When Rebecca Hawkins, 16, a student at Hampden Academy, attended the annual National Junior Classical League Convention held July 23-29 at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she competed in a graphic arts contest in which she walked away with first prize, a purple ribbon and a certificate, for her effort. She won in the decorative stitching category.

The Classical League celebrates ancient Roman and Greek culture. Purple was a color worn only by royalty in ancient times.

“I was surprised,” Hawkins said, when she learned that her piece, one of eight entries, was declared the winner. “I don’t consider myself an artist.”

Hawkins’ 8-inch-by-8-inch piece pays homage to Dionysius, the Greek god of wine. Dionysius also was viewed as one who loved peace, promoted civilization, and whose mission was to end care and misery.

Design components in the embroidery include a grapevine, a Greek ship under sail, and fish. She stitched her winning entry with cotton embroidery floss and used beads to embellish and highlight the grape clusters. She chose shades of green and brown for the piece and stitched it on white fabric. She used chain, satin, lazy daisy, running and split stitches.

Even though she doesn’t consider herself very good at drawing, she drew her design directly on the fabric before she began stitching it.

“I like embroidery because you can do it while you are socializing or listening to music,” she said. “It’s so much fun and it doesn’t cost much to do.”

Hawkins learned to embroider and do other kinds of stitching at Windover arts summer camp in Newburgh, beginning when she was 9 years old.

“When I was little I liked old-fashioned things,” she said, and that interest led to learning the uses of needle and thread.

Hawkins stitched her Dionysius piece under the tutelage of fabric artist Tree Heckler, owner of Howling Threads in Bangor, where she attends a weekly class 3-6 p.m. each Friday with several other students.

Hawkins is working now on a garden-inspired piece that features tufted stitches and three-dimensional techniques. She also sews and has made stuffed animals, Halloween costumes and several articles of clothing. She aspires to be a writer, but feels certain that she will continue to be interested in embroidery as a hobby.

The theme for this year’s Classical League convention was a quote from the Roman poet Horace, “Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero,” translated as “Seize the day, trusting as little as possible in tomorrow.”

Nearly 1,500 students attended the convention. Maine had the second-largest attendance at the convention from all of New England. Only Massachusetts had more delegates.

“Latin,” Hawkins said, “really helps in my English and French classes.” She is the daughter of David and Emily Hawkins of Hampden.

Snippets

A By Hand reader from Hermon has made available a number of vintage knitting and crochet booklets and magazines she would like to pass on to knitting or crochet groups or groups that create hand-made items for charities.

The booklets that have not been “adopted” yet contain patterns for sweaters and afghans for babies and small children.

The booklets were produced from the 1950s to the 1980s. Call or e-mail me if you would like any of these booklets.

Lion Brand Yarn company has donated yarn to be used by Krochet Kids International to train a group of women in Uganda to crochet caps that will be sold in the United States at surf shops and on the Krochet Kids Web site. To learn more about the project, visit www.krochetkidsintl.com.

Krochet Kids was founded by three teenagers seeking ways to raise money for their senior prom. They turned the project into a nonprofit organization in 2006.

Call Ardeana Hamlin at 990-8153, or e-mail ahamlin@bangordailynews.net.