Nellie"s Needles

Monday, April 07, 2008

Arte y Pico Award

Doreen of Creative Meanderings has thought me worthy of this award. Many thanks to her and all of you who visit here to share in my creative adventures.

Speaking of which, I found a piece in my photo files that I haven't yet shared with you. It was created in 1997 to celebrate the 5th wedding anniversary of our older son and daughter-in-law.

The First Five Years - 34"x 31"
It began much earlier than the construction of it. The basis of this piece is a purchased hand-batiked crepe silk scarf. When I saw the batiked pieces created by Jan Tice in Jackson Wyoming it was an effort for me to control the whelm of feelings they provoked. I purchased two scarves. The other one is still waiting for a transformation.
I cut the scarf into segments and combined them with a Burgundy silk crepe fabric sample and a piece of Italian hand-painted silk satin. Structurally, that white satin is a whole cloth under all the piecing. I used the technique of foundation piecing to get it all together. Chenille yarn is couched to finish fringed edges of silk where another piece couldn't be "sewn and flipped" within the composition.
There is much symbolism within this wall quilt. Of course, the two figures plus multiples of five. The geckos represent "letting go and self-protection" and the dragonflies portray "wild and free spirits", while the crane is the symbol for long life, prosperity and good health. The sun 's rays is shining over all and there are many hearts for romantic love. Of course, I had no idea that I was portraying what would be the result of their romantic love ... the twin boys running in opposite directions with lots of commotion as seen at the bottom right.

This piece was made back when I did nothing but hand quilting. It's done with a heavy orange thread. Here's the template I made up for the rings of hearts.
It was awarded an Honorable Mention in 1997 Dogwood Arts Quilt Show. It hangs in Evanston, Illinois.
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There are 5 rules attached to this award and they are :
  1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogging community, no matter what language.
  2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.
  3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her/him the award itself.
  4. The Award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of Arte Y Pico blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award (blogger in Uruguay).
  5. To show these rules.
NOW my nominations for this award:
  1. Arlee who is wildly creative at Albedo
  2. Judy who's depth overwhelms me at Judy's Journal
  3. Paula who impresses the hell out of me at Self-taught Artist
  4. Karen who does imaginative stitchery at Threadstory
  5. Anne who does amazing work at Grains in the Wind
There are many other talented artists whose blogs I read and I would nominate all of them if I could. So rest assured, that if I visit yours regularly you are one of them.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

What a wonderful work of art for you son and his wife! I have been looking and looking at it finding so much to see! And thank you for the nomination of the award, I am humbled and honored!

p said...

thanks nellie and well deserved to YOU that you got this award. your blog continues to intrigue, inspire and delight me!

Micki said...

Well deserved award, Nellie. Love the wall quilt and everything in and about it.

arlee said...

Thanks for the nomination, SweetBlossom!