Nellie"s Needles

Friday, May 16, 2008

And the Winners of the Special Awards Are ...

Here are the winners of the special award ribbons at the Smoky Mountain Quilt Guild Show that opened today featuring 129 quilts. Jane Hall of Raleigh, North Carolina spent two days judging the quilts last week. Click on the photos to see details.

Best In Show Bed Quilt awarded to "Grace Unfolding" by Betty Ekern Suiter of Racine, Wisconsin.
Betty says, "The center is like an unfolding kaleidoscope to the beauty of the flowers surrounding it. It took 3,821 hours to complete this original design using my hand dyed fabric, needle-turn applique, trapunto and hand quilting."
Best in Show Wall Quilt awarded to "Roman Patience" by Dena Bauer.
Dena says, "This pastel "painting" resulted from a Quilt University (online) perspective class taught by Susan Brittingham. It was shown in Houston in 2007. It's machine pieced, raw edge appliqued, and machine quilted.
Judge's Choice awarded to "Lake #54" by me (woo hoo!)
This one can be read about here. It also received an Honorable Mention ribbon in the Pictorial category.
Innovative Design awarded to "Life, the Universe, and Everything" by Gerry O'Neil of Oak Ridge, Tennessee. It also received 1st place in the Small Art Quilt category.
Gerry says, "Life becomes world, world becomes the sky, sky becomes universe. Nothing is separate; we are all part of a universal ONE."
Traditional Design awarded to"Appalachian Spring - to God the Glory" by Lavinia Milligan Sala of Johnson City, Tennessee. It also received 1st place in the Two Person Team category.
Her quilt was inspired by God's glorious renewal of the earth in sprin after a long winter's nap. The pattern is by Theresa Field and it's quilted by Donna Patrick. Excellence in Hand Workmanship awarded to "Wistful Willow" by Linda Roy of Knoxville, Tennessee. It also received 1st place in the Wall Quilt/Mixed Techniques category.
Linda says, "Folk art style with a little formality, this quilt honors Tink, whom we enjoyed for many years. The phrase, "Don't Park Beside Your Troubles," is borrowed from from a 1980's quilt by Helen Fleenor."
Excellence In Machine Workmanship awarded to "Girl In the Blue Dress" by Marlene Brown Woodfield of La Porte, Indiana. It also received 1st place in the Pictorial category.
Marlene says, "The 'girl in the blue dress' gently blows bubbles that glide upward on the gentle summer breeze. This is a portrait of my granddaughter."
Embellishment awarded to "Let Me Take You to the Kasbah". Cannot believe I won two special award ribbons. Plus this one also got 3rd place in the Group Quilt category.
All about this one can be read here.
Scrap Quilt awarded to "Tribute to Felix" by Fleda Collins of Talbott, Tennessee. It also received 2nd place in Bed Quilt, Applique/Mixed Techniques.
She didn't write anything about this quilt for the show booklet. It's one of the most interesting Baltimore Album quilts I've seen. Usually a scrappy looking quilt is the recipient of this award, but this kind of quilt uses scraps, too, doesn't it?
Just For Fun award to "Partridge in a Purr Tree" by Sheila Rauen of Knoxville, Tennessee.
Sheila says, "I'm always thinking of new plays on words, then and image may come to mind. That is how this design evolved. It is appliqued with free-motion embroidery and quilting."

The "First Quilt" award was originally given to a quilt that wasn't a first quilt. I haven't taken a photo of the one that ended up getting it. The "Viewer's Choice" quilt will be awarded on Sunday afternoon to the quilt with the most votes from the attendees at the show.

I'll post photos of more wonderful quilts during the next few days.

14 comments:

Vicki W said...

Thanks for sharing all the photos! It's as if the ribbons were made especially for the winning quilts.

McIrish Annie said...

Nellie, congrats on the awards! You were up against tough competition. the quilts are gorgeous. and thanks for sharing the tutorial for the ribbons. I am in charge of a guild contest and I think I will make a few for that.

still working on the birdies. had a hard time finding wire for the legs. but success! will be adding legs soon!

Doreen G said...

Congratulations Nellie I think this lake series quilt would be my favourite one out of the all.
Well done.

Karoda said...

hey hey! you rocking and rolling with your quilty-self! Congratulations! And thanks for sharing the other quilters.

Elaine Adair said...

You are a double winner! Congratulations on your creative works, but I'm going to give you ANOTHER AWARD - that of Photographer EXTRAORDINAIRE -- your photos are wonderful -- thank you for the show!

Susan @ Blackberry Creek said...

Nellie, Congratulations on winning those ribbons. You certainly deserve them.
All the winning quilts are wonderful. That one by Betty Suiter is amazing. I love her quilts, but could never imagine making one. One of my favorites is The Girl in the Blue Dress, Lake 54, and Appalacian Spring. I'll bet your ribbons were a hit too.

Cathie said...

Wooooooah Nellie!!! So happy your two amazing quilts won. They are so spectacular. Thank you so much for sharing these inspirational pictures AND your well deserved success!
Cathie

Amy Munson said...

Looks like a great show and congrats on your ribbons.

Kay said...

Congratulations! And I agree that the ribbons seem to match the quilts again.

Unknown said...

Wow! Really wonderful quilts. Congrats on your ribbon winners! Well deserved too! Now, you should also get a ribbon for designing and putting together those fabulous ribbons!! I am thinking I want to make a quilt to submit for next years show just to TRY and win one of your ribbons! Love your Kasbah quilt,It is a glorious beauty. The lake series is beautiful as well.

Beverly said...

Congrats on the two ribbons! The show looks like it had some wonderful entries, and your photos showed them off well so those of us in cyberland can enjoy too.

Gerry said...

WOW, what an honor to receive 2 ribbons. The quilts are just gorgeous. How wonderful to attend such an event.

Teodo said...

Nellie, congratulations!!!!!!!!!
Two quilts!Three awards!
Fantastic.
ciao ciao

arlee said...

FABU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!
And thanks for sharing all of the eye candy too :}