The Exemplary 2025
1st Place, Non-Professional Non-Original with Instruction
The Betsy Robb Award

About two years ago, I picked up a copy of Goldwork Embroidery, Techniques and Projects written by Lizzy Pye, a Royal School of Needlework-trained embroiderer and teacher who was unknown to me at the time. I found her book wonderfully detailed in all things goldwork, from design and materials through techniques and finishing. When I saw last year that the Embroidery Guild of America was offering an online studio class with Lizzy and it was to be this colorful little goldwork hummingbird, I signed up as soon as registration opened.

Many techniques were taught in the course, including how to pad the bird’s body and feathers with felt and how to work with flat/filament silks in silk shading, satin, and stem stitch. Traditional goldwork techniques of couching and colored couching, working with pearl purl, invisibly stitching gold twist and chipping were also covered in depth. As a goldwork novice, I stitched the design just as it was taught, and it was fun to watch the bright little fellow come to life with my needle!