AFTER spending most of his adult life sewing, Allan Mulvaney is used to the double takes and the gentle ribbing.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"I get used to the reactions," said the patron of Hunter Valley Tapestry Group.
"I've given demonstrations and I'm proud it's my passion. Plus the girls think it's great, I've got a bit of a harem."
Mr Mulvaney of Redhead is understood to be the only male entrant in this year's tapestry competition, with a work featuring butterflies and flowers. He has also submitted his first embroidery entry - a Victorian carousel scene.
"It's not hard, it's not overly expensive and it's something you can do in front of the telly," he said.
"You can sit down and take your mind off everything and just concentrate on sewing, it's very therapeutic."
Mr Mulvaney, 70, has been attending the Newcastle Show since he was about five years old.
His mother decorated cakes and taught her son how to cook, sew and embroider.
His first foray into competing was a wedding cake entry in the cookery competition in 1976.
Mr Mulvaney bought his wife a tapestry kit and also took up the craft, joining the Hunter Valley Tapestry Group. At the time he worked as an electrician then ambulance officer with ComSteel.
"I used to bring in my tapestry work during dogwatch and they would say it was for sissies, but then they realised what I was doing and would ask how it was coming along," he said.
Mr Mulvaney starting entering his own designs in competition in the mid-1980s and has won first place in his class 11 times and overall tapestry prize twice.
Last year his Lunar Reflections won the class, the overall tapestry prize and was included in the Showcase of Excellence.
■ Go to newcastleshow.com.au for show information.