There was something special about the gift Judy MacAdam made for her granddaughter. And she has the blue ribbon to prove it.
Encouraged by both her son-in-law and husband, MacAdam entered her cross-stitch into the North Carolina State Fair.
Her first and only entry into the fair earned the first-place blue ribbon in the Home Furnishings, Threaded Needlecraft, Cross-stitch category.
MacAdam said the competition was tough.
“I was actually amazed. The second- and third- place winners were beautiful. They were very nicely done,” MacAdam said.
She did not get a critique from judges and could only guess what pushed her cross-stitch to the top. MacAdam said it was probably due to the variety of stitches she employed.
“It was just a really involved project,” she said.
MacAdam’s inspiration may have had something to do with her success. The project was done with tender-loving care as a gift to her granddaughter, Eliza Jane, born last New Year’s Eve.
MacAdam has been cross-stitching for about 35 years and said she has done more complicated work than Eliza Jane’s 100-plus-hour project, but state fair rules stipulate that entries had to be completed the year of entry.
In addition to the ribbon, first place came with a monetary gift of $25. When asked how she would spend it, MacAdam said, “I don’t know. But, it’s gonna be on myself, that’s for sure.”
MacAdam wasn’t the only one in the family to win a ribbon at this year’s fair. Her son-in-law, Anson Burtch, took home a third-place ribbon for his cinnamon-raisin swirl bread. His sticky buns were “best in show” at last year’s state fair.
MacAdam said the fair experience was one everyone should have. She met fellow cross-stitchers and came home inspired to create her own patterns from photos like a man she met.
“If you think you’ve done something exceptional, then go ahead and do it,” MacAdam said.