National Academy of NeedleartsCategory: Needlework Design
The Exemplary 2023 – Best of Show
Each year at The Exemplary, the Best of Show (Jean Taggart Award) is selected from First Place winners in all categories except Japanese Embroidery. The 2023 Best of Show winner is Rustle of Winter stitched by Helen Gottschalk. Here is…
Read MoreCreating a Teaching Piece: All that goes on behind the scenes. Part 2 – Materials Preparation
by Lois Kershner, NAN Director of Teachers’ Certification This article first appeared in NANthology, the NAN newsletter, in fall 2021. Part I described the planning activities that go into turning an idea into a design developed as a teaching piece. Yet to…
Read MoreCreating a Teaching Piece: All that goes on behind the scenes. Part 1 – Planning
by Lois Kershner, NAN Director of Teachers’ Certification This article first appeared in NANthology, the NAN newsletter, in summer 2021. Sometimes I have an idea that I think would be lovely to stitch, but as a teacher, I have to think…
Read MoreTrue Confession: I’m a Mid-Life Teachers’ Certification Dropout
By Denise Beusen, NAN Website and Facebook Editor This article first appeared in NANthology, the NAN newsletter, in fall 2020. Back in 2003, one of my St. Louis friends – fellow NAN member Felicite Pollnow – showed me what she was…
Read MoreCopyright or Copy Wrong? Issues Hiding in Plain Sight
By Denise Beusen, Website and Facebook EditorThis article first appeared in NANthology, the NAN newsletter, in winter 2020. Click here to see the original publication. All of us – probably on several occasions – have been on the receiving end of admonishments to…
Read MoreTHE PEEPS SHOW
By Dolores Andrew This article first appeared in NANthology, the NAN newsletter, in summer 2011. The weird thing about being asked to judge a show is that you may think you know what you will be doing, but you never really…
Read MoreThe Category of MIXED MEDIA
By Connie Lynn Borserine This article first appeared in NANthology, the NAN newsletter, in summer 2011. Of all the categories in needlework exhibitions, the most questions and controversy seem to surround the one entitled “MIXED MEDIA”. As defined by the National…
Read MoreUsing Contrast to Achieve Perspective in Stitching
By Lois Kershner This article first appeared in NANthology, the NAN newsletter, in winter 2011. Perspective is a technique for representing dimensional objects on a flat surface to give the illusion of depth or distance. The designer can choose which design…
Read MoreDoes Originality Really Matter?
By Gail Sirna This article first appeared in NANthology, the NAN newsletter, in spring 2010. The 2010 NAN Assembly, and its concurrent Exemplary are pleasant memories now; but going through The Exemplary triggered some thoughts which I would like to share….
Read MoreOne Step After Another
By Connie Lynn BorserineThis article first appeared in NANthology, the NAN newsletter, in winter 2009. Click here to see the original publication. DESIGN – The one word that more often than not sends needleworkers screaming from the room. “No, No, No and we say…
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