Needlework enthusiasts looking for a different way to explore their passion will find EGA’s new Certified Needlework Appraiser Program to be a rewarding experience.

The program consists of classroom education, practical experience, individual research, and a final examination.

The next appraisal class will be held June 11th through the 14th at EGA’s Embroidery Museum and Resource Center in Louisville, Kentucky. There are still a few spots available in the class. If you’d like information on the program and the class just email me at bcape@egausa.org.

I was lucky enough to attend the pilot class last September and it was extremely educational and also really fun. One of the great things about this program is that once you have your certification you can use your skills to generate income as a professional appraiser. It’s also really helpful for developing research skills.

Winter Whites, an exhibit featuring lace and whitework embroidery from EGA’s permanent collection, opened to the public on January 17th at the Embroidery Museum & Resource Center. Since the pieces in the show were selected based on color, the walls are filled with a broad range of techniques.

Smaller handerchiefs, table mats, and doilies were mounted on jewel-toned fabrics to emphasize the negative spaces in the pieces and add visual interest to the display.

Several articles of clothing, most from the Traveling Collection Study Box, are on display. The shirring on this dressing gown is gorgeous. It’s accented with machine-made lace on the collar and cuffs. This was the handkerchief from which the image on the postcard and exhibit poster was selected. 

In the picture above you can see three small caps hanging over a pedestal. These caps are displayed on balls wrapped with colored yarn to accentuate the delicate work.

Winter Whites is on display until February 28.

Saturday, November 8, marked the 36th annual Girl Scouts Festival of the Arts in Louisville. The festival is a day-long event in which scouts from Louisville and the surrounding areas visit sites and learn about all sorts of art through hands-on experience. This was the second year that we have hosted the Girls Scouts at the EMRC and it was a rewarding experience for all. 

Pat Judice, long-time member of the Louisville Chapter and EGA’s National Historian, led three workshops throughout the day.  More than 30 Scouts signed up for our program.  Pat designed a Christmas tree ornament using plastic canvas and wool thread decorated with buttons and beads.  Many of the girls had never stitched before so Pat laid out the basics of stripping thread, reading a chart, threading a needle and using waste knots.  After the tree was stitched, girls chose their own embellishments to add more personal touches to the project.  Even the most inexperienced stitchers took to the project with ease and were excited to have a finished ornament to take home at the end of the hour-long session. 

The Festival of the Arts is a great way to inspire tomorrow’s embroiderers.  Creating something beautiful and seeing the displays in the galleries provide motivation for further practice.