SMQ Guild Show Special Award Quilts

The Smoky Mountain Quilt Guild Show took place in Maryville, Tennessee last week.  There were over 1650 visitors who came to see the exhibit of 175 quilts.  The submissions were mostly from Tennessee quilters.  Forty-five quilts were sent from 17 other states.  All the quilts can be viewed in a slide show here on the guild's website.

I'd like to share the quilts that won the special award ribbons (click to see post about ribbons) since I was in charge of those.  The person's name who created the ribbon's rosette is in parenthesis behind the award title.

BEST IN SHOW BED QUILT AWARD (Nellie Durand)
"Vintage Button Bouquet"
by Linda M. Roy of Knoxville, Tennessee

category: Bed Quilts-Mixed Techniques/Appliqued

Linda was inspired by antique button (1850-1880) found on bracelets and watches purchased at "Prized Possessions" at national quilt shows.  She placed motifs on a background of burnt cheddar.  The grays and gold/yellow mimic the colors found in many of the buttons.  Linda is well known for her hand-work and quilting.

************

BEST IN SHOW WALL QUILT AWARD (Nellie Durand)
"Serengeti At Twilight"
by Leona Harden of New Tazewell, Tennessee

category: Bed Quilts-Mixed Techniques

Leona wrote, "Medallion style using orange, purples, greens, and gold.  The quilting motifs are from a study of the Serengeti region.  No piecing - all is raw edge applique."  Leona does amazingly intricate quilting designs with her Tin Lizzy long arm machine.  I wish I had taken a close-up photo of the scalloped narrow piping that was inserted at the edge of the border.

************

EXCELLENCE IN HAND WORKMANSHIP AWARD (Linda Roy)
"Hummingbird Heaven"
by Mary E. Piper of Racine, Wisconsin

category: Bed Quilts-Mixed Techniques

Mary says, "This is my first large applique project.  It consists of 16 blocks with each one having a different flower and hummingbird in place.  The piecing was all done by machine; there is hand and machine applique in each of the blocks."

************

EXCELLENCE IN MACHINE WORKMANSHIP AWARD 
(Loretta Painter)
"Birds Of A Feather"
by Peggy Garwood of Fairfield Glade, Tennessee

category: Two Person Team

 Peggy writes, "My version of the pattern added trapunto and I changed the border.  The hand-guided machine quilting by Kathy Drew used over 6,000 yards of thread."

************

INNOVATIVE DESIGN AWARD (Tone Haugen-Cogburn)
"Rain Drops"
by Lissie Turnage of Johnson City, Tennessee

category: Two Person Team - Large

Lissie wrote, "Tennessee Quilt Shop of Jonesborough invited Judy Neimeyer to teach a 3-day class using a technique called Foundation Paper Piecing. Curved piecing and traditional skills are required to jin the units after the foundation piecing is completed.  The design and color are unique.  The crystals add to the beauty of the quilt.  It is quilted by Donna Patrick."

************

SURFACE EMBELLISHMENT AWARD (Bridget Wilson Matlock)
"There Is Nothing Sissy About A Pansy"
by Bonnie Ouellette of Seneca, South Carolina

category: Wall Quilts - Mixed Techniques

Bonnie wrote, " My attraction to the pansy and its strength through tough winters, stimulated me to design this piece.  The background fabric is from a thrift store dress and is machine quilted.  The superimposed beaded piece is done completely by hand."

************

JUST FOR FUN AWARD (Sheila Rauen)
"Games And Toys For Girls And Boys"

by Dot Fraser of Norris, Tennessee

category: Two Person Team - Small

This quilt was made for the Norris Guild Challenge entitled, "The Child Within".  It was made by Dot and quilted by Loretta Painter.

************

SCRAP QUILT AWARD (Melissa Carter)

"Red Serpentine"
by Geraldine Couturier of Knoxville, Tennessee

category: Two Person Team - Large

Geraldine wrote, " Several years ago I took a class taught by Mary Mashuta.  Using her book, Cotton Candy,  I decided to use black and white fabrics with a red background to make the quilt POP.  The construction was completed in November 2009 and is quilted by Sue Drinnen."

************

TRADITIONAL DESIGN AWARD (Gloria Felter)




"A Walk In A Springtime Garden"
by Ann B. Meyer of Maryville, Tennessee

 category: Two Person Team - Large

Ann wrote, "I loved the picture of the Irish Chain quilt on the cover of the quilt book, Using Your Scraps.  I used many pastel scraps that had been saved for many years plus a few purchased fat quarters.  It's machine quilted by Debbie Best."

************

NOVICE AWARD (Patty Ashworth)
"Doyleen's Heritage"
by Leslie Hinson of Knoxville, Tennessee

category: SMQ Members Only Challenge

Leslie wrote, "While pondering what to do for the Pearls of Wisdom SMQ Challenge for the 30th anniversary, Doyleen Taylor said she remembers sitting under her grandmother's quilt frame.  And so the idea --on the left side is 1980, on the right is 2010 with the little girl grown up."

************

IRENE WYLIE MEMORIAL AWARD (Tone Haugen-Cogburn)
"Monarch's Paradise"
by Donna Davis of Aiken, South Carolina

category: Wall Quilts - Mixed Techniques

Donna wrote, "I made this quilt for the Hoffman Challenge in 2007.  The background fabric was the challenge fabric and as it turned out, was a real challenge for me.  It won Creator's Choice.  I made some flowers by using the Petal Play technique."

************

JUDGE'S CHOICE AWARD (Nellie Durand)
"Through My Eyes"
by Christine Bryden of Mosheim, Tennessee

category: Large Pictorial

Christine wrote, " This was a challenge quilt.  Most of the fabric was hand dyed or painted.  It's pieced by machine.  The design was inspired by Quiltscapes written by Rebecca Barker.

************

VIEWER'S CHOICE AWARD (Nellie Durand)
"Thistles"
by Mary Ramsey Keasler of Cleveland, Tennessee

category: Large Pictorial

Mary wrote, "This is an original design based on my photos of wild thistles growing along the roadside during a hot summer drought.  The brilliant green, pink, and fuchsia colors were an inspiring contrast to the parched summer fields."

That one got my vote ... along with a whole lot of other people's.