July 2026 Update

Dear All,

Happy July! I hope everyone has managed to enjoy our nation's 250th birthday while remaining cool and hydrated.

It has been a momentous month for America's Tapestry — and more excitement is sure to come. From our exhibition opening at the Muscarelle Museum of Art to the launch of our online shop to media appearances, there is so much to celebrate!

America's Tapestry Opens at the Muscarelle!

It was an unforgettable afternoon of needlework and community as we gathered for the first time to enjoy the opening of the America's Tapestry exhibition at the Muscarelle Museum of Art in beautiful Williamsburg, Virginia. Nearly 2,000 hands and 30,000 hours of embroidery went into these panels!

A visitor reads about the New Jersey panel of America's Tapestry

The day began with a Stitcher's Showcase where fiber arts enthusiasts had the opportunity to meet our state representatives and learn from the team behind each panel. 10 of our 13 participating states were able to be represented, allowing for many of our volunteers to meet one another for the first time!

Rhode Island volunteer Hope Brans shares information with visitors during the Stitcher's Showcase

North Carolina Director Gail Smith and volunteer Corinne Burr examine a piece of embroidery at the Stitcher's Showcase

At 4 PM, the museum hosted a panel discussion with Karen Wallach (SC), Jenni Paperman (NY), Mary Van Tyne (PA), and Catherine Theron (VA), who discussed how each of their states approached this monumental project.

Virginia Director Catherine Theron shares her insights during the panel discussion

To cap off the day, a reception and gallery viewing were hosted by the museum. We were astounded by the sheer number of well-wishers who came to support us. A huge thank you to both the museum staff and our volunteers who made the day truly special. Several of our attendees traveled over 700 miles to share in this moment with us. We thank you!

A view of the reception at the Muscarelle Museum of Art

Attendees explore the America's Tapestry exhibition

Visitors marveled at the many details featured on each panel, including the face of Thomas Carney, a Maryland soldier stitched in petit-point

The beautiful gallery was designed by the Muscarelle Museum of Art team

Be sure to schedule a visit this summer to the Muscarelle Museum in Williamsburg to see these gorgeous pieces of needle art in person — the exhibition runs until September 6, 2026. Don't miss it!

Want to know more about the exhibition schedule of America's Tapestry? Click the link here!

Introducing: The America's Tapestry Shop!

We are thrilled to share that America's Tapestry merchandise is now available through our website. All proceeds go towards the ongoing maintenance of the America's Tapestry project. Please consider supporting us by visiting our e-shop and sharing it with your community! You can find the link to our shop by clicking here.

Items such as prints (16x20"), postcards (5.5 x 4.25"), and our limited edition needle minders are now available!

In The News

WHRO Public Media covered the launch of the America's Tapestry exhibition at the Muscarelle. Thank you to journalist Betsy DiJulio for highlighting this historic occasion! To read the full article, please click here.

America's Tapestry on NBC Nightly News!

In April, a film crew visited with our Pennsylvania stitchers in Pittsburgh to learn more about our national effort to commemorate America's 250th anniversary with needlework. To watch the full segment, please click the link here.

PBS Spotlight on the New York Tapestry Panel

WPBS TV interviewed New York State Director Jenni Paperman as part of the WPBS Weekly: Inside The Stories series. To watch the full clip, please click the link here.

The Baltimore Banner's Rick Hutzell paid a visit to the Maryland tapestry team as they completed their work on the state panel at the Maryland Center for History and Culture. To read the article, click the link here! (subscription may be required)

Stitcher Spotlight: Meet Anne Hart-Davies!

An Embroidered Object by Anne Hart-Davies

Anne Hart-Davies is an embroiderer on the Massachusetts tapestry panel. A resident of Kingston, Massachusetts, she has been stitching for more than fifty years, having learned from her mother — an avid stitcher who set her to work on her first crewel piece at age fifteen. Before America's Tapestry she practiced beading, cross stitch, canvaswork, and surface embroidery including crewel and raised work.

On the panel she has worked in French knots, feather stitch, leaf stitch, and Bayeux stitch, with the French knot her favorite, and she picked up the Bayeux stitch as a new technique along the way. Though she came to Massachusetts from New York in 1979, she considers herself a Massachusetts native.

She was drawn to the project by the chance to contribute to an important piece of the nation's future history and to promote the art of stitching, and she came away having learned about the importance of cocoa to the soldiers and the Colony. Her hope for the 250th is that Americans can come together as one country to celebrate the milestone.

Thank you for donating your time and talent, Anne!

That's all for now. Thanks for reading and happy stitching,

Stefan Romero

Project Director