump work!  Use the right arrow to see a closeup.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10203259134305662&set=pcb.10203259138385764&type=1&theater

Here's another, stitched by Marty Lawrence.  This also won a Judges's Choice ribbon and is a color variant of StitchPlay's "Shady Colors."
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=532019773506741&set=a.532019753506743.1073741827.100000961681919&type=1&theater

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