By Annaclaire Crumpton
Since 2022, a variety of artists including painters, photographers, fiber artists, and local non-profit groups have filled Old Town Library’s upper level with color and creativity.
During the months of February and March 2025, the Old Town Library Art Gallery is showcasing former librarian and fiber artist Vicky Hays’ exhibit called “Three Generations and Almost a Hundred Years of Needlework Love.” The exhibit features needle art from three generations of women in her family.
We got to know Vicky Hays with a quick question and answer session about her journey as an artist.
Q: When and why did you first start creating art?
A: I actually didn’t think of myself as an artist until a few years ago. After all, I was just taking patterns and ideas from others to create. But now, I do see myself as an artist creating ideas with inspiration from all over. I was about 10 years old when I made an apron from gingham and cross stitched on it from a pattern book from 1960. My sisters and I were in 4H and that was one of the projects.
Q: What inspires your art?
A: I used to do a lot of embroidery from kits and patterns but have begun to use embroidery to decorate clothes and jewelry. I also like to reuse and repurpose found objects to finish my embroidery. One example was to make a pin cushion from a small silver ladle.
Q: What is one thing you would like people to take away from your exhibit at Old Town Library?
A: There is a long history of embroidery. My families’ journey here began with my grandmother about a hundred years ago, but there were probably other ancestors who made decorative and useful items that we do not know about. I want people to look back at their own families work and value and treasure the work that came before them.
