In 2024 local artist Shawn McNevin sparked Judy’s interest in textile arts. With Shawn’s encouragement, Judy began to explore punch needling. Judy was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) in 2020. This affects her ability to communicate. It is usually impossible for her to find the words needed to converse.

Comprehension is decreased as words loose their meaning. Punch needling allows Judy to channel her energy in ways that are both expressive and empowering. Judy’s punch needling is a collaborative process with her husband Paul, a cartoonist. Paul creates the designs and specifies the colours. He continues to adapt them to accommodate Judy’s current abilities.

Together they stretch Monk cloth over a wooden frame. Then Judy punch needles the chosen colour of yarn into the outlined areas on the fabric. When finished, Judy removes the many staples so the cloth can be stretched on the picture frame. Using recycled pine boards, they mill, sand, cut, nail and glue each frame so the punch needle piece can be stretched onto the final picture frame.

You will notice that some pieces are displayed puffy loop side out, while others are framed to show the “working” side. Usually this has been determined before Judy begins the punch needling. But occasionally either side could be the finished side. What began as a new hobby, has given Judy a way to express herself. Judy takes pride in her work and in the opportunity to invite others into the world she continues to shape, one loop of yarn at a time.