A Look Back at the Fiber Arts Showcase

What a celebration! Over 200 guests gathered on June 7 at Toftrees Resort to help us mark 10 colorful, creative years of Scraps & Skeins at our first-ever Fiber Arts Showcase. Even a surprise power outage in May couldn’t dim the excitement. Our community showed up in full force, ready to celebrate creative reuse, sustainability, and inclusive employment.

Guests admired more than 150 one-of-a-kind upcycled textile pieces crafted by 88 talented artists. Each item featured something purchased at Scraps and Skeins. From stuffed animals, quilts, crochet, and needlework, the room was filled with color.

A special thank you to our judges, Mary Lemmons, Vicky Sanderson, and Susan Magargee, for lending their keen eyes and expertise to help select our winners.

Drumroll, please! Here are the winners:

Knitting & Crocheting

• 1st: Aimee Parmelee – Floral Crochet Blanket

• 2nd: Vera Mendum – Knitted Horse Sweater

• 3rd: Patricia Amburgy – PSU Lion

Needlework

• 1st: Susan Polay – Sewing Basket Treasure Trays

• 2nd: Karen Truit – Counted Thread Heart

• 3rd: Carol Sullivan – Needlework Alphabet Sampler

Sewing & Quilting

• 1st: Kristine Zerby – Abstract Quilt

• 2nd: Laura North – Jelly Roll Quilt

• 3rd: Rebecca France – British Columbia Birches

We are deeply grateful to every artist who shared their creations, every volunteer who gave their time and energy, and every sponsor who helped make this event possible.

One of the day’s most touching moments came from Julie, our assistant manager, who shared her journey with Scraps & Skeins. She started in a Strawberry Fields wellness group, became a Scraps & Skeins volunteer, then an employee, before stepping into her role as assistant manager. A job that has truly become her “happy place.”

"Before this, I could only work six months at a time before I had to take a leave of absence or quit. Scraps & Skeins is the first-ever job that has lasted years. It’s my happy place. I almost cannot imagine life without it." — Julie.

For those who missed it, you can still enjoy the full showcase online at scrapsandskeins.org/fiberarts.

Thank you for making Scraps & Skeins a joyful, creative, and welcoming community. We’d love to see you! Stop in on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays between 10 am and 2 pm, or visit us every third Saturday of the month during the same hours. Scraps & Skeins is located just behind the Strawberry Fields main office at 3042 Enterprise Drive, Suite 102, State College, PA 16801.