Stitchery Showcase 2012

Yesterday marked the 25th year that my mom and I have been going to the Stitchery Showcase at Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens.  For those of you that aren't familiar with it, Stan Hywet is the estate of F.A. Seiberling that founded The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in Akron, OH.  It is an absolutely beautiful Tudor estate full of wonderful gardens, a butterfly conservatory, Japanese Teahouse and so much more that there's never a dull moment wandering around.

Back in 1974 the Stan Hywet Needlework Guild held it's first Stitchery Showcase.  It's an event that hundreds of pieces are entered into each year.  You see cross stitch, needlepoint, surface embroidery, stumpwork, blackwork, handmade quilts, etc.  The main requirement is that none of the stitching is done by machine.

It's such a wonderful way to get inspired if you're in a stitching slump.  It usually takes me about 1 hour to go through the display in the Manor House Auditorium as I like to get as close to some of the pieces that I can, look at the stitching techniques, etc.

Several years ago the Stitchery Showcase was moved to a stand alone Spring event to be held in the Fall with the Ohio Mart.  I think this makes it so much more fun.  After we're done looking at all the  beautiful stitched works we can then go outside to walk through tents throughout the grounds that have booths of more than 100 artisans and look at (and sometime purchase) the wonderful items they make.

Normally my mom and I go alone as this is something "we" do.  This year I got together a group of stitchers from around Ohio.  One of them I knew from a monthly stitching group we used to have at a now closed local needlework shop.  The others I have met through various Facebook stitching groups.  It was a new experience for all the ladies and I think (and hope) they all had a blast.  Here's a pic of all of us except my mom, who was playing photographer, while we took a lunch break in between all the fun.  I'm the one in the center, back row.  :)

Hopefully this is something we can do again in the future.  I was sad to hear yesterday that the Stitchery Showcase will no longer be held every year and the next one won't be until 2014.  I guess the good news in that is it gives me 2 years to stitch something to enter (that doesn't get sold in my shop or a gallery) as it's been quite a few years since I've entered anything.

Take a moment and search around the area you live in.  There may be events like this that you can attend that you've never known about.  

Happy Stitching!  :)