Exhibit Opening: Shenandoah Valley Tapestry

The Shenandoah Valley Tapestry is a once in a life time project – a needlework narrative honoring and celebrating over 250 years of history of the northern Shenandoah Valley.

The Tapestry was created by a community group known as the Stitchers of The Shenandoah Valley Tapestry Project and received its first stitch in November 2015. The Tapestry is based off a commissioned painting “Winchester & Frederick County, Virginia” by Page Huff Dillon, from Margaretta Barton Colt, author of Defend the Valley – a book depicting the story of the Civil in Winchester, VA.

More than fourteen hundred people have added a stitch as it has traveled to venues far and wide. 80 stitchers from 5 different states and abroad, of all skill levels, including 6 children, embroidered 34 local historic buildings and their surroundings, people and animals, recreating the painting in needle art.

The Shenandoah Valley Tapestry is a joint creation of the Winchester Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America and the Multicultural Club Collage. The Handley Regional Library System, the Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society and the Village at Orchard Ridge became the primary sponsors of the project.

Becky Ebert is one of the founding leaders of the Tapestry Project and the Archivist for Handley Regional Library System and the Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society. “We are delighted to show the finished project. This was literally a group effort from thousands of hours of careful, hand-stitching and unique skill and we are proud to portray a piece of history and art that has such unique ties to the area. You will want to see this in person for sure!”