Nellie"s Needles

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

"Our Biosphere Reserve"

This is the result of my "playing" with all those scraps.

Our Biosphere Reserve - 40"x 31"
The Smoky Mountains National Park is designated as an International Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations in observance of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2009. This international recognition represents the Smokies' importance to the planet. The purpose of this United Nations' program is to recognize and encourage preservation of the world's great cultural and biological areas.

This art piece features my interpretation of the view from "Morton's Overlook". In the spirit of conserving our biosphere's resources this quilt is made from recycled or repurposed materials. The picture part is composed of fabric scrap bits and pieces from previous projects, both mine and other peoples. The foundation structure features an old blanket as the batting and upholstery fabric leftover from a friends project is the backing.

It took concentrated effort to meet the deadline of presenting it at the Smoky Mountain Quilt Guild meeting last night. This was one of twenty-one quilts competing for inclusion in the SMQ Guild's entry for the Ultimate Guild Challenge in the AQS summer show. The theme chosen by our guild for its entry was "Go Green", which was open to interpretation by each participating member. Leah Marcum-Estes, director of the Oak Ridge Art Center, was invited to be the juror to select the eight quilts for this entry. We certainly presented her with a challenge to choose only eight from so many wonderful quilts. I'm pleased my quilt was one of those selected to represent the Smoky Mountain Quilt Guild.

The SMQ Guild has won awards in three previous AQS Ultimate Guild Challenges. To see the quilts for the year we won the Grand Champion Award ($5000) go here. To see my quilt contributions for the other two award winning years go here and here.

17 comments:

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Nellie...this is absolutely spectacular! It certainly deserves to represent your group. I've been following your progress and wondering what it would become in the end and knew I wouldn't be disappointed (and I was right!). Love it!!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

p.s. I just went & had a peek at the others you referenced in your post and they are wonderful too! I especially love Junkyard Dawg.

Doreen G said...

Awesome Nellie--what more can I say.

acereta said...

It's increadibly beautiful!!!

Judy S. said...

Looks like a lot of hard and loving work went into this beautiful piece, Nellie. Glad others will get to see it in person, and wish I could!

Joyce said...

Fantastic! I never cease to be amazed at what you do with scraps.

Merry said...

That is amazing that you can come us with this from scraps. Absolutely beautiful.

Di said...

Fantastic. You work a special magic with scraps!

arlee said...

WHOA NELLIE!!! Ace again! :}

Vicki W said...

Nellie, it's beautiful!!!

Diane Cransac said...

What a wonderful piece. Such beautiful colors :)

Mieke said...

Awesome!!!! Love it!!!

jay670120 said...

WOW was the first word that sprang to mind xxx
x jayne x

Teodo said...

Amazing Nellie..........I think that The Smoky Mountains are in your eyes, in your mind and in your heart.
ciao ciao

Unknown said...

A wonder of beauty! Amazing what you can do with a heap of scraps. It is beautiful Nellie!

Kristin said...

Nellie, I love your piece! And it is most fitting in representing the 'go green' theme. Great work! Brava! Congratulations on getting chosen.

Kristin in SC

Maggie R said...

Congratulations are in order for being chosen..Well deserved. The border facinated me since it looked like wood. At first I thought it was framed! Beautiful;
Thanks for sharing
xoxo
((((hugs))))
Maggie