The Exemplary 2025
2nd Place, Non-Professional Non-Original without Instruction

From the moment I picked up this canvas, I knew I would be doing the squirrel’s tail in turkey work. The rest of the design would need to be able to stand up for itself against such a flamboyant co-star, and keeping that in mind, my focus was on choosing materials and stitches that would give the other elements of the design a variety of textures and levels of dimensionality.

The vine that frames the piece is couched Memory Thread; the clean, smooth line contrasts with the oak branch, which is worked in chain stitches using a linen thread for a rougher, bark-like texture. Stone, glass, and plastic beads, and an outline worked in Panache, added some sparkle and shine, and of course the beads provide both a three-dimensional element and pops of contrasting color. I “painted over” two leaves that were a bright spring green on the canvas, simplifying the palette for the leaves to three colors of overdyed floss. Other than the chest and ears, the canvas uses the same brown for the squirrel’s entire body and tail. I used contrasting geometric stitches to form the squirrel’s haunch and create an illusion of additional dimensionality. Layers of seed beads form the bumpy acorn cap, and a single silver seed bead brings a twinkle to his eye.

The name, “Secret Squirrel,” reflects this piece’s origins – I stitched furiously and with the utmost secrecy for two months in order to have it finished and waiting under the Christmas tree as a surprise for my mother. (And I succeeded, with three days to spare!)

Materials: Silk, merino wool, overdyed cotton floss, linen, rayon, Memory Thread, beads