June 2026 Update
Dear All,
Happy June! In lieu of our regular newsletter this month, I am pleased to invite you all to the opening reception of the America's Tapestry exhibition at the Muscarelle Museum of Art in beautiful Williamsburg, Virginia on Sunday, June 21. Come celebrate this incredible achievement with all of our volunteers!
America's Tapestry Opening Celebrations
Sunday, June 21 Muscarelle Museum of Art 611 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA 23188
Stitching Showcase — 2:00 to 4:00 PM
Come meet some of the stitchers who brought the stories of America's Tapestry to life! Representatives from the volunteer teams will be on hand to demonstrate the diverse techniques, materials, and tools used in the hand-embroidered panels. Learn about the needlework methods and chat with the dedicated volunteers who spent countless hours to create these complex panels. While you're here, browse booths by local vendors and connect with fiber arts organizations.
Stitching America's Tapestry: A Panel Discussion — 4:00 PM
Join us for a panel discussion, moderated by Project Director Stefan Romero, about the stitching of the America's Tapestry panels. The 13 hand-embroidered panels, one for each of the original 13 colonies, illustrate the diverse stories of individual contributions — many overlooked — that reveal each colony's struggle for independence. The panels were stitched by teams of artisans in each state, logging an astounding 27,000 hours of labor by nearly 2,000 volunteers collectively. State Directors, including confirmed participants Jenni Paperman (New York), Catherine Theron (Virginia), and Karen Wallach (South Carolina), will discuss how their teams approached the design and execution of the panels, the techniques and strategies used, as well as the challenges and triumphs along the way.
Reception — 5:00 to 8:00 PM
Join us for light bites and drinks, browse the galleries, and connect with fellow fiber arts enthusiasts!
Please RSVP by June 18 at muscarelle.wm.edu/tapestry-opening.
Hope to see you there!
That's all for now. Thanks for reading and happy stitching,
Stefan Romero
Project Director
More Project Updates
May 2026 Update
The first phase ends as every panel travels to the textile mounter, the Crate History Campaign closes a smashing success, six states celebrate their finished work, and meet Georgia stitcher Dorothy Waits.
April 2026 Update
Final month of active work begins, Jenni Paperman visits Fraunces Tavern, Delaware travels to Atlanta, the Virginia and South Carolina panels reveal stunning detail, and meet stitcher Jill Johnson-Martin from the Virginia panel.
March 2026 Update
Final stitches are going in across all 13 panels, the Pennsylvania panel visits Hershey, a cat appears in New Jersey, and meet stitcher Janis Bidwell Burnham Waine from the Connecticut panel.